Gehenna's Gate

So Cold

Yeah, this called for a mental health day.

She hadn't skipped school very often, believe it or not, but especially since her mom was still out of town, now was the best time to just do whatever she wanted and relax by herself all day.

So many possibilities, what did she want to do? She didn't really feel like leaving the house, wanting to just be as lazy as possible and give herself a full break.

Time to think, all by herself, about whatever she wanted, and at her own pace.

Oooo, I could order pizza tonight too.

The sound of buzzing reached her ears, assuming it was Rae asking why she wasn't in bio right now.

Hm, maybe I should have told her earlier I wasn't showing up today...

Deciding not to worry her best friend, she decided to just go ahead and answer now so she didn't have to think about it later.

'Just not feeling great, gonna take a break for the day. Let me know if I miss anything juicy' Vena sent the text, not surprised that she almost immediately received a response.

'Rest up, cutie. Here if you need anything & you know I will! (￣▽￣)ゞ'

Time for some self-care.

Vena decided to put her phone on do-not-disturb, assuming Rae could get though at least first period without her.

For now, she needed absolute silence and no distractions, just some self-care, unwinding and relaxing.

Hopping up, the girl headed to her bathroom, deciding to start her day with a hot shower, and do her usual skin-care routine, maybe even doing a face mask just for added effect.

The day was entirely her's, to do anything and everything she wanted.

And of course no day of relaxation and rest would be complete without thoughts of Xiao.

While she soaked in her hot bath, letting the warm water help release the built up tension in her muscles, eyes closed, her thoughts began to drift, but it didn't irritate her as much as the day before.

Was Kazuha right? Was that really what she was experiencing, or was he just being overly excited? Between him and Rae, they'd usually joked and teased her about not really caring much for relationships, or catching feelings for anyone. She vividly remembered Rae recently claiming her latest theory was that Vena was simply asexual and just didn't feel attraction past thinking someone was physically good looking.

The girl could always appreciate beauty of any form, and she often complimented those she'd come across, but that's where it had always ended for the most part.

She wasn't sure if it was her trust issues to blame, or if she was simply pickier than most and didn't typically fall for looks first. Wasn't there a type of sexuality that didn't feel any attraction beyond friendship unless there was the prescience of a deep emotional bond first? She'd have to do more research later on... although for now, she wasn't sure.

It was hard to say her and Xiao shared any type of "deep emotional connection," but she wasn't sure what words to explain the attraction she felt to him. For the most part, it terrified her, yet allured her all the same.

There was a desire to find out what he was hiding, maybe even to get to know him beneath all the sly fox grins and avoiding truth. The feeling was a foreign one.

Do you think it's because you're drawn to the darkness in him? Because it reminds you of your own?

That thought evoked unpleasant emotions.