37 A Friend's Purpose

As tomorrow becomes the present, Avyanna feared to show her presence in school as she was cautious if the same would happen again.

But as Sunny persuaded made Avyanna was convinced. Eyes promulgated towards her, they looked at her with pity and some with eyes that told her how she is one of a laughingstock. She tried to hide her face as she paced forward toward their classroom.

She darted to open the door and her eyes behold her classmates swarming in Sunny's seat, she was the center of attention. She was praised, and when her presence was finally seen, everyone hustled toward her.

Questions after questions got her mind confused. Avyanna wasn't sure anymore, she wasn't aware this might happen.

Her mind got muddled into thoughts as they started to continue feeding her more questions so that she'll sing the answers back. Her eyes trembled as her hands shivered, she was getting anxious.

'Stop! Stop! Don't tremble!' she thought as she tried to persuade herself. 'You're fine! you're fine! You're doing fine…'

She started gasping for air, it was as if she couldn't breathe anymore.

But they continued, Avyanna's hands shuddered frightfully. This was always the cause of the trauma she bore over the past few years. "Avie, answer!" one shouted trying to squeeze the juice from the lemon.

"Why were you there?" They asked.

"I-It doesn't…matter." she stuttered.

"That's vague…" one complained.

Her thoughts continued to be frantic. She didn't know what to do, she grappled her hands to her knees tightly and squeezed them.

The words they hurl started to infest her way of thought and slowly felt as if fear was dominating her.

Sunny was watching them as her face was neutral, no expressions shown on her sedated countenance. Slowly as they continued to invade her personal space as if they were paparazzi, Sunny stood up and met them eye to eye.

"Please, stop, we're not going that far, are we?" she asked one as she clasped her arm.

"Oh, come on, Sunny. It was you who planned to—"

A sudden shout came from the girl's voice as she was not able to finish her sentence. Sunny had gripped her hands tightly, she glared at her, eyes widened and she was furious.

"Not shutting our mouth, are we?" she smiled brightly as it slowly formed into a grimace.

Tighter the grip went, the girl cried in pain. "Help! No, please Sunny!" the girl cried as tears started to surround and greet her eyelids. Slowly, Sunny loosened her grip and sighed, she footed close to Avyanna.

She was hiding under her hair, trembling she still was, Sunny patted her head and softly spoke, "Avie, let's get you some air?"

She was silent, yet slowly, Avyanna raised her head to meet hers.

The staircases were empty, and the light showed gracefully from the window, the gentle breeze made the curtains dance gracefully along with its rhythm. The silence was around the place.

Avyanna sat on the corner of the staircase, her feet raised together, clasped to each other as she hugged her legs. Her chin rested on her knees and she was mum.

Sunny came back from the canteen, she was holding a lemon juice in her hand and an orange one in the other. She clasped it tightly avoiding it to spill.

"Here…" Sunny handed the orange beverage and mindlessly sipped on the straw of the beverage she held.

"That's my treat…" she mumbled.

Avyanna was confused as she slowly turned toward her, "Wait, isn't my money used for this?"

"Yeah…" she responded. She stopped slurping on the straw as she looked at her, "Come on, don't mind it, and drink up, it'll calm you down."

Avyanna sighed, she took the straw and stabbed it on the top of the juice box, and sipped it onto it. The awkward silence was yet to fill the area.

The silence continued but rather after a while, Avyanna heard Sunny's voice rising from the serene and dreary atmosphere.

"What was that a while ago? You were trembling." She took a glimpse from Avyanna and focused once more on the juice box.

Avyanna hesitated to speak.

She breathed in preparing to tell about it and yet she halted, she gripped tightly on the beverage and stared at it for quite some time.

Sunny looked at her with a curious expression as she creased her forehead. Avyanna slowly tried to mouth some words.

It wasn't heard, it was a mumble that only she could hear. Sunny was annoyed as she said in an irked tone. "If you wanna talk, speak louder…"

Avyanna silenced as she swallowed.

"I-It's due to trauma…" she said.

"Trauma?"

"It's an effect of the dread I suffered when I was young. I don't know anymore…" she said as her voice shakes. Sunny came close to her as she wanted her back and caressed her hair.

"I would listen if you tell me, I'm right here…" she condoned.

Avyanna looked at her as her eyes slowly saddened. As the wind swayed, the trees' leaves danced to the rhythm of the air, and the wind rustled through the curtain that hung on the window as it made a tiny sound.

"Can I trust you, then?" she asked.

Her face was solemn and austere. Her eyebrows slightly creased as she started at Sunny.

Sunny's eyes widened as if she was that surprised by a question. She hesitated. But again, Avyanna spoke once more.

"If I tell you, will you not tell anybody?" she said.

"W-Why does it seem that you are doubting me after a year of our friendship?" she said annoyed.

Avyanna ducked her head low, she pinched her thumb repetitively and softly recited, "I…don't know who to trust anymore."

Avyanna's hair slipped down from her shoulders and it smoothly moved down to her arms. "After what the world showed me, I…don't know if I should trust anymore," she stuttered.

She raised her head to her and looked her in the eyes. "I can trust you, can't I?" she implored.