Later in the afternoon, after taking a moment to gather your thoughts and regain your composure, you finally mustered the courage to head to your next class. Even hours later, the memory of Liam's tender touch and the soothing cadence of his voice lingered in your mind. Did all of that truly happen? It had truly felt like scene from a corny romance drama. You reached for the clean bandage wrapped around your head, the soft fabric grazing against your thumb - a reminder of both Liam's kindness and his questionable medical abilities. While you appreciated Liam's help, you couldn't shake the feeling that a real professional wouldn't have left your wound looking so... conspicuous.

As you glanced around, you caught a few curious eyes fixated on you. Clumsily, you attempted to conceal the bandage with your hair, but it was a futile effort. You felt like a beacon of attention in a sea of anonymity, standing out like a sore thumb. Surely, everyone must think you had been involved in some serious accident. With a heavy sigh, you sank into your seat, silently wishing for the floor to open up and swallow you whole. Perhaps this was karma for staying up so late talking to Kitty.

Oh right. Kitty! You still hadn't texted him back. It's just, you were so overwhelmed with all that happened this morning that you simply shut down and refused to look at your phone. He was probably worried about you. After all, you were certain you could feel your phone incessantly buzzing from the pocket of your bag.

At that moment, Liam strode into the room, radiating an air of confidence and charisma. You watched as he greeted his friends with an easy smile until your eyes accidentally locked with his. Instantly, his face lit up, and he waved at you with an infectious enthusiasm that sent your heart racing. Flustered, you awkwardly waved back, desperately trying to brush off the incessant stares of your nosy classmates. Their heads bobbed between you and Liam, as if calculating the depths of your connection, their whispers swirling around you like an unwelcome fog. You buried your face in your hands, overwhelmed by the embarrassment of being the centre of attention. Why couldn't everyone just leave you be? You yearned to be far far away from the spotlight of college drama.

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Class finished, inciting the roar and bumble of your fellow students as they got up from their seats and swarmed into their select cliques and friend groups. With a sigh, you finally pull out your phone to see the abnormal number of text messages from Kitty plaguing your screen. You were used to him being a little clingy when you didn't reply in time but this was nothing short from insane. Opening the messaging app, you scrolled through the immense spam, not really reading the texts, but rather just taking in the sheer depth of Kitty's obsession. He'd even gone as far as to call you sixty-three times. Thankfully, you had your phone on silent.

What has gotten into him? Did something happen? Just as you're about to reply, you noticed a shadow lingering above you. You turned your attention away from the phone screen, eyes settling on the figure stood before your desk.

"[Y/n], would it be okay if I sit here for a bit?" The girl directed her hand toward an empty chair in front of your desk, her voice resonating like the gentle chime of a bell.

Though you weren't entirely acquainted with all your classmates' names, you couldn't shake the feeling that this person was none other than Mimiko - the student sweetheart and the envy of every girl on campus. With short, candyfloss-pink hair that seemed to bounce with every step and her large golden eyes that sparkled like they belonged to a character straight out of a magical girl anime, she was definitely hard to miss. You had never had the chance to form your own opinion on her, though you had heard the harsh whispers from your fellow female classmates: attention-whore, pick me, annoying.

"S-sure," you responded politely, although you weren't exactly keen so keen on the idea. If the rumours were indeed true, you were probably in for petty drama. You glanced at Liam who was chatting to people at the front of the class. Perhaps she had noticed Liam's attention toward you earlier and was here to interrogate. You braced for tension.

Mimiko smiled at you gently but you could sense her own discomfort and awkwardness in the way her eyes avoided yours. Why did she seem so flustered? Oh no. Did she perhaps mistake you as one of Liam's close friends? Maybe she was hear to ask for dating advice for him.

"S-so um how are you? Are you well these days? She began, her voice timid and trailing off as she spoke. You had anticipated her to be more upfront and confident purely based off her popularity but she appeared almost as anxious as you were. Her bewitching eyes finally making the effort to look into your eyes. They glistened like rare jewels, waiting eagerly for your reply. There was an air of recognition as she gazed into your face, like she was seeing something you couldn't.

"I'm good. Thank you?" You stammered back. "Oh! That's... good."

You were both quiet for a moment, visibly waiting for the other person to continue the conversation. It was a painful awkwardness you hadn't experienced since being forced to partner up with someone in highschool. Mimiko sighed, her expression transitioning into one brighter and more resilient. She grabbed hold of your hands, causing you to jump in your seat a bit.

"[Y/n]! Um... do you remember me?"

You blushed as her hands continued to squeeze yours, though not tight enough to cause any pain or discomfort. You felt her eyes bore into you with needy expectation.

"You're Mimiko, I-I think?"

"I mean, do you remember me from back then? Back when we were kids?"

Not a single memory emerged in your mind as the question was raised. Just emptiness. Blank. You had always assumed that this was normal. Even your highschool memories were nothing but a incoherent blur. No names or faces or scenes. A wasteland. You tried desperately hard to picture a time where you might have been friends with the vibrant, pink-haired girl, but it was impossible. Feeling guilty, you slowly shook your head.

Mimiko released your hands, flashing a sad, ghostly smile. Was she important to you at one point?

"That's okay! I didn't expect you to. I mean it was such a long time ago. So please don't feel bad."

"I'm sorry. I'm just really bad with names and faces. Did we go to highschool together?"

"No. Earlier than that actually! We went to the same kindergarten and elementary school."

"Were we friends?"

"I wish we were," Her voice dampened as she stared out the window, her eyes lost in a distant memory. Everything felt so vague like you were talking to a ghost. "I guess I kinda had a friend crush on you. I really wanted us to be closer but you moved away before I got the chance to overcome my shyness."

You didn't even remember moving away but you recalled your aunt briefly mentioning it a long while back.

"But anyways! We're here now, in the same college and class of all things!" She continued brightly, a soft pink hue across her face. "Don't you think this is kinda like fate bringing the two of us together?"

"Well when you put it that way-"

Mimiko pulled her phone out eagerly.

"Then we can become friends!?"

"Oh, s-sure?"

"Let's exchange numbers! Then we can start hanging out together and catching up on all our missed days. Gaaah I'm so excited!! I was so nervous to talk to you before, but I knew I just had to follow my heart and go through with it. Stay in touch, okay?"

"Okay! Uh here is my number."

Shortly after the exchange, Mimiko had to rush off to her next class, leaving you to stare at the new number sitting in your phone. First Liam, and now this strange girl? You shifted uncomfortably in your seat, sensing that something was off. Surely this had to be some sort of sick, elaborate class prank...