The morning of May 16th painted Reversa University's campus in soft gold. Dew still clung to the blades of grass and the sky was that delicate blue that only existed before the sun grew bold. The university grounds were unusually quiet with the usual chatter of students absent, replaced by the rhythmic tap of running shoes on the paved path.
Verdamona's breath puffed in faint clouds in front of her. Jogging was the one ritual she didn't compromise on. It cleared her head and helped her fight the intrusive thoughts that always gnawed at her when she lingered too long in silence. Today though, her routine was interrupted.
She slowed down when she caught sight of a familiar figure by the benches near the track.
A girl was stretching, bent low with her long crimson hair tied back for once instead of hidden under gothic veils. She wore a fitted jogging outfit; a black sports bra under a cropped jacket and leggings that clung like a second skin. Verdamona blinked, almost stumbling over her own feet.
"Wait, is that…"
It was Xaessiarerich, Phaser's sister.
Verdamona's eyes widened slightly. She had always known Xaessiarerich as the brooding goth with a layered black lace, chokers and boots that announced her presence. Seeing her now, with her deep toned arms flexing as she stretched, her curvy figure outlined against the rising sun, felt like catching sight of a stranger. Even Verdamona, as a woman, felt a flicker of disbelief.
'So that's what she's been hiding under all that goth fabric…'
Xaessiarerich turned, catching her staring. For the first time in forever, there wasn't that storm of bitterness in her eyes. Instead, she gave Verdamona a faint smile.
"You jog here too?"
Verdamona slowed to a stop, brushing a strand of hair out of her face.
"Yeah… I do. Didn't expect to see you out here, though."
Xaessiarerich straightened, rolling her shoulders back. "Good morning, then."
"Good morning? You actually said that to me?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Because you usually look at me like you want to set me on fire with your eyes. You've hated me since high school."
Xaessiarererich's lips curved into something between a smirk and a sigh.
"I outgrew that. Hatred gets… heavy, you know? And, hating you for getting attention was childish. I won't apologize for how I treated you back then. I meant it at the time. But, I don't feel that way anymore."
Verdamona crossed her arms, narrowing her gaze.
"Outgrew your hatred, huh? Don't forget you treated your own brother like trash too. You made Phaser's life hell."
That one landed. Xaessiarerich's expression tightened, her eyes flickering with something like guilt.
"I know. I realized that too. Maybe it was him finally standing up for himself or maybe him putting distance between us. Either way, it made me see what I was doing. He's not weak. And I wasn't the sister he needed."
There was a long silence, only broken by the distant chirp of birds. Finally, Xaessiarerich exhaled, steadying her voice.
"That's why I want to start over. Not with you but with him. I want to rebuild his trust. I don't need us to be friends. But I don't want to be his enemy anymore."
"So now you suddenly care about what Phaser thinks? You never cared before. What changed?"
Xaessiarerich froze. She said nothing. Verdamona studied her in silence, then sighed.
"Fine. If you want to make things right with him, I won't stand in your way. But, I want us to be friends."
Xaessiarerich blinked, clearly thrown off. "Friends? Why? I already said I don't need that. You don't either."
"I do. I can't be close to Phaser and hate his sister at the same time. That's disrespectful. If you really want me to accept this little truce of yours, then we don't just stay neutral. We start over as friends."
For a long moment, Xaessiarerich stared at her like she had just spoken in a language no one was supposed to understand. Then she laughed under her breath and shook her head.
"You're going to regret that. Having me as a friend isn't exactly sunshine and roses."
"I won't regret it. After all, we were friends once, weren't we? Back in high school I mean, before things went wrong."
That silenced Xaessiarerich. She didn't answer or deny it. Her silence was enough of an admission. Verdamona stretched her legs, then straightened and started jogging again. She looked over her shoulder.
"You coming?"
Xaessiarerich hesitated. Then, with a sigh that carried years of buried resentment crumbling away, she fell into stride beside her.
The two jogged in rhythm, the morning sun warming their backs, and for the first time in years, the space between them wasn't filled with animosity, but with possibility.
------
The two girls sat side by side on a wooden bench, their chests rising and falling in unison as they caught their breath. The track glimmered faintly with heat now, and the scent of grass carried on the breeze. Xaessiarerich lifted her water bottle and tilted it back, sweat running down her jaw. Verdamona wiped her forehead with the back of her wrist, then glanced at the girl beside her.
"So if we're doing this whole starting-over thing, call me Xaessia. Not my entire name. Just Xaessia."
Verdamona blinked. Then her lips tugged into a small smile.
"Xaessia, I'm disappointed."
"Disappointed? You just got permission to use my first-name basis. What's disappointing about that?"
Verdamona leaned back, stretching her arms above her head, letting out a theatrical sigh.
"Because. You have this incredible body and you hide it under… what? Frills and velvet and fishnet gloves? Honestly, I thought the gothic look was your identity. Who knew I would find out you've been hiding all. Absolutely tragic."
Xaessia nearly choked on her water. "Excuse me? You are critiquing my wardrobe now?"
"Yes. And I won't apologize for it."
Xaessia narrowed her eyes, but there was laughter buried under the glare.
"You are insufferable as you have always been."
The goth and leaned back against the bench with her damp ponytail sticking slightly to her neck.
"For your information, I already stopped my gothic phase days ago."
Verdamona sat up straighter, blinking rapidly.
"Wait, what? Phase? Don't tell me… goth was just a stage for you?"
"Yes. High school Xaessia was just... what's the word? Performing. You all assumed I was born in black lace and eyeliner. Joke's on you."
Verdamona gasped, slapping her palm to her chest.
"I literally thought the Argemenes were just a whole family of beautiful, brooding goths. I mean, look at Phaser. He's the least goth person alive, so I thought maybe he was the odd one out."
Xaessia chuckled, never expecting to hear that from her.
"Phaser hates that aesthetic. Always did. Probably another reason he distanced himself from me."
Her eyes softened for a brief moment, though she masked it quickly. Verdamona tilted her head.
"So if it wasn't an identity thing, why did you even…"
"Attention. That's all. I was human—still am—and I needed something to stand out. Everyone else had power, lineage and something stamped into their destiny. I had nothing. So I thought, fine. I'll be different. And it worked, didn't it?"
"You're Human? Guess it's true."
"He really does trust you, huh."
Verdamona let the silence linger for a moment, then broke it with a mischievous grin.
"So if you've ditched the goth thing, what do you even wear now?"
That earned her complete silence. Xaessia didn't look at her and didn't answer.
"Don't tell me you have nothing to wear."
"I don't."
Verdamona's eyes widened. "Wait you're telling me your entire wardrobe is still—"
"Black lace, corsets, boots, the works," Xaessia muttered, clearly embarrassed for the first time.
Verdamona gaped and then burst out laughing.
"Oh my god. You, Miss 'I Outgrew My Goth Phase', don't actually own anything else? You fraud!"
Xaessia groaned and dragged her hands down her face.
"Do you have any idea how expensive it is to throw out an entire wardrobe? They are all very expensive outfits. Even though I'm rich, i can't exactly burn them."
"Don't you have money?"
"I'm from a House," Xaessia shot back flatly.
"So yes, you do have money."
"Shut up."
"Then it's settled. We're skipping classes today."
"What?"
Verdamona stood, grabbing her wrist to tug her up.
"We're going shopping. Friends start somewhere, right? And step one is fixing your neglected wardrobe."
Xaessia resisted, planting her feet stubbornly.
"You've been waiting years for this, haven't you?"
"No," Verdamona said immediately, but her eyes betrayed her amusement.
But deep inside, her chest ached. She had been waiting since high school since their friendship cracked under the weight of popularity and envy. Xaessia had been her first friend. She was the one who made her feel like she belonged in a world of Fluxers. And it was Verdamona who had let go, who had let herself be swept away in the tides of fame. She always wanted to apologize but she knew now wasn't the time. Their new friendship itself was already a miracle. She was not going to risk breaking it with confessions of guilt.
Xaessia sighed, finally giving in, though her expression remained skeptical.
"Fine. But if we're doing this, we're not just wandering around like lost puppies. I know a place in New York. They sell everything."
Verdamona brightened instantly.
"Perfect. We passed the First Evaluation Test. We can travel whenever we want now."
Xaessia crossed her arms. "One condition. I'll need a disguise. People know my face."
Verdamona paused, then smirked.
"Right. Miss Argemenes. Don't worry. I'll handle your disguise. Leave it to me."
Xaessia groaned. "Why do I already regret this?"
"Because you know I'm right."