The Amnesiac

Peace, Shaken Peace

"Well? What is it?" Rae stands up, looking around.

You stare at your food, unable to look her in the eyes.

"Leslie, speak," Rae says, immediately singling her out.

"Wha-! Why me!?!" Leslie cries out, putting her outstretched hand on her chest.

"Ugh, fine! Aria! You do it!" Rae redirects her gaze to the opposite side of the table.

Aria stares at her plate, motionless.

"..."

Her unnatural silence makes the hairs on your arm stand up, and you clench your hand over Miyoung's, trying to shake off the feeling.

Rae crosses her arms, realizing Aria wasn't going to speak up. "Tina. Talk."

Tina pouts, hunching over in her seat. She purses her lips, desperately trying to not be the one to break the silence.

"Fine! I... confessed," she blurts, her resolve dwindling in mere moments. She puts her hands over her face and releases a low groan, muttering to herself.

"Huh?" Rae raises an eyebrow. "You mean..."

"I confessed my feelings," she continues, glancing at you.

"Oh! Finally!" Leslie clasps her hands together, smiling. "Wait, but... if you're not happy, then..." Her expression drops.

"No, I wasn't rejected," Tina sighs, mumbling the last word. "It's not what you think. We both confessed our feelings. I just don't know how I feel anymore."

Your cheeks turn redder as six pairs of eyes make their way to you, looking for your reaction.

"Oh," Rae finally speaks up. "After all this time, you confessed, and... now you're not sure? How come?"

Tina winces, and you watch as an agitated expression passes over her face.

"I'd prefer not to talk about this in public, please," she says, her quiet tone laced with annoyance.

Rae silently nods, slightly taken aback by her uncharacteristic tone.

"..."

"So? What else is it?" Rae asks, looking around. "That can't be it, right? Aria, you look like a zombie! What happened to you?"

You hold back a grimace, and Miyoung squeezes your hand in response.

Rae has no idea how blatant she's being about all this... but it's not like I can tell her now...

"Sorry, have I been?" Aria speaks up for the first time. "It's just that... I'm a little sad right now," she says, calmly and fluently.

Huh?

"We broke up earlier today," Aria announces, gesturing her right hand toward you.

"WHAT?!?" Sydney yells, and then promptly clamps her hand over her mouth. "...sorry..."

"Yes, we did," Aria continues speaking in a strikingly odd manner. "We just thought it was for the best. No hard feelings." She turns away from you to push out a smile toward Rae.

"Oh, woah..." Rae finally replies, sighing. "Okay. Um... I guess... if that's what you both wanted..."

She continues looking back and forth between you and Aria.

A-Aria?!? She just... lied! It wasn't our decision, it was hers! Why would she...

You stare, dumbfounded, at her. But once she starts turning in your direction, you quickly lower your eyes. You reach for Miyoung's hand again, but your hand descends to meet your empty thigh.