Pain in time

Chapter 1

The strong sun shone into my eyes, forcing me to get out of the bed. I yawn and open the curtains.
Everything is bathed in light as the morning sun fills the room. I quickly changed from my pajamas to an ordinary outfit - black pants, a pale blue sweater and shoes of the same color. Have I mentioned that blue is my favorite color? I go down the stairs and sit at the kitchen table. A plate with a delicious breakfast is already waiting for me on the table. I gobble each bite. I leave the house and grab my backpack from a nearby chair.

As I run through the streets, my lungs fail and my heart wants to jump out of my chest. My eyesight must've failed as well because a person appears out of nowhere and for me, it is too late to change my route and we bump into each other. My backpack falls from my back and opens, letting all my belongings scattered around. I sigh as I look at myself. My pants are covered in dirt and it seems like I lost one shoe along my way. My sleek hair resembles a bird's nest. On the other hand, the girl next to me looks as if untouched by the filth of the ground.

The young girl has short blonde hair cut near her ears and big doe-like grey eyes. Innocence itself, one could say. She gives me a faint smile while helping me to stand up and pick up my belongings from the ground. While she was leaving, she looked over her shoulder, making a strange gesture, giggling afterward. Her laugh sounded like a gentle bell of joy, I haven't met anyone like her before. I look at myself again, and to my surprise, the dirt, and scruffy appearance are gone. I shrug my shoulders and walk to the bus stop.

Even from a distance, I see one of my friends waiting - Charlotte Rossi. A blonde girl with a high ponytail and a fringe is anxiously holding the phone near her ear with bated breath, listening to a male voice. She mutters something under her breath so no one could hear her. While she's looking at me, she gestures with her hands, asking for privacy. I nod and sit down, pulling the mysterious book out of my backpack.

"Ohayou!" A tall, skinny, and black-haired Japanese girl - Emily Miu - appears from around the corner. She gasps as she takes her seat next to me. She slowly and carefully smooths her creased dark blue skirt, and a grey sweater and swings her legs with pale pink high-heeled open-toed shoes in the air back and forth. I nod in greeting and Charlotte doesn't even bother lifting her eyes glued to the ground. Emily stares at her cell phone, which vibrates with a new incoming message. Let's meet today. Emily seems worried because she's fidgeting in her seat. I must've forgotten she whispers to herself, unaware I noticed it. Do I smell trouble in paradise? As her good friend, I decided to ask about it.

"What's wrong?" "Nanimonai," she responds in her language. She catches herself, her brows furrowed as she tries to apologize. "I meant to say that everything is okay." "Benjiro again?" I ask, picturing the boy she told me so much about over the past two months in my mind. "Why don't you try to call him?" I suggest, hoping to help and wipe away the worry clouding her usual optimistic attitude. I don't want to seem nosy, so I pick up the mysterious book again and look at the strange writing inside.

She sighs and shivers as she dials his phone number. Her big dark eyes filled up with tears as she realizes he doesn't care enough about her to pick up his damn phone. Men... I don't want to intervene, so I continue reading. She sighs and sits down again, muttering to herself how neither of us two cares about her problems. I had enough boy drama with these two, I don't want to get involved even more and risk becoming a hollow willow. That's the worst part of being friends with girls.

After a short while, I glance at her and notice how her overthinking doesn't let her read the notes she's holding. Her whole body is shivering as she types a response to his message. I peek over her shoulder. I'm sorry for not telling you that I can't make it. And sent. It doesn't matter anymore, Emily. And a short, emotionless greeting after - Bye. She clenched her fists, her whole tiny body was vibrating with anger, and responded in short as well. As she opens her notes again, she looks satisfied with herself.