Broken Dreams

"Mina, wait-!"

I shouted running after her. Mina didn't just leave the gym, she was heading straight out to the school gate. As I got closer and tried to catch up with her, she started to run faster as if she didn't want to get caught by me.

"Mina, what's wrong?!"

She just ran and ran without stopping or turning back to answer me.

But well, she wasn't exactly fit for running and it didn't take too long for her to run out of breath.

"Are you okay?"

I finally caught up with her and leaned down to check on her as she was bending forward and panting. She was now fully crying.

"What's wrong? Talk to me, please"

"I…"

I pulled her head close to my chest and embraced her. I could feel my shirts get wet from her tears.

"It's okay, Mina. I don't know what's wrong, but it's okay"

"No! It's not okay!"

She suddenly pushed me away.

"I ruined him..", Mina grunted through her clenched teeth while looking down to the ground.

"No it's not your-"

"It IS my fault. He could have gone anywhere and achieved anything! I messed it all up by making him miss his performance in the final!"

"I'm sure he doesn't hold any grudges or regrets, Mina, calm down"

"I can't forgive myself…"

"Come on Mina.." I pulled her close to me again, hugging her, and stroked her head.

"Calm down. It's all okay"

"What should I do…. I don't know what I should do anymore…"

"shhh… You don't need to do anything. It is just what it is"

Why did Juno have to be so good? I know it was unreasonable but I was angry at him for making Mina cry like this and…

Man, it sucks. If only I just agreed to play keepy-ups with him on the stage this would have never happened. Mina could have stayed blissfully ignorant and just remember Juno as a sweet and kind boy. That memory is probably all ruined now as she felt raging anger at herself for ruining the carrier of someone who might have been a pure genius. Why the fuck did he have to be so good. And I had no idea all this time…

After holding her like that for a few minutes, it seemed Mina has calmed down.

"Are you okay now?"

Mina nodded without saying a word.

"Shall we go back?"

Mina shook her head

Just as I was wondering what to do with this girl, Tasha came running at us and threw a big hug at Mina.

"Mina, are you okay?"

"Tasha…."

"What's wrong with Mina?", Tasha asked me with an aggressive tone as if she thought I had something to do with it.

I didn't know what to say so I just stood there, now standing a bit distant from Mina as Tasha was holding her.

"What did you do to her?!", Tasha reached out and grabbed my neck. I could have easily twisted her wrists until they break but I felt no strength in my body and will.

"Tasha, please don't…"

Tasha looked at Mina, looked at me again, looked at Mina, and then let go of my neck.

"Mina you poor thing"

Now Tasha was holding Mina like I was doing before.

"I want to go home"

Mina spoke like a broken child.

"I'll take you home"

With that, Tasha walked away with her arm around Mina's waist. I stood there for a long time looking at them until I couldn't see them anymore.

Mina hasn't turned back to look at me once.