Our Reflection (Part. 3)

“Let me go!”

The struggling figure thrashed in his grip, desperate to break free.

“Not until you tell me what you're up to,” Oberon said, tightening his hold. “No more running.”

They had ended up on the far side of the school by now, their ragged breaths echoing in the dim, empty hallway.

“Don’t act like you care!” Tana snapped, her voice sharp. “Why should I say anything to you, Oberon?!”

She fought against him, but her strength was fading fast. Eventually, her legs buckled and she collapsed to her knees, trembling with exhaustion.

“I’ll let you go,” Oberon said, firm but not unkind, “if you promise to stay put. Deal?”

“Tch.”

The irritated sound was enough. Oberon released her wrist.

“Now,” he said, kneeling down to meet her eyes, “why?”

“You want the real reason?” Tana asked, her tone laced with mockery.

Oberon didn’t speak, just nodded.

“Because…why not?”

Her face twisted into a smirk, one that tried to mask the fatigue etched across her features. Maybe she meant it. Maybe not. Even she didn’t seem sure.

“You’re lying.”

“...Excuse me?”

Oberon leaned in closer, his eyes steady.

“You might fool the others,” he said, voice low. “But me? I can see right through you. You’re scared.”

“Oh, please.” Tana rolled her eyes. “There’s a guy stronger than me who just pinned me down, what girl wouldn’t be scared?”

“Don’t play coy. You’re not scared of me.”

A flicker of something crossed her face, annoyance, maybe guilt.

“What gave it away?” she asked flatly.

“Nothing,” Oberon replied with a shrug. “I just bluffed. But looks like it worked.”

Tana’s cheeks flushed, and her glare intensified.

“I hate you.”

“I hate you too.”

The silence that followed was brief, but heavy.

“I was jealous of their friendship,” Tana finally muttered. “Of—”

“Lies.”

She paused.

“The truth,” Oberon said again, calmly.

“Well…it was more like a half-truth,” she admitted.

Oberon waited. Just a look from him was enough to make her sigh.

“Fine. You win.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “I just wanted someone loyal.”

He tilted his head slightly, curiosity piqued.

“When I said half-truth, I meant I wanted something like what Cloey and Viveka have. If I could just get close to one of them, I thought…maybe I could have that too.”

“So you manipulated Viveka?” Oberon’s voice was now tinted with disappointment.

“I didn’t think of it like that,” she said quickly. “I thought I was just…helping her see things differently.”

“...Right.”

“Oh.”

“You’re more messed up than I thought,” Oberon muttered, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

“I know it sounds bad! Okay, it is bad, but I had my reasons!” Tana blurted. “My parents—”

“Stop.” Oberon raised a hand. “I’m not sympathetic enough for your tragic backstory, and we don’t exactly have all night. Spare me the monologue.”

“Then what now?” she asked, defeated.

“That’s up to you.” His tone chilled. “Whatever happens next…it’s not really my problem. I doubt anything legally dramatic is coming your way, but you did mess with my friends.”

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For…everything.” Her voice cracked. “This whole mess. It’s all my fault.”

“Then why are you apologizing to me?” he asked, his gaze unwavering. “I’m the wrong person for that.”

“...” Tana stared at the floor, stunned. “You’re right.”

Oberon stood and shook out his legs, which had gone slightly numb. Then, without a word, he held out a hand.

“Come on. Let’s head back.”

Tana hesitated only a second before accepting. They began walking, their pace slow, almost reluctant.

“I’ll tell the principal everything,” she said softly. “It started with me…so I’ll take full responsibility.”

“That’s something, at least,” Oberon replied.

Tana fidgeted with her hands, her expression conflicted as she glanced away.

“Thanks…for not giving up on me.”

Oberon didn’t respond, but a faint smile crept onto his face as they disappeared down the hallway, together.

⏣⏣⏣

“Will you let go if I talk?”


“Obviously!”

Yoruko stopped struggling as Kira clung tightly to her leg, anchoring herself like a human shackle.
At least, that’s what Kira thought was happening. In truth, Yoruko could’ve shaken her off with little effort, she just didn’t feel like dealing with the clinginess anymore.

Kira released her grip and stood up, dusting herself off as if nothing had happened. Yoruko just stared, visibly confused.

“I hate stubborn girls like you,” Yoruko muttered under her breath.

“It’s not like I’m trying to impress someone like you,” Kira snapped.

“Because I’m Black?” Yoruko shot back dryly.

“You’re not even Black.”

“My mom technically is. Worth a shot, right?”

Kira blinked. “Didn’t take you for a comedian.”

“I’m not. That was a distraction.” Yoruko said flatly.

Kira spun around, only to find…nothing. No one had snuck up behind her. She turned back, more irritated now, but Yoruko remained exactly where she was…amused.

“You’re really fun to mess with,” Yoruko said, a smirk playing on her lips.

“What’s your goal?!” Kira demanded, exasperated.

“I was going to run,” Yoruko admitted with a shrug, “but after seeing how annoyingly persistent you are, I figured I’d stay and mess with you a little longer.”

“Can you stop calling me stubborn already?!” I snapped, growing more irritated.

“Alright, alright,” Yoruko said, waving her hands in mock surrender. “You just want answers, right?”

Kira nodded sharply.

“I wanted to stop Tana. That’s it. Simple.”

“Stop her?” Kira echoed, her brows furrowing.

“Yeah. You’ve seen what Viveka’s become. That’s all Tana’s doing.”

“Just Tana?” I asked skeptically.

“Mainly.”

“Well, here’s my take,” Kira said, crossing her arms. “It’s both of your faults. Tana’s the devil, you’re the so-called ‘angel,’ and between the two of you, you twisted Viveka into what she is now. So stop dancing around it and tell me the whole truth.”

Yoruko scowled. “You’re not gonna like it.”

“Try me.”

Yoruko sighed. “Fine. Originally, the plan was to stop Tana. But Viveka… she's not exactly quick on the uptake. That plan required actual friendship, and honestly, that's a lot harder than it sounds. So, I went with an alternative.”

Kira’s expression shifted from irritated to shocked.

“Yep,” Yoruko continued coolly. “If Tana’s goal is to break Viveka in her own twisted way, then I figured I’d just break Viveka first, so badly that Tana wouldn’t want her anymore.”

“You’re insane,” Kira muttered.

“I just didn’t want to watch someone get used like that.”

“There’s no reasoning with you, is there?”

“Oh, I know how it sounds,” Yoruko replied. “But because I know how twisted it is, I can at least own up to it and explain.”

“Your logic is shattered in like, twelve different ways.”

“I know,” Yoruko said without flinching. “But it was the only way I could think of to counter Tana. I’m not some hero. If I could’ve prevented Viveka from breaking, I would’ve. That’s where Cloey came in.”

“So just say it was a happy accident.”

“I won’t lie. Some of it was. But in the end…it worked.”

“I don’t like you.”

“Yeah, well, same here.”

The two of us stared each other down, silence thick with tension.

“Don’t worry,” Yoruko finally said, breaking the silence as she walked past me. “Everything will sort itself out. I promise.”

She paused. “You’re thinking we should head back now, right?”

“Don’t act all smart with me,” I snapped. “And what do you mean ‘everything will work out’?”

“I’ve got faith in your brother,” Yoruko said, not even looking back. “And if he couldn’t do it… then I’d make sure it all worked out myself.”

Kira froze. Her chest tightened.

Yoruko didn’t.

“If you say so,” Kira muttered.

⏣⏣⏣

I had no idea how much time had passed since the two of them ran off, but Viveka remained in my arms, her body going limp until she eventually drifted off to sleep. Everything had taken its toll on her.

“I don’t blame you,” I whispered. “Honestly, I wish I could fall asleep too.”

I gently brushed a few strands of hair from her face, sitting patiently on the floor.

“Please be safe, everyone,” I murmured, barely audible.

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall. I turned my head to the right, then heard more from the left. The sounds grew louder, drawing nearer, until the figures appeared: Oberon with Tana, and Kira with Yoruko.

A smile spread across all of our faces.

“I’m glad things went well with you two,” I said.

“Did you have any doubts?” Oberon joked.

I shook my head lightly, a small laugh escaping me. “Of course not.”

Tana and Yoruko exchanged glances before looking at me and Viveka. Neither of them seemed sure what to say.

“I’m sure there’s a lot you both want to talk about,” I offered gently. “But let’s take care of everything first. After that, we can talk for as long as you need.”

They both nodded quietly.

We didn’t have to wait long. Soon, Anon returned, and with him, my father.

“Dad—”

Before I could finish, he ran to me and pulled me into a tight hug.

“I’m glad you’re safe,” he said, voice heavy with emotion.

I hugged him back, warmth swelling in my chest.

“I am. Don’t worry.”

Things calmed with his presence. Anon quickly explained that he had filled my dad in on everything, and after learning Viveka was simply asleep, he offered to carry her. Tana and Yoruko followed close behind as we made our way back.

The four of us found ourselves seated once again at the same bench from earlier, like everything had come full circle.

“How did you know to come here? And why now?” Kira asked Anon, narrowing her eyes.

“Well…” Anon hesitated, thinking. “It was like a pull, like something calling me. A kind of…fateful nudge in the right direction.”

“What a cheap answer,” Oberon teased with a smirk.

I leaned in close and whispered, “Won’t this cause problems?”

“I think I’ve figured something out about the pond,” he whispered back, a soft smile on his face.

That smile made my worries ease just a little.

“If you say so,” I replied, smiling too.

“Are you planning on staying this time, or are you going to vanish again?” Oberon asked, only half-joking.

Anon scratched his cheek nervously. “It’s…complicated. I’m not gone forever. Just…not always around.”

“I swear, you’re going to give me white hair,” Kira muttered.

“I know. I’ll explain everything soon. I promise.”

“A promise, huh?” Oberon said, his tone playfully threatening. “You know what happens if you break it?”

“I’ve gotta stick a thousand needles in my eye.”

“Bingo.”

The school bell rang suddenly, a signal cutting through the night.

“What’s that?” Anon asked.

“Fireworks,” I explained. “It’s the finale of the festival.”

“The finale?” He shrank into his seat. “I’m going to have so much explaining to do when I get back.”

“I’m sure they’ll understand everything soon enough.”

A firework burst into the sky, bright and loud. Then another. The night was suddenly painted with colors, red, gold, blue, shimmering above us in breathtaking patterns.

Our eyes turned skyward, locked on the glowing display.

“Cloey.”

Even through the roar of fireworks, I heard Anon’s voice. I turned, just as he leaned closer, closer still, until his lips gently met mine.

The kiss was soft and sudden, and my heart raced like never before. When he pulled back, his face was flushed deep red. I could feel my own cheeks burning.

“I love you,” he whispered.

The sound of the fireworks drowned the words, but somehow I heard them perfectly clearly.

He reached into his pocket and held something out to me: a tiny flower, the same flower I’d once received from an upperclassman.

“Did you get that from my dad?” I asked, laughing softly.

His blush deepened as he tried to find the right words.

The entire moment, fireworks in the sky, the warmth between us, his awkward smile, was everything I had dreamed of.

Before he could reply, I leaned in again and returned the kiss, silencing him completely.

“I love you too.”