The foil and the harem (unedited)

Thirty-eight

—JAIDYN—

"Yeah I'll be back on Wednesday." I spoke to Nala, who had called me after she got out of school today.

"Honestly? Are you sure you want to come back so soon? You don't have to..." she said.

"Life goes on, the world and my life isn't going to stop because I'm depressed. I have frequent mood swings anyway so it's whatever." I said to her.

"I just don't think..." she started to say again.

"How about I change it to Friday?" I said.

"Yeah, you deserve some extra days, besides some weird shit is going on at school." She said.

"Yeah? Like what?" I asked her.

"The six are back to being the menaces they are, but there have been weird drops of people in classes, I don't know how to explain it. People have just been acting strange. Most likely to do with the six's change in attitude." She told me.

"Not surprised..." I mumbled, trailing off.

"I don't know the full extent, but people are circulating they dropped Erina. And of course, the rumors going around are saying it's cause of you..." She said.

When I didn't say anything for a few seconds, she spoke again.

"Are you sure you're okay? If I was in your position I would be out for like the rest of the month." She said.

"Yup, I'm alive and kickin..." I said unenthusiastically.

"Okay I guess...but if you don't feel like coming Friday, don't." She said.

"I got it, thank you for being concerned about me, seriously Nala." I said back to her genuinely.

"Of course, I have to go, but take care, and I'll see you soon!" She said before she hung up the phone.

I lowered the phone from my ear and looked at myself as I stood in front of the mirror again.

What a freak.

Should I feel sad about what happened?

No...I was angry.

Why couldn't I enjoy myself for once? Why should I care about what other people think of me? The problem was I cared too much. But not about the people, but about my image? About how I was perceived?

I felt...disconnected.

From my emotions...from everyone.

'Don't overreact, your friends care about you still. You're not alone, you don't have to keep fighting for yourself.' I tried to reassure myself.

But they could turn on me any day too...

In the end I only have myself. I'm my own best friend.

I splashed water on my face.

"Why do you think this way, why do you feel this way." I said to myself out loud.