I woke up the next day with a slight headache recollecting what had happened last night. Even after that, I didn't know who to blame. My parents or myself even though I knew deep down that I was at fault. I started to get ready for school tiredly, my eyes slightly closed due to stress.

After doing the necessities, I looked at my reflection in the mirror like it's going to change anything. My eyes puffy after crying all night, I sighed at my reflection, the bags under my eyes seeming to get worse with each passing day. I then headed to my fridge, eating a leftover pancake I had left days before. I get dressed, pack my bag and head out of my door.

The hallway lights hit me and I rubbed my eyes to adjust to it. Just as I was about to start my journey to school, someone tapped me on the shoulder and I turned in their direction.

"Good mor- Are you okay?" Helen asked with worry in her tone. She got closer to me, invading my personal space once again.
"I'm fine. There's nothing to be worried about," I noted and she shuts my mouth with her finger.

"But you're not alright. Your eyes are puffy and there are bangs under them. I mean... they were there before but they look worse! Also, did you... cry last night?" she asked, hitting the mark beautifully.

Why was she... acting like she cared? She obviously didn't so... why? I looked away after a second or two, thinking of an appropriate answer to give her.

"So you did cry. Do you need a hug or someone to talk to?" she suggested, warmth in her eyes. At that moment here, from the thousands of glass walls I could see standing together in a row, one of them shattered into pieces. I stood there in shock, wondering why it had shattered.

"Eric?" Helen called out, bringing me back from my train of thoughts. "Is there something wrong?"

"No. There isn't," I answered, fiddling with my bag's shoulder straps. I... definitely couldn't trust her.

"...Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Very sure?"

"...Yes."

"Very very sure?"

"...Yes?"

"I knew it! There is something wrong," she concluded and I stood there, feeling cheated for being manipulated.

"You don't... need to tell me what happened or whatever is going on but... a hug?" she asked, her arms stretched out towards me.

I continued to avoid her gaze, and dropped her hands to her side after a few seconds, a rejected look on her face. Why did she keep acting like she cared? She hated me, everyone hated me.

We stood there in an awkward silence and I checked the time on my phone. It was getting late but it wasn't like it was a big of a deal, or like anyone cared.

"We should head to school," she said abruptly, taking my hand and leading me there. Just as I was about to ask her to slow down, I saw that her ear was red as quickly pulled me down the apartment building's steps. For some reason, another glass wall broke. I didn't know what they represented but each glass breaking removed a burden off my shoulders but it made me a bit expectant for what would come next with her around.

(Glass walls left: 998)

•••

Just as my teacher almost entered my class, I ran in, just in the nick of time. Unfortunately, all eyes were on me and I quietly sat in my seat, covering my face with my hoodie and laying on my table.

'Not only can be an embarrassment to this school and society, he can't even be on time for class'

'Yeah. I mean... just look at him! He looks like he lives in a pigsty'

The whispers could be heard and as always, they were negative. The teacher turned a blind eye to it, starting the lesson as giving me cold or hateful gazes.

I was tired of putting up with it, tired of coming to school, tired of this boring and sad life of mine. For a while, I'd wonder why I would wake up each morning. It wasn't anything rewarding or something I looked forward to and it was getting sickening, it was getting lonely, it was getting... depressing.
A sigh escaped my lips as I listened to my teacher, hoping that one day, I'll find my happiness, even though it may never come true.

•••

Time passed by like a turtle moving and soon, it was time for lunch. I could gladly avoid the rush in the hallway when my teacher had called me, scolding me for how I was slacking in school. Honestly, I tried my best to improve my grades. I used to study all night until around two years ago when I started to feel less energetic in the things I did. I felt empty and nothing I did made me feel happy or accomplished. Although I faced those things, I still tried to study but fatigue and tiredness would overcome me, and I started passing my tests and exams by the minimum score. Soon, it became my everyday life. Despite that, I still felt hurt every time I got scolded. It just reminded me of how much of a disappointment, pathetic and disgrace I was and I really hated that feeling.

After the scolding, I left for my secret spot as usual but stopped in my tracks once I saw Helen leaning her back against the hallway walls as our eyes met.

"You're done?" she asked, her eyebrows raised.

The first thing I noticed was that she seemed to be waiting for someone but the fact that we were alone in the hallway and her eyes lit up when she saw me, did that mean that she was waiting for someone that was behind me? Yeah, she probably hated me so much that she found someone to replace.

I decided to walk past her and as I did so, she slowly uncrossed her arms and strode towards me, taking my hand which made me come to a stop.

"...Did I do something wrong? Do you think I'm pestering you?"

Why was she... holding my hand? She definitely wanted to point out everything terrible thing about me and everything single pathetic thing I've done and-

"Are you okay?" Helen questioned, her face full of concern. "I'm sorry and just in case you're having some wild imaginations in your head, I'm not mad at you."

I dragged onto my shirt next to my chest, feeling my heart palpitating like crazy. I needed to stop, she'd hate me if I continued to act like this.

"Take a deep breath and make sure to breathe slowly," she stated and I listened to her. Soon, I calmed down, my gaze moving to the floor. That was so humiliating. She definitely thought I wasted her time, did she? That I was some type of nuisance and gosh... I'm so pathetic.

I took a quick glance at her and I watched as she stared into space. All of a sudden, I saw a glass wall cracking and it was taking its time compared to others that had broken. "Ugh... I could literally jump off from the second story right now," she mumbled.

"...And how would you do that?" I blurted out, immediately regretting my decision. She was definitely going to ignore me-

"From a window of course," she stated. She... definitely sounded crazy saying that with a smile but... maybe it was normal?

"Okay... your reaction was not what I expected but you do remind me of a cute puppy," she stated and I stared at her deadpanned.

...I guess I could conclude that she's bad at comparing things.

"Are we going or not?" she asked after obviously searching my face for a reaction.

"Going where?"

"To your mysterious spot of course," she stated, her hand stretched out to me.

I couldn't read her, neither did I know her intentions for all this. Didn't know her intentions for spending time with me. What if she grew to hate me though? Would she tell me I'm a catastrophe?

She crossed her arms, leaning on one of her legs, "Are we going?"

I really wanted to and just be alone but... I didn't want her to hate me even more than she already did since I was a complete mess after all. And there something about her, I couldn't tell if it was her personality, that bright smile that looks neutral on her, her personality or the radiant aura around her? Either way, I didn't hate her, but I definitely didn't want to interact with people, especially someone like her.

I nodded slightly after a minute, and she took my hand. I slowly raised mine as I came to a conclusion. It was either she hated me or really hated me and I... didn't want her to hate me, even though she probably hates me.

Even if that smile of hers was fake, I didn't want her to hate me like everyone else did. So I took her hand, Helen giving me a bright smile right after. She led me there and at the corner of my eyes, I saw the glass wall shatter, a weight falling off my shoulder. I just hoped that I wouldn't feel immense regret afterwards and after all, only time could tell.
(Glass walls left: 997)

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