Unlucky: Luxury And a Lies

Chapter 37: Nobody Else Matters Minji's POV: Something In My Eye

I woke up to darkness, my surroundings shrouded in the shadows of the night. I rubbed my eyes and let out a heavy sigh. Today was my last day of suspension, and tomorrow I'd be back in school. It was a Friday, and I couldn't be more grateful for that. I needed to get out of this suspension and back to my normal routine.

I glanced at the sleeping figure of Mia, my closest friend. She meant the world to me, but I knew I had to leave her for the moment. There were things I needed to sort out, issues that couldn't be put off any longer. It was a difficult decision, but it had to be made.

Quietly, I sneaked out of her house, careful not to wake her. The intensity of the situation weighed heavily on me as I walked home in the stillness of the night. The darkness seemed to mirror the uncertainty and urgency of the choices I was about to make.

-

The next day found me standing in front of the school gates, my beanie pulled low over my head. I had been ignoring all the emails I'd received from the counselor. I knew I had to prepare myself before resuming my classes after the suspension. As I made my way inside, I paused by my locker, asking myself what I was doing here. My friends were just meters away, but I didn't feel like talking to them at that moment. I hadn't even checked my schedule yet; did I even plan to attend classes?

The thought of disappointing Mr. Rhodes, my teacher, barely registered. I was consumed by the turmoil within me. Perez's voice broke through my contemplation, and I turned to see him. He greeted me with a small smile, and I returned it with a similar, subdued expression.

"Hey," he said, concern lacing his voice as he looked around. "You okay?"

I scoffed at his question, feeling the weight of the past events. "I could ask you the same thing."

Perez pursed his lips, his own burdens apparent. "What do you got?" he asked.

I shrugged, my mind far from my academic responsibilities. "Counseling, and maybe then a break," I mused, nudging him slightly and raising an eyebrow.

He sighed, recognizing my need for some space. "I can't skip," he admitted. "I've got an assignment due today."

I nodded, understanding his commitment. He looked at me with concern, and I could see he wanted to help in some way. I couldn't help but be intrigued when he mentioned taking the edge off. I knew it was a risky idea, but I was in a complicated place. He passed something to me, and as he patted my back and went to join his friends, I felt a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. It was time to face the day, starting with counseling, and my determination was more intense than ever.

I knocked on the brown door, and a voice from inside, Mrs. Jenkins, invited me to come in. The counselor was a skinny ginger lady, timid in her demeanor, yet she had a way of getting under people's skin. She motioned for me to take a seat with a sickly sweet tone, but I couldn't help but notice the other girl sitting in the chair across from me. She was someone I'd never seen before, and I wondered what her presence had to do with me.

Nonetheless, I sat down as instructed. The counselor began by saying, "I'm aware you've had some time to reflect during your suspension, Ms. Kim." I nodded, putting on a facade of compliance.

She continued, "But during our investigation, we've found nothing." My heart sank at her words. It seemed like she was telling me that the culprits had gotten away with it. The injustice of the situation gnawed at me.

The counselor then introduced the other girl, "This is Mabel. She's the leader of the after-school club." I regarded Mabel, but her presence still didn't make much sense to me. "You'll be attending her club for the rest of the week," Mrs. Jenkins informed me.