Chapter 52

The next morning, Arthur couldn't stop thinking about the morse code message. He wondered if it was just a friendly 'I love you' instead of a very intimate 'I love you' he has heard from romantic movies and audiobooks.

"Hey Arthur!" Aoba called out to him from the shower. "How come you have three brushes besides your toothbrush? I think one's enough for your fluffy fur."

Arthur laughed as he was drying his fur. "One's for my fur, one's for my wings while the last one's for my ears. I'm a bit particular about how well I'm groomed. Oh, and I used apple-scented shampoo with peach-scented body wash."

The bald eagle has never met an animal so careful about his well-being. Aoba wondered if the message was bothering him. Because Arthur has been mumbling to himself and kept making himself three different types of tea in the morning.

He wondered besides the letter, what did those gangs do to him last night?

...

Once both bat and eagle were done, they walked out of the carnivore dorm towards the main building. Aoba mentioned that he has to attend a meeting for the drama club, leaving Arthur to walk upstairs to the roof of the gardening club.

He was tackled to the ground by an unknown force.

"Arthur!" the angry yet relieved tone from Haru made the Honduran white bat smiled. "Don't you scare me like that! Not a text? Not even a call? You could've been a carnivore's dinner!"

"Haru," Arthur hugged her tight. "I'm fine. I obviously had the most interesting experience last night but you know school and this garden is more important. I hear the flowers and plants murmuring their mornings."

Haru rolled her eyes. "You were missing for the rest of the evening and all you can think about are the damn flowers?! Hell, you have a few bruises and marks on your face!"

"I do?" Arthur blinked his cloudy blue eyes before touching his face. "I never knew."

Haru sighed and hugged him. "I'm just glad that you're okay and not a single limb is missing from you."

Arthur laughed. Haru really acts like an older sister to him despite their height difference. The both of them chatted along with tending the garden. They were so close to their target goal of raising enough money to buy whatever they desired. For Arthur, it was his trumpet.

When the both of them were having their break, Arthur was hanging upside down while Haru was reading the school's paper. She was commenting on how the newspaper club likes to sensationalise the littlest things.

"I hope they don't expose me for playing the music throughout campus," Arthur shivered. Haru looked up at the Honduran white bat with a tilted head. "I don't get it, Arthur..."

"Don't get what?"

"Why won't you play in front of a live audience?" Haru questioned. "I mean here during assembly or even at the drama club? You're really good."

The Honduran white bat fluffed his fur. "Well...I like the gardening club. Also I'm not too familiar with Cherryton and the customs despite being here for at least a month now. Back in my old home, I knew the animals there and even the places where I feel less alone. Plus, Gryphon Cross had a band which I had no issue playing with other members. So in a sense I'm not comfortable playing in front of anyone here because of you know..."

"Yeah, I get it," Haru nodded, still remembering how all students still warned each other about her going out with any male in the school. But she was past that for now!

"Anyways, have you talked to Mizuchi yet?" asked Haru, watching the bat's expression become totally flustered just by the name. "She was worried about you last night."

Arthur lowered his ears close to his face. "No...I haven't. I received a note from her via Aoba though. And..."

When the Honduran white bat explained what the note had said, Haru's beady black eyes widened in shock. She decided to write that to him?! She wanted to tell Arthur not to get his hopes up because as far as the dwarf rabbit knows, Mizuchi is a desperate doe who would do anything to please her guy!

She decided to let Arthur talk to her about it without getting noticed by any other animal on campus.

...

"And you survived the whole night? Arthur, this new place is going to turn you into a coarse bat!" Sameer laughed over the phone. Arthur was talking to him during lunch break at the bench. Most of the other students stared at him, hoping not to get too close because of those fangs.

Vampyrum or not, most students are aware that bats are known to carry certain diseases. It's best to avoid them!

"Well, I realised that adulthood isn't like what we were told or are as good as our parents are," Arthur admitted. "Adulthood from what I have experienced is ruthless! You will have to fight for everything with whatever you have on you. Like a gambling, some get the lucky number while some don't."

"Interesting way of putting things," Sameer hissed with a smile in his tone. "Very stressing, yes? To think our parents made it sound so easy and yet we never got training in school about how to pay bills, get a license or plan a family. I think you and me have covered the cooking since we took Living Skills, yes?"

"But we try to make the best of things," said Arthur, kicking his feet absentmindedly. "I can't wait for your visit to Cherryton."

"I can't wait too! Beppi and Maccus are enthusiastic about coming over. Don't worry, that hammerhead shark is smiling despite his grunts. I have to board now so I will see you there, Arthur."

"Tell the guys I said 'hi'," Arthur chirped before hanging up.

Arthur knew he has to get to his next class but then he has a voice message on his phone:

Hi Arthur! I hope we can meet after school. I will be in front of the carnivore dorm. Don't worry, I will be wearing my hoodie and jeans. I will tap your hand to let you know

All he could do was gulp.

Little did he know that a certain brown and white rabbit was watching his every move...

...

Meanwhile on the other side of town, Dr Kirk was reviewing his notes in his apartment. His desk was cluttered with different books, papers, his laptop and printer. The apartment was clean except for his desk and the unwashed mug he will reuse for tea later.

Lately, his theories were conflicted at the university and he wanted to form some backups for his arguments. He checked his clock and it was close to five in the evening. He mentally note to himself about ordering something for dinner for a change.

He himself is alone with only his Venus flytrap plant to talk to. It was a good thing that the plant he chose was not picky in terms of eating any insects.

He figured he might as well finish the leftover eggplant moussaka he had made yesterday, only to have large amounts since he wanted to save his budget.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Dr Kirk used a stool before peeping into the keyhole. The animal he saw was the one-eyed red fox from the Black Market. The one who held his son captive!

He was debating whether to let her in but opened the door ajar.

"Evening," he greeted with a small smile. "How did you find me?"

"Oh, your panda doctor friend gave it to me when I was getting my left eye checked," explained Ten, from what Dr Kirk recalled her name was.

"Sorry if it's a mess since I wasn't expecting visitors," Dr Kirk invited her inside. "Please, make yourself comfortable! I'm just finishing my work shortly and I will attend to you soon."

Ten covered her mouth to hide giggle at how wobbly he was when he walked. She began to look around the apartment, seeing how clean it was and noticed a few picture frames. She traced one which had two Honduran white bats in a faded colour. Another was a recent one where it was him and Arthur hanging upside down together.

She doesn't have a real reason to visit him but she felt the need to because of their encounters.

"Ah, I see you're looking at a few family photos," Dr Kirk came out of the room. "Those two are my mum and dad. My dad used to be in the war while my mum kept herself busy with the honey farm."

What an interesting life!

"They looked cute together," Ten commented, her bushy tail swishing.

"They are," he murmured softly. "If you are here, do you want some moussaka? I'm planning on having some dinner here and I cooked too much than what I estimated."

Ten smiled to which Dr Kirk has never seen one that fits her: beautiful yet so comfortable. "I'd love that."