ᴢɪᴘᴘᴇʀ ᴍᴏʀᴀʟs | ᴄʜʀɪs sᴄʜɪsᴛᴀᴅ [sᴋᴀᴍ]

１. Ｔｈｅａ

Frankly speaking, I've got a bad feeling. 

Iben wasn't my close friend, but when I heard her trembling voice through my speaker, something broke inside me. 

I'm not one of those people who sympathize with every bug on the street, I don't know how to comfort people, but broken voice of my classmate literally glued me to a fucking bench I sat on, waiting for Iben and pressing my knees to my chest. And I knew that I wouldn't budge until I saw her, because it seemed like the girl really needed me.

She literally wept into the phone, persuading me to skip the next period, promising that she would clean herself up in the bathroom and go down to the courtyard.

If she chose me for a heartfelt talk then the topic will be somehow connected to Schistad. Most likely, they had a fight again, this time, probably, bigger one than usual. 

Our conversation with Iben will probably end as it always does: I'll kiss her on the forehead, say that everything will be fine, she'll ask me to talk to Chris and reason with him. I'll promise to do everything in my power, but, of course, I won't even lift a finger.

I have two good reasons for this.

Firstly, I have a golden rule not to get into other people's relationships. If you can't sort out all the shit between you two ─ just end it all.

Secondly, Schistad can't be reasoned. He's stubborn as a mule, he has his own view of life and he's not going to change it.

I took a sip of soda to moisten my dry throat, but the sweet drink almost came back, because in a few seconds I saw a scene worthy of an Oscar for best actress.

Iben ran out of the school doors, heading for a small group of freshmen, hitting one of them in the face. I didn't even manage to blink as a scuffle unfolded in front of me. It's a good thing that some guys began to separate the girls while my brain with painful slowness sketched a plan for further action.

Throwing a half-empty bottle into my backpack, I jumped up from the bench, running up to still raging Iben who was verbally attacking astonished red-haired first-year.

"Calm down!" I slightly pushed Iben into the arms of a blond boy who held her by the elbows. "You're on the school grounds, Iben, remember? What kind of primitive way to deal with a problem is it? Did you lose your tongue or did you just forget that you can talk to people before you hit them?" 

It was the first time I raised my voice at her, I think. But how else could you pacify a person who's trembling with rage? She always seemed quiet and sweet, therefore sudden manifestation of aggression didn't fit her image in any way. Seems like relationship with Chris had bad influence on her.

"You don't know what she─"

"Yes, Iben, I don't. I'm terribly curious to know the reason why you lost the rest of self-control and brains, but for now go to the school gate and wait for me there, please."

Iben didn't want to leave. She drilled that ginger girl with a look that wasn't typical for an eternally laughing and calm sophomore at all. But she still listened to the voice of reason, nodding briefly and heading to the school gate.

Turning to the freshmen, I immediately caught sight of the victim. She didn't pay attention to her friends, who bombarded her with questions, trying to dust her coat off and surrounding her by unnecessary fuss: the redhead watched in horror after retreating Iben, her mouth slightly open.

"Okay, cupcakes. Which one of you is the most adequate?" I said, drawing attention to myself.

I looked from one young face to another, knowing that none of them has yet been able to answer me.