3 Separate roads lead to the salon

I was sobbing silently inside the cab. I tried to calm myself by looking at the city lights. I am mad at myself for getting so emotional and looking like a wreck right now. The taxi driver might have thought how stupid I look.

With bunny pajamas, slippers, and a ball cap, I look like a fashion crime. Casper's soul would leave his body once he sees me. I keep wiping the tears from my eyes. Can you please stop crying?

It's a good thing that my apartment is only 20 minutes away from Casper's house. In no time, the cab driver parked the taxi in front of their humungous gate. Thank heavens he did not even try asking if I'm alright because I would probably cry right there and then.

I paid for my fare and went out of the ride. I did not even bother ringing the doorbell. One of Casper's house helper went to fetch me, and let me in their house. Once inside, I went straight ahead to the second floor where his room is. Good thing that his aunts were currently out of town because I couldn't handle greeting them when I feel like I'm about to break down.

I knocked at Casper's room and called him. My voice was small and a little raspy because I have been crying for the whole ride. He opened the door with confusion in his face.

"What happened, babe? Are you okay?" he asked me as he let me in the room. His blue themed chamber, welcomed me. He must have been doing his nightly regimen when I got here.

I went straight to sit down on his bed, which is, by the way, very huge for just one person. I wiped away the snot and tears mixing from my face. Gosh! I look horrible.

"You know I love you, right?" I asked him between sobs. In which he answered by nodding.

"What is this all about?" He sat down on the beanie bag that was lying on the floor.

"Have you noticed how Megan and Aurora have been distant lately?" I tried to calm myself because hell, you can't tell a complete story when you keep whimpering like a cat.

Casper was just silent and was listening.

"Well, I invited them for dinner earlier. I want to talk and maybe catch up." Casper gave me a glass of water to help me calm down as I was still sobbing.

"They both refused and told me that they were both going home for the Christmas vacation." I continued.

"And?" Casper, who was sitting on the bean bag earlier, went closer and sat down beside me on the bed.

I was silent for a moment because I can't put it into words. I don't know how to say it because every time the thought would come in my head, I could feel a lump in my throat. My chest would tighten, and seconds later, I would be wailing.

I didn't know it would hurt this much. I could not also imagine that it would happen.

I took the phone out of my pocket and opened the screenshots I saved. I slowly gave it to Casper so he could see it.

"These bitches!" He stood up and was mad. It was evident on how he went on full tomato mode.

It was a photo of Megan, Aurora, and guess who? No one but the girl who made me feel miserable at some nights. It was the same girl who would explicitly tell me to die because I was annoying during class.

They were sitting on the side of the pool, holding beers, with their hands up in the air.

It sucks when your friends who knew your situation became friends with the reason you're in the situation. I mean, if you were in my shoes? What would you do?

Casper knew it was painful for me to even look at the photo, so he deleted it from my phone. He hugged me and said nothing. And if you would ask me, I would prefer him not to utter a word, and just do what he just did. Hug me.

I feel heavy. I'll just drown myself in tears and maybe grab some chips with a tub of ice cream. I think it would be a good idea? Don't you think so?

Casper was speechless so I glanced at him and saw that he was also in tears. Little tears trickled on his cheeks. That's when I realized they were also his friends. I know he felt torn with what happened.

He hugged me closer and whispered, "I felt betrayed by them too."

"All of you are my friends and I would even consider you as my sisters. I don't have any siblings, and that is why I hold you all dear to me. I just hate it that they actually hurt you even though they knew everything. I felt like they didn't even value what we have, or should I say what we had." He was wiping his tears and it made me sob even harder. He felt my pain and it felt less sucky.

At least after everything, I still have Casper and Kataniya. I still need to fill her in. She got also bullied by the same girl.

Casper and I took our time to cry it all out. It was already past 9 pm when we decided that we need to order pizza. We got hungry from all the drama.

The next morning, I woke up with swollen eyes. Dammit! I look high with these red and puffy eyes. My head was throbbing, and I could hear a buzzing sound from my ears. It's a worse feeling than waking up from getting drunk from a 12 tequila shot.

I checked my phone to see what time it was. It was already 10 in the morning. Three cartoons of pizza boxes were scattered on the floor. Bags of opened and unopened chips were also everywhere.

I woke Casper who was still snoring beside me.

Casper went downstairs to tell their house helpers to prepare food for both of us, while I was cleaning myself up. I have some of my things in his house. We all have. Like our toothbrushes. Just thinking about them leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

I took their toothbrushes and threw them in the trashcan under the sink. I looked at my reflection on the mirror and sighed.

Have you ever had that one moment when you would just snap? That out of nowhere, you get this crazy idea, and it just makes sense. Well, I just had that moment.

I hurriedly brush my teeth and went downstairs to join Casper on the table.

"Let's go to the salon!"