(16.5) a reason to keep distance

Marie had first heard the truth about Airi from her friends at a party hosted by Luke a few months ago.

It started out as this great party, smiling, laughing and making light-hearted conversations until her close friends from high school came later that night, along with a new girl she had yet to meet, a girl named Lucy. She immediately noticed the foul change in their expression when they arrived at the bar late and saw her— Airi. She was immediately called over as she was talking to her, the urgency in the voice and behavior made her worry and she rushes to their side. It was then that they start berating her, assuming immediately that she’s the one who invited the wrench (their words not hers).

“N-no! I didn’t invite her!” she denies in a heartbeat and immediately she felt something in her stomach sink. She didn’t want to let them know she was actually happy to meet Airi and plans on introducing her and Zoey to them as the first friends she made in college, but she didn’t want to make them upset than they already are.

Their opinions matter more to her after all.

When they told her the source of their frustrations she was at a loss for words, she had no idea Airi had that kind of relationship with Ren, much less on how she tried to ruin Ren’s relationships, especially with Nina, his supposed girlfriend. That can’t be true, she thinks as she tries to defend her, “s-she told me she didn’t know Ren personally!” at least, that’s the feeling she got when they talked about him.

“Even I would if I did that to Ren!” Lucy retorts suddenly. “God, I’d be in total shame. I would seriously consider moving to another country and change my name.” It slightly aggravate Marie, as if this Lucy chick suddenly inserts herself into the conversation and spoken out of line. She was taken aback at her friends agreeing with her, in unison. In a span of a few days, it seemed like this girl Lucy wormed her way closer to them than they did with her it almost sets her off. However, she didn’t want to be against the friends she’s grown to know and trusted.

“But she did exactly that didn’t she?” Her friend says matter-of-factly. “Minus the change-my-name part.”

“She changed schools after almost ruining Ren and Nina’s life!” Lucy stated. “she’s God awful, I’m telling you! Like the villain in a movie out to destroy true love because she couldn’t obtain it herself.”

“I mean, who would, right? With a personality like hers.”

They all laugh and Marie tries to smile with them, agree and be angry at Airi for lying to her, but remembering her for who she is now makes it hard for her to agree.

It was then that she hears a shout and sees a drunken Zoey making a scene, fighting with another woman at a bar one moment then crying to Airi the next. Lucy snorts at the scene like witnessing some kind of forced drama that stirs badly on her stomach, comments that she shouldn’t have come. “She’s trouble everywhere she goes, I tell you.” She says finally and proceeds to leave, the others following suit behind her.

Marie was still in conflict, watching Airi doing her best to try to console her best friend as she starts getting hysterical.

“It’s all his fault! You don’t deserve what happened to you!”

Marie got the impression that Zoey was talking about something else, or was it just another drunken spur? It was a first to see that cool Zoey become emotional after all. Either way, everything went for the worse when the other girl lost it and starts berating her and everyone around her that the bar manager and guards had to interfere.

That was her queue to go home. She packed her things and heads out without notifying anyone, wondering if she could still catch up with Lucy and the others.

Tonight was a mess, she thought, sighing as she walks home. She thinks of Airi and wonders again what she should do tomorrow, Airi is sure to talk to her and she couldn’t find it in her heart to ignore her.

She was such a kind soul, she thought, remembering their exchange just earlier, how kind she was and polite, but at the same time oddly nervous as she answers her questions about Ren. She wanted to talk her and hear the truth and accept her because she can’t be all that bad, right? She used to bully Luke back then too (even now). However, at the same time she couldn’t deny what her friends told her.

A buzz rang from her pocket and she takes out her phone to see that receives a message. From Lucy. Her friends must have given her her contact details. She honestly doesn’t know how to feel about that.

It was an image and a video with a caption: If you still aren’t sure about her, this’ll help.

Marie clicked on the image and saw a picture of Nina in the hospital, her forehead was bandaged up with some semblance of blood still on the bandage. It looked like a deep wound no matter how you look at it. She couldn’t believe Airi would do such a thing. She was so kind.

However, when she saw the video, everything she thought she knew about Airi vanished. This girl is bad news, she concludes darkly, bitterly. She had to get away from her, she decided ruefully.