I don't know for how long I ran, but not that far actually. I'm not a very fit girl after all. It was probably the adrenaline rush of despair that allowed me to sprint any distance at all, or maybe to everyone else I looked like I was just jogging at casual speed.
I ended up in an old playground not so far from school, and at this time in the morning there was nobody around. I just stood and was huffing and puffing for a while trying to catch my breath, then I walked over to a swing and sat, rocking myself back and forth slowly.
I took out the letter from my pocket and immediately regretted seeing it all crumpled.
So ungrateful.
Regardless of how much it stressed me out, it was something that someone put in effort - and probably courage - to write and give to me. My first such letter, and on reflection, it was such a nice one as well. Perhaps, although I had never received a love letter before and wouldn't know how it'd make me feel, I might have felt differently if it was one. Perhaps I would have brushed it off arrogantly, considering the recent popularity that might have gotten to my head.
But to receive a letter that was just a simple thank-you was…
Nice.
I didn't dare to open it and read it again though.
I looked up to the sky and it was a very pretty day.
Sigh…
What do I do now…
I kinda made a scene bursting out of the classroom like that although there weren't many others around at the time, but surely, I must have been seen by many others as I was running the wrong way while everyone was walking toward their classes.
Going back now would not only make a grand entrance but be met with too much sympathy for me to handle, a bombardment of 'Are you OK?'
I'd just blush and look down at my shoes and whisper 'I'm OK…' and that would just make people even more concerned.
I now didn't want anyone to be concerned about me.
"Hey, kid. Do you have a lighter?"
Suddenly someone called out from behind me, and although I obviously didn't have a lighter - I don't smoke! - I instinctively turned to look.
There stood a tall girl with short bob-cut hair, a cigarette dangling from the corner of her lips, her hands in her pocket, wearing… our school uniform?!
"Er…er…er…"
"Sigh… never mind. You don't look like you smoke."
"I'm sorry…"
"You got any money on you?"
She asked so casually, but it still made me flinch.
I'm being… extorted by a delinquent…?
Then I remembered I left everything back in the classroom, including my phone and wallet.
"No… no… I don't have… any money…"
"Tsk."
With that, the girl took the cigarette off her mouth and put it back into the pack, then walked toward me in her big strides.
I was starting to feel a little frightened and thought about running away, but my indecisiveness was always the bane of me. Before I could react in anyway, she was already right by me, looking down at me.
"Why are you skipping school?"
"I'm… sorry!!!"
As it happens when I'm nervous, I totally lose control of my voice and end up shouting.
The tall girl then tilted her head to one side, blinking her eyes, and asked.
"Eh? What are you sorry for?"
"I shouldn't skip school! Gosh, I'm sorry! I should go back! RIGHT. Like, RIGHT NOW."
Then I quickly got off the swing, but the voice commanded from behind.
"Sit."
Like an obedient dog, without even thinking, I just sat back on the swing.
The girl then sat on the swing next to me without saying anything and started to rock back and forth.
Not knowing what to do, stupidly, I started to rock back and forth too.
I glanced at this strange girl next to me and realized despite her scary look, she had a very pretty jawline.
What the hell…
Why do I always notice such weird things…
I didn't quite know what to say, and as each second ticked away I was starting to get very nervous and uncomfortable, yet I couldn't stop myself from keep looking at her from the corner of my eyes.
"Tsk. Don't look at people like that. It's rude."
Said the girl who was trying to extort me just a few minutes ago.
"I'm sorry…"
"And stop saying sorry, it's annoying as fuck."
"I'm REALLY sorry!"
"What did I just tell you?!" The girl shot back, but more in a how-stupid-are-you kind of way than angry.
I was just about to apologize again but managed to swallow back my words.
We sat in silence again for another full minute or two, then the girl abruptly got up from the swing, stretched her back, and sighed.
"Boring."
"I'm sor-"
Wait.
What?!
Me? Boring?!
"You… you don't think I'm adorable?!"
She immediately cringed. Although I had my share of public embarrassment over the years, I never wished the ground to open up so badly.
But her wincing slowly changed into a smirk, and she bent forward to bring her face close to mine - so close that I could feel her breath on my face. I immediately blushed at this sudden physical proximity that I was never used to.
"So, what if I said I think you are cute then?"
Her face was literally just inches away from mine and no matter how I tried to look away I couldn't escape her gaze.
After an intense ten seconds or so, she stood abruptly and burst out laughing.
"Haha! Look at you! You are completely flustered! Haha!"
SCREW YOU!
But of course, I couldn't get those words out of my mouth.
"I take it back. You are a funny one, haha."
The mean girl then just turned around and started to walk away.
I didn't know what I was expecting, but her leaving me behind just like that was the last thing I did, and all I could watch her from behind until she completely got away from my sight.
What a weirdo…