For All the Wrong Reasons

ONE

Agatha is offline.

WALK FASTER, this was all I could think about. I never dared to look back and kept my eyes on the road ahead. I can feel his eyes piercing through me from behind, and it makes me nauseous.

"Agatha, baby, let's talk!"

I feel a chill down my spine as he calls me, he sounds so close as if he's just behind me. My heart is pounding, I'm practically running at this point and I don't plan on hiding that I don't want to be near him.

I remembered that there was a mall nearby so I started to head towards it. I do not want to go home with him still following me.

Who and why am I running away from this person?

That's Rori, my ex-boyfriend. He's been following me since I got out of school, and has been doing this every single day. We broke up three months ago.

Three months earlier...

"Rori, is it okay if I go out with my friends tomorrow?" I asked while I continuously tapped my foot.

"Where are you guys going? You can just stay here with me."

"We're just going to the mall for some girls' day out. I promise I'll go straight home after." I tried to reason with him. I was only able to go out during the start of our relationship, but after months of seeing each other, I find myself not being able to go anywhere.

"You don't need to go anywhere. Plus, aren't those the friends who constantly ditch you?" He was casually sitting on the couch, looking at me with relaxed eyes.

"Oh, okay." I did my best to smile and went to my room.

Since we started dating, Rori's been hanging out in our house like it's his. He has been sweet to my parents, and you could even call him as someone who charms his way into a family. Despite all this, my mom has been concerned about me ever since we started dating. She saw the marks I've been hiding for months and I just came up with some excuse like I got it from playing volleyball.

Even though Rori hangs out in my house everyday, I usually spend my nights alone in my room. This is the time when I go on my computer and open up my MMORPG, "Shadows and Tombs." I guess this was the only way I could interact with other people since I couldn't go out anymore.

I've met so many people here, but I'm most grateful for my best friend. She goes by the username 'prisalvage' but I call her Pris. We usually go on Discord and just talk about life while we battle different bosses in the game.

"So you're telling me that your boyfriend won't let you go out?" She said in the sassiest tone.

"Yeah... Maybe because he's worried about me?" I tried to give a reason.

"I doubt that. I really think he's unhealthy and toxic for you." There's a hint of sadness in her voice.

"We've been together for 3 years already. I can't bring myself to let go of him just like that." My mind was full of the happy moments we have had over those 3 years together.

...But I was able to let go anyway. More on that later, let's focus on the now shall we?

In the present

I hurriedly entered the mall, passing through the security guards.

...And there's not a lot of people here. Great.

As I quickly scanned my surroundings, I noticed a familiar face. A semi-tall girl with ombre hair and aviator glasses. Cilla. She's basically the poster child for our uni. She aced everything: from being an honor student, athlete for our volleyball team, and extremely talented.

I took a deep breath and went towards her.

"Hi Cilla, you don't know me but I need you right now." I said as I clung onto her arm and led her to one of the shops.

"Okay, extremely rude don't you think?" I didn't have time to look at her since I was looking behind, seeing if Rori is still on our tracks. He is.

"I'll explain later, but please bear with me." I was still worried about what to do but I'm planning on using Cilla as a shield.

Rori was approaching us now, clearly unhappy with everything that's going on.

"Agatha, you didn't have to run so hard. And I know you're not friends with Cilla." His face, sometimes I just want to punch it but I'm too scared to do anything.

"Who said you get a say on who I could be friends with?" Surprisingly, Cilla was the one responding to him.

"I know all her friends." Rori had a stern expression on his face.

"Let's just go, please." I said in the faintest way possible to Cilla while I was tugging on the end of her shirt.

She raised her eyebrows and rolled her eyes at Rori before leading the way out of the mall.

"Care to explain?" She looks straight at me.