Within the 8, some were closer than others. As I stated before; Cora and Freya were very fond of each other. Ylle kind of matched with Winslow and Helzeny and River were a set. Zydal and Lessin were the centerpiece in the Venn and so it was very rare to find them together, alone. But Zydal had to put their differences aside and address what had been bothering her for a couple of days.
Time and place were in her favor. While everybody else went back to the dorm to freshen up and more, Lessin preferred to stay in class and study some more. She took advantage of the silence. Zydal was well aware, and so she too stayed behind.
A few minutes had passed and the class was almost empty, only them inside. Lessin knew of Zydal's presence but she didn't bother to ask why she was still in there. Was it strange? Kind of. Zydal wasn't much of a bookworm.
"Are you busy?", Zydal asked, from the backbench, her usual seat.
Lessin sat 3 rows from the front.
"You know I am.", she replied, eyes locked on the book.
"Can you give me 5 to 10 minutes?",
"Choose one.".
"5 then. I'll try to make it short.".
Although she didn't want to, Lessin decided to lend her an ear. She turned back, just so they could see each other as they talked.
"It was just soda.", Zydal began, unafraid of anything.
But Lessin was so slow. Sometimes I wonder how she even passed. "What soda?", she asked.
"You know what I mean. 2 days ago, at the dining hall, supper time.", Zydal aided her with the info.
"Oh, Sabrina?",
"Yeah. Why did you make it awkward?",
"I didn't.",
"Actually you did. You embarrassed her. It was just soda.",
"And I didn't want it?",
"Why?",
Silence followed. Lessin had no answer, and Zydal refused to speak until she got one. In that silence, Lessin was somehow forced to think of the whys. Why did she refuse?
"We don't know each other that well.", she answered.
"Are you sure it's that?",
"I mean, it has to be. Otherwise, why does she make me feel uncomfortable?", Lessin continued, "If she wants to be friends then she should say it. But she demands a whole different side of me.".
"What do you mean?",
It started a couple weeks ago, on their way to Bible studies. It was evening, somehow dark, and Sabrina missed a step. As she fell, Lessin, who was close enough, luckily caught her and brought her to safety. Since then, it became like a debt.
"I saved her.", Lessin explained, "So, she feels like she owes me, I guess. I just did that because I was close. It was just a reflex. You know I'm not the type to sacrifice myself for others.",
"I know, but you still did. Let her do that for you. If she gives you something, say thank you and take it. It's not a huge deal.".
Lessin digested Zydal's words. Maybe she was worried for nothing, but her gut had never been wrong before. She knew there was more to Sabrina's small acts of kindness, but she had no courage to dive deeper into figuring it out. She knew that she wouldn't like what she'd find out.
***