"Can you... leave now?"
I wait in silence while sitting, my heart pounding in my chest. My palms feel sweaty, and a knot forms in my stomach.
I feel like a horrible person, making someone who is already so alone, so vulnerable, leave. She's being hunted by these terrible people, and yet... I can't let anyone near me get hurt just because of my stupid selfish decisions.
The weight of it all presses against me, suffocating. I clench my hands, my nails digging into my skin, the guilt flood in within me as I sit in the chair, unable to meet her eyes. I try to steady my breath, to give myself space to think, but it feels impossible.
I wait for her response, feeling like I'm waiting for a bad news. I expected anger, maybe even frustration. She seems so young, so like a kid who would be upset.
But when I glance at her, she smiles instead.
It's not the smile I expected. There's a sense of understanding behind it, as if she's already known this would happen.
"...I see..."
Her voice is soft and calm. My heart stings, but I can't bring myself to stop her.
"The food was really delicious, its my first time having that kind of food. I also got to try so many new things. And.. you worried about me, even though we just met. Thank you really... for everything."
Her tone is gentle, almost resigned. My heart aches as she speaks. I want to say something, anything to take it back. But I still can't...
I clear my throat. "Do... you know how to get back to your world now?" I ask, the words tasting bitter. It's a small thing, but I need to hear it. I need to know she'll be okay. Maybe it's just to ease my guilt, even if only a little.
She shakes her head, a faint glimmer of sadness in her eyes. "Too bad, I can't go back yet..." Her voice is tinged with regret, but she didn't elaborate.
My breath catches, as another terrible idea got into my head.
"J-just leave it be!" I blurt out.
"I don't know what this heart thing is, but you can give it to them, and you can stay here! That way..!"
That way we can still be friends echoes in my mind, but it's selfish, isn't it? I know deep down that its wrong that just the thought makes my chest tighten. But I really can't leave her alone..
I freeze when I see the change in her expression. It's not anger, it's something deeper, a quiet pain. Her lips press into a thin line as she heard my words.
"Is that really important?" I ask, my voice barely a whisper.
"....More than your own safety?"
Her eyes soften as she replies, her voice steady but tinged with a sadness that matches mine. "...That's right."
The words settle into me, cold and heavy.
I stare at her, unsure of what to say next, the silence between us stretching out. She speaks again, her voice firm yet calm, a sense of finality in her tone.
"But it's true that I can't endanger your people any longer. It may take a while to find them, but I promise, once I do, I'll leave." she declares calmly.
After that, Rubielle took her leave, carrying nothing but herself. As I watched her walk away, her back seemed strong yet lonely. We part ways with a heavy silence hanging between us. I feel the weight of her absence but I know it's for the best... right?
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The next day, in class, the teacher asks if anyone knows why Rubielle is absent. My head lie down on the desk, face pressed against the cool wood, my thoughts swirling. My eyes drift toward the empty space where she should be sitting.
It seems the magic she used to hypnotize everyone still lingers, hanging in the air like a fog that won't lift.
Mia in front of me notices the shift in my mood.
"Are you okay?" she asks, her voice soft, but I can't meet her eyes.
"It's nothing," I mutter, though the words feel hollow still lying on my desk.
My chest feels tight as the weight of yesterday's decision presses on me like a heavy stone. Every heavy sigh is a constant reminder I can't shake off...
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In class, my mind refuses to settle, thoughts of Rubielle and my decision replaying over and over like an endless loop. I can't focus on the lessons, the teacher's voice becoming nothing more than background noise.
Lunchtime passes in a blur, my fork stabbing at food I barely taste. I can feel the weight of my thoughts pulling me under, drowning me in guilt and uncertainty.
The classroom feels emptier than it ever has before. By the time the last bell rings, I feel exhausted, not from the day itself, but from the emotional drain, the constant cycle of thoughts I can't escape.
Another day went by, and before I realized it, school was already over. My feet drag as I walk home, the pavement beneath me feeling like it's pushing back, adding to the weight I carry. My gaze stays fixed on the ground, and every step is slow and heavy like walking underwater.
Under the setting sun, I barely notices anyone passes me. I replay everything over and over in my head. Why can't I move on? We barely knew each other for less than a week, yet her presence lingers in my thoughts like a shadow. Is it just guilt? Or is it a pity?
In the middle of these thoughts, I notice a blur.
A shadow, black as night, flickers across my vision, moving faster than I can follow. It was the same thing yesterday! What should I do it's coming at me!
I try to think of how I can escape the shadow rushing toward me, but then something else catches my eye.
A silhouette against the bright orange sky—white hair glimmering like silk under the sun, her movements fluid and captivating. With the same uniform I'm wearing. The sight of her takes my breath away, and for a moment, everything else fades into the background.
Then, her eyes meet mine. Orange, like the setting sun, and they lock with mine, a feeling of being caught in their intensity. I freeze. My body stand still, as though time itself has stopped.