Both of us were walking toward my home.
The girl was still following me.I felt bothered.
I wanted to meet her in that moment—but why?
Why was she trying to get close to me now?
A small frustration twisted in my chest.
"So… why are you starting to talk to me right now?"
I asked, staring straight at the sidewalk. She stopped walking. I turned back. She just stared at me softly—yet there was bitterness in her expression. Her eyes were nowhere to be seen. Only her red lips were visible. The air was cold as the sun began to sink.
Leaves drifted around us, brushing past her short hair as it fluttered gently.
"Ahh… sorry—" I muttered, already regretting my question.
"No…" she said quietly.
"I wanted to meet you from the start."
The sunlight hit her face just then—
and for a brief moment, she looked like she was glowing.
My heart skipped.
Then suddenly—
She disappeared.
Right there.
At the gate.
Gone into thin air.
I stood there for a moment, frozen. I sighed, exhausted from my first day of school. When I entered the house, Mom greeted me warmly, asking how my day went. I smiled at her. She smiled back—and handed me a bowl. My favorite snack. Salad.
I froze. I was shocked she remembered. She left my room quietly, and I ate alone.
But my mind wasn't refreshed at all. I couldn't remember much from my childhood anymore.
But somehow..
No.
The answer she gave me earlier…I didn't think much of it then. But now, it lingered. Because I saw it.
Just for a second.
Half of her left eye.
"So… it's blue,"
I whispered into the empty room.
I rolled onto my bed and hugged my pillow tightly.
"Her eyes were blue."
"Really… who are you?"
I shut my eyes.
"Morning~"
A bubbly voice rang out while I was still half-asleep.
(Ah… who is this? Am I still dreaming?)
I thought as my hand accidentally touched someone's face.
(It feels… real?)
Suddenly, someone grabbed my hand. She climbed onto my bed, placing both knees beside me. I snapped my eyes open.
I screamed.
It was Florence.
"In my room!?"
She grinned right at my face. I shoved her off the bed. She landed on the floor with a thud.
"What are you doing in someone else's house!?"
At that moment, my mom walked in—smiling.
"She was waiting outside for you," Mom said calmly.
"She told me you two were best friends."
"What, Mom!?" I glared at her like I was about to lose my mind.
"Get out, you freak!" I screamed.
"And you too, Mom—!"
Then—
Silence.
The room was empty. My heart dropped. I rushed to the window, panic rising. Looking for her.
My girl—
No.
That girl.
(What do you mean my girl? She's not your girl, Zizy.)
She wasn't there.
Gone.
Again.
I prepared myself for school. I checked the mirror.
I checked the door. I even glanced at the window.
She wasn't there. I don't know why, but I felt disappointed. Somehow… she had become a special friend to me.
A strange one.
But special.
I went downstairs. Mom was already there. She hugged me tightly before I left.
"Take care," she said.
I nodded and stepped outside. Outside the gate, Florence was already there, waiting happily.
She turned around, saw me, and smiled brightly.
"S—O—R—R—Y," she spelled it out slowly.
"Ahhh, whatever," I said, ignoring her with a scolding face.
I could feel it. Florence suddenly froze behind me.
"What the—"
"I thought we were friends?"
"Who are you?" I said flatly.
"We were never friends from the start," I rolled my eyes.
(From the start, I hate humans.)
She stared at me for a moment—then grinned.
"You know what? You're so hard to get."
"What did you say?" I turned back to her.
Suddenly, she jumped forward and hugged me from behind.
"Okay, okay! I'm sorry I crossed the line," she said quickly.
"But please—let's go to school together!" She smiled at me..I froze. Her arms were warm..And that warmth confused me.
Because it wasn't her.
Not the girl.
The only girl who approached me first.
But now… it was Florence.
I swallowed.
"It's… not that bad," I whispered.
She laughed happily. And we walked to school together.
Just me and Florence.
The girl wasn't with me anymore.
And somehow…
That hurt more than I expected.
My day went on smoothly, and it wasn't that bad at all. We talked during class. We ate lunch together.
Sharing answers. Sharing food. Doing things I normally never did by myself. Weirdly enough, I found myself enjoying what I was doing with Florence.
We were sitting on a bench, eating..Then a group of girls suddenly passed by. I overheard their conversation.
"Is that Zizy?"
"The bitch who's a crybaby?"
I didn't really care. But Florence stopped eating.
She tightened her grip on her drink. She stood up calmly, walked closer to them, and then—
She drank it.
And spat the drink straight onto their skirts.
"Sorry," she said flatly.
"I spilled."
They screamed and ran away. I stared at her.
"Seriously… I don't really care, Florence," I said.
For some reason, I felt bad— Even though I kind of liked what she did.
"But I care," she replied.
And somehow…
That made me happy.
School ended before I knew it. For once, I didn't feel irritated. I didn't feel heavy.nI found myself liking this feeling—Living without too much bother.Maybe it wasn't that bad after all.
Right…?
Florence and I said goodbye to each other..I walked home alone. But I was smiling. I realized something.
Maybe having a friend that everyone can see—
Someone normal—Someone who doesn't make you feel weird—
Isn't so bad.
I don't need some piece of trash that no one can even see
to be my friend.
As I walked home…
I didn't notice the shadow behind me.