I am slowly heading home from school. I am not on my bike, but I think I will get biking shortly, but ramming into the next coming car seems so tempting. It’s not the rejection itself that makes me want to die, both figuratively and literally, but the fact that she betrayed my trust, she told everyone, and she just threw me aside to the curb. I am left alone again, by myself.
When I arrived home I went straight to my room. Well, the whole house is mine, but I have a favorite room, a room where all of my memories of me and Shiori are. In truth, I've been a bit obsessed with her. "A bit" is a tall order, but…
Entering the room, it gave me the chills; I looked at the photos of us and can’t help but cry. I tried to throw the photos away, but something doesn’t let me do that just yet, but I still try and force myself to do it. Get rid of them. For now, I just ripped everything away and threw them in the trash can that I have in my room about Shiori, and then I just lay in bed, just wanting to rot away and never be seen again.
3 hours later:
Knock, knock, knock—it’s coming from my door. It did wake me from my sleep, though. Wait, did I leave my front door unlocked? No, I remember I locked it; I would never leave my front door open like that.
I am scared, but I am looking at the door of my bedroom.
“Hey, someone in here?” - I can hear a girl’s voice; it’s not one that I recognize, but her accent sounds similar to a Russian accent you hear in movies.
I didn’t say anything, just hoped that she would go away if I didn’t respond.
“It’s no use; I am entering now!” - I dashed to grab the nearest object I could; the person that entered my room was a girl about my age with a backpack on her back.
“Who are you?” - I shouted at the girl while reaching for the vase.
“Hey, no need for that. The school sent me to check up on you. Your name is Hikari, right? I am Leona.” That’s a strange name; she is not even Japanese? Well, I guess I can figure that out by the accent and the way she looks.
“My school? What do you want from me?” - Leona dropped her backpack on the floor and took a good look around my room; she even looked at the photos of me and Shiori. When my adrenaline subsided and my mind stopped racing, I defaulted back to my depressed state.
“As I said, I just wanted to check up on you. I am not alone; there are other girls here. There is one named Shiori and 2 other of her friends; I couldn’t catch their names.”
“Shiori?” - I repeated
“Hey, your eyes lit up like a Christmas tree for a second; you must be good friends with her, right?” - Leona offered me a warm smile.
“We used to be friends. Anyway, how did you get into my house? I locked the front door.” – It’s impossible for her to get in without the key.
“Lockpicking exists; locks are no match for ”me”—Wait, did she just admit to breaking into my house? And how the hell does he know how to pick a lock?
“Leona, are you done?” - Shiori’s voice can be heard and 1 set of footsteps; my heart is racing again.
Shiori walked up the stairs and looked at me and Leona standing there.
“Hey, your friend is right here; she is in a bad mood. What fight did you two have?” - Leona rose from the bed and walked in front of Shiori.
“She is not my friend… I say you watch your moves near her; she is the type of pervert to fall in love with her own friends. That’s disgusting and revolting.” - ………….
I can’t.
I can’t.
Why?
“So that was it?” - While I am freaking out again, Leona is talking to her calmly.
“Yes, leave her alone like she deserves”—Leonaglanced at me and then at Shiori.
“For someone claimed as the nicest girl at school, you are being a very nasty piece of shit to your friend. Calling her a pervert and spreading all of those rumors I heard the guys in class tell me, “I am a transfer student and just arrived at the school and was told by you that there are undesirable people in the class with us. I didn’t know you were talking about yourself.” – Is she defending me?
“What did you say?” - Shiori paused after every word.
“Not only were you a fake-ass friend to her, but you also betrayed her trust. This girl told you her deepest feelings, and you chose to break and rip apart all the trust she had for you. Rejecting her wouldn’t be the issue, but what you did afterwards”—Leona kept her gaze dead set on Shiori.
“Don’t call me fake. I at least have a family to love me.” Leona’s smile grew when she heard this.
“I can see that; they loved you too much, and you turned into a spoiled bitch. People like you can’t last without Mommy and Daddy even when on their own. You can’t undo the damage you have done to her, but at least apologize to her.” Leona's voice is stern and unchanging; combined with her accent, it made her sound more commanding.
“I wouldn’t apologize to someone like her. And why do you defend her?”
“My reason is simple: unlike you, I see people for who they are; I don’t need to ostracize them for things they can’t control, and besides, you are dodging my question. Apologize, or I will make you do it.” – This is getting out of hand; it feels nice to have someone stand up for me, but I don’t know how to feel about this. I just want to cry and hide in a corner.
“How would you, miss delinquent? I know why you transferred schools. Do you want them to know why you are here?” - Shiori looked smug for a second.
“Sure, let them know; it’s public information after all. You can’t stop someone from seeing public information, can you?” - Leona just sat back on the bed with me while glaring daggers at Shiori.
“Fine, as you wish, but I am not apologizing!” - Shiori didn’t have the time to take one step, and Leona grabbed her left hand and twisted it, pulling her inside.
“You will apologize. I don’t give a fuck about the consequences I will suffer; it’s time for you to know that your actions have consequences. Apologize and it will be easy; let go of your useless pride for once and say, “I am sorry.” – Leona held her on the ground.
“No, please!” - I spoke after a few seconds.
“No my ass, if you told her to not spread rumors about you, she would laugh in your face. Let go of her; she isn’t worth it,” Leona said while pinning Shiori down. Still, I can’t help but feel regret.
“I apologize.” It was a half-hearted apology and sounded very fake, but I guess that was enough to make Leona let go of her. Shiori just ran away from my house and will probably not speak with me ever.
“Serves her right”—Leona”’s voice faltered a bit when saying this.
“Why did you do this?” - I started to sob; I don’t have any reason.
“Just wanted her to feel the same humiliation she put you through. I know it can never compare, but at least give her a taste of it. I know you still have feelings for her, but I suggest you try and get over her as soon as you can.” Leona sat in the bed near me, now her gaze fixated on me.
“Why go so far for me?” - I replied to her through tears.
“Well, as I said earlier, you are a way better person than her. And looking at you, do you need anything? I am staying with you until you get better, and I will come to visit you too.”
“I just want someone to hold me”—the words escaped my mouth quickly, and I embraced one of the pillows.
“It’s ok.” - Leona moved near me and pulled me down on her lap, her left hand around my waist.
“Is this fine with you? “Or”—she moved and sat against the wall where my bestiepulled me close to her chest, wrapping both of her arms around me.
“It’s fine, I guess”—those are my last words before starting to cry silently. I don’t know for what I am shedding tears anymore.
I ended up crying myself to sleep in her embrace.