Since we've met...You've been withholding your ability and degrading yourself.
- Seraphina
This is the 230th episode of unORDINARY.
Summary[]
At the behest of William, John admits that he's thinking of all the time he's wasted blaming his actions on others. He can't even begin to figure out how he's going to make it up for all the wrongs he's done. William suggests that he doesn't take on the daunting task of trying to offset the damage he did. The past was set in stone, unlike the future. Which is why William tells John that he should start by setting a personal goal to work towards.
The next day, when school's out at New Bostin High, Claire gets a phone call as she's leaving. It's Seraphina, who's returning the call Claire made before. She asks what happened, and Claire tells her about John's visit to her apartment. Seraphina asks at once if she's alright, and Claire reveals that John eventually complied with her demand to leave. She also admits that she's astonished by the fact that John was actually respecting boundaries, which seemed unthinkable just two years prior. Seraphina reaffirms that John has changed much since then, but Claire reserves judgement. In any case, Seraphina tells Claire what a relief it is that she isn't hurt, and that it's good news that John isn't causing any harm.
At the Doe apartment, John takes a break from schoolwork and wonders just how he's supposed to heed his father's advice. Those he called friends all told him the same thing: he never listened. John even recalls himself talking about how much he admired the hero of Unordinary for hearing out others. He decides that he probably should take the cue and listen to others himself...after he figures out the answer to the trig problem that's currently vexing him. He gives up trying to work out the problem himself and tries Googling the answer. His attention suddenly shifts from his academics to the fact that Seraphina is online. John ponders on whether or not he should reestablish contact after everything he's done. His dilemma is solved for him when Seraphina calls him up, and he obliges her desire to talk to him. The delay in his answer doesn't go unnoticed, and the greetings commence awkwardly. John steels himself, and with memories of his caustic attitude towards her flooding back, he apologizes to Seraphina. He elaborates on everything he's apologizing for, but Seraphina stops him to say that she doesn't hold any of it against him. She says it's great just to see him back to his old self again. Her forgiveness reminds John of everyone in New Bostin who's ever tried to help him, and he states that he's undeserving of them. Seraphina listens as he explains that his time back at home opened his eyes to just how deplorable a person he is, and how little sense it made for his loved ones to keep giving him second chances despite being scorned in return. Seraphina replies that he ought to try giving himself a second chance. She points out that he's done nothing but hold himself back out of fear that he was irredeemable. He ought to have more faith in his ability to do better. John's first instinct is to question this course of action, asking Seraphina if she would do so in his position, with his history. He asks her what would happen if he gave in to his rage again. Without hesitating, Seraphina answered that she would stop him again. She swears that no matter how often he messes up, she'll be there to stop him every time, so he no longer needs to hide from himself. John gives Seraphina his heartfelt thanks. Just as he's about to resume his trigonometry studies, it occurs to John that he's incredibly curious as to how Seraphina got her powers back. He asks her if the Authorities finally reached out to her on the matter. She tells him that they weren't responsible, and refuses to divulge the lengthy story over a device. John is confused by her reluctance, but agrees to wait to hear it from her in person. Their chat is put on hold when Seraphina gets an urgent call from a private number. They say their goodbyes, and John once again mulls over his father's advice. He's a little more confident he'll succeed now that he knows Seraphina is in his corner.
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Trivia[]
- Seraphina is confirmed to have recovered from her unconsciousness.
- John's failed search for his trigonometry problem was conducted on Google, the real-world search engine that needs no introduction.
- Sadly, his search terms do not reproduce identical search results on our end. However, "Trigonometry 3rd edition p391 question 52b answer" wound up on Urban Dictionary just one week after this chapter was released on Fast Pass, much to the surprise of the author.
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