Youth With You

एक

I didn't know when it became popular to say the word "bestie," and I never understood what exactly a "bestie" was. It seemed to be used to describe two girls who could constantly be together, share the same bed, and even share secrets about sleeping with their boyfriends. But sometimes the relationship between two girls is very delicate, and one little trigger can make them strangers.

According to the previous criteria, Bae Irene and I were definitely considered besties. But I was reluctant to use that word, and for a time I couldn't even find an accurate word to describe our relationship.

Irene and I met in high school. For the three years she was in high school, she would rank first in the grade for every test, and only once was she surpassed by a boy. Every girl in the grade was more excited than the boy that time. One, because Irene finally wasn't first, and two, there was finally a boy that had come to take on the title of a top student male god, satisfying the girls' fantasies. Hence, this boy became the talk of our grade for a time.

Now, let's set this boy aside and just talk about Irene.

The first semester of freshman year, Irene had already demonstrated extraordinary academic ability. In math, physics, and chemistry, there was almost no question that could stump her, and even her English and writing were among the best in the class. Such an impressive person happened to be a reserved and delicate girl, as well as very fair and beautiful.

Our school was a key school in the city, and although it couldn't compare with today's SAT, it managed to be included in the top group. At that time, all the teachers were training her to become a top scorer, so naturally she was different from us ordinary students. They wouldn't mind giving her special treatment and even spoke to her in a much softer tone.

So since the beginning of freshman year, Irene never knew how much envy she attracted from the same sex and how much adoration she attracted from the opposite sex.

Sixteen and seventeen year old girls had to find one or two so-called besties, otherwise they would become outcasts. I never understood this mentality. I later understood that from an early age, Thailand education didn't encourage individuality. Everyone was afraid of being different from others and would only feel secure once wearing their school uniforms. And if a girl went around school alone year-round, it signified that she was a loner and would have to endure many different looks. For a sixteen or seventeen year old girl, it was a bit of a terrifying thing.

At the time, most girls would find besties that matched them in height. Irene stood first in line and I was behind her, so naturally I became friends with her. Therefore, like some sort of ritual, we ate together, went to the bathroom, and did what any other good besties would do.

Irene, was a bit cold and even when she smiled, she would only turn up the corners of her mouth slightly before quickly returning to her original expression. When I first started hanging out with her, I always felt a bit uncomfortable. For a time, I speculated that she was forcing herself to eat and go around campus with me, but I later realized that she wasn't. That was just how she was, and she was completely being herself in front of me.

When we walked in the school corridor, on the path to the cafeteria, and even on the broad rooftop of the school's fourth floor, I could feel eyes from all directions. Those eyes weren't on me, but on Irene. If it was a secretive look, it was from a boy. If it was blatant and even a bit judgmental, it was sure to be from the same sex.

I didn't know whether Irene didn't see them or if she was just used to it, but she never made any comments about those gazes, and I also shut my mouth about it.