Frisson (Diabolik lovers)

II. The first meeting

"What do you mean by moving out to Japan? Why?" This can't be true. This can't be right! There has to be a mistake, a misunderstanding. 

"After the meeting I had a nice conversation with Mister Tougo Sakamaki. We talked about our lives and kids. When he heard that I have a daughter the same age as his boys, he offered you to be an exchange student in Ryoutei Gakuin High School. This is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you so I accepted the proposition immediately. He already took care of things with school authorities. You'll start attending their school on Monday next week." My body went numb, feeling of dread and terror washed all over me. It felt as if ground was slipping away from beneath my feet and I was being swallowed alive without possibility of being saved.

"How could you... make such a big decision... without even telling me?" My life, my decisions and control over them had been ripped away from me completely. Tears were running down my face. 

"Lauren, I didn't know that you would react this way, but there's nothing I can do anymore, but just listen about the opportunities you'll get..." I didn't want to listen to this anymore.  I wanted to escape. I had to get away from there. I had to. I ran off to my room.

...........        .............          .............        .........

"Miss Curtis, is this the truth? Asked Lea. Her eyes were getting watery. Lauren was her first friend. Life here, in Seoul, was not an easy one for a foreigner like her. Her parents started living in South Korea when Lea was eight. It was a huge shock for the small girl to change her environment so suddenly and drastically. She didn't know the unwritten social rules and culture, so she was always an outcast, the odd one of the group.

But meeting Lauren changed everything. Even though Lauren had her own problems to deal with, she always helped Lea out. Lauren is one of the most precious people in her life and now they will be separated? They will no longer play basketball together or go skating. They will no longer be able to do their school projects together with snacks and new shows on Netflix. No more sleepovers with silly chit-chatting about school crushes or deep conversations about present life and future.

"I'm sorry, but could you please go home for today? I have to sort things out with Lauren."
"B-but Miss Curtis..."
"Lea, please."
"O-okay." With this Lea left.

Nadia didn't know what to do. She was expecting a negative reaction, but nothing like that. She wanted to comfort Lauren, but how? She was afraid to make things worse. No mother wants to be in this kind of situation.

Nadia picked up the bag of snacks and unpacked them. She then took out Lauren's favourite mug, made some hot chocolate and left it on the kitchen table. She slowly walked down the hall and stopped in front of Lauren's bedroom door. Nadia couldn't muster the courage to knock so she was about to turn around and leave, when she heard sounds of puking. Without waisting anymore time, she opened the bedroom door.

..........     .............         .............         .............

It's happening too fast. Leaving country in just two days. New school, new life. Losing my friends. I slammed the doors shut and immediately saw something horrifying - my luggages were already packed. Anger, betrayal, fear - all of these feelings mixed inside me and were about to erupt with an enormous force like a volcano. The more I was trying to process things the worse I was feeling. But my anger turned into a crumbling feeling of guilt.

Mom probably had no time to think about it then. She couldn't just refuse someone like Tougo Sakamaki. And she was thinking about what was the best for me with no ill intentions but I... I basically attacked her. I couldn't calm myself. I felt so guilty. I lashed out on her in such a way without even listening to what she had to say. She put so much time and energy into that meeting and got this offer and yet... I've said such things...