Chapter 9: A New Low

Wednesday Night – Home

Let me tell you something—there's nothing more painful than knowing you almost got away with something but got caught at the last second. It's like failing an exam by one mark. Or dropping your ice cream right after buying it.

That was me.

Two weeks. No phone. No PSP. No PlayStation. No life.

I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering how I had fallen this low. The Maze Runner sat next to me, waiting to be read. I sighed, picked it up, and opened the first page.

Might as well, right?

Thursday – School

By the time I got to school, Azri and Rina were already waiting for me at our usual spot near the canteen.

Azri smirked. "So. How's the reading life?"

Rina leaned in. "Did you cry yet?"

I dropped my bag on the table and glared at both of them. "I hate it here."

Azri laughed. "Bro, you really spent the whole night reading, huh?"

I groaned. "What choice did I have?"

Rina raised an eyebrow. "Wait… you actually read it?"

I sighed. "Yeah. And, uh… it's not bad."

They both stared at me like I had just confessed to a crime.

"You…" Azri started. "You like it?"

I hesitated. "I mean… yeah? It's actually kind of interesting."

Rina gasped. "Mana. You're evolving."

Azri grinned. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have witnessed history. Mana is reading."

I rolled my eyes. "Shut up."

Just then, the bell rang, signaling the start of class. We packed up and started heading to our homeroom.

"Hey," Rina said as we walked. "Since you're basically a book nerd now, you should come with me to the bookstore this weekend."

I gave her a look. "I said I liked one book. Don't get ahead of yourself."

Azri smirked. "Nah, bro. She's right. You might as well complete the transformation."

I groaned. "You guys are the worst."

They just laughed.

And honestly? Maybe this wasn't so bad.

—Mana, Jan 2017