Hue
I was worried about June. Even if I said that we couldn't assume anything, it was clear what his mom had done. Everything was there in the diary, but I still wondered why. What was the reason for her hate? It's known that everyone in school at that time loved June Sekin; he was a top student, a star basketball player that led them to win the championship three times, and most of all, he was kind. There was never anyone he was mean to. He always helped others, putting them first every time. So why did she hate him so much?
Jealousy.
Of course, it was jealousy. It seemed like June could do anything. All I've ever heard about was his achievements but nobody knew much about April Sekin. She was the quiet, pretty girl everyone wanted to be, but she always ignored everyone telling her that. She was on the volleyball team and was good, but thinking she contributed nothing, she quit. Whenever someone talks about her, they always say that she had the potential to be something great but never did. She moved after June's death, and nobody ever saw or heard from her. Nobody was close to her, so nobody knew what had happened.
The weekend came and passed, and June stayed in his room for most of it. Whenever he did come out, he seemed happy. Not the happiest but seemed content as if nothing was wrong. Perhaps he was trying to ignore what we suspected his mother did, so I let him be. He probably needed some time. On Monday, June was already downstairs waiting for me.
"We're going to be late now. Hurry up." I checked my watch.
"It's only 8. School doesn't start until 8:30."
"I know, but I think there's probably someone you wanted to introduce me to. I heard the end of your conversation outside."
"You mean Cas? Sure. I'll introduce you, but I don't think it will take that long."
"I think she has something to ask me."
What did he mean by that? In a way, I was creeped out by the way June was behaving.
"Did I miss anything on Friday? Anything important, at least."
"Ah, well, I wasn't paying attention, but I'm sure you already knew everything taught."
"I don't know everything in the world, jeez. Don't start to overestimate me; it will stress me out."
"Not saying you know everything but dude, you embarrassed the teacher so bad that I think he went home and cried himself to sleep." We both laughed at the thought of a grown man crying because his student was smarter. We arrived at school.
"Is that her? The girl?" Cas was standing at the entrance waiting for me. It didn't look like she expected to see June, at least not him looking so happy.
"Hue! Over here. Come, come." She waved us over excitedly.
"You must be June," she stretched out her hand, and June shook it. "I'm Cas. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you! School is about to start, but I'd love to talk to you later after school?" He seemed to be hinting at something.
"Of course. See you later?"
"Yep! See you later."
As June walked away, I turned to Cas, who was staring as he left.
"Hm. Nice kid. Do you think he would be interested in the art club? He seems artistic to me, you know? Artists have those kinds of vibes." She turned to me.
"Sorry. I was rambling."
"That's alright; I hope he is too. That way he can make some friends. He told me he wasn't very popular in his last school."
"I would welcome him into my club, leader approved." She saluted with a smile on her face.
"I think by the way he looked at you, he was definitely trying to tell you something." I was very confused by the short but odd interaction.
"Ah ah ah, that's a secret." She twirled and walked away.
"A secret? What do you mean? Hey, come back here!"
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June
Cas seemed like a really cool person, someone I could definitely be friends with. We planned to meet after school but I didn't say where we would meet, something told me she understood. If I had said it out loud, Hue would follow us. As long as he mindlessly played basketball, we could talk peacefully about everything.
Since it was the beginning of the school year, I hadn't missed anything like Hue said, so I just sat there observing. I hadn't paid attention to the people in class with me; a boy in the front slept the whole class while three other boys, who I supposed were his friends, threw paper balls at him. Another girl was practically eating her book she was so into reading it, and the rest were actually paying attention somewhat. One girl, in particular, seemed familiar but I couldn't put my finger on it. I spent the rest of class trying to figure it out, but eventually the bell rang for lunch so I asked Hue.
"Hue. That girl," I pointed, "that girl right there. Who is she? I feel like I've seen her before, but I can't for the life of me remember where."
"That's Mina, remember? She found you at the cottage. I wouldn't go near her. She's not the kind of person to be friendly." That's right; she was the one who screamed at the cottage.
"Hey!" I wanted to apologize for scaring her.
"You're the girl I saw at the cottage, right? I'm sorry for scaring you. I-" She screamed in my face as a response.
"Get away from me, you absolute FREAK." The whole class was looking at me now.
"I just wanted-"
"Shut up, you psycho. I don't want to talk to someone who creeps around in dead people's houses." The boys with her at the cottage were now by her side.
"I didn't know. I promise-" I was cut off again and shoved backward.
"That wasn't necessary." Who shoves someone the don't even know?
"Hold on, hold on. There's no reason to fight. Seriously can you pull yourselves together and not act like dogs for once?" Hue pulled me off the ground and stood facing them as Mina smirked, and they calmly walked out of the classroom. Everyone was silent. Many were looking at me but pretended to be putting stuff in their bags as I looked around.
"Wow, they do act like dogs."
"I told you not to go up to her June. What is wrong with you? Do you have a death wish?"
"I wanted to apologize to her. Sorry I didn't expect that reaction?"
"Whatever, let's get lunch." We sat with Key and Selene again. They too were staring at me oddly when we arrived.
"Is it true?" Selene blurted as Key hit her.
"What's true? Me?" I pointed myself, confused.
"What did I do? I only want to eat, so I'm going to."
"Did you really get into a fight with Mina? It's already all over the school. Look." She shoved her phone into my face.
"New kid just got in a fight with Mina, but Hue defended him?! [Breaking news]"
"What the hell is this shit? You guys have a page?? Is this the paparazzi??"
"Everything that happens at school ends up there. Nobody knows who runs it," Key said, mouth full of food. Hue slapped him.
"Have some manners, please?" Hue turned to me. "Don't worry too much about it. Everyone knows that that stuff is heavily exaggerated. "
"I'm not worried about it, but why did she have to react like that? She's going to ruin my hearing at this point." I saw Key pause.
"Oh, right. Why did you defend him, Hue? You got a crush?" Key suddenly gasped in pain and held his leg, Selene laughing.
"What are you even saying? I don't need a reason to defend him, plus lord knows he can't fight." Hue retorted Keys statement.
"Is that right? Whos the one that always cries when I hit him? Well, it isn't me, so it's got to be you."
"DAMN, one point June, Hue zero." Selene was about to get a kick from Hue, but she got up faster than him and ran off.
"Beat again," Key chimed.
"Come on, man! why can't you ever be on my side? We've known each since we were kids, Key."
"I like June more than you." Hue sighed heavily and turned to me, grabbing the top of my head with his hand.
"Alright, it looks like you win this time," Hue said, talking to me like I was five. "Here's your reward." He abruptly shook my head with his hand and messed up my hair.
"Alright, you little-" I got up to chase after Hue, who had started to run the moment the shock factor disappeared, and when I realized what was happening. I could hear his laugh all the way down the hall.