The Oldest Dream of Eternal Night
Chapter 42: Basis of a conversation with a girl is lyin’

Chapter 42: Basis of a conversation with a girl is lyin’

Kaiser was bored out of his mind. Hugo’s jokes and Yuki’s rants about Miranda were starting to seriously get on his nerves. He pulled out his phone, his fingers hesitating for a moment before opening WhysApp. He’d gotten Katrina’s number, Kathy’s sister, from the school group chat. Why not? She seemed less uptight than her sister. He typed a message, a smirk on his lips.

Kaiser: Yo, you’re Katrina, right?

Across town, Katrina, sitting on her bed surrounded by notebooks and pens, jumped at the notification. Her long black hair, tied in a messy bun, framed a curious face, her amber eyes sparkling with amusement. She knew Kaiser from afar—the cynical guy who slept in class and scribbled in a notebook. She’d thought he was taking notes, but he seemed more like the type to draw skulls or insults. She typed a reply, a smirk on her face.

Katrina: Wow, what an honor! I’m surprised you’re messaging me.

Kaiser: Yeah, I’m bored. You know who this is?

Katrina: You’re the guy who snores in physics class, right? Writing poems in your notebook?

Kaiser chuckled, sinking deeper into the pouf. She thought he wrote poems? In reality, he was trying to describe what he’d seen during his dopamine spikes.

’She’s starting the conversation directly. Good sign...’

Kaiser: Poems? I’m jotting down stuff so I don’t explode in class. And you, you’re the girl who sucks up to the teacher for extra points?

Hugo, noticing Kaiser absorbed in his phone, called out, "Yo, Kaiser, are you writing your will or something? Put that thing down and come eat!"

Kaiser flipped him off without looking up. "Mind your steaks. I’m talking to someone interesting, for a change."

Ben, sipping his beer, raised an eyebrow. "Interesting? You? Who is she, your therapist? Or your dealer?"

Kaiser ignored the jab, typing a reply. Katrina, chewing on a pen, burst into laughter at home. She liked his tone, direct, almost insolent. At school, Kaiser was the weird guy who threw out blunt truths, but there was a raw honesty that made her smile.

Katrina: Haha, I’m just the girl who caught you drooling on your desk. What are you up to?

’She’s super receptive. This was easier than expected...’

Kaiser: I’m at a barbecue.

Katrina: Whose barbecue? Sounds fun.

Kaiser: Hassan’s, the guy who lives in a palace. Hugo’s playing chef, and Yuki’s talking about his girl like she’s a goddess. I’m so bored.

Katrina giggled, imagining the scene. She’d heard about Hassan—the rich guy with the insane house. She typed, leaning back on her pillows.

Katrina: Isn’t that your friends? And you, you’re the guy who criticizes everyone but stays for the free food?

Kaiser chuckled, drawing Hassan’s attention as he set plates on the table. "Kaiser, are you flirting or something? You’ve got a dumb smile."

"Shut the fuck up," Kaiser muttered, not looking up.

"I’m talking to that girl. You know, the twin."

Yuki, putting away his phone, quipped, "A girl? You? She must be desperate."

Kaiser threw a toothpick at him. "Jealous, Yuki? You’ve got Miranda, let me have my fun."

Kaiser: You got that right, I’m staying for the steaks, but they’re half burnt. Where are you?

Katrina, at home, smiled. She liked his humor, even if it was a bit rough. She pictured Kaiser, with his I-don’t-care attitude, typing messages in the middle of a fancy barbecue. She replied, playing along.

Katrina: At home, studying for a test you’ve probably forgotten about.

Kaiser chuckled, drawing a curious glance from Ben. "Dude, you’re really into it. Who is she?" Ben asked.

"Nobody you need to know," Kaiser retorted, typing a reply.

Kaiser: Actually, we have a test this week?

Katrina: Yeah, the teacher said he could give a surprise exam anytime this month.

Kaiser: Shit, I’m tired of that crappy class.

Katrina: Haha, you’re dumb. Yeah, I’m studying, but I’d rather talk to you.

’Really, all that?’ Kaiser stroked his smooth chin.

He showed Hugo what he thought. Hassan said she was comfortable with everyone. He didn’t need to rush.

But Ben said he was on the right track, he’d handled it well.

Kaiser: Yeah, we’ve only been talking for like ten minutes.

Katrina: You’re weird, but it’s cool. Actually, do you really take drugs?

Kaiser raised an eyebrow.

Kaiser: Weird is my middle name. And take drugs? Girl, are you stalking me? Are you an undercover cop or something?

Katrina: No, actually. Hugo told me you take drugs. I think it’s dangerous to do that...

Kaiser’s face went pale. You talk to a girl and just tell her I take drugs. Why?

Kaiser: It’s just my meds. Don’t worry, I know it’s dangerous stuff.

Kaiser chuckled, putting away his phone as Hugo called him for the tenth time. "Okay, coming, boss!" he called, but he knew he’d reply to Katrina later. This girl had something. And for once, he felt like digging deeper.

Kaiser approached the table, where Hugo was grilling steaks with exaggerated focus. Yuki, sitting beside him, was talking nonstop about Miranda, his girlfriend, like she was the eighth wonder of the world.

"So, Kaiser, who were you talking to?" Ben asked, curious.

Kaiser shrugged, feigning indifference. "Katrina. Nothing special, really."

Hugo chuckled. "Sure..."

Kaiser: I had to step away. Did you eat?

Katrina, still on her bed, smiled at the message. She replied quickly.

Katrina: Not yet, I’m making a sandwich until dinner. How many of you are at the barbecue?

Kaiser: We’re five: Hassan, Yuki, Hugo, and Ben.

Katrina: Sounds fun anyway. Do you do this often?

Kaiser: Every now and then. Hassan likes to play host. And you, what do you usually do on weekends?

Katrina: I hang out with friends, go to the movies, stuff like that. Nothing crazy.

Kaiser: That’s cool. Do you have siblings? Besides Kathy, I mean.

Katrina: No, just Kathy. And you?

Kaiser looked at the message, ran his hand through his hair before replying.

Kaiser: No, only child. My parents are often away, so I do whatever I want.

Katrina: That must be cool, right? No parents nagging you.

Kaiser: Yeah... The house is too quiet. But when you don’t have them, you wish you did...

Katrina: I see. What do you do to keep busy then?

Kaiser: I draw schematics or play on my PC, stuff like that. And you?

Katrina: I watch series, do sports too.

Kaiser: Sports? Like what?

Katrina: Basketball, yoga, a bit of everything. It relaxes me.

Kaiser: Cool. I’m more of a couch potato, physically weak.

Katrina: Hmm, you just need to train. You come to the gym?

Kaiser: Why would I?

Katrina: To watch me train? I’m pretty good.

Kaiser: Basketball? Sounds fun. You’ll show me sometime?

Kaiser: Sure. If you want.

Katrina: Cool. We’ll see.

Did Kaiser really want to learn? Not really. Hugo had been training since he was a kid, and he’d never shown any interest in basketball.

Why was he saying so much bullshit to Katrina?

Well, because the basis of a conversation with a girl is lying.