people pleaser | nishimura riki

17. truth

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

As Aira made her way to her locker, she took a moment to reflect on how happy she is nowadays. Not only was she able to speak up about her own opinions, she was now also able to ask for assistance when needed. She no longer felt like a burden and best of all, it was easy to talk to her classmates without feeling inferior.

"You look like you're in a good mood." Remi looked at Aira as if she was a proud mother looking at her daughter.

"Remi! How have you been~" Aira fastened her pace towards her older friend before going in for a quick hug. Her mood had instantly improved at the sight of her friend considering it was way after school hours.

"Great actually! My group got a high distinction for our project."

"Congratulations!" Aira clapped happily for her friend.

As they both chatted whilst walking down the corridor, Remi suddenly nudged her friend.

"Wow your friends are great. Look at them waiting for you." She pointed towards the 4 figures hanging around the lockers.

Aira could only smile as she felt deeply grateful for them in accepting her.

Her eyes landed on the tallest male who was leaning agains the locker, hands in his pocket. It was because of his out-of-uniform clothings that made her recognise him, but rather the way he stands. It was sort of lazy, yet in a way attractive.

All four of them were huddled together which explained why none of them had seen her yet.

"Wait come first, I have snacks to give you." Remi said as she dragged her to her locker. Luckily, her locker and Remi's were only one row apart.

Unfortunately, because they were only a row apart, they were now eavesdropping on their conversation.

"So what are you going to do?" The voice that belonged to Miu asked.

"I don't know." Riki replied.

"Are you going to just let her back into your life just like that?"

"I don't know." Riki replied again.

"Look i know you two have history and everything, but that doesn't mean you should go back to her." Miu sighed.

"Riki, she dumped you and then ghosted you. Later, she moved on and easily found another guy." Minhyuk spoke gently. "You can't let her back into your life."

"It's easier said than done." Riki spoke in a tone of distress. "How am I supposed to forget about her when Aira exists."

Aira, who was still eavesdropping, was now listening more than before. She looked at Remi with a shocked expression, thinking it was going to reciprocate, but Remi only looked at her with a pitiful face.

"It's not even about the way she looks anymore. Their personalities are too similar." Riki sighed.

"I like Aira better." Sunjae casually commented. "But then again, I also liked Dana once too."

"Be honest with me Riki." Miu spoke in a soft tone. "Did you...approach Aira because she resembled your Dana? Did you only want to be with Aira because it was equivalent to being with her? Did you only choose to post Aira because you knew your ex-girlfriend still viewed your stories?"

Now there was a short silent.

Even though Aira wasn't first-handedly in the conversation, it didn't take a genius to know that she was still part of the conversation.

"Hey, I think we should go." Remi whispered towards the perplexed girl.

"Yeah-" But before she could fully finish her reply, her heart broke into million of pieces.

"Yes." Riki said.

She didn't know how capable she was in suddenly feeling an immense pain in her heart.

As if she had been dropped.

So it was true.

It wasn't that she resembled his former girlfriend which ticked her off.

It wasn't that that his special treatments towards her was not that special after all.

And it most definitely wasn't because he approached her for his own benefit that broke her.

It was that Aira knew deep down, she never really meant anything to him; she was a replacement.

And that was what hurt the most.

All she wanted, was a friend.

Riki Nishimura, the reason she is protected.

Riki Nishimura, also the reason she is hurt.

How can someone be bother her saviour and heart breaker?

Perhaps her expectations were too high.