Reflection
Day by day, Prapti and I come closer.
We become like best friends—maybe even more.
But the other students, especially the boys, don't like it.
They always tell me to stay away from her.
But I don't care about them at all.
One day, while I am washing my face…
I look into the mirror—and something strange happened.
My reflection… moved.
It doesn't match my real movements.
Then it speak.
"How are you?" it ask with a cold grin.
"You're doing quite well, huh? Living the good life.
You wake up and have breakfast at parpti's house,
She makes your lunch for school,
Sometimes she even gives you a massage after dinner…"
I listened silently, then smile a little.
"That's true, but—"
The reflection cut me off sharply.
"But nothing.
You're living while she's trapped inside you.
You've trapped prapti—using your charm."
I frown my voice rising in anger.
"What the hell are you trying to say?"
The reflection's tone grow harsher.
"I'm saying the truth. Look at yourself.
Do you really think you're worthy of her?
You have no future, no real life.
You're nothing more than an ordinary, low-class boy.
And her? She's beautiful, intelligent, talented… athletic.
You're manipulating her.
You made her your puppet.
Just… leave her."
And just like that—
The reflection disappear.
I am left staring at my own reflection.
Silence.
A question start to echo in my mind:
"Am I… manipulating her?"
But she did all those things by herself.
No one forced her.
She wanted to.
Right?
Then why… why do I feel guilty?
Maybe the reflection was right.
Maybe I shouldn't be this close to her.
Maybe… she's too kind to say it to my face.
But still—
I'll tell her. I'll tell her to stop doing all of this for me.
Tears form in my eyes.
And I whisper in my heart to someone who's no longer here:
"To be honest… you knew it.
Without you… no one else could ever care for me like that."