If only I could end things right here.
As she wandered through the bustling streets of New York, her gaze fixed on the ground below, Despite the lively atmosphere around her, she seemed distant, lost in her own thoughts.
"Aya! Over here!"
She looked up and glanced at Joy, her friend, who stood patiently by the school gate. Both were seniors in the academy.
Aya found herself increasingly weary of Joy's incessant chatter and gossip. She secretly craved moments of solitude to process her own thoughts and emotions.
But deep down, Joy's presence offered a temporary reprieve from loneliness.
"Morning---"
Joy's arms wrapped around her in a tight hug, cutting off whatever she was about to say.
Ouch..
"Morning!!" she exclaimed, her voice a high-pitched squeal that vibrated through her ear. Aya winced, a slight grimace crossing her face as she tried to pull away from the sudden noise and affection.
"Joy-
"Uy! Uy! I've noticed something, you're crying? Are you alright?" Joy asked, concerned. Aya shook her head and brushed it off. "Are you serious? Since when did you see me cry, I'm chill!"
Joy raised an eyebrow, then it turned into a frown. "Hey, you've been trying to hide something from me, you're acting weird. What's going on?!" she retorted.
Aya sighed and shook her head. "I'm fine!.. nothing's up!" she replied firmly, "I promise!" looking straight ahead.
"But--
"I'm fine, there's nothing wrong with me.."
Joy sighed, knowing she couldn't force the truth out of her friend. She knew that if she pushed too hard, Aya would clam up completely.
Aya knew that, but she wouldn't utter a single word, not wanting to worry her only friend. "And...I know you always have something up in the morning, so tell me...
what is it this time?"
Aya changed the topic, eager to shift the focus and ready to listen to whatever was on her friend's mind. Joy's laughter bubbled up, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I saw him..again!" Joy exclaimed.
Saw...?
"Huh?" Aya frowned, trying to decipher her friend's cryptic words.
She had to admit that she was slow, and even slower since she hadn't even eaten breakfast after having a silent breakdown. But her frown turned into a knowing look.
"Ah, I see."
"I just looked up his schedule from a friend of mine, and she said..he'll be here! We can see him together in the school's gymnasium!" Joy exclaimed, and Aya just rolled her eyes.
Her friend always thought about handsome boys in school that Aya found...distasteful. More like, disgusted. It was like she couldn't see what was handsome in them aside from their faces.
"Isn't that...stalking your forte?" Aya replied. She also knew Joy liked to stalk people on their social media. Aya found it creepy, but Joy...would always be Joy... Joy sighed deeply, crossing her arms and playfully rolled her eyes.
"Social media is different than seeing them in real life, ya know!" Joy answered back. "And.. I'm not stalking! I'm admiring him! Damn it, Aya, I can't even get close to him and you're not helping at all!"
Of course, I won't.
Aya sighed and shook her head. "Let's go...I don't want to stand here for too long." Both of them went inside the school's grounds, and their chatter continued.
Reaching the sixth floor where their designated classroom was, they used the stairs and walked down the hallway towards room 606.
They let themselves be immersed in the pinnacle of sharing their thoughts with one another, and it faded away as she came to her senses when...
*THUD*
"OUCH!" She hollered out in agony.
A man ended up colliding with her, his shoulder hitting hers and fell, her buttocks landing on the ground with a thud. The pain was unbearable; she felt like the bones in her butt had just cracked.
"OWW! YOU DAMN BASTARD!" She yelled in agony.
"Damn! I'm sorry! Sorry miss!" Apologies mixed with frustration filled the air as the guy continued to run. Pushing past the pain, her anger rising, she set off in pursuit of the culprit, joining the chase through the crowded street.
Her eyes widened.
Did he just-!?
"Aya! Are you ok!?" Joy immediately tried to help her get up, but Aya ended up running towards the guy.
"Come back HERE!" her voice echoed, drawing the attention of onlookers who watched the chase unfold.
As they ran outside the schoolyard, whispers rippled through the crowd of students. They watched, confused, as a senior high student chased a college student. Some girls, in particular, judged Aya harshly, whispering that she was "a whore" for pursuing a college student.
Their judgment, unfortunately, reflected a common, and often unfair, attitude towards girls who pursue older men.
"Why is she chasing Kazuki-senpai?" a student from the college department asked, bewildered.
"She obviously likes him and she's furious that Kazuki-senpai rejected her!" another replied.
"If we're talking about a senior high school student, some of these bitches might be a little desperate for attention," a third student said, their voice laced with judgment.
"They also jump to conclusions and call people out even if they're wrong, just look at their post in the school's page! They are calling out college students for using the library in their vacant time for a reason that we're not giving them space and so on!"
Another student chimed in, sighing. "I don't think that whore can catch him. Kazuki's an athlete! He runs like a car!"
As Aya continued to chase Kazuki, the city's bustling streets swallowed them whole. She was starting to feel overwhelmed. Kazuki was like a blur, his speed like a car tearing through the crowds.
"What--Ah!"
"Ouch!"
Aya suddenly collided with a little boy, sending him to the ground. He cried out, "Brother!"
The onlookers in the city stopped to stare, their faces a mix of concern and amusement.
Aya scrambled to her feet, helping the little boy up. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! It was my fault! I'm sorry, little one!" she said, trying to comfort him. She blew on his hands, hoping to soothe him.
The people around her began to approach the little boy, offering comfort and sympathy. Some of them even muttered harsh words towards Aya, but she didn't pay attention.
Because she felt something...weird.
"Alistair!" A voice boomed, and a boy, not much older than the first, approached them.
So this kid's name is...Alistair?
"Brother!" The little boy ran to his brother, hugging him tightly. He looked up at his brother, who was intensely glaring at Aya.
"You! What have you done to my brother!?" the older boy demanded, his voice sharp with anger.
"I...I didn't mean to!" Aya protested. "It was an accident! I said sorry, you have to believe me!"
The crowd around them began to murmur, throwing harsh words her way. They told her to shut up and apologize sincerely, but the brother dismissed her. "You're lucky, I won't report you, be careful next time and act your age!" He said, scolding Aya.
Aya quickly shut her mouth, her anger simmering. She couldn't believe a child was lecturing her like this. This wouldn't have happened if that guy, that bastard, had apologized to her sincerely. She didn't want to end up like this!
Well...damn it!