Leira still doubted if she had to go to school. The turmoil she created the night of the party was like a whip that kept coming back in her memories. Even though she wanted to think of something else about that night, her brain seemed to focus on that event alone.
She would rather remember the moment before that, and maybe it was something more enjoyable since it was a party anyway. However, that part of her memory seemed to fade away, not even a vague part of it.
Here comes again her detestation of going out of her room. But then, the image of Dennise flashed in her subconscious, and the urge to know what happened to Dennise that night and where she had been seemed to push her out of bed.
In less than an hour, Leira already found herself in the University hallway. Darting her eyes to the study hall, where her friends usually stayed, during their vacant period. And her expectation didn't fail her.
She found Dennise, Zara, and Yden at one of the tables, giggling as they talked while sipping some milk tea.
"Hey, girls, sounds like you were sharing some interesting tea there," Leira broke in on their conversation.
"Hola! Leira, what kind of tea are you more interested in, this milk tea or some hot stuff kind of tea?" Dennise asked with her playful smile.
"I guess the latter. What did you girls talk about?" Leira sat down with them, and curiosity filled her eyes.
"Dennise was just narrating to us about his night with Eric and talking about narrating. So that means something like detailed narration," Zara shrieked with a shake in her elbows.
"Wait up, Leira, just a warning: if you're a virgin, you better not hear about Dennise's story. Something like that was tough to stomach," Yden remarked.
"And who's this Yden? Some virgin?" Dennise exclaimed as she raised her eyebrow at Yden.
"Yden, I'm fine. I can take it. If it doesn't fit your values, just leave them; it's their life. But if you choose to be modest, then good; live the life you want to live and let others live as they choose," Leira explained. She knew Dennise could be so temperamental sometimes, and she didn't want to see her having another conflict with the rest of their friends. Besides, Yden was already part of them.
Yden, on the other hand, simply shrugged and stood up.
"Okay, girls, I think I'll just have to go."
"You better, and don't forget to drop by the chapel, Mary…the virgin," Dennise said in a mocking voice. She giggled with Zara and shared a high five.
However, Leira wasn't pleased and even worried, especially when Yden looked back with dagger eyes, looking straight towards Zara and Dennise.
Leira could already sense the commotion coming. So she stood up in advance just before Yden tried to move back to them.
However, Yden was too fast for Leira to anticipate.
In the blink of an eye, Yden was already holding Dennise's hair and pulling her out of her chair.
People started to crowd up, and everything got out of Leira's hands. She was hurt to see Dennise being dragged by Yden on the floor. Although she couldn't even understand her feelings, some part of her felt the need to protect Dennise. Maybe it's because she already loved her.
And without even realizing it, she had already thrown a fist at Yden's face.
Leira's action left everyone staring at her in awe as Yden was brushing her used-to-be-beautiful chocolate skin that was then painted with red in the shape of Leira's fist. Slowly, her eyes were turning red as the crystal-clear liquid unwittingly fell down her cheeks.
Even Leira froze in disbelief at what she had just done. But, unfortunately, it was too late; things had gotten down her head, and she had physically hurt Yden because she wanted to protect Dennise, even though she herself knew that what Dennise had been doing was not justifiable.
She bullied Yden, and Yden just retorted. Yet, Leira had hurt Yden for that.
Leira knew for herself that what she had done was not enough of a reason to throw a fist on someone, especially her friend, who only wished to stand up for herself for someone who stumped over her ego.
"Yden, I'm sorry…" Leira shivered as she moved towards Yden, who was now glaring at her with eyes full of indignation.
Without another word of response, Yden ran away just as Ella arrived.
"Yden, what happened? Where are you going?" Ella called out to her with a furrowed brow. She noticed Yden's eyes and expression, and she planned to follow her, but she needed to know from another girl what had actually happened.
She doesn't want to be backing anybody up without knowing who did what to whom. She doesn't want the other girls to hate her.
"Leira, what happened," Ella asked Leira, as it was she who was standing nearest to Yden before she left. At the same time, Zara was attending to Dennise, who was also crying and looking like a mess.
"Ella, can you please run after Yden?" Liera's voice was low and lifeless, or maybe just too emotional since she sounds like crying but couldn't let out a tear.
Without waiting for another confirmation from the other two of her friends, she dashed off to follow Yden.
"Thank you for helping me out of Yden's grasp. She's crazy, and this is the first time I've met such an ill-mannered girl. I wonder where she came from- the slum?" Dennise twitched her lips in pain and annoyance.
Zara, on the other hand, rolled her eyes, listening to Dennise. She knew that Dennise was a celebrity and rich. But Zara was not that comfortable in her life, too, and she was hurt for Yden as well. She wanted to remark on something that would probably be against Dennise's beliefs. However, she didn't want to ignite another set of drama, especially with her and Dennise.