people pleaser | nishimura riki

5. adopted

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

The fact Aira woke up on the wrong side of the bed was the first sign of how long the day was going to be. She had accidentally slept through her alarm which ended up in her missing breakfast. Being hungry, she barely had the strength to concentrate in class. Riki was, as usual, nowhere to be seen as he only showed up when he felt like it. Remi's family went on a business trip which resulted in Aira having no one, in particular, to talk to. Besides occasionally greeting her friendly classmates and encountering her neutral classmates, she finally came across the not-so-friendly classmates.

"Aira." A group of girls from her elective class approached the girl who was sitting alone in the cafeteria, eating quietly. Judging by their expressions, nervousness rushed inside Aira's veins for she did not have a good feeling about this.

"Where's our assignment?" Another girl spoke with her arms crossed.

The assignment.

Aira had totally let that slip to the back of her mind because of how busy she was these days. Her eyes widen as she stopped moving altogether.

"Yeah, you didn't email it to us so we had to walk around the whole school just to find you." The third girl exaggerated.

Aira felt her heartbeats increase as she swallowed the remaining bits of food in her mouth.

What was she going to do? How was she going to tell them she hasn't done it?

"Sorry..." She put her utensils down and stood up. "I have been quite busy these days." Her voice was low, fearing how they would react. She prepared for the worst as she held her head high to look at them, hoping they can see her truthfulness.

"Are you shitting me right now!?" The girl standing in the middle looked extra angered. Due to the increase of volume within her voice, it was inevitable to keep the situation calm. Especially not for the girls who are known to be trouble-makers.

"I'm so sorry. I just forgot and-" And that was when her life once again, flashed before her eyes.

Now drenched in water, she noticed the girl had thrown her cup full of ice-cold water right at her face. This was the first time Aira had experienced such direct contact.

Did she deserve it? She wondered.

Because of how much the situation has escalated, they were now the centre attention of in the cafeteria.

Thinking they were going to leave her alone now, Aira was too naive to even assume they would end it just there.

They were trouble-makers for a reason.

"You're really getting on my nerve." The second girl scoffed as she walked up to Aira, now trembling in both fear and the sudden temperature change. "Don't act all nice if you can't do such simple tasks." And with that, she had used one hand to push Aira down.

Butt first to the floor, the sudden push was more than Aira had expected.

However, what's worst was the fact everyone only stood to watch. Not a single person dared to step in to defend her. Not even after everything she has done for them.

Sacrificed for them.

"You're so pathetic." The third girl grabbed the nearest cup of water which Aira had already known what was going to happen next.

She hated how everyone was only staring at her.

Hated how humiliated she felt.

Hated how hopeless she was.

Hated how if only she did their assignments...none of this would've even happened.

She was only to blame; she hated being a people pleaser.

Hanging her head low, she only waited for the second wave of water to drop on her. Yet the only thing she felt was warmth wrapped around her body as she felt herself burying her head into ... someone's embrace.

Gasps and louder whispers were now heard. As if they had messed with the wrong person.

"You know I thought long about this." His low whisper sent her to a state of relief. "I'm going to adopt you."

How could words that were once used as insults be the most comforting in this moment?

Upon hearing his voice, she instantly raised her head to face him. Maybe the universe had decided to stop punishing her and finally gave in. 

Tears began forming in her eyes, though it was hard to tell due to the water that was poured on her initially. "Please help me."

"I heard you." He patted her head and finally stood up to face the girls.

They have messed with the wrong person.

Infamous Riki Nishimura, yet again.