Chapter Two

𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝑶𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑭𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅

The room was noisy, with everyone talking with their friends. The professor is twenty minutes late, there are only ten minutes to spare listening to their shouts and overlapping voices. In college, if the professor is thirty minutes late it means that the class is over.

Those minutes felt years of waiting for Blanche. She wasn't talking to anyone, she has no friends in the first place. Everyone avoided her everytime they discover her name which she's been accustomed with so she didn't expect anything at all.

Everytime the gentle eyes turn glare and remorse, she shrug it off like it didn't exist. That's how she deal with it everyday. When someone get physically violent, she payback more violently. That's one of the reasons why students never did physical abuse to her anymore after the news broke out that she sent a student flying to the St. Peter Hospital bedridden for a month.

The parents of the student were beyond angry, they wanted to sue her for what she did. However, it all backfired to their son. Blanche made the table flip over, getting the sympathy and favour of the Dean. They discover the hideous secrets of the son, with evidences they do not know where she got from. She has too many skeletons in her closets that many wanted no relation with her which she finds convenient.

Different from how she act in the coffee shop, she's just looking outside the window silently with no expression to show. She admired the sky, clouds and the birds flapping their wings out. She thought, 'It would be very calming if the place isn't full of annoying immature beings. Can't do anything about it, this is a school.'

The professor didn't come. One by one, students, went out of the room. Blanche, on the other hand, stayed and waited for the others to begone.

School is draining especially when you don't have anyone that can inspire you to enjoy school. School is hell for Blanche. When did the last time she enjoyed going to school? She cannot remember it anymore.

Wearing her white sweater dress and a laced booties for her feet. It was casual but her confidence made it classy. Letting her waist-length straight hair with curly ends fall over her shoulder.

Blanche never did approach anyone, never did offend anyone unless they start it, and never did she had fun with others. She's always alone and the center of attention when she didn't even want any of it. Although she did wished for a friend or two, she didn't beg to have one. She discovered that being alone can be sad but also peaceful that's why she settle for what she have.

When she's about to go outside, she stop on her step because someone block the doorway. She unconsciously step back because of the sudden appearance of a woman.

"Hi!" Miana smiled while waving her right hand near Blanche's face.

Blanche smile when she realize it was the woman who approached her days ago in the cafeteria.

Miana is wearing a pants partnered with a black crop top, and high heels which made them both on the same level of sight. Her short hair is in a high ponytail, making her look sophisticated. Unlike Blanche, Miana has accessories that highlighted her beauty.

Blanche, "Hey,"

Miana, "I didn't call you today to surprise you! Did I succeed?"

Blanche laugh heartfully. It's the first time someone smiled at her genuinely in a school where people loathe her for being her. "You did."

Miana, "I even made you laugh. You're so gorgeous,"

Blanche touch her lips, "Thank you. Same with you,"

Men whose staying at the corridor saw her heartful laugh and got goosebump. Their eyes were in great shock and admiration. Some women, however, glared at her. Insecurities were visible in their eyes. But half of the women adored the sight they haven't seen ever since they learnt about Blanche.

Miana pulled Blanche away from the deafening noise and they went in the White Garden behind the main building. There are other students sitting in bench and grasses but the silence is relaxing. This is the place students go if they want serene vibe aside from library.

The fresh air embrace them.

Blanche, "Why did you take me here? I'm hungry."

Miana, "I'm prepared, Sis!"

Blanche whose confuse let Miana drag her until she let her go. Blanche is about to sit on the bench when Miana yelled pointing somewhere, "We're going to sit here!"

Blanche, "Hey, that is someone's property. I know you're gullible but you're still a human, right? You still understand human language, right?? Inform me if I'm wrong,"

Miana chuckle, "You know sarcasm, huh?"

Blanche, "Of course. I'm human, anyway. Unlike someone out there,"

Miana laughed really hard that she rolled on the grass, not minding the eyes directed at her because of her loudness. It is an unspoken rule in the White Garden that silence makes the garden perfect, however there is no rule that no one can make a noise once in a while. She tried to stop her laughter to give others the peace they wanted. She succeed so she wiped her tears out of joy. "That was hilarious! You're more than the rumours said."

"Yeah, right."

"I'm so glad I approached you or else I won't have someone as cute and fun to be with like you."

Miana, then, sit on the blanket placed over the grass and opened the basket at the side. "This is ours. Like what I said, I'm prepared."

Blanche also sit on it and start to eat the foods Miana put in the middle. Miana also eat with her in silence.

The White Garden is full of grasses and triangular trees. The design of the fountain at the center is a statue of Eros on the top of the cloud which releases water. 'Why did they call it White Garden again? I forgot the details,' Blanche shrugged it off.

Her eyes drifted to a brown paper cup with the coffee shop's logo which she work for. Her pupil shrink as she felt a sudden bolt of thunder inside her head. "You went to Vita Café?"

Miana smile, "Yeah, I'm a regular there."

Blanche, "Why don't I see you?"

Miana, "I go there every morning. Do you also drink your coffee there? We can do it together!"

Blanche, "Oh. No, I don't. I work at Vita Café every night."

Miana nodded, sipping her coffee while watching her as if waiting for the next words Blanche has to say. Only then did she realized that Blanche's done.

Like a scene in a movie, Miana split the coffee she drank when she had processed Blanche's words. Blanche get her a tissue from her bag and wipe it for her. "OMYGOSH! You work at Chris' coffee shop???"

Blanche nod at herself, "Of course you know the owner, you're a regular."

Miana, "I'm not just a customer, Sis. I'm her little sister. Like, omg! I didn't know. He didn't mention you."

Blanche, "Of course, he won't. I just met you days ago and who knows we're actually acquaintance."

Miana wear a poker face, "What do you mean acquaintance? I'm a friend! A friend."

Blanche look away, "I just met you,"

Miana, "We've been calling for days, like good friends asking for tea of the day and you only consider me as your acquaintance? Thay hurts, Sis."

Blanche kept her silence. She not good at this kind of situation. Though, she was calm when Callum asked her to be friends, it is still her first with a girl friend that's why she doesn't know what to do.

Miana notice her awkwardness. She tap her shoulder and give her the sweetest smile she could offer to her. She whisper, "I'm sorry for surprising you. I didn't know your circumstances. Even so, I'm willing to know you more and be the best friend you could ever have! So, can I officially ask for us to be officially friends?"

Blanche bite her lower lips, trying to suppress the tears that might stream down her cheeks. Keeping her sight down, "I'm f-fine... with that,"

Miana feel that Blanche's really trying her best to hide her emotions right now that's why she hug her tight. She thought, 'Omygosh, this girl is too precious. How could those fucking bitch say those fucking words about her? Man, I'm gonna let them pay for it.'

Miana giggle, "Don't cry, Sis."

Blanche chuckle, "I wasn't crying. Sand went my eyes,"

Miana, "Laughing my ass out, girl."

They both laugh and embrace each other again.

The first ever girl friend that asked Blanche to be her friend. She's a young adult already but her heart flutters like a teenager after she found someone who would want to befriend her. It was to good to be true.

They drink the already cold Cappuccino while having a small talk.