started: June 22
Irene Park, a stunningly beautiful girl, transfers to J high with her twin brother, Daniel. As they move, Daniel turns out to have a new body, forcing the twins to adjust to their new life with an unexpected new body. Irene ma...
The weight of exhaustion hangs heavy on my body as I yawn and stare at the cracked, spotted ceiling from my thin futon'. An hour has slipped by, unnoticed, while I wallow in discomfort. My knees ache, and my lower back throbs with the relentless overexertion of the day. My hands, cracked and dry from the harsh cleaner at work, sting with every movement. Even the simple act of turning on my side is a painful ordeal that makes me grit my teeth.
I remain motionless until my alarm blares, forcing me to drag my weary body across the room. Crawling on my hands and knees to the outlet, I frantically press the alarm, desperate not to wake Daniel. The paper-thin walls offer no privacy, amplifying every sound. My mind pleads for more sleep, but I know I can't afford to be lazy any longer. Staring at the cracks in the ceiling has become a slow descent into my restless thoughts.
Grabbing my phone, I search for a message, any message, but find none. Anxiety clenches my stomach, and the worst thoughts invade my mind. I begin to berate myself, convinced I've ruined this relationship. His silence feels like a final, crushing blow, a confirmation of my deepest fears.
Maybe he's finally over me and my boundaries. I know I shouldn't feel guilty for maintaining them, for not allowing any man to touch me intimately. But the disappointment is overwhelming. Perhaps he's realized I'm nothing special, and someone of his wealth deserves a woman of equal status.
Part of me hates that this is one of my first crushes, and it was actually going somewhere. I don't know how to handle it. I feel so immature, and I realize my lack of communication is the issue I've created for us. This is my doing, and the thought that I may have upset him bothers me more than anything. He's been by my side over and over, but I've neglected to even give him the respect of answering. I feel so shitty.
Stupidly, I type again.
*Irene - now* *Do you think we can talk soon?*
In humiliation, I throw my phone aside, turning it completely off. I don't want to know if he's responded or not, so I hide it under my pillow and turn off all notifications. It's 4 a.m., and I need to get some studying done for cram school before I get dressed. My test is later today, and I need to jump on a call with my camera on to show I'm not cheating. This is the only time I've got since I work tonight. I checked my schedule, and the only day I don't work is tomorrow night, which is perfect because Mom comes tonight.
