During the three days she was at the academy, Ayami befriended Yanna. Though short, she was able to get closer to her. Yanna was able to join her circle of friends with Ayami's help.
Rina and Celine were hostile to Yanna, although they didn't show it as they were afraid it would sadden Ayami. Of course, they didn't know that Ayami was the one who hated her the most.
As Ayami watched the two people at the center of attention, the smile underneath her covered mouth faded as soon as she removed her hand. Ayami, with moistened eyes and pale face, looked at the two.
Her chest tightened as she saw Cole protecting Yanna. A disgusting feeling aroused inside her, a feeling that she loathed so much that it was maddening.
'Huh?'
Her body swayed for a little bit, making her lean to a random woman.
"Are you alright?" The woman asked Ayami.
Ayami had yet to notice that her complexion was as white as a sheet, like she had seen a ghost.
"I…"
Her head throbbed like someone was hammering it. Slightly feeling faint, Ayami staggered to go towards the two.
"Tell me, Yanna! It's a lie, right? You didn't really approach me with malicious intentions, right?" Her voice trembled in a desperate plea.
"Yanna! Why aren't you speaking? Come on, you just need to say it, say it's a lie!" Her voice cracked as she started screaming.
With a tinge of pain in her heart, Ayami recalled some memories she didn't like as she acted the same way as she did in the past when she was betrayed.
Just like that day, Yanna was pale and didn't speak at first.
"Yanna… You, I really can't believe you would betray me. I already thought of you as my precious friend, and yet you…"
'Stop.' Ayami trailed off as she heard a small voice inside her head, as if warning her. Ayami paid no heed to it and continued her act.
"Yanna, I—"
'Do not speak any further than this.' Ayami's complexion paled as she felt an indescribable pain in her head. Her heartbeat started to beat faster.
Ayami felt something looming behind her. Her palms started to get sweaty, with her back getting drenched in cold sweat. Curious, Ayami wanted to turn her head around.
'You must not.' The voice warned her, before she could completely turn her head.
Ayami quickly turned her head back when she heard Yanna's voice.
"No! You're…" With moist eyes and trembling lips, Yanna spoke. It was able to tug the heartstrings of the onlookers. She had a look that made one garner pity and protect her.
It looked like Ayami was bullying her if one didn't know the situation.
Pity, pity, you always act like that. You would always act innocent while pinning the blame on others.
"Enough." A cold voice spoke, coming behind Yanna. His eyes were brimming with intense coldness as he stared at Ayami.
Ayami bit her lower lip as she looked down. She clenched her fish, nails almost digging in.
You always look at me like that, eyes that look at an ant that would be squashed. You acted like you were superior to me.
Her stomach churned just by thinking that she was being looked down on by that damn bastard.
As she had thought that plan was impossible.
From the start, befriending them was impossible, even if it was fake.
Her body trembled with her head down. But in the eyes of the onlooker, Cole was pressuring her.
She opened her mouth, even though she was feeling weak she continued on.
'Any further and you'll die.' The voice once said as if it foresaw what she was going to do. But before she could, there was someone faster than her.
"…She's right." Yanna raised her head and looked at Ayami straight into her eyes. Her eyes were filled with curiosity and animosity.
Ayami's pupils dilated, not expecting her to admit. Murmurs started once again between the onlookers, they were clearly enjoying the drama they were witnessing. Ayami too, would have been in the spectator's seat, enjoying the drama.
"What do you mean?" It was Cole who spoke, he also didn't expect her answer.
"That's right, I first approached her with ill intent." Yanna, with her head held high proudly admitted, her eyes brimming with confidence.
"Huh?" Ayami could only gape at her.
With Yanna brimming with confidence, Ayami almost thought that she was telling the truth. If Yanna was able to almost convince Ayami, what more of the onlookers.
If she says that, then the people would most probably likely think that Ayami was one-sidedly accusing her, while Yanna would be the victim, playing along with her.
The gears inside her head spun around, trying to calmly think of a way to escape.
No, no, it wasn't supposed to go this way. Even if she changed the future a little bit, Yanna shouldn't act like this. Her personality was completely different.
Weren't you supposed to stay silent and be protected by that damn bastard? Why are you acting like this? Why did you show your true colors early on when you never even showed them to me?
Many thoughts flashed through her mind uncontrollably.
"Is that something to be proud about?" Suddenly a voice spoke amidst the crowd. It was Allina.
"You tricked and hurt your friend and now you're proudly declaring it?" Her tone was as sharp as a dagger. "Did you know? My sister easily gets shy and doesn't know how to make friends, that is why she always has this stone cold face because she is always nervous when she is facing the other party. My sister is a naive fool!"
'Stop your sister. Now.' Even if you tell me that, I can't! Ayami thought.
Her body was frozen in place, with her mind being assaulted with pain. Her heartbeat was getting uncontrollably fast, sweat trickling down her forehead, face so pale that it was drained of color. Her whole body felt cold. She felt her consciousness fading away as her breathing ragged.
"I didn't trick her! I did approach her with ill intent at first, but—"
Yanna wasn't done yet when Ayami suddenly collapsed.
"AAAHHHHH!"
"Miss Ayami, are you alright?"
"Sister!" Allina screamed. "You! Look at what you did!"
Allina hurriedly approached her while thinking that it was an act too. She didn't know that it was real when she touched her cold body. Her temperature was too cold, with her body unmoving, she looked like a corpse.
"Sister!" Allina panicked. "Somebody, hurry up and bring her to the hospital!"
Yanna also panicked. She didn't mean to do this. She didn't know that her words would bring shock to Ayami to the point that she would collapse.
Yanna only meant that she did have ill intent but after befriending Ayami it vanished.
The whole party was put in chaos. That was how poor Arnold Wang's birthday party ended.