Ten

The three of them watched in confusion as Yujin ran away like an athlete in a marathon. This is the first time she acted that way, after being missing for almost 2 days.

"It feels like we have some contagious disease by the way she's running away from us," Lea commented as they continue walking toward the classroom.

"I wonder if that traumatized her."

"What is?" Siren finally speaks up.

"Us seeing her in that costume. I remember seeing her face so red that day."

"I don't think so. Yujin won't be that shallow to avoid us from something as small as that." Hana answers as if trying to prove a point. "You must have scared her, Siren."

"How? and Why would I do that?" They finally enter their noisy classroom still engaged in the conversation.

"You must have said something when she was reading your future."

"Do I really look that bad in your eyes?"

Hana's eyes widen as she violently shakes her head to disagree. "It's not that! It's just a what-if! A what if!"

"That hurts, Hana."

"What?! I-"

"Good morning class, how are you all doing today?"

Siren grins at Hana and sticks her tongue at her but stops when Peach sits beside her. Suddenly, she could feel her body heating.

'Just ignore it Siren, and listen to the teacher.'

"Are you feeling okay now?"

"W-what?"

'That surprised me.'

"Your head. Does it still hurt?" Peach continues without looking at her. Siren stares at her for a second before she shakes her head.

"Good." Peach finally looks at her and smiles. And with that, she could feel her heart skipping a beat again.

'Just ignore it, Siren, and listen to the teacher.'

Which she failed to do.

- - -

"Break time! Let's eat, let's eat!"

Hana exclaimed loudly and excitedly as if this is the first time she's encountered it. Lea slightly pushed her away while Siren walk past ahead of them.

"Siren! What are you eating?" Hana asks once again, this time jumping on Siren's back.

"Hey! Get off of me, you monkey!" She'll just laugh loudly, ignoring her. Siren just shook her head and continued walking toward the cafeteria with Hana on her back.

"Oh? Yuji- She ran away again."

The three of them watched as Yujin ran away from them, with her friend, apologizing for her actions.

"Do you know why she's acting that way?" Lea finally asks.

"She said something about getting shy?" Kaye answered with confusion in her voice.

"Shy? Why?" - Hana

Kaye shrugs her shoulders and bade her farewell.

"She's really unusual, that person," Lea commented before going inside the cafeteria.

"I wonder what made her shy? What do you think, Siren?"

"I do not know. But, I wonder when you'll get off of me. You're heavy, you know."

"No." Hana hugged her even tighter. Siren just shook her head, completely giving up before going inside the cafeteria.

- - -

'Why am I doing this?'

That sentence has probably been on repeat ever since the class ended. She checked the time on her phone.

'5 more minutes and I'll go.'

Soon enough, a tiny figure in a uniform can be seen walking out of a classroom, unaware of her presence. She stares at her for a while before blocking her way. The girl stops upon seeing her.

"S-Siren-"

"Are you going to run away again?"

"Huh? I... I'm not running away."

"It looks like you were."

"I-"

"Let's go." She grabs her by the wrist and drags her to walk. It has been quiet for the both of them until they reached the playground and sees another girl in school uniform walking ahead of them.

'Another annoying person.'

They unknowingly walk slower until the other girl is a few meters away from them.

"Siren, I-"

"I don't know why you're avoiding us but stop it already, it's getting annoying."

Yujin lowers her head. "I'm not avoiding you... I just feel shy."

"Suddenly? Why? Is it still because of the school festival?"

Yujin shakes her head, making Siren sigh. "Then you shouldn't have approached me at that PE class if you're gonna act that way at the end."

"I'm sorry..."

Siren takes a deep breath before speaking. "I won't ask you anymore. Just don't do this again. Lea and Hana's worried about you."

Yujin only nods her head while trying not to cry.

"Don't cry."

"I... I-won't.". But that appear a lie as tears started flowing down her cheeks to where she could not hide her sobs anymore. They stop walking and Siren stands in front of her.

"Such a crybaby." She says that but wipes away her tears, anyway.

"I... I-I'm s-so-sorry..."

"You need to stop. People would think that I'm making you cry." Siren stares at her unable to think of any way to make her stop bawling.

'Guess I have no choice.'

"There... There... Calm down, okay?" Yujin silently gasps in surprise as Siren puts her in a light embrace, calming her down, and patting her back like a kid. It somehow helped calmed her down, but her heart started going wild, so much, that she was afraid Siren might hear it.

"Are you okay now?" She could only nod. Siren lets her go and wipes her tears once again. "Don't tell them about this. They won't let me live if they know what I did." She nodded again, still unable to say something.

"You won't run away again?"

"I... Won't."

"Keep your word, okay?"

"Okay..."

"Then let's go. It's getting late." Siren walks ahead of her so she runs to her and clings to her arm. Siren just lets her be.

-

"So it's finally time for this, huh?" Hana whispered as they stare at the paper on their desk. It's a survey form, basically asking them about their choices at college.

"Do you have a school in mind, Siren?" - Lea

"Not yet. I'll probably just end up at a university near here."

"What about a degree? Do you have something in mind?"

Siren frowns. "I don't want to think about it yet. Just thinking about that makes me feel angry. I don't want to be an adult yet."

"I'll just go where you are, guys," Hana answered, her tone completely surrendering.

Siren won't be able to listen to their conversation as her focus is on their classmate, particularly her seatmate who, for no reason, gets on her nerve so much. She's happily talking to her friends not so far away, laughing their hearts out.

She could feel something tightening around her chest when Peach suddenly tucked the hair of their classmate behind her ear while smiling and saying something.

'So you do that to everyone.'

She lays her head on the desk, feeling annoyed.

'Whatever. It's not like I care.'

-

Siren wakes up to the feeling of someone staring at her. She lifts her head up and sees Peach in front of her.

"W-what..."

"Give me the survey form, I need to pass it to our adviser." Peach coldly said as she grabbed the paper on the desk and turned around.

'What's her problem?'

Siren looked around to see no one besides the two of them.

"It's PE time, they left you already." Peach answered as if reading her mind. She rests her head on the desk once more, trying to suppress the irritation she's feeling.

'What' s up with her? Acting like that. I should be the one to get mad and not the other way around.'

"You'll get a failing grade if you don't attend PE. Do you really want to repeat a year?"

'Enough of the cold tone. It's getting annoying.'

"Then it's much better. I won't have to see you again."

It's gotten quiet. Siren remained her head on the desk.

'Is she gone?'

"Do you hate me that much?"

Peach tone is much quieter and warmer than the last, but the pain is clear in her voice and it's enough for Siren to feel a thousand knives stabbing her chest. This is the first time she felt this way.

She lifted her head again, and this time she was the only one left with Peach's words ringing in her head.