Chapter eight: Friendship

y/n mostly became an errand girl for those girls. she had to do any chores they offered. she felt helpless. The more she reject,s the fiercer they became. that one day, while passing by the sports field, she was spaced out in her thoughts. Her steps were slow as if she didn't want to reach the class any time soon.

Just then, she heard loud screaming beside her. "Watch out!" someone shouted. but it was too late. before she could even move, A ball hits her head. She fell on the ground. She could make out some figure running up to her.

"Is she dead?!?"

"What should we do?!?"

"Take her to the nurse room you idiot"

"What about the practice?!?"

"I'll kick you out of the team if she ends up dead"

"Fine. I'm taking her."

"Make sure she doesn't file a complain."

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Y/n woke up in the nurse room. She was oddly familiar with it. This is where she mostly ended up after every happening. It felt different this time. The room wasn't empty. she saw a figure beside her. He was walking from one side to another impatiently. a mumble coming out from him while he bit his nails. Just when he saw her movements, he quickly ran up to her. That almost startled the other to death.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt? Should I call the nurse?"

"No…thanks."

"Thank goodness. No. this is not the right way" the last words were almost a whisper to himself. He kneeled down with his hands together, in a state of begging. "You won't file a complaint right?"

y/n was silently laughing. He looked like a comedian. his childish behavior made her smile. He was too impatient for her answer.

"I'll pay for your hospital fees. Oh! wait…This isn't a hospital…well then", He took out a candy from his pocket. "Accept this." Y/n hesitated for a while. later, she accepts the candy from his hand. "Fine…I won't."

"Really?!? Thank goodness!" he was about to run outside but stopped in his track. "No. This isn't the right way." He whispers to himself. He again sat down in front of her and reached out for a hand to shake,

"I'm Henry. And you are?!?" His wide smile brightening the room.

"I'm y/n."

"Nice to meet you y/n. Now that you accepted my apology… would you like to watch me play?"

"…play?"

"Yeah…I forgot to mention it…I'm in a basketball team. It's my fault how the ball hit you." y/n wanted to ran out with him wherever he was offering. she couldn't make a single friend in this school. Henry's personality almost reminding her of Felix. She found him friendly.

Just then, those mean girl's faces appeared in her mind. She was supposed to take their lunch to them an hour ago. she was late. Now they'll bully or lock her up again.

With a proper farewell and a hope to see him again, Y/n walked out of the nurse room.  Henry was saddened with her rejection. He later understood her rush and walked off the other way.

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Henry was all by himself practicing in the field. He somehow won few times by himself. But the loneliness was soon taking over him. His other friends were probably hanging around. unlike Henry, They weren't even Passionate about their clubs. They played for fun while Henry played to win.

He reminded himself that it's his last chance and threw the ball. In the last second, a familiar figure caught his eye and he missed the shot. The ball fell on the ground. A smile appeared in his face when he saw the person. He quickly picked up the ball and ran at her. but the closer he got, the more his smile faded. He wanted to observe the situation before jumping in to the conclusion.

Ava, "YOU DEAF! Is this what I told you to bring?!?", the girl in front of him looked furious while she was venting her anger on a person. a person he recognized, y/n.

"What's going on here?" He approached them. Ava turned around with a shocked look on her face. She seemed to know him, a lot. "Babe…" she stutters.

y/n guessed what their relation was by the look on Ava's face. She was caught hitting her. Probably ruining the image of the 'innocent' and 'shy one' In front of her boyfriend. "It's not what you think it is-" Henry didnt pay any heed to her and quickly approached y/n.

"Are you hurt…?" the other's words could only bring the worst side of Ava. before she could reply, ava shouted."She hit me first!" her words almost shocking the othet two.

y/n knew she could make any excuse to prove herself innocent. If it was any other person she wouldn't even try to explain. But it was henry, the only friend she ever made there.

"Is this true?" He asked confused.

"It's-"

"It is the truth! She hit me first!" Ava began to fake cry while clinging on to him. y/n felt helpless. of course Henry would believe his girlfriend. she couldn't even place herself as a friend properly, why would he trust her.  "I didn't!" she said before Walking away.

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Henry was skateboarding by himself in the empty hall. No one was around. a disappointed look on his face, probably from the last conversation he had with Ava.

Suddenly he stopped in his track. He heard someone sobbing from the vacant class room next to him. He wasn't someone who would just walk in and comfort the stranger. But he was expecting someone there.

He opened the door slowly and walked in. As he expected, There was a person in the corner, sobbing,"Y/n…", He calmly patted her head. she looked up and wiped off her tears. "I'm sorry…It's my fault you two fought."  He smiled a little, "Yea...we broke up."

"Is it because of me….I caused it?"

"No. It's not your fault. I realized she liked someone else and I mean nothing to her... I was blinding by her lies for months"

"You two were dating for months?" henry felt oddly excited. He moved his hand all around while talking to him, "I've always wanted to comfort a crying girl. but my girlfriend never cried in front me. speaking of that, I never saw a girl crying…hmm...interesting."

"What are you doing?" He came back to his senses and stood up. Cheering up y/n was all he could think about. "I was thinking, you remind me of someone"

"What…?" she looked up in confusion.

"I remember! It's that bunny. You look just like it."

"You think I look like a bunny…? Weird."

"Here" He took out a candy from his pocket and handed to y/n. she hesitated while taking it and it felt déjà vu,"I really didnt hit her..."

"I know you didnt. It's not the first time she said it." In a moment after a lot of chattering with Henry, she was all brighten up. She forgot about all her problems and kept smiling at his childish behavior."Will you play basketball with me?"

"I can't really do sports…"

"I'll teach you. Come." He dragged her out of the room and ran to the field. like always, it was empty as far as it could be seen."You don't look like someone who broke up just a while ago." she joked.

"What can I say, I replaced her.", His answer caught the other off guard. He quickly placed his serious face with a bright smile. "Got ya! You should see your face in the mirror." Y/n felt embarrassed and hits him in his arms. they started their game and it went on for a long time.

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The students were walking out of the school. Y/n was unknowingly happy. Just then someone called her from behind. She was delighted to see that person coming toward her while skateboarding. He waved and stopped in front of her.

"Hey sports~boy." she playfully pushed away his hat. Henry fixed it with a teasing smile,"It was Fun today. Wanna play again?"

"Sure." He handed her another candy. This time, Y/n took it without hesitating. she was glad to have a friend like him. He was trustworthy and reliable. She enjoyed her time with him. He always kept her happy whenever they talked. But sometimes, Henry had lto eave for his special Practices. she felt lonely in those days. She was afraid when those mean girls, especially Ava. Who now had personal grudges against her, might show up again. beside everything, she still had to listen to their orders. She couldnt tell why but Ava was almost invisible after that day. she didn't face her again.