Friday Reflection

Friday.
February 7th.
The Beginning of the End.

It all started out simply enough. Once the school day ended, I made my way behind the school building, just like we agreed. That was our meeting spot. A quiet, tucked-away place that gave us privacy, especially now, with after-school clubs on a temporary break until the festival was over. That break worked in our favor. Hardly anyone lingered on campus, and no one came near where we were supposed to meet.

I got there as soon as the final bell rang. I didn’t mind waiting, Viveka had always taken her time with things, so I didn’t blame her for running a little late.

Truthfully, I wasn’t expecting anything grand or dramatic from this meeting. I just wanted to talk. That was all. Whether things would go well… that depended entirely on her.

About five minutes passed before I heard footsteps turning the corner. I caught a glimpse of her legs first, then followed the shape upwards, sure enough, it was Viveka. Her posture was relaxed, but there was a certain tension in her eyes as she approached.

“I was right to trust you'd come,” she said, stepping toward me. “That Oberon guy…he probably wouldn’t have lasted five minutes out here.”

I didn’t humor the comment. “Let’s cut to the chase. What did you want to talk about?”

She paused, just for a moment and I could tell my directness caught her off guard. Still, she recovered quickly, waving a hand casually like she was brushing it off.

“You’re not still upset about what I said to Anon, are you?” she asked in a tone that was far too light to be taken seriously.

“Of course not. I don’t care,” I said flatly.
And the truth is, I really didn’t. I had honestly forgotten about it.

“Even if I was upset, it wouldn’t change anything.”

“…Is that so?” she murmured, lowering her head slightly.

Then, without warning, she reached out a hand toward me. Her expression softened into something almost vulnerable, something sincere.

“Would you…want to be friends again?”

“…What?”

I couldn’t hide my surprise. Of all the things she might’ve said, this was not what I had prepared myself for. Not even close.

“Friends?” I echoed, still trying to process.

“Yeah. You and me. Like before.”

She didn’t look like she was lying, and for once, it didn’t feel like she was playing some kind of angle. Still, I wasn’t going to just say yes without saying something first.

“Fine. But only on one condition.”

Her brow furrowed slightly. “And that is?”

“I want those two you’re always with, gone. I don’t want to see them around you anymore.”

Her hand stayed extended, but there was a flicker of something behind her eyes. A shift. Something uncertain.

“Why?” she asked.

“Because they’re trouble. Haven’t you noticed? They never leave your side. It’s like they’re clinging to you.”

“They’re my friends,” she replied, her voice firmer now.

“More like parasites. How long have they even been around? A few months, maybe?”

“If that’s how it is,” she said, drawing her hand back and folding her arms behind her, “then I’ve got a proposal of my own.”

She smiled again, but not the same way. This time, it was calculated. Controlled. Like she already knew how this would go.

“Stop hanging around Anon. Cut ties with him, and then we’ll have a deal.”

She tilted her head slightly, smile still in place. The sun was still up, the wind brushing past us like a reminder of how still everything else had become.

“I refuse.”

The smile vanished. “What?”

“You’re really going to throw away all the years we’ve spent together for some guy you’ve known for what, a day?”

Her words struck something deep. Maybe it was the way she said it, or maybe it was just the reality I hadn’t wanted to admit until now.

“I really thought you were different from them,” I said as I turned away, starting to leave. But then I paused and glanced back over my shoulder. “And yeah. I’d choose him over you any day.”

I walked off. Got a few steps away before stopping again.

“Because at least he’s not fake. Go back to them, Viveka. And don’t talk to me again.”

Before I could take another step, I felt her hands grip my shoulders. She spun me around, and the look on her face was no longer composed, instead frantic, desperate.

“Why him?!” she shouted.

“Wha—?”

“What’s so special about him?!”

Her teeth clenched, and her expression contorted into something painful. I gently placed my hands on hers, steadying her.

“I don’t have an exact answer,” I said quietly, lowering my gaze for a second before meeting her eyes again. “But…I can just be me around him.”

She let go.

Her arms dropped to her sides, almost limp with disbelief. I took a breath and continued.

“I love him. I love my friends too because they don’t try to change who I am. They don’t force me to fit their version of me.”

I tilted my head slightly.

“Can you honestly say the same?”

“Of course I can!” she snapped back.

“Then why do you look like that?”

She froze. Her body locked up, her face caught in some invisible battle. Then slowly, shakily, she brought a hand to her face and wiped at her eyes.

“What the…?” she muttered, looking at the tears on her fingers. “Why? What the hell is going on?”

I stepped forward, slowly kneeling beside her. Without saying anything more, I pulled her into a hug.

“I’m here,” I whispered. “But I can only do so much. Whatever you’re going through… you’ve got to figure that out for yourself first.”

Her breathing slowed, her shoulders rising and falling as she seemed to think through my words.

“One more thing,” I said softly. “Maybe it’s better if you’re alone with them for a while. Until you figure out what you really want.”

And just like that, she stiffened again.

“Wait, what’s—?”

She gently pushed me away, wiped her face one last time, and stood up. Her back now faced me.

“I’m sorry. I need to go,” she said. Then she started walking off, only to pause a few steps ahead. “I’ll see you at the Festival.”

And then she ran.

…

…

“What did those two tell her before she came here?”