Lyra

82.

Lyra sluggishly walks out the classroom and groans as she heads to the cafe on campus. As soon as she got off the plane she went to her dorm to drop off her stuff and then immediately heading back to class. She was exhausted but knew she had to graduate with good grades. Her phone dings and she looks down and sees a text from Mercedes.

"Lyra let's get you some hot tea." Bo gum says and Lyra nods absentmindedly as she looks at her phone, seeing a text from Mercedes.

Merc: When's you're next class?

Lyra: In about three hours?

Merc: Meet me at the fountain

Lyra: K

Lyra tells both men that she was meeting Mercedes at the fountain and they nod. Bo gum offers to get the tea and they part ways. After some walk, they finally make it to the fountain to see Mercedes sitting against the fountain on the ground.

"Mercedes?" Lyra asks and Mercedes looks up at her and sighs and pats the place next to her. Lyra sits next to her and Ji soo sits at a reasonable space away from them yet still able to get to them if needed.

"Are you still my friend?" Mercedes asks as she looks at the pavement in front of her. Lyra furs her brows and Mercedes looks over at her and squints her eyes a bit due to the sun.

"Are you my friend still? It's kind of like you forgotten about me. I understand I'm not your only friend but...it's like I'm always on the back burner when it comes to your other friends." Mercedes says and Lyra meets her eyes.

"Of course you're my friend Merc. You were my friend friend here. There's just a lot going on and I just am trying to balance it all and it's so stressful. I don't mean to cut you out." Lyra says sincerely and Mercedes sighs.

"Why don't you vent to me? You hold so much stuff in. Look at you now, you can barely support your head up." Mercedes says and Lyra sits up against the fountain.

"You won't understand." Lyra sighs and Mercedes turns her body to her.

"Try me. Lyra we've been friends for a while yet haven't had a chance to ever have deep conversations because you're not there or trying to." Mercedes says and Lyra places her hands in her lap.

"I'm telling you to tell me every exact detail...but I am telling you that you need to release that stress and tension from your body. It's clouding you. You and your thoughts. Lyra I'm your friend, I care about you. You're an older sister to me." Mercedes says and Lyra nods with a small smile and she sees Bo Gum come up.

"Thank you." Lyra says as he hands her the tea and he nods and sits with Ji soo.

"Please, just vent."

"Well~"

~~~

Lyra was sitting on the couch with Ji soo while Bo gum was cooking. She sighs, feeling some weight off of her chest. After she told Mercedes about everything, Mercedes actually went through something a bit similar in certain areas. The connection between the two made Lyra feel a bit better that they could understand each other about the pain.

While eating, Ji soo was telling stories about his experience when there was a knock on the door. Bo gum excuses himself and the other two nod and Ji soo continues. Bo gum opens the door and sees a package. He checks to make sure it was safe before coming into the dorm room and closing the door.

"Package for Ms. Kim." He announces and Lyra looks over her shoulder and walks over to the box and crouches down.

Ji soo walks over with some keys and I taps the box. Lyra opens the box and gasps as she reaches into the box. Inside were souvenirs from the boys that they got for her.

"They sent it!" Lyra says excitedly and both men look at her confused.

"Sent what?" Ji soo asks and she sits up on her knees.

"Since I don't like planes that much and they were on tour, they promised to get me at least one thing from each place they went." Lyra smiles and looks at the post cards, the toys and more exciting things. You find an envelope and open it.

'To our dearest Lyra,
We heard about what has been going on and we just want to wish you positive thinking and peace. You are so strong and so are your friends. The three of you together are a strong unit. Minji WILL get through this so don't give up. Eric WILL heal from this so don't give up. You will get through all of your tests with flying colors and we believe in you. FIGHTING! We love you Lyra! Stay strong for us and your family! Please be healthy and happy! 🖤'

Lyra wipes the tears that fell from her eyes. She smiles and closes the envelope. She places it gently on the box and both security guards crouch next to her and hug her from either side and Lyra just breaks down crying. Everyone was believing in her to be strong when she couldn't believe in herself. Lyra can be strong, and even if she can't she knows she has a strong wall to support her.