Chapter 12 - Mysterious guy?

Haa, I sighed, as the familiar sight of the school grounds came into view. The air had a different feel to it now. These hallways had seen me through all kinds of moments—some mundane, others more memorable. Yes, some of those moments were only a few days ago, but today felt different. It was the last quarter of the school year. That thought lingered in my mind, the realization settling in that we were nearing the end.

As I scanned the crowd, my eyes found some familiar faces. They were my friends. Each one brought back a swirl of memories, from laughter to shared struggles. But today wasn't just like any other day. Today marked the beginning of the end.

"Hi, bestie!" Heart's cheerful voice called out as she approached me, a bounce in her step. She wore her usual bright smile, which had become almost contagious over time.

"Hello!" I waved back, a slight smile tugging at my lips. Even though I wasn't as naturally energetic as she was, her presence always had a way of lifting my mood.

Heart had been insistent on walking to school together for the past few weeks, something I didn't mind at all. In fact, it had become part of my morning routine. Today was no different, except for the undeniable tension of the approaching end-of-year exams and the feeling that something bigger was coming our way.

As we made our way through the familiar streets, lost in casual conversation about what we'd do after the school year ended, a voice called out behind us.

"Hey! Wait up!"

Turning, I saw my cousin Aizen and his friend—well, our friend—Asher catching up to us. Asher had been kind and friendly from the moment we met, but he wasn't exactly my type. Not that it mattered, though. His loud laughter and jokes had a way of lightening the mood, especially now when everything felt so… final.

"Good morning," Aizen greeted with a nod, his calm demeanor contrasting with Asher's energy.

Asher flashed a grin. "Last quarter, huh? Anyone else feel like time just flew by, or is it just me?"

I shrugged, though I could feel that familiar anxiety creeping in. "Yeah, it feels like it was just yesterday that the year started."

Aizen chuckled softly. "And yet here we are, still trying to survive."

I was about to reply when I noticed something—or rather, someone—off in the distance. He was there again. The mysterious guy who had been popping up every now and then, ever since the first few weeks of school. Always lingering, never interacting, just… there. His presence had been unsettling at first, but after a while, I grew used to it.

Today, though, his appearance felt more pointed. He stood a few paces away from the school gates, his hands shoved into the pockets of his hoodie, head slightly down as if avoiding being noticed. But I noticed him, as I always did.

Heart must have seen my expression change, because she nudged me lightly. "You good? You're spacing out."

I shook myself from my thoughts, trying to shake the strange feeling. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just… distracted."

Asher chimed in, oblivious to the tension building inside me. "Distracted? We can't afford to be distracted now. Exams are around the corner!" His words were lighthearted, but the reminder sent a ripple of stress through me.

We entered the school gates, but I couldn't help but glance back. The mysterious guy was gone. I tried to brush it off, focusing on the fact that this was the final stretch of the year. This was it. Soon, we'd be parting ways—well, maybe not completely, but there was something about the last quarter of school that made everything feel more serious.

The cafeteria buzzed with the usual chaos. Students scrambled to get seats, and the noise level was almost unbearable. But our group had our usual spot by the window. Heart, Asher, Aizen, and I settled into our seats, the conversation flowing from random gossip to more serious talks about the future.

"Any plans for after exams?" Heart asked, looking around the table.

"I'm thinking of a vacation," Asher replied between bites of his sandwich. "Something tropical, you know? Just to chill."

Heart smirked. "You always want to go somewhere tropical."

Aizen, who had been quietly eating, finally spoke up. "I'll probably spend the break studying for next year."

We all groaned in unison. "Come on, Aizen, live a little," Asher teased, throwing a crumpled napkin at him.

"Hey, I'm serious," Aizen replied, dodging the napkin with a slight smile. "Besides, someone has to keep their grades up."

Our laughter filled the table, but again, I couldn't help but feel that strange presence. I glanced toward the door of the cafeteria, half-expecting to see the mysterious guy standing there, watching. But there was nothing. Maybe it was just my imagination.

Heart must have noticed my distraction again because she leaned over. "You sure you're okay? You seem… off."

I hesitated, not wanting to sound paranoid. "It's nothing. Just… have you ever noticed that guy?"

"What guy?" Asher asked, looking genuinely confused.

"Yeah, what guy?" Heart echoed, her brows furrowing.

I took a deep breath, realizing I couldn't explain it in a way that wouldn't make me sound crazy. "Never mind. It's probably nothing."

The day had dragged on, the weight of the upcoming exams hanging over us. By the time we left school, the sun was already setting, casting long shadows across the street. Heart and Asher were deep in conversation about their study plans, while Aizen and I walked in comfortable silence.

Then I saw him again.

The mysterious guy. This time, he was standing just a few feet away from the gate, leaning against a tree. His face was still partially hidden by the hood of his jacket, but there was something about his posture that seemed… familiar.

Without thinking, I stopped walking.

"Are you okay?" Aizen asked, noticing my sudden halt.

I nodded, but my eyes were locked on the figure. "It's him," I whispered.

Aizen followed my gaze. "Who?"

"That guy," I said quietly. "The one who keeps appearing."

Aizen looked but didn't seem to notice anything strange. "I don't see anyone."

I blinked, and sure enough, the guy had vanished again. Just like every other time.

Heart and Asher had noticed we stopped and turned back. "What's going on?" Heart asked, concern in her voice.

"I thought I saw someone, but… never mind," I muttered, feeling foolish. Maybe the stress of the final quarter was getting to me.

We resumed walking, but that uneasy feeling never left. As we reached the corner where we usually split up, I couldn't help but glance back one last time.

And there he was. Just for a split second, standing at the far end of the street, watching.

This time, though, I was sure. He wasn't just a figment of my imagination. He was real.

And he was watching me.

After that day, his presence still wandered through my thoughts. I couldn't help but think about the mysterious guy who had been lingering on the edges of my life. He'd appear out of nowhere and then vanish like smoke. Even though I had more pressing matters to focus on—like the end of the school year, final exams, and group projects—he seemed to haunt my mind. Was he just some random student? Or was there more to his story?

I tried to push those thoughts aside as the days wore on, knowing they wouldn't help me get through this crucial quarter of school. Luckily, I wasn't alone in the academic grind. That's when I started meeting up more with Emerald, my childhood friend who was from another section. She was different from my other friends—more mature, more serious. While Aizen, Asher, and Heart were great company, Emerald had a calm, composed energy that made me feel more grounded, especially now when life seemed so chaotic.

We'd been meeting up at the library more frequently, helping each other with assignments and reviewing notes for upcoming exams. It was during one of these quiet afternoons that something changed. We were both focused on our work when I noticed Emerald tapping her pen against her notebook, her mind clearly elsewhere.

"You good?" I asked, glancing up from my textbook.

She hesitated, her eyes flicking toward me before looking down at the table. "Yeah... I'm just thinking about something."

I closed my book, sensing that this wasn't about schoolwork. "Want to talk about it?"

Emerald stayed quiet for a moment, still fidgeting with her pen. Then she sighed and leaned back in her chair. "There's this guy... someone from my section."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? I didn't know you were seeing someone. How come you never mentioned him?"

She gave a small, humorless laugh. "I don't really talk about him much because... well, I've been thinking about breaking up with him."

I blinked, surprised. This was news to me. "Breaking up? I didn't even know you were dating anyone. What's going on?"

Emerald rubbed her temples, looking more frustrated than sad. "It's hard to explain. We've been together for a while, but... I don't feel loved. Like, we're supposed to be a couple, but I don't feel like he really cares about me. It's like I'm just there—someone he expects to always be around, but he doesn't put any effort into making me feel valued."

I frowned, leaning forward. "That sounds awful. Does he know how you feel?"

"I've tried talking to him," she said, her voice soft. "I've brought it up a few times, but every time I do, he promises he'll try harder. He says the right things, but nothing really changes. It's like he thinks saying 'I'll do better' is enough, and then he goes right back to ignoring me."

"That's not fair to you," I said, shaking my head. "You deserve someone who makes you feel appreciated, not just someone who gives empty promises."

Emerald sighed again, and for the first time in a long while, she looked vulnerable. "I know... but it's hard. I don't want to be the one to hurt him, you know? Breaking up feels like admitting failure, and I hate that."

I leaned back in my chair, trying to think of the right thing to say. "It's not failure, though. Sometimes things just don't work out, and that's okay. You can't stay in a relationship that makes you feel like this just because you're afraid of hurting him."

She was silent for a while, her expression torn. "But what if I'm wrong? What if I'm just being too sensitive or expecting too much?"

"You're not wrong," I said firmly. "If you feel unloved, then that's real. You're not expecting too much by wanting someone to care about you the way you deserve."

Emerald sighed, resting her chin on her hand. "I don't know... I keep thinking that maybe I'm being unreasonable, that I should just be grateful he's with me at all."

"Grateful?" I repeated, almost incredulous. "No way. You should never have to feel like that. You're not some consolation prize, Emerald. You're worth more than that."

She gave a weak smile, but I could tell she still wasn't convinced. "It's just... I don't know how to end it without feeling guilty. I don't want to hurt him, but I can't keep pretending everything's fine."

I nodded, understanding her conflict. "Yeah, breakups are never easy. But staying in a relationship where you're unhappy is only going to hurt you in the long run. And if he really cares about you, he'll understand why you need to do this."

"I hope so," she muttered, staring down at the table. "But I don't even know how to start that conversation. How do you tell someone you don't feel loved by them without sounding like you're accusing them of being a terrible person?"

"That's tough," I admitted, "but maybe it's not about blaming him. It's about explaining how you feel. You can be honest without being harsh. Just tell him the truth—that you've tried to make it work, but you're not happy and you don't feel loved. It's not about him being a bad person; it's about you needing something more than what he's giving."

She nodded slowly, absorbing my words. "Yeah... I guess you're right. I just don't want it to turn into a fight."

"If he cares about you, it won't," I reassured her. "And even if it's hard at first, in the end, you'll both be better off. He deserves someone who's fully happy with him, and you deserve to be with someone who makes you feel loved."

Emerald sighed again, but this time it seemed more like she was letting go of something she'd been holding onto for too long. "Thanks," she said softly. "I guess I just needed to hear that."

"No problem," I said, smiling at her. "Whatever happens, I'm here for you."

She smiled back, a genuine one this time, though there was still a shadow of uncertainty in her eyes. "I don't know what I'd do without you sometimes."

I chuckled. "Well, I'm glad I can help. And hey, if you ever need a distraction, we can always study some more. Nothing like drowning your relationship problems in textbooks."

She laughed, and for a moment, the tension lifted. "I'll take you up on that."

We went back to our notes, but the conversation lingered in the air, and I couldn't help but think about how much Emerald had been holding in. It made me wonder how many other people around me were going through similar struggles, silently dealing with things I knew nothing about.

But despite everything, I was glad she trusted me enough to open up. It wasn't easy, dealing with matters of the heart, especially when you felt like you were in the wrong for wanting something more. I knew she'd figure it out in her own time, and when she did, I'd be there to support her.

As the afternoon wore on, we finished up our assignments, exchanging ideas and talking about the upcoming exams. Emerald seemed lighter, as if just talking about her relationship had taken a weight off her shoulders. I was glad she had someone to confide in, and I hoped that whatever decision she made, it would be the right one for her.

When we finally packed up and prepared to leave, Emerald paused, her hand lingering on the strap of her backpack. "Thanks again," she said, her voice soft but sincere.

"Anytime," I replied, giving her a reassuring smile. "You're going to be okay, no matter what happens."

She nodded, and with that, we headed out of the library together, the weight of our conversation still lingering but somehow less heavy now that it had been shared.