The Corpse of South Tserron

Chapter 8: Evelyn in their eyes Part 2b Justin

The sun shining through the restaurant's window only serves to make Justin look more intimidating. I couldn't take how uneasy he made me feel. I was going to break anyways but I had to do it calmly so I drank my orange juice and after the sip, I spoke calmly.

"Wally....."

There was an awkward pause between us and I could see that he was not satisfied with the answer. He crossed his arms and looked down as he sighed. He then spoke in a calmer voice.

"It's Raizen isn't it?"

There was no use for me to lie anymore. I wanted to preserve their friendship especially since Raizen is dealing with his problems. I nodded my head and looked down as I braced for a scolding. He uncharacteristically stayed calm and grabbed his fork as he took a bite off his breakfast platter. I looked at his eyes to read the emotion and it was surprisingly calm. Justin was quick to anger but never liked to show this aggressive side to anyone. The last time I saw this was when we talked about his parents abroad. I guess he was mad at Evelyn because of how much he wanted to vent. We both ate our breakfast platters and after we did, he spoke confidently.

"Do you honestly believe in Raizen? You know of all people that he is a people pleaser. He says the things you want to hear but he hides the truth. He wasn't there when you underwent therapy and neither was I but I texted you each day just to check up on you."

Even though he had a believable voice, I could still trace his eyes and how natural he has become in masking his thoughts. I trusted Justin because of how truthful he was when he got angry but seeing as how he learned to hide that made me disappointed. I absorbed everything he said and respected his opinion after he was done speaking, I asked him in a cold tone.

"If you weren't jealous of Evelyn, then why do you hate her?"

The way I spoke caught him off guard and the way I affixed my gaze into his eyes gave me a window to his soul. I could hear him tap his foot on the floor as he struggled to come up with an excuse or at the very least, make me avert my gaze to something else. I kept up the pressure by repeating the same tone and asking.

"Why do you hate Eve?"

He was breaking and I could read his eyes. I made him uneasy throughout with the silence I maintained between us. He couldn't take the silence anymore as he slammed his fist on the table as it echoed throughout the restaurant while I let up on my stare. He then said in a slightly agitated tone.

"I hate it when you do the same trick to me"

He sighed as he crossed his arms while he spoke in an angered tone

"Raizen was right. I did hate Eve because he stole you from me. You were the only person who understood me and I already told you that Raizen was a people pleaser. He gave me solid advice but I can see through his lies. I needed you the most in the 9th grade when my parents left to work in another country but where were you when I needed you? At Eve's house planning another way to get rejected."

His tone elevated and started to use his hands more in conveying his thought.

"I hate Eve because it's so obvious that she's just using you. She could have picked anyone else to be her friend but you were the only one who was stupid enough to be used. I was failing at 9th grade because I let my family problems swallow me whole and it was only by that time that Raizen introduced me to Anne"

I could see a tear drip down his face as he calmed down but kept an angry look while explaining

"Anne helped me overcome my issues with my family. She made me feel important and listened to every word I said. While you were being stupid for Eve and while Raizen was shagging Pia, she stayed for me."