That Girl Who Runs Out Tears

Dealing with Anxiety

Chapter 7
After talking to Mr. Lee...

Thisbe went back to her room feeling like a bag of stone has just been transferred just right at her heart.

That night where he waited for Navi to come home, Thisbe by this time was already suspicious about the anxious feeling Navi had been showing the previous days.

She keeps on contemplating alone at her bedroom whether what could be the problem.

Thisbe can't tame the animal side of herself. Curiosity hits her hard.

So she was merely tempted to look what's inside the flash drive.

She sneaked into her brother's room one morning before she went off to school, good thing her brother always leaves earlier than she does and there she saw cruel things she never thought a man could ever commit.

----

Upon reaching her classroom, where in she was 30 minutes late, her homeroom teacher smashed his book on his desk as loud as he can to make her realize what situation, she was in right now.

She immediately lifts her head and saw the teacher looking annoyed from her getting late half time of the class and barging in without even greeting the homeroom teacher.

"Good morning Sir, I'm sorry for being late on your class. It won't happen again." She said timidly and sat down on her chair.

"What must I do with kids like you? Last time, you hit one of your classmates with a Ball.Right.Into.Her.Head..."

(Which was merely an accident, she wanted to retort)

Standing infront of her desk, "...you haven't even joined any club yet! Choosing your club will develop some specific skills in you that are crucial for your career! You think were just doing this for fun huh? " The teacher justify while poking her head.

(Once you join a certain club, you'll be obliged to pay fees and Thisbe doesn't want to trouble her mother nor his brother about money again. She wanted to justify, but chose not to. What's the point? The teacher will probably just think she's making excuses because she's 'lazy'.)

"...and your teachers..." The homeroom teacher took a sighed from stress, " they are constantly complaining! If not about your low grades, it's about YOU SLEEPING DURING THEIR CLASS! You know how much humiliated I am whenever I get that report, don't you? It just means that I'm not an effective teacher! " he paused

"They keep on looking down on me just because of one useless student like you. If you can't do it right, might as well QUIT SCHOOL!"

(She badly wanted to quit school but she can't. Her mother won't allow it. They didn't even have the luxury to buy their own meal every dinner, they're just thankful Ramos' family would give them left overs."

"You're not just hardheaded huh, you're now disrespecting your instructor! You're being rebellious! I pity your parents. First, a daughter who has no look on her future and now, a son who is about to be kicked out from his team, or worst he can even be kicked out of school because of what he did."

Ken who is sitting at the back was fired up, he thinks the instructor was being too much so he decided to stand up for Thisbe. He stood up angrily but before he could even speak up, the bell rang which is a sign that it's end of the class.

Thisbe then, stood hastily and walk towards the exit of their room totally forgot about Ken's existence.

Ken tried to catch up with her, and when he did, he grabbed her arm and make her turn around facing him.

"Why are you in such a hurry?! Don't you remember? You invited Athena to meet at the coffee shop; she's probably waiting there already."

Thisbe suddenly recalls with a face of frustration.

"You go meet her." She said rashly. "I really need to go home." Thisbe said then hurriedly ran to the bus station leaving Ken behind astounded.

Thisbe stood there waited for 5 minutes while standing, looking so impatient with her feet tapping.

A tall man all of a sudden appeared besides her, standing upright. The man had a familiar scent so she curiously scans the face of the man.

She was astonished when she realized it was Ken.

"You.." Thisbe said in loss of words.

"You can't just leave me hanging there! And also, you're the one who arranged a meeting with Athena; don't you think it was your responsibility to tell her what's wrong? I'm not going to meet her." Ken said sternly and decided.

"I didn't know this kind of situation would come! What do you want me to do?" Thisbe said almost in a whisper, feeling sorry and anxiety is evident in her face.

Ken wanted to comfort her best friend but she can't find the right words. Uttering the words "don't worry", might seem helpful, but in reality, Ken knew it would fall short for someone who is currently experiencing something like anxiety or depression.

People with anxiety most often fear of what will happen in their future, that's what Ken was thinking the moment they hopped in the bus.

"Whatever difficult situation you may be facing right now, I will help you carry out that concern, you know that, right?" he uttered once they sat on the bus.

Thisbe looked at him and just nod.

"Anyways, your brother has already passed difficult circumstances. Quite a lot, don't you think?" Ken faces Thisbe who's now looking at the window with a longing face.

She clearly heard what he said but she can't just find the strength and will to reply to him and Ken can't just stop. He feels like he really need to do something so he tried his best just like what Thisbe would do whenever he has problems.

"Remember, when we run some errands at the supermarket and we were shocked to see Navi showered in sweat while pushing a cart full of vegetables?" Ken smiled while reminiscing, "He even asked you to keep it as a secret to your mom. And you took that opportunity to make him do everything you want."

"Your brother is lot stronger that what you think. You know, he would be really upset right now once he knew you're being like that because you don't trust him."

Finally, Thisbe managed to look at Ken with forced smile paste on her face.

On the other hand, Ken thought to himself that he's actually doing great with this.

"You really think he would be fine? You think he's already home waiting for me?" Thisbe asked hoping she would get the answer she wanted.

"Uhmm!" Ken nodded in assurance, "so all you've got to do is trust him. I'm not your real brother but I know for sure, that's what brothers do. Protect their sister, their family."

After a few more minutes of Ken talking, Thisbe suddenly fell asleep. Maybe because of too much crying she's done today or it could be because of too much thinking. Who knows?