07
My Japanese exam was coming up soon.
My mom decided to let me take a week off school for final preparations.
She even found a senior student to tutor me.
The senior had a gentle temperament, calm and always smiling, completely different from Xavier,
That day after class, I walked the senior out.
By coincidence, we ran into Xavier coming back from school.
1:57 PM c c
<
His deep gaze followed the senior’s retreating figure.
With his backpack on, he said nothing.
I tried to go hom
home, bypassing him, but he grabbed the hood of my hoodie, pulling me into his arms.
“Are you that cheap? Can’t live a day without a man?”
I raised my foot and stomped hard on his right foot.
He let go in pain.
Iran, but he caught me again,
“Aria, is this how you said you liked me?”
He pushed me against the wall, gripping my chin.
“Who gave you permission to smile at other r guys?”
“Who is he?”
“How far have you two gone? Does he know you like me…
I slapped him.
Xavier went quiet, looking at me silently with lowered eyes.
I was quiet too.
We stood there in silence, facing off.
He let go of his hand, looking away, and said, “I didn’t mean what I just said. Don’t overthink it.”
I straightened my rumpled hoodie and left.
He grabbed me,
then quickly let go, saying, “When did we become unable to even talk to each other?”
“Aria, we’re still good friends, right?”
He seemed to want to confirm something, very anxiously
I let out a long sigh and said, “No.”
“Xavier, you don’t deserve to be my friend.”
