Our Reflection (Part. 2)

"Do you see what I see?" I asked.

Viveka tilted her head slightly.

"Our reflection."

The moonlight hit the window just right, casting our shadows side by side on the floor.

"Back when we were friends."

She stayed silent after my words. Looking back, I guess it was only fair.

Honestly, I didn’t know what to say. We’d talked before, sure, but it was clear now that what she felt ran much deeper than I’d realized. So…what could I say?

“...”

Only a few seconds passed, but the silence felt like it stretched forever, growing heavier between us. She was waiting. I had to choose my next words carefully, like navigating a minefield.

“I hate overthinking, so I’ll just be direct,” I said, gesturing with my hands. “What is your problem with me?”

“Why did you leave my side?”

Her response was immediate. Almost like she knew what I’d ask.

“I remember things a bit differently. I was the one left alone all these months.”

“And I tried reaching out, but you’re the one who shut me down.”

“I shut you down only when it involved those two. I’ve told you before, I wanted it to be just the two of us.”

That was the first time she paused.

“What is it with Tana and Yoruko? They’ve never done anything to you.”

“I don’t need firsthand experience to know something’s wrong.” I shot back. “The way they were always together, always inseparable, and then suddenly Tana starts hanging out with you while Yoruko fades into the background? Something felt off. One of them said something weird too.”

“I won’t lie, I avoided them at first. But my gut told me I was right to. They’ve been manipulating you, pushing their own version of ‘right’ onto you. Even when you ran away last time, it was because of them. We used to be so close.”

“What am I supposed to do, then?!” she shouted.

Her voice echoed through the hallway, her body shaking as she struggled to breathe.

“I just don’t want to be alone anymore,” she whispered. “You left me. And now they’re forcing me into something I’m not.”

“You left yourself.”

“What?”

“I never walked away. Things just…unfolded the way they did. I’m not blaming you for falling under their influence, but if all you do is complain without acting, then I can’t help you.”

“...”

“You’re my friend. I hate seeing you like this. But I’ll stay by your side, only if you want me to.”

She trembled, her silence louder than any words.

“Do you see it now?” I asked. “Your true reflection?”

Her eyes slowly lifted, catching the moonlight. She didn’t move, at first. But then, with a sudden twitch, her arm extended toward me.

“Stop it!”

I trusted her.

I dropped forward, letting my body fall into Viveka’s arms as she caught me. Turning my head, I spotted Tana, her arm still raised from a moment ago.

“Did you just try to attack me?!” I shouted.

Tana stood tall, looking down at us.

“We never intended to hurt you.”

But then I felt it, a cold, creeping dread that crawled down my spine. My instincts screamed.

I turned.

Yoruko knelt beside us. Perfectly still, but her eyes tracked every move.

I pulled back, rising as Viveka’s grip slipped. She tried to stand, pushing herself against my legs, but she couldn’t.

What do we do now?

My gaze followed the two of them, Tana and Yoruko, who slowly turned their heads toward us.

“What do you two think you're doing?!” Viveka snapped.

“What does it look like?” Tana crouched before her. Viveka recoiled slightly. “I honestly didn’t expect you to get this far. I’m impressed.”

She smiled, and it was genuine. But that made it even more unsettling.

“She’s right,” Yoruko added. “You’re so weak-willed, I figured you’d turn on her yourself.”

“…” Viveka just stared. “I thought you two hated each other.”

She pointed between them. Tana chuckled. Yoruko sighed.

“We do. I can’t stand her,” Yoruko said, motioning to Tana. “But that’s exactly why it worked.”

“You heard her,” Tana chimed in. “We were worried for a second that you two might patch things up, but I’m glad our little setup stuck.”

“I DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT!”

For the first time, Viveka let out a raw, guttural scream.

“I don’t care about your twisted plan. Just, please, leave me alone.” Her voice cracked as she clutched her head.

Tana and Yoruko turned to look at me. I stepped between them and Viveka.

“You heard her. Get lost.”

“You really think it’s that simple?” Tana asked, mocking.

“What?”

“You’re dumber than you look.”

Then it hit me, Yoruko was gone. The nearby classroom door creaked open just as the one behind it slammed.

I turned, and there she was. Her silhouette stretched in the moonlight, her hand reaching for mine. But something nudged me from below, throwing me off balance. Even Yoruko froze, her arm still extended.

“What the—”

And then I saw him.

“Anon!?”

He had crashed into me, hand locked tightly around Yoruko’s wrist.

“Sorry I’m—”

But Yoruko swept his legs out from under him, slamming him to the ground and pinning him in an instant.

“Never mind!”

She hovered over him, until something made her flinch. Footsteps echoed down the hall.

Out of the shadows stepped Kira and Oberon.

“What’s going on here?” Kira asked, stunned.

As if on cue, Tana and Yoruko bolted, splitting off in opposite directions.

Oberon lunged for Tana but barely missed. She darted away.

“Let me handle her!” he yelled, tightening his yukata before chasing her down.

“I’ll get Yoruko!” Kira called, sprinting past me after the fleeing figure.

That left just me, Anon, and Viveka.

I looked at Anon. He met my eyes, then crouched, smiling faintly.

“I’ll take care of the rest,” he whispered, and took off.

Silence settled again. The last one.

“Is everything going to be okay?” Viveka whispered.

“Believe in them,” I said. “This is the last time something like this will happen.”

“…”

“Because if anyone knows what it means to feel this way...it’s me.”