My Japanese exam was fast approaching, and my mom thought it’d be best if I took the week off to study. She even arranged for a senior student to tutor me.
The senior was a total contrast to Xavier, calm, patient, always smiling. He was the kind of guy who radiated good vibes, nothing like Xavier’s intensity.
After class that day, I walked the senior out. And of course, we bumped into Xavier coming back from school. His eyes immediately followed the senior, narrowing slightly.
He didn’t say a word, just stood there, watching.
I tried to slip past him, eager to get home, but before I knew it, Xavier grabbed the hood of my hoodie, yanking me back into him.
“Seriously? Can’t last a day without a guy?” he shot at me, his voice dripping with arrogance.
I stomped on his foot, hard, making him hiss in pain. He let go, but only for a second.
Before I could escape, he had me again. “So this is how you ‘liked’ me? By running off to another guy?”
He shoved me against the wall, gripping my chin with a fierceness I hadn’t seen in months. “Who is he? How far have you gone with him? Does he know how you feel about me?”
I slapped him. Hard.
For a moment, Xavier just stood there, silent, staring at me with a mix of anger and confusion.
I didn’t speak either. The tension hung between us, thick and suffocating.
Finally, he dropped his hand from my chin and looked away. “I didn’t mean what I said earlier. Don’t take it the wrong way.”
I straightened my hoodie, not meeting his eyes, and started to walk away.
But then, he grabbed my arm again, and before I could pull away, he released it, his tone softer, almost regretful. “When did we stop being able to talk like this?”
“Aria, we’re still good, right?”
I exhaled, my patience running thin. “No. We’re not.”
I shook my head, my voice firm. “Xavier, you don’t deserve to be my friend.”
