"𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘦, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦." — 𝘠𝘷𝘦𝘴

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"Yves, let's eat together," a short hair girl invites as she approaches the chair in the corner— where Yves peacefully looking into nothing particular.

"Sorry, maybe next time. I already promise to someone," Yves reasons then gives the girl the most sincere apologetic smile she could muster. The girl seems to buy her lie and bids her goodbye. Only when she left that Yves could finally breathes and goes back to stare at nothing that sadly didn't last either. Before she can even dive more to her thought, a light tap on her shoulder brings Yves back to her senses. She raises his gaze only to meet a face with nose and eyebrow piercing both on the left side.

Yves scrutinizes the girl before her and mentally smirks from satisfaction. The girl has a pitch black, wolf-cut hairstyle hair paired with light black make-up if that make sense. The typical gothic girl that won't have any second thought to beat the shit out of anyone who messes up with her. Frankly, this girl's appearance is the exact opposite of her personality but of course no one would know that since people tends to believe what their naked eyes see and the gossips they hear.

Yves clearly remember the first time she saw this girl. It was her transfer day, while walking to the principal office. The hallway was crowded with students in circle.

In the center, there were girls. Two of them were laying in the round while the other one was standing and glaring at them while gripping in a supposed to be lunch box.

"I knew it, she really is a troublemaker. We mustn't get close to her," the gossips.

"Hurry call a teacher so that delinquent can be punish."

"Look at her clothes, all black like a witch.'

And a whole lot of different whispers and harsh words towards the only girl standing. Yves shrugged her shoulder and was about to leave when a teacher suddenly pop out of nowhere. She expected the teacher to dismiss the students to stop the ruckus and ask the girls involved in the scene to go to the office to investigate, but instead, she gave the girl who's standing a disgusting look from head to toe, clearly hated the way the latter dress up.

"What's your name?" The teacher said, her voice has a glimpse of annoyance.

"Claudette," the girl with black lipstick answered. Her face was blank increasing the annoyance of the teacher.

"Okay, Ms. Claudette, hasn't your parents taught you how to dress up? Where do you think you are? A funeral?"

"There's nothi—

"Look! You even dare to fight back to your teacher! Have you got no shame? Are your parents aware that they raised a rude child?" The older then shook her head before finishing her sentence." I will do the responsibility that your parents haven't done, go to the office now!"

The gothic girl opened her mouth to speak but then retreated when she saw the teacher glared. With her head down, she left the hallway. Yves on the other hand, walked away from the hallway with a frown— clearly not amused on what just happen. And soon, the once crowed corridor became empty.

Was that teacher for real? How could she act in a rush without even asking what happen? She literally jump on her own conclusion using only her eyes and not her brain. So stupid! She's been living her life longer than I but the way her mind work was more of a 13 years old, shame on her and her biased mindset. And she call herself a teacher? Yikes. Yves couldn't help but show her irritation in her expression; frowning face and loud, heavy footsteps. It's a good thing no one was around—

Thud!

With a shock, Yves looked up to see who bumped her. Base on the force, it's too strong to be a girl. Her guess was right, it's not a girl but a tall and handsome guy— blonde curly hair, pointed nose, blue-green eyes, thick black eyebrows and eyelashes, defined jawline.

"Miss!" The man called for the fifth time as he wave his hand right before her face, "are you okay?"

Yves flinched when she realized how close their face are. She stepped backward while closing her now open mouth then wiped her drools. Her face turning light red from embarrassment. She's sure this guy in front of her thought she was a crazy pervert.

𝘎𝘦𝘦𝘻! 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘸.

"Yeah," she cleared her throat, straightened her posture." Sorry," then leave.

She walk-ran her way to the principal office. Thanks to that guy, she forgot her own irritation and was replaced by embarrassment due to her stupidness. She was lack of breath when she arrive in front of the office. She knocked before walking inside, talked to the principal for a minute and then left to go to her designated classroom. When Yves arrived at the room, the teacher was already discussing and since it was her first day, the teacher let her pass. And the whole morning class went smooth and now her only problem was how to find a peaceful and empty place to hang out this lunch.

Her classmates' been talking to her the whole time, making her exhausted. Faking her smile, trying to be good to everyone was really tiring. Some of her classmate invited her for lunch that she declined politely, and gladly, they didn't force her. She was on the verge of snapping out just now.

She shook her head to erase the thought and started looking for a hide out when her phone rang. A text displayed on her screen.

"Sup Yves, how's school?" she read that she replied posthaste.

"Exhausting. Didn't know it's this tiring to act like an angel when you're a demon XD."

Yves returned her phone to her pocket when she spotted a nice place to eat. She headed to the empty bench but halted when she heard voices on her way. It wax coming from an empty room. Out of curiosity, her direction changes to the said room. The room was basically the dead end of the campus, behind it was basically walls.

Slowly, the noise became clearer. Yves stopped and hide close enough to hear the conversation. She peeked and to her surprise, it was the girls from earlier. But this time around, the gothic girl was the one cornered.

"Come on dummy give us the money," one of the girl threatened.

"I t-told you I can't!" the prey stuttered.

Yves already picked up what's happening. Grinning, she got her phone out and started recording everything until the gothic girl decided to just gave in. When the two left, Yves walked out to meet the gothic girl's crying eyes. The girl slump in the ground so Yves offered her a hand.

"I'm not gonna hurt you," Yves reassured when fear and hesitation showed off of the girl's face.

Yves reassuring words and genuine smile made the girl calm down and accepted her help. They headed to the empty bench.

"Here," Yves then offered her sandwich. Thank God her roommate made two sandwiches. The bullies took this girl's food and money.

The girl whose name is Claudette started to burst into tears again causing Yves to panic.

"H-hey don't cry!"

Claudette watched as the girl beside her panicked— unable to know what to do to comfort her. The simple action made her burst into laughter. And because of it, Yves gave her a weird look.

"S-Sorry," she then wiped the combination tears of joy and sadness. "It was the first time someone showed kindness to me. I can't help but burst into tears. Thank you."

Yves softened hearing her words. How many hardship, judgement, and bullying does this girl in front of her endured just because she has a different lifestyle and appearance than others?

"No problem," Yves didn't realize she raised her hand and ruffled the girl's hair. Somehow, she felt the need to protect this girl from anything that will harm her. "I am your friend after all."

Claudette flinched hearing what she said and jumped to hug her. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I will be a good friend! I promise!"

"I-I get it so let go. Ack. C-can't breathe!" Yves tapped her back as if a sign of defeat. It took another 30 seconds before Claudette released her. As soon as she felt freedom, she coughed and inhale fresh oxygen as if she was addicted to it. "You're not planning to kill me, are you?" She hissed and stared at her, making their eyes to lock.

Silence.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Both of them laughed for no reason. When their laughter subsided, Yves started to ask questions that, though a little uncomfortable, Claudette tried to answer. And as the truth was revealed, the more Yves gets irritated.

"It's okay Yves. As long as I gave them the money they won't hurt me," Claudette tried to assure when she saw the changes in Yves' mood. She was afraid that Yves will avoid her after hearing her troubles in life.

Instead to assuring, Yves felt like killing those two. She wanted to tell Claudette that it's not okay, that it will never be okay, but she chose to shut her mouth. Claudette seemed to be the type of people that is hard to themselves, making every problems their fault. Yves' words might just made Claudette blame herself. So rather than saying anything, she just sighed and nodded. "Okay."

Claudette waved her goodbye as she ran to her classroom. Yves wanted to leave together but Claudette insisted to leave later saying that if people saw them together, it'll put Yves in trouble. But of course she didn't accept and instead let her friend leave first. It's her first day so being late wasn't going to be a problem unlike to Claudette who already had a bad reputation in school.

𝘗𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦.

She smirked as she gaze at her phone screen where a video was playing. She stood up and left the place while humming. Something good was about to happen.