— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — SERRA — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
*(That same day, in Phoenix Ruby High…)*
Oh… Hello. I'm just an ordinary girl doing effort in Phoenix Ruby High, I guess. What am I doing here? I'm just here at the edge of the open area library, looking down. The ground looks so great right now... Perfect, I planned on staining that soon. But for now I'm just standing here doing nothing. No one usually goes to the open area, so I'm at peace.
But it doesn't last.
"Kuso… (Damn…) Emerardo hyusuton ni hairenai… (Can't enter Emerald Houston…)" I heard a girl enter, but I didn't pay attention to her.
"Renn-san kawaisō… (I feel bad for Renn…) If only there's something I can do… I wanted to tell his friend Syrra about this, but they implemented a new policy. I can't enter during school hours… Why did it have to involve him..." My eyes widened. I don't know if I am hallucinating or I heard Renn's name right now.
I wanted to ask more, but I literally don't know her. Yet she knows Renn...
"Renn... Alrose?" I asked.
"A, hai! (Ah, yes!) Do you know him? We've been friends..." She asked. Renn has a lot of friends... Too bad all my friends become traitors.
"Why do you know him?" I asked.
"I saw him and we interacted once. He's very friendly... Though he got expelled by something he didn't do." And in that moment, I got slightly frustrated.
"So he did..." Wait... Why am I frustrated? Why am I gripping the edge of the open air library so much? I only said that I gave him a little of my trust...
Is it because he's now experiencing the pain I am feeling? Being pushed down by the people that trusted him?
"I really wanted to help him out, but I don't know what to do..." There is not much on what to do... She's worried about him. It pains me to say this, but...
I also want to help him out. And to do that, I'd need to blindly trust this girl. Trusting anyone is a risk, but the situation right now is big...
"Tell me more." I can't believe I am pushing myself to deal with his problems...
"You might not like it..." She stood beside me to the edge and began explaining all that had happened. My frustration was increasing while I listened to it. They really went for the person that understood my situation. They made him feel worthless.
The fact that he's just wasting away makes me upset.
"It's always those people who'd just work on something for their selfish gain. Selfish... Selfish... SELFISH!!" I slammed my own hand on the metal bar on the edge. Not caring if it hurts or not.
"Ah! Don't do that!" She was shocked seeing me like this. I calmed down for a bit because I don't want to get any more attention right now.
"... Your... Number..." Here I am, pushing myself again for her number by slowly handing over my phone number to her. I'm really taking the risk, not knowing if this will end up in betrayal or not.
"Ah! Hai! (Yes!)" She did take my phone and quickly put in her number and I got my phone back from her. I checked to see if she did input her number here. And she did.
"Oh! I'm gonna head for class now, mata ne! (See you again!)" She left the area, and I am back to my peace.
I'll stay here for a while… Maybe even think about how painful my hand feels right now... But even then, to be reminded that the world is full of people that is open to the concept of "betrayal" just makes me agitated.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
*(6 ½ hours later…)*
Class has officially ended. Aside from meeting with that foreigner, nothing interesting happened. My classmates planned to have a party after this, but I'm not interested. They've been holding parties more often and I am sick of it. I just rode a tricycle heading to where I live. To the place where I frequently get headaches. Curse my day just doesn't stop me from making me feel like melting over the fires of people's mouths.
I paid for the fare and walked to the gate. But I happened to see Syrra and another person near the gate. I walked towards her.
"Hey… It's you…" She was surprised and turned to me.
"Serra?!" She didn't expect me to be here at this time.
"You… live in this subdivision?" I asked.
"Yes, do you live here as well?" She asked back.
"Yes…" I answered. I walked ahead of her inside the subdivision and headed my way home. I didn't want my family to be waiting any longer... Or maybe that's the scolding I'm about to receive that's patiently waiting for me...
"Wait! Do you want to stay with us?!" I stopped hearing Syrra behind me.
"No... I don't want to." I kept going.
While I was walking, Syrra grabbed my arm and I was slightly surprised to suddenly see her doing this.
"Just one night?" She was practically starting to beg me to stay.
"Let me go. I said I really don't want to." I broke my arm free from her.
"Then I'll text you instead!" Syrra then handed her phone to me. It's been days since we have interacted and it's already a given that Renn trusts her so much... I took the risk again and I gave her my number. I gave it back to her quickly and walked my way home.
Which was this big white house. Seeing this house just continues to drive me crazy.
"Serra! You're home slightly late!" As I got in, I was immediately greeted by my brother who has a very loud mouth. He's always the one signing and acting crazy a lot, and I just get annoyed by him everyday. This is why I don't text or call anyone because he'd disturb me anytime.
"You better not be with your classmates again!" I looked at my mom who was very angry. She doesn't even consider how long I chose to stay in school myself just to catch a break from her.
"I'm not hanging out with anyone." I dump my bag on the sofa and went upstairs with my phone.
"She's totally hanging out! She's got friends!" My little sister... Sometimes I even wonder why is she always a tattletale... She's been rambling random nonsense and my mom chooses to believe in what she say instead of me. Most of the time it's not even my own fault, which I find bullshit.
I went to my room that had nothing but a bed, a desk, a cabinet, some plush toys when I was a child, and a pink desktop that literally hurts my eyes whenever I look at it.
But I chose to lie down on the bed, because I'm tired. I feel drained.
While I was lying down, I received a text:
"Hey... Did anything happen?" From Syrra. I switched my phone to mute and replied to her.
"Nothing happened. I'm fine. By the way, there's that foreigner girl looking for you." I didn't want her to worry me too much, so I just replied to her straight so that she won't focus on me.
"Ah! Fey! Right... You think you could give me her number? I want to tell her something about Renn." I wasn't surprised at her knowing since she is his biggest buddy. I gladly gave her the number.
"+1***********
Go on ahead, I will be listening."
To think that all this started after knowing Renn's situation... What a headache... I have no idea what can I do with so many things restricting me right now... After a bit, I was invited to a group chat. I took a look.
F: "Hey! Syrra! It's nice I got your number from this girl! I have to tell you something!"
Sy: "Actually, I'm going to tell you something too! It's about Renn's situation! Things have gone downhill all of a sudden and I need to know why!"
F: "I was actually going to say this... How is he?"
Sy: "Gone..."
F: "Gone?"
Sy: "His spirit. He's still there, alive. But he is like a zombie. He's a shell."
F: "When was your last visit?"
Sy: "A while ago. We need a plan to bring him back!"
F: "I already have some info on who could be behind this, though I was traumatized after getting it... Had to make a run for it after knowing it... Anyway, this guy said that he recognized one of the two girls from their hair. It was quite the golden locks, he said. She was Feliciana Desmond, daughter of a billionaire!"
They already worked on something... But now I am wondering why am I even here?
Sy: "Noted! I know who the 2nd victim is. She is in our school. Cassandra Sophia Centuria. She's mute, but has gathered the attention of all the boys in the room. They're protecting her from me..."
Se: "Feliciana Desmond... Cassandra Sophia Centuria..."
F: "Ah, hello... Serra-chan?"
Se: "Yes?"
F: "Are you going to help us?"
Helping them... I don't owe them anything, but I don't want them to worry about me if I decline.
Se: "Yes."
I had no choice but to say yes. My head hurts from all this texting and I decided to put my phone on mute for the time being.
"Serra! Time to eat!" My brother knocked the door. I hid my phone under my pillow. I didn't feel like eating today so I just stayed here and stared at the ceiling.
It's such a pain having to do this... It makes me so angry I want to break a wall... I involved myself over someone I have little trust with.
"(I guess I have to waste more energy...)"
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — SYRRA — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
*Meanwhile...*
Se: "Yes."
Sy: "Thanks a lot, Serra..."
F: "We'll surely have our hands full over the situation. Syrra, I suggest you keep an eye on her. Maybe potentially pressure her if you can.
Pressuring her... It's going to be hard, but I'll try to make it possible.
Sy: "I'll definitely try. Maybe I can get her to crack some info while I am at it."
F: "Alright, let's do this!"
And the texting stopped. Serra seemed to have stopped texting us. Something definitely happened, and it's not just right now. But for now, I'll be focusing on what to do with the two:
Feliciana Desmond and Cassandra Sophia Centuria.
"Dinner!"
I can hear Jenna from downstairs. I quickly went down and sat down for dinner, which was my sister's one and only Salisbury Steak! There was also apple juice to go with it, my favorite!
I started eating happily. Her cooking is just the best... I wish I can try my mom's cooking sometimes, but she's been busy in her new branch. I'd respect her hard work though, so I'll just patiently wait for her return one day.
"That Serra girl..." I reacted to Jenna saying her name.
"What about her?" I asked.
"I've had my eye on her for some time now, but she's not looking so good." She immediately grew concerned with her arms crossed, still holding the spatula. I agree with her.
"Renn and her are similar in terms of personality now... Except I can see some hope placed in Serra. I also placed my hopes in her. I also wish I can help her. But unlike Renn's situation, I don't even know what to even do." I was upset about Serra's situation as well. For her, I believe a lot went on with the people she met. This may have made her reject the world.
"Well, when Renn feels better... Maybe we can help her next. People like her should experience the good things in life. Support them at their lowest and they'll eventually lean on you and rely on you." I was amazed at her answer. I nodded, feeling more confident as I continue eating the steak.
"His philosophy is to make a change, and I will not change on that philosophy of his." I said as I finished my food and pushed the empty plate forward a bit.
"Try not to focus on that change so much, but now is the time to focus on it while things aren't as they seem." She cleaned my plate and I went upstairs. I looked at my father, who was now coughing and wheezing from the beer. If I see Renn wasting away just as bad as he is right now...
I'll never hear the end of it, because I don't want that to happen.
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