Chapter 30 - Punishment

"You're a disgrace,"

Those words rang louder in her ears than the pain. She shuddered and everything turned blank. The tears from her eyes flowed down, screaming the words that left her mouth. It reflected into her and it made her suffocate.

The faculty gasped, witnessing that moment. Mr Pittman ignored Amber. He walked towards the principal and settled everything. He told them that Amber will make a public apology on the school page to clear Mister Sung's name.

Athasia, who was standing still, noticed Julie.

The girl who's always following Amber. The girl who's always doing anything Amber wanted was crying.

With this, Amber stood up and dashed outside. Her heavy footsteps echoed in those quiet hallways. She ran with her trembling legs while crying hard. She knew everything was her fault. Everything fucked up. Everything is always going to not be what she wanted.

She's being selfish.

She's being too hard on herself with those simple grades.

Maybe if she studies well, she will get a higher score.

She cared so much about her father's reputation that she didn't want to fail.

Amber continued running in that building. She didn't bother whether her breaths would soon turn short. She just wanted some place to reflect everything.

In those hazy thoughts surrounding her. Someone followed.

"Amber!!! Please wait!"

That voice struck her, and she halted halfway. She knew that voice well. Amber knew her well.

"Amber, please wait!!"

Julie almost stumbled and slid onto the cold floor. The afternoon sun was already going down, and the breeze was starting to feel cold. However, she ignored it all. She lifted her head. "Please talk to me,"

Amber flinched, and her fist clenched. She thought she was true. She thought that they were friends. She thought that she would take her side.

"SO WHY?!!!" Amber yelled, gripping her tightening chest. "WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"

With this, Julie pulled Amber's hand. "I'm sorry," she was crying again. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry.." her tears flowed down as she also snapped. "I did it for you,"

"For me?!" Amber slapped her hand away. "Are you kidding me?! What part of that was for me? Are you dumb?!" She finally faced Julie. "I told you to keep your mouth shut!!!"

She lifted her hand and was about to slap the girl. However, her inner self unconsciously stopped halfway. She couldn't bring to hurt Julie.

Amber turned around, "Leave me, I don't want to see your face."

Julie gasped and wiped the tears from her eyes. She knew what Amber meant by that. She tried once again. "Amber, I'm not leaving you. I told you, didn't I?..We will always be together.."

The pain from her clenching fist crawled back to her chest. Amber turned speechless. Her eyes turned blurry and before she could realize, tears formed. "Always..together?" her voice started cracking. "Don't make me…laugh,"

"Amber!!!" Julie hugged her behind. "Just please listen to me." She begged. "Just listen to me. I don't want you to be hurt more in the future, so please…don't be like this."

Amber swallowed the lump in her throat. That hug wasn't warm, it was full of sorrow and the loneliness of two emotions mixing were making it more heavier.

Julie understands Amber. Even though she turned to something she couldn't recognize anymore, she will stay by her side. All she did was to put Amber on the right path. It's also hurting her to see Amber like this, ever since that day.

She tightened her hug. Not sure if it will comfort Amber, just like the old times. "Believe me.." she whispered. "I did it for you. You need to stop."

However, Amber restrained herself from giving up, so she pushed Julie away. She's good at it, anyway. Pushing people away after using them. Is that why her life fucked up after that day?

No matter what she did, she couldn't bring back anything anymore. The pain burdening her was just getting more and more heavier that she thought she might do something out of her mind again.

"Don't act like you really care.." Those words were heavy. "No one really understands me, Julie.."

Yes, that's what she's always been like. Selfish and ungrateful for her life. The villain in every story. She deserves it anyway. She's always looking for pain, so maybe this time was a trigger for her.

And Julie will never let that trigger happen.

"Amber, just please listen to me! I'm here. You're not alone..We will face this together, right?" She stepped forward. "I'm here this time. I will help you."

"I DON'T NEED YOUR FUCKING HELP!"

Her voice resounded in the hallways, and it made Julie flinch.

Amber pushed her against the wall. "Why is it so hard for you to leave me alone?!! Are you being dumb?!! I told you to leave me alone!!! I don't need you!! I don't need fucking anyone!!" she screamed and her eyes cried.

As soon as she released all the anger in her voice, she slumped on the cold floor. Amber wiped her tears, and she started to laugh.

Laughing and mocking herself. "I'm an idiot," she whispered. "I deserve this punishment, right?" she grinned. "This is why Sam left me and hated me,"

"Amber!"

Julie panicked after hearing that name and grasped Amber's shoulders. "What are you talking about?" she barely said those words since her chest was also suffocating her from crying.

"She didn't hate you, Amber. You know that, stop saying nonsense." She grabbed the girl's cheeks to face her. "Sam never hated you, okay?"

Amber turned silent. She calmly removed Julie's hands from her shoulders. She barely made the move. She didn't have the strength to shout anymore. "I'm okay now.."

When she stood up, Julie also stood up. "Ambe–"

"I..I'm g-going home.." Amber immediately cut her.

When her friend disappeared into that hallway, Julie remained in her stance, only wishing for Amber to be fine.

From behind, someone handed her a handkerchief.

"You need this," Athasia said.