Willful ignorance wasn't my sole coping mechanism. There were definitely a few more, my kind of humor being one of them. Crude in some manners, bizarre in front of a camera, references I alone understood in the whole wide world.
As cringeworthy as they may be, they were alright.
You know what wasn't alright?
The shit I found last night.
Marching down the hallway, I preserved a collected exterior so as to not attract unwanted attention. I didn't wave or greet anyone, so most knew better and stayed out of my way.
Except...
"Johnny, wait up!"
It wasn't the time.
"Where are you going?! Class is on the other side!"
Please, just go away.
"You're going the wrong way, Johnny-kun!"
Please... I love you... just not now...
"Johnny-"
"WHAT?!"
She froze in her step like a deer caught in the headlights of a semi-truck.
Her jovial tail went limp, the extended hand falling to her side in defeat.
I... had just raised my voice.
Against her.
Her.
Turning around to face her, she recoiled.
What? Suddenly, I was ugly?
No, I wasn't thinking clearly.
I was furious.
And her usual pestering chipped away at my fortitude.
But she didn't know what I was going through. This happened overnight and I was currently on my way to resolve it at once.
Why did she react like that?
Right, my feelings boiled over and onto my face.
Wiping away the silent snarl, I blinked and swallowed heavily, searching for my voice, "J-Juno, I..."
She did not respond, she didn't even make a move. She just stood there, watching me intently, her gaze elsewhere, through me.
I didn't mean to lash out at her. It was my bad, I was willing to own up to it. So, please, say something. Don't stare at me like that. Please!
My lips quivered, I repeated her name.
"J-Juno-"
"I... I'll catch you later, I need to go to the restroom."
"Juno, wait-"
"See you later."
Heading back where we'd come from, I commanded a hand to cut off her progress, to stall her so I could explain myself.
However, I was too weak-willed and let her slip away into the maze.
Now, standing alone in the hallway, regret squeezed my heart of all its juices.
All of this occurred in the span of a minute, I didn't have the time to process it all.
Stepping back, I took a few more before returning to a march, the pace significantly hindered by an overwhelmed mind.
What did I just do?
Why did I do that?
Did I hurt her?
YOU ARE READING
Veridis Quo
FanfictionA time past. A lost race. A missing piece of the puzzle. Life is a fickle thing, everything comes and goes, all animals can agree on that. In a world where carnivores and herbivores struggle to maintain peace and order while fighting their inner bea...
