"Did you say something?"
Astrid asked, raising an eyebrow as she looked at me sideways, noticing my distracted look.
"No, nothing."
I answered quickly, shaking my head and approaching the boy with that fake, innocent smile.
It was clear from Astrid's expression that she was wondering how I could change my facade so quickly. For me, it was already part of who I was.
"Hi, you're Sid, aren't you?"
I asked, approaching him with that innocent smile that, apart from the fact that hardly anyone noticed it, few could really notice its true nature.
When I realized that he wasn't even aware of my presence, I decided to continue with what I was saying.
"Since I always see you here alone, I was curious... Could we be your friends?"
I finished with a smile so radiant that I'm sure even the shiniest jewel in the world would be envious.
[Sid's POV]
I was in my corner, quietly reading my book, when those two girls I had seen in the principal's office yesterday approached me. At first, I decided to pretend I hadn't heard, to avoid getting into any more trouble, especially with these two, who were extremely popular at school.
But this Mira girl, realizing that I was trying to ignore her, didn't give up. With an expression that was still 'innocent', although I knew it wasn't innocent at all, she continued to insist, trying to get my attention in any way she could, oblivious to the fact that I clearly didn't want to get involved with them.
When I realized that she wasn't going to leave me alone if I didn't answer her question, I let out a discreet sigh and closed my book for a moment. With a quick movement, I glanced at her, analyzing her at a glance, trying to pick up some detail that would help me understand her intentions.
"Please, next time you ask someone for something, try not to flash that fake smile."
I commented, not really caring about the shock she had received, as I went back to reading my book. I saw no need to soften my words, especially since she was clearly trying to manipulate me, and that annoyed me.
I didn't make that comment as a form of provocation, nor to try to look funny. Still, as surprised as I was, both by my words and by her friend's reaction, the redhead ended up letting out a discreet giggle, which she quickly disguised with a cough.
"Mira, I don't think he'd be comfortable with us being here."
Astrid commented as she approached Mira.
Mira, completely ignoring my refusal to approach and her friend's warning that I didn't want to get involved with them, simply disregarded it and asked again.
"I see... Being a Gift Zero, you must be used to getting a lot of fake smiles, aren't you?"
After the statement from the white-haired girl, who still had that cynical smile on her face, I decided not to say anything and continued reading my book. However, it seemed that even that wouldn't be enough to make her give up. After all, even with my clear, almost direct answer that I didn't want to get involved with them, she insisted on continuing the conversation.
"I just want you to know one thing: that smile I'm showing you is the same one I give to everyone, every day."
Mira still insisted on that statement, as if she expected me to finally believe her lies.
And once again, Mira kept the same innocent smile on her face, as if I didn't know it was just another one of her fake smiles.
And from the look on her friend's face, I was right. Perhaps I wasn't the first person to realize that that smile was just a façade, something she was trying to hide behind her expression, but I wasn't that far behind either.
As it seemed pointless to try to make it clear that I didn't want to get involved with either of them, I kept my eyes on my book. Without lifting my head, I imitated the same gesture she had made: a corner smile, identical to the one she had given me a few seconds earlier. I made it clear that I didn't mind at all.
"At no point did I say it wasn't the same..."
I said, looking at Mira, keeping the same fake smile that she insisted on saying was real, even though I knew it wasn't. After all, if I could give it, I could give it. After all, if I could give it, what was to stop someone else from getting it?
It only took me saying those words for the smile on Mira's face to change completely. If before I still had some hope that she would leave me alone, now it was completely gone.
"So that means you'll want to be my friend..."
Mira, for a moment, forgot to keep her mask on. Without realizing it, she ended up saying it to me with a smile that was even more fake than the previous one, accompanied by a victorious voice.
She really seemed to think she had the upper hand there. But as soon as I realized where she was going with the conversation, I decided to interrupt her while I still had time.
"As I said before, I never claimed not to be the same. But what's the point of being the same if it doesn't change the fact that he's a fake?"
I asked in an almost obvious way, knowing that she wouldn't be able to answer, so surprised was she.
Mira was speechless. The mask she tried so hard to hide was unmasked so easily by me. As soon as I realized that she would try to retort, I decided to put an end to the conversation.
"I'll give you a piece of advice: if you really want to have real friends, and not fake ones, I recommend that you be yourself. Show who you really are, show your true personality."
I knew that wouldn't put her off. On the contrary, if she really is the kind of person I'm thinking of, it must have made her a little angry, but she wouldn't admit it. And the fact that she was keeping her head down and taking the opportunity to hide her face only confirmed that I was right.