During lunch, I went to my secret spot but this time, I climbed up the tree that stood above it, hoping she wouldn't see me. It was definitely silly of me to do that but if it was to avoid her, then I was going to do it. After finding the most comfortable space, I took out a donut from a paper bag that I had bought in a dessert shop, a place I had discovered due to one of Helen's random chatters.

My back leaned against the tree's trunk and my leg on a branch while I swung the other back and forth, I reminisced about the past, a cool breeze hitting me. I remembered the time I wrote in a book of mine. It could be called a diary or an autobiography but I treasured the book, writing every event I could that happened in my life. I knew the book would run out of pages one day and bought lots of the same copies just to jot down my experiences in life. It was... one thing I enjoyed in the past.

And right then, the book was sitting in a box because even if I had stopped writing in it, it was the most cherished valuable I possessed. It kind of reminded me of how I never enjoyed things in life anymore, hobbies or just anything in particular. As everyone else wandered in the light full of life, maybe I was the one lost in darkness and no matter how much I reached out for it, I always failed and gave up in the end.

I saw Helen appear in the distance, searching around like she had lost something. The one thing I didn't like about Helen was that I couldn't read her so everything she did was unexpected and not knowing her intentions made me not trust. And at the thought, I saw one of the glass reforming, my eyebrows raised. Why could I even see it?

"Eric!" I heard her yell suddenly into the distance. She was looking for me. Just as I was about to look away, her eyes met mine, and I quickly shoved my half-eaten donut into my bag, flustered by her sudden gaze on mine.
"Why are you up there?" she yelled, coming over to the tree. "Do you not know how dangerous it is?"

I sat there, speechless by her words and actions. I wasn't dangerous being up there, probably because I used to climb trees for fun and even if I did fall, then it was just karma.

"I was waiting for you. Do you... not want to be around me?" she asked, her eyebrows furrowed. I looked away as I bit my lip. I... couldn't give her an answer. I didn't hate or detest her, neither did I get irritated by her. For me, we were polar opposites. She had this vibrant energy around her, which makes it obvious that she's outgoing. I barely ever saw her not smiling and when she didn't, she would act like she was worried about me. Like she cared... but did she really?

Her eyebrows lowered as her energetic aura disappeared as I remained silent, her expression replaced by a dejected one instead. "I... I get it. You could've just told me you know? I thought you... at least didn't dislike the thought of me being around you but I guess I was wrong."

I honestly couldn't even look her in the eyes, blurring my vision as she said those words. I didn't mean to hurt her, neither did I know she'll make that expression. I guess I was a terrible person.

She proceeded to leave, some of the glass walls reforming and soon, joining multiple others and blocking her from my reach. When I thought about it, I never hated her. I liked her energy and maybe she didn't respect my personal boundaries but she was the only one who didn't criticise me. Who treated me like I wasn't a disappointment or a worthless person. And for some reason, I didn't want to let that light of hers grow dim like mine did. I didn't want or expect to see her look sad or dejected. I... wanted her around.

I climbed down the tree and ran to her, breaking the glass walls before taking her hand in mine. She turned back in shock, and maybe... maybe it was those mocha-colored eyes of hers that gave me the courage to hold my gaze to hers, or was it just her presence in my life in general?

"Hey... um..." I began and she turned around to face me, her hands crossed.

"What is it?"

"I... I..." Gosh... I couldn't even talk without stuttering and speaking quietly like the freak I was, my eyes darting everywhere.
"You could just make a promise?" Helen stated. A promise... when have I ever kept one? I promised to be a prodigy to my family. I promised to be someone's friend for a lifetime. They were the two important promises that I broke, and I've never since made another again.

But for some reason, I wanted to. Despite us being completely different, her being a ray of light while I was just part of the darkness, she still stayed around me, treating me like I was someone worthy of her kindness. Even if she was faking it, I wanted to believe it. That she didn't hate me like I thought she did. Even if I was being delusional, I wanted to tell her just that.

"I promise," I said quietly, hearing glass walls cracking as I shut my eyes tighter.

"What?"

"I promise that I don't dislike being around you and I'll never hate you!" I stated hastily, my words full of sincerity. With a side glance, I saw multiple glass walls shatter, some weight falling off of my shoulder and then I felt it. Helen stared at me before bursting into laughter, tucking her hair behind her ear. Did she... find it funny?

Suddenly, I felt her hands wrap around mine as she pulled me into a warm hug. "You didn't need to be melodramatic about it. I'm just glad that you don't dislike being around me or... hate me," she said burying her head in my shoulder.

We stood there in silence, my face growing red with each passing second. She had asked me multiple times for a hug but I never knew she wanted one that'll last so long and my gosh did I really not want to ruin the atmosphere.

Helen let go after a few seconds, her usual smile shining brightly like always. "Now that everything is resolved, let's eat quickly before classes start," she spoke before placing her hand on her chin, seeming to ponder about something. "Wait! Um... do you want to?"

I nodded my head in agreement and we did exactly that. Soon, I returned to class and settled down, later resting my head on my table. It had been a while though, in fact, a long time since my school day ended on a bit better than it normally would've and I was certainly relieved.

(Glass walls left: 967)

•••

After school, I walked home alone since Helen stated that she had something to do. She was definitely lying since she wanted an excuse to not walk to our apartments with me but regardless of not fully trusting her, I didn't want it to be outward but hoped she wouldn't grow to hate me one day.

I soon entered my apartment and did my necessities before laying on my couch, tiredness surging through me from social interactions. It was with just one person but I still didn't get how she's so full of energy. Kinda like a star... that is very outgoing.

Just as I was relaxing, I heard my phone's ringtone and brought it out of my bag, accepting it before looking at the caller's ID. Was it dad again?

"You answered!" I heard a voice say, and it was rather obvious who it was. "Can I hang out at your place? I got some snacks I think you'll like."

"I don't think you'd want to... and how did you get my number?" I said as I looked at the dishevelled state of my apartment right after.

"...It's called connections and it's completely fine and since you're so nice, I'll take your answer as a yes. I'll be there in three hours since I'm still in school doing school work. If only I could leave here sooner," Helen grumbled but the only thing I could think of was how I was supposed to clean my house in three hours! "But are you like... okay with?"

"Yeah, definitely," I answered, as I looked for cleaning supplies I had put in a box in my apartment. At least I'll be motivated to finally clean this messy flat of mine.

"Okay then. I gotta go now so... see you!" she said before ending the call. I dropped my phone on my table, wearing gloves I had kept in my cleaning supply box, one I hadn't touched in ages. It was time I cleaned my apartment anyway and that was exactly what I did, hoping that I could finish cleaning on time before Helen arrived and she would find me to be some kind of freak. It was definitely gonna take a long while.

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