After considering her problem with Lark solved even though she failed to unveil her memories of last night, she suddenly missed Aster. Her quiet time with her was a breather in her boisterous routine. The woman was a part of her wanting for freaking peace!
School days exhaust her mentally. People swarm like flies around her. They always push her to chat as if she was a machine incapable of getting tired. Today is her worst experience thus far. She already imagined screaming "leave me be!" a thousandth time.
Who knew putting up with a beautiful-with-a-golden-heart act would drive her nuts?
A notification lit up her phone, Marigold sent a photo of Aster sitting in the library ten minutes ago. She captioned, "Your bestie's loner through and through."
She continued her journey on the connecting alleys to the main library disregarding Aster's last message not to meet her today plus the uncertainty of her still being there. Her stomach churned as anxiety crawled up to her heart for inexplicable reasons.
When she arrived, the place was pretty deserted contrary to what she predicted. It might be that the library does not top the list of the most visited by freshies on campus tours or whatever. What a bummer, she thought. As per her opinion, the lib is flexing its colossal bookshelves, hotel level lounge chairs and tables, and gigantic globe miniature at its midst. If that is not damn good, then what is?
By pure luck, she spotted her easy-peasy upon climbing on the second floor.
Who wouldn't?
The emo atmosphere she gives off was hardly ignorable: grim, unsmiling expression and slouching posture. On top of that, she was alone at a table, oddly surrounded by girls on nearby tables far from Librarian's Desk. Care sighed at their setup. Her friend definitely prefers her loner status, shutting doors to possible friendships around her.
Care was about to call her when a book as thick as a briefcase hit Aster's arm. She whimpered like a hurt kitten. The culprit was a very familiar face Care should have recognized in the first place. Madelaine Salvador, news flash, the two-faced bitch!
"Aww, sorry. Pick it up, freak." Mandy ordered.
The woman must have lost her mind for messing with Nguyen, Care concluded cockily. She brimmed with confidence that feistiness is part of their genes. She inwardly cheered, "Show her, Aster!"
Rather than snapping at Mandy, Aster bent to get the book and handed it with a trembling hand. The ingrate Mandy being ingrate just shoved it away. She cannot figure out Aster's expression because her face was downcast. Nevertheless, her blood boiled, unleashing a new intensity of anger she never experienced before.
"Before I forget, your bag is in a dumpster outside. Should've enrolled in another uni, you know. Do I have to spell out how an eyesore you are Nguyen? Let's go, guys!" Mandy said then stood up.
"On point but it's good to have her here, too! Every time the arrogant Ivy and slutty Marigold frustrates us, we are free to vent all of it to her." Another underling stated.
"True, it's like a free punching bag." The other one seconded with a chuckle.
She watched frozen and conflicted while her friend fisted her knuckles. As much as she ached to fend for her, Aster deserves to be the one to retaliate. Mandy also notices it and pauses.
"What, freak? Are you asking for a beating or want your babysitter Caress for help?" Mandy challenged.
Aster's face turned pale, shaking her head terribly at the same time.
"Not Care! You can't tell her! YOU CAN'T!" Aster shouted nearly hysterically, shocking the crap out of them.
"Shut it! You scared me to death!" Mandy exclaimed, kicking the poor girl out of the way because she kneels before her front, "Get outta the way!"
Battling with different emotions, Care dropped on her knees. In the end, she crawled under the table so they wouldn't know she witnessed everything. Her body shuddered in livid madness that all she could see was pure red. She covered her mouth to stifle her animalistic growls of fury. She wanted to rip them to shreds as painful as how her heart writhes in agony.
Alerted with Aster about to leave, she held her respiration while still in hiding. She only allowed herself to breathe the moment she was completely out of her sight.
"I'm useless." She mumbled, remorseful.
No matter how she contemplates what happened, she falls to the same question. Why didn't she pay attention?
Her fingers were shaking as she tapped her phone. With just a few rings, Aster answered the call. They shared the long silence stretching painfully for both of them.
"What's wrong?" Aster spoke, unable to bear the deafening soundless phone call.
Care almost sob hearing how casual she can keep her voice as if nothing happened.
"I drank too much last night and I thought... it would've been better if you were there with me. Perhaps, you have any other reason why you didn't come to Camaraderie?"
"Didn't feel like it, that's that. Why all of a sudden you're asking?"
"Nah. Just glad you didn't. It wasn't exactly fun. Tell me, don't we all have skeletons in our closets that we try hard to keep hidden? If I show you mine, will you still call me your friend?"