Lotus

Jason - 4: Scars

“The ‘healer’: That’s what I wanted to be for her.”

     A couple of weeks had passed. Rina and Ren had been wanting to keep their distance from each other… but had ultimately failed, talking to each other almost every day about random things and seeing each other at least twice a week. Within those few weeks, the two had become hopelessly infatuated with one another.

     One day, as she was walking home from school, Rina found herself fantasizing about the day she and Ren would finally start dating.

     We’ll be alone together. The tension between us so high that it could be sensed from a mile away. He’ll stare at me intently and nervously, but I’ll pretend not to take notice. Finally, he’ll just burst from holding in his true feelings and—!”

     All of a sudden, she could feel in her bones that somebody was following her. Rina began to walk faster, dragging along her heavy school bag. The sound of footsteps behind her became louder and louder, though she could tell that someone was trying hard not to make it obvious. A pair of hands covered her eyes. She froze in terror.

     I’m gonna die. I’m gonna die. I’m gonna die. I’m gonna die. I’m gonna die. Goodbye my dear family! Goodbye my precious friends! I hope you will all remember me fondly!

     “Peek-a-boo!” said a familiar voice.

     Rina gave a sigh of relief, recognizing the voice of her pursuer.

     “I’m gonna kill you, Lindy! I almost had a heart attack!” she yelled.

     Lindy smiled and hugged her friend tightly (and quite violently).

     “You’re so cute, Kitty Kat!” Lindy squealed.

     “I want to be called ‘Rina’ from now on.”

     Lindy was Rina’s closest friend. The two were complete opposites. They had almost absolutely nothing in common, and even their astrological signs were 180 degrees from each other. Lindy’s physical appearance also contrasted with Rina’s. While they were both the same age, Lindy looked much older, and Rina looked much younger. Just from one look, a complete stranger could tell that Lindy was tough, self-reliant, and had a fiery personality. Rina, on the other hand, seemed to be a very easygoing and delicate girl.

     “I wanna meet your neighbor,” Lindy said. “Are you going to see him today?”

     “He hasn’t messaged me yet,” Rina replied with a hint of disappointment. “Ren usually texts me right after school, but he’s probably busy today. I don’t want to bother him.”

     “If he’s an asshole like that last one, I’m gonna need to lay out my weapons!” Lindy roared, throwing her fists in the air. “This boy has no clue what he’s up against!”

     “Ren’s really mean to me, but not like how he was to me. I don’t think that Ren would do anything horrible to me like that. Ren just likes to tease me, similar to how you abuse me out of affection.”

     “I have some competition then,” Lindy sighed.

     Suddenly, Lindy spotted a boy standing in front of a driveway several yards away. She tried to focus her eyes to get a better look of him.

     “Is that your neighbor?” she asked Rina. “He's a hottie!”

      Before Rina could take a look, her hat was pulled over her eyes, and Lindy pushed her towards the boy. Rina tried to catch her fall, but failed and fell flat on her face. She picked herself up, moaning in pain.