Teil-2
"A friend can be your greatest savior or your deepest destruction"
A few moments later, we finally reached the classroom I was supposed to be in. Miss Elish and I stepped inside together, and the instant my foot crossed the threshold, a wave of nostalgia crashed over me. Everything the smell of old wood, the chatter of young voices, the sunlight spilling through the windows felt so familiar. So warm. It wrapped around me like a blanket, making me forget, even if just for a second, all the pain and trauma I carried from the future.
Miss Elish gently tapped my shoulder, snapping me back to reality. "Go ahead and take a seat," she said with a smile.
I glanced around the room, taking in the faces of my classmates faces I hadn't seen in what felt like a lifetime.
"I wish this moment could last forever," I murmured under my breath.
"Hm? What was that?" Miss Elish asked, tilting her head.
"Ah.. nothing," I replied quickly and started walking toward an empty bench.
As I made my way there, I spotted Jen waving at me enthusiastically, motioning toward the seat next to him. A knot formed in my chest. I remembered everything how he'd betrayed me for a girl, how things had fallen apart. But right now... he wasn't that person. He was just a kid. Innocent. Naive.
Still, I couldn't bring myself to interact with him like before. Maybe it was better this way to quietly distance myself. Maybe avoiding him now could change the path that led to so much pain... maybe it could even save my mom.
I took my seat silently.
Jen leaned over and whispered, "Hey! Wanna come over after school? My dad just bought the new Star Wars action figures they're seriously cool!"
I stared ahead, saying nothing.
Miss Elish's voice rang out, "Alright, quiet down everyone. I'm taking attendance."
Jen slouched back in his seat, a little confused, maybe even disappointed, but he didn't press.
I just kept my eyes forward, telling myself this time would be different.
Miss Elish began taking attendance, her voice calm and steady.
"Milli?"
"Present," came a cheerful reply.
"David?"
"Here!"
The roll call went on for a while, names echoing through the classroom, one after another. I listened absentmindedly, my mind drifting far away.
Soon after, the lesson began. It was... dull. At least for me. Everything she was teaching felt so basic, so simplified clearly aimed at young minds still learning the ropes. But for someone who'd already lived through these years once, it was like trying to stay awake during a bedtime story you've heard a hundred times.
I rested my chin on my hand, eyes growing heavy. The warmth of the sunlight, the murmur of the classroom, and the comfort of familiarity all wrapped around me like a lullaby.
Before I knew it, I dozed off.
But then.. tap, tap.
I opened my eyes slowly to find Miss Elish standing right beside me, arms crossed and one eyebrow slightly raised. That warm smile she wore earlier was now replaced with sarcastic anger.
"Yuni," she said softly, "if the class is that boring, at least try to stay awake for appearances."
The class giggled quietly, and my face flushed with embarrassment.
"Sorry..." I muttered, rubbing my eyes and sitting up straight.
She sighed lightly but smiled. "It's alright. Just try to hang in there."