Queen of the Court

EX Chapter 18: Spring Blossom

Hyoga Nishimura

If there's one thing I care about more than my family it's my friends. Nothing else matters to me more than those two things. After moving I didn't have many friends but I tried to blend in the best I could at school. Then I met Rhena. It was a chance meeting that we became friends and when I talked to her the first time I talked to her I don't know what I expected honestly. I knew that she wasn't well liked around the school but I couldn't see why, she seemed like she was just always just barely holding her ground when they came at her. I spoke to her for the first time after she raced Josh. I still was fumbling over my Korean as it wasn't the best but that's how I found out she spoke Japanese and that's how our friendship started. Something as simple as that. After that it wasn't hard for us to be close friends and I'll be the first to admit yeah I got attached but I kept quiet at the very least even if I never said anything at least we could still be friends right?

I wouldn't exactly say I was disliked at school but I definitely got the attention of a lot of people with my looks then again I also actively avoided engaging with those compliments too. As the dance approached our friendship got closer but I also noticed more how much Kiro and Josh seemed to hang around and bother her. How more of the girls seemed to turn on her. I didn't get it, how could anyone pick on someone as kind as her.

Ah that's right, the dance. To tell you I was stunned was an understatement. I don't think Rhena realizes just how pretty she really is. Her long jet black hair, a stark contrast to her paler skin tone. The way her eyes would shine when she got excited about something. I swore I was the only one to see it. It took a lot to not just stare at her when she was all dressed up that night.

Alright we get the point I really liked her. And it seemed the longer we were friends the more she came out of her shell and reached out. I saw her making changes in the school environment trying to make sure others could feel safe. I admired her for that because it couldn't be me. Id much rather stick to being quiet and only speaking up when it's needed

There was something that I never learned about her though. And that was the way Taesan's brother and his friends went after her. When I first met Noah, TJ and Wooin it was in gym class and they just gave you that vibe. The one that just tells you that they are always up to no good. TJ is nowhere near a reflection of what Taesan is. Wooin he's, well there's something hiding below the surface he gives you the creeps but you can't tell if that's who he really is or if it's just a mask and Noah. As for him, I hate him. I thought Kiro and Josh were bad, but he's just a mess of another kind. The way he treats other students is not the best and he cant take no for an answer. I didn't know that he and Rhena had a history, she never told me. Of her past she really just told me the important things, things that related to her health at school. People think I'm always around her because I just like her that much and while that's part of it, it's also because I'm the only one that probably can calm her down if something goes wrong.

That's why when Kiro got after her, I stepped in and stopped him, not only because it was wrong but because I could see her spiral starting. Then there was the first time that I got in between her an Noah. It was the end of the day and I hadn't gotten out of class yet but was getting ready to leave when she texted me

Rhen:

I need a little bit of help

I'll be out of class in just a second

No sooner than I was able to walk out of the classroom and down the hall to the main hall I could see her running and the other three were following her. Before I can even ask as she gets to me she grabs my wrist pulling me with her

"just run" she says in a tone that says don't ask

"how did this-" I start

"Let's get away first I'll answer questions later" She says leading me through the corridors and downstairs to an alcove that's not easily seen and if you step under the stairs it's not likely anyone would know you were there, once down there she leaned against the wall catching her breath but she's not out of sight and I tug her arm gently pulling her to the other side under the stairs and stand in front of her placing my arm on the wall doing my best to make sure that she wouldn't be seen. "I know I'm too close forgive me later" I think to myself