12: I see, I guess...

The next day,

I wake up to a scene that I know was bound to happen.

Fighting.

These two geezers brought me to this world and are expecting me to owe them.

What a bunch of shits.

Anyway, my parents were fighting because of what dad did to me yesterday.

And what does my good old pop say against it?

"Well, she should be doing more housework since she's a girl,"

Wow.

Can't believe I'm related to this person, let alone, be her fucking daughter.

I got to the shower as soon as I got up.

Got dressed and left without saying a word.

...

"Did you hear that?"

"Fighting in the morning?"

" Poor girl,"

"Has to deal with something like that,"

Everyone kept saying.

Well, at least it's not some kind of false rumor.

I shrugged it off and kept walking.

"Pauline!" Someone called.

?

"What happened?" The person asked.

"Who are you?" I asked back.

"Oh right, I'm the... I shouldn't say that, but I'm a classmate!" She said.

"Let me guess, are you the one who spread rumors about me sleeping with a teacher?"

"..." She wasn't saying anything.

"Oh and, you're also the person who told everyone here that I stripped naked in school?"

"I-I'm sorry,"

"You're sorry? Really?*

"Yes, I'm sorry Pauline,"

I walked away without saying anything.

She tried to catch up.

"Please, I'm really sorry for all of that!"

"Gee, thanks for apologizing, I feel better now after all the embarrassment and glares I get from any person here,"

"My confidence can now come back because the person who spread rumors around me apologized, that's so great," I added.

"I was just jealous of you!"

"Jealous of me?!"

"ME?! ARE YOU KIDDING??"

"I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WANTED TO FEEL SO EMBARRASSED AND SHAMEFUL FOR SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T DO ALL THIS TIME,"

"IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE JEALOUS OF?"

"I'm jealous that you have a better life than mine,"

"Wait, so everything I said is better than what you experience?"

"Did you want someone to spread rumors about you too?"

"I do that you know, The people here are so weak-minded that they're willing to listen to one kid and think that its true,"

"It's not that, you have a complete family, you could have friends, you have..."

"I HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING TO TALK TO SOMEONE BECAUSE OF THEIR JUDGMENT ON ME AND YOU'RE JEALOUS OF ME HAVING FRIENDS?"

"at least you have friends," she mumbled.

"Yeah, since I don't spread any false rumors about someone I envy,"

"You see my point?"

"You keep starting rumors about someone you somehow, don't like,"

"Do you think that's friend material?"

...

"Just fuck off already, My day already got ruined and you somehow made it worse," I said as I left.

She starts crying,

Pfft, snowflake.

I immediately went back and talked to her again.

"I'm sorry for what I said,"

"It's okay, maybe I deserve it," she said while wiping her tears.

"Please, just stop doing whatever you did to me before, okay?"

"And, if you want a friend, we can be friends," I added.

"After all the things I did to you?" She said.

"Is it really okay?" She asked.

"I don't mind, I blew off a lot of steam earlier anyway,"

"It's okay," I said and I pat her head.

She stops crying and smiles.

"Okay, thank you, Pauline," she said.

"Y-yeah, no problem," I said realizing what I did know was a bit out of character.

"I'm Himei,"

"Hm, is that a Chinese name or something?" I asked.

"It's Japanese, it means to scream,"

"Uh, that's a bit, scary,"

"Oh, don't worry, I just have a really loud voice, that's all,"

"Hm,"

"It was what my father said when I asked about my name,"

"What about your mother?"

"She... S-she...," She starts to cry again.

"H-hey, don't cry, sorry for bringing it up," I said getting pretty flustered.

"It's okay,"

"I'm sure she's happy wherever she is right now," she added.

"I'm sure she's in peace," I said.

"She's not actually dead!" She said.

I felt embarrassed, and looked away,

"O-oh, s-sorry," I said.

"She's with a different family,"

"I see, sorry to hear that,"

"It's okay, I'm starting to get used to it,"

"I'm sure you'll be fine," I said and smiled at her,