LXXVIII | Outcast

❦

There's this deja vu feeling
I get

from watching my friends
talk loudly

then go quiet
when I appear.

'Yo,' I say.

Kumar waves hey.

Angie whispers something to Nora.
Nora avoids my eyes.

It's like I've gone back
to being the shy primary school boy
hiding behind Brient

all over again.

Even though
this time,

I'm the one
who befriended all of them
by myself.

Is it conceited to think like that?

'Let's go,' I say.

But for some reason,
nobody moves.

Well, this is awkward.

Do they not hear me?

Am I speaking a different language
without knowing it?

'Sorry I'm late,'
Ming says behind me.

'We can go now.'

They start to move.

I feel
a prickle
of frustration.

I trail behind them
on the way there,

but no one gives a damn.

I'd sulk
but the only one who'd listen
is Mr. Ahmad.

I'm sure if I say
one word
to him right now,

I'd have no friends left.

(But maybe a ward space in IMH.)

[Read the full story at novelconbini.com!]