I SHOULD HAVE WALKED AWAY

I MET FINALLY MET HIM

I sat and laid my head on my desk quietly as I listened to the sound of other students entering the class. Everyone had already arrived at school, but Nancy and Jessi were still not in.

That made me more uneasy.

I sat up slowly. The whole class was already noisy, but I kept looking at their seats with intense fear.

When suddenly, Maya walked in.

The class started greeting her immediately. I joined in too, but she turned away and ignored me. I felt bad, but Nancy and Jessi still hadn’t arrived.

Now I was worried.

Where are they? I thought.

It was almost 8:30, and class was about to start.

Out of worry, I quickly stood up and walked toward Maya. Even though I knew she would ignore me, I also knew she might know where they were.

I sat on the desk in front of her. She was busy on her phone.

“Maya,” I called softly.

My hands were already trembling. I called again, but she still ignored me.

“Where are Jessi and Nancy?” I asked louder.

She didn’t respond. She just kept staring at her phone with a strange smile.

Now I was both scared and angry.

It was almost 9:00, and there was still no sign of them. I had never seen them miss class before.

I suddenly grabbed Maya’s phone.

“Where are they, Maya? They are your friends, aren’t you worried?” I shouted.

The classroom went silent. Everyone stared at me.

My body was shaking, but I forced myself to stand firm.

Maya slowly looked up. Her eyes were sharp, but she was smiling.

“Judy,” she said coldly, “your friends are somewhere having fun. Don’t worry… you’ll join them soon.”

I froze.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“I can’t tell you,” she said, standing up slowly. “You’ll find out when they take you there.”

Then she leaned closer and whispered,

“Leave them, Judy. Stop now.”

She took hold of her phone and walked away.

My mind went blank as I watched her walked out. I stood there confused, trying to understand her words.

A few students started murmuring, and I slowly returned to my seat.

“Judy,” a voice called.

I turned quickly. It was Karen.

she was friend I'm a little close to in class and we spoke once a while,

She looked worried.

“What’s going on, Judy? Are you friends with them?” she asked.

I stared at her.

“Don’t do it,” she said quickly. “Don’t be their friend. Just admire them from afar. Be careful. I don’t trust them.”

“Why would you say that?” I asked, confused and scared.

“You haven’t heard the rumors?” she said.

“What rumors?”

My heart dropped.

“They are not good girls,” Karen said seriously. “Nancy and Jessi are dangerous. People say even the school doesn’t fully understand them. Didn’t you hear about the girl who died in the restroom?”

I froze.

“She was murdered, Judy. They said it was suicide, but it wasn’t true. The last time I saw her, she was with Nancy and Jessi.”

My whole body started shaking.

“Please stay away from them,” she added. “If you already agreed to be their friend, cut ties now. Save yourself.”

I grabbed her hands.

“Karen, please help me…”

" Make me understand what you're saying"

But she shook her head.

“I can’t. I’m scared too.”

"But why did you do it, why"...

Before I could respond, Nancy arrived.

Karen quickly ran back to her seat.

Jessi came in with her, and Maya followed shortly after. Nancy and Jessi sat in their usual seats. The classroom went quiet again.

I sat frozen.

Soon, the teacher arrived and lessons began.

Several hours later

But my mind wasn’t in class.

I kept feeling something strange behind me. Nancy and Jessi were sitting right behind my seat, and I constantly felt like I was being watched.

“I’ll be fine,” I kept telling myself.

“I need to cut ties with them.”

That thought calmed me a little.

By break time, I had already made my decision. I would meet them at the cafeteria and end everything.

I took a deep breath.

“I can do this.”

But then something happened.

Something I never expected.

“Hello, Judy.”

My heart stopped.

I looked up.

It was Ray.

My crush.

My breath paused for a second.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

I nodded quickly.

Nancy and Jessi then walked toward us.

“Judy,” Nancy said softly, “can you help us? We need to use the restroom. Please go to the cafeteria and arrange our food.”

I frowned.

“Why would I do that?”

“Aren’t you our friend?” Ray asked calmly.

My irritation disappeared immediately.

I nodded slowly.

“Okay… no problem.”

They left.

Nancy then smiled at me.

“You’re in love with him, aren’t you?” she said.

“No!” I quickly denied.

Maya laughed.

“You’re really stupid, Judy,” she said coldly.

Nancy then leaned closer.

“I can help you get Ray,” she said.

My heart skipped.

“Really?”

“He’s liked you since grade 5,” Jessi added. “But we didn’t let him get close to you… until now.”

My mind went blank.

This was what I always wanted.

“Just do what we say,” Jessi added. “We’ll help you.”

I agreed without thinking too much.

“I’ll do it.”

At the cafeteria

I arranged everything carefully and placed my plate near Ray’s seat.

Soon they arrived.

Ray sat next to me.

My heart felt light.

“This is perfect,” I thought.

But Maya suddenly spoke.

“What do you like about him?”

Ray defended me.

“Leave her alone.”

I smiled.

Nancy then whispered,

“You’re really falling for him.”

I didn’t deny it.

Then Ray suddenly asked,

“Are you free this weekend? Let’s go out.”

My heart exploded.

“Yes,” I said quickly. “I’m free.”

Jessi laughed.

“This is getting interesting.”

Maya looked at me seriously.

“Be careful, Judy. Don’t trust too easily.”

But I ignored her.

The last bell went off and there was a huge scream in the school surroundings, like it always happens during closing time. Everyone was excited to go home.

I packed my books in my locker and prepared to leave. The other students were already going out.

Suddenly, I felt a soft tap on my shoulder.

I turned quickly.

“Karen,” I said.

“Hey, Judy. Are you ready?” she asked, already set to leave.

“Yes, I am,” I replied, quickly zipping my bag and wearing it properly.

“Come on, we can go now,” I said.

“Judy…”

A voice called from behind.

That cold feeling hit me again immediately. My body always reacted that way whenever I heard that voice.

It was Nancy.

I felt strange fear rise in me.

I turned slowly.

She walked toward me.

“Hello, Karen,” she said softly.

“Hi,” Karen replied, slightly scared.

“Can I borrow our friend now?” Nancy asked in a strict tone.

Karen quickly nodded. “Sure, you can.”

“That’s nice of you, Karen. You can excuse yourself now,” Nancy said coldly, sitting on my desk and looking at her.

Karen couldn’t handle the pressure anymore. She quickly ran away.

I felt bad… and scared too.

“Why did you do that?” I asked, my voice shaking.

“What did I do? Is she more important than us?” Nancy replied calmly.

I stared at her angrily.

“She’s my friend too. You can’t just send her away.”

“Your friend?” Jessi said in disgust. “Come on, Judy. We are your friends too.”

I looked at both of them.

“I don’t understand. Is this what you call friendship? Scaring people away from me?”

“Nancy didn’t scare her,” Nancy said with a smile. “I only asked her to excuse us.”

She stood up slowly and placed her bag on the desk.

“Help me carry them. It’s heavy. My hand hurts,” she said softly, rubbing her wrist.

I scoffed.

“I can’t, Nancy. I’m sorry.”

Maya suddenly laughed from behind.

“It’s getting interesting,” she said with a cold smile.

I turned and looked at her.

“Judy,” Jessi shouted. “She begged you!”

But I wasn’t ready to be pushed around.

“Then you help her,” I said firmly.

I stared directly at Jessi.

Nancy watched quietly.

After a moment, Nancy bent down and carried her bag herself.

“I’m sorry if I caused any inconvenience, Judy. I just needed your help. It’s okay if you refused,” she said softly.

She walked away.

Jessi followed her immediately.

“I’ll do it,” a voice said.

I turned quickly.

It was Ray.

He walked toward Nancy and took the bag from her.

“It’s just a bag, Judy. It won’t cost you anything,” he said warmly, smiling at me.

“Thank you, Ray,” Nancy said tiredly as she left.

Jessi followed her out.

I just stood there, sad and confused.

“Judy, you should be nicer to your new friends,” Ray said softly before walking away.

I couldn’t speak.

I felt guilty.

“I shouldn’t have rejected her,” I thought.

“Don’t worry,” Maya said from the window where she had been watching.

I turned to her.

“You should be careful,” she said. “Nancy will mess you up.”

“Why do you keep saying this?” I asked quickly.

“They are warnings, not words,” she replied. “Stay away from them, Judy.”

“I’ll keep warning you until you’re trapped.”

She walked closer.

“Leave them alone. Stop going out with them.”

“But they are your friends,” I said confused. “If they are bad, why don’t you stay away from them?”

“They are family,” she said quietly. “Not friends. I can’t leave them… but you can.”

Then she walked away before I could ask anything else.

I sat down, confused and weak inside.

“I don’t understand any of this,” I whispered.

“Are you sleeping here today?”

A voice suddenly came.

I froze.

It was Ray.

I turned quickly.

“Ray…” I said softly.

He walked toward me with a warm smile.

“What is it, Judy?” he asked.

Without thinking, I hugged him tightly.

He was surprised, but he didn’t push me away.

“Judy, are you okay?” he asked gently.

“I just need you, Ray,” I whispered.

He held me for a moment.

I closed my eyes.

“I know staying with Nancy and Jessi won’t do me any good… but I need Ray,” I thought.

I slowly released him and smiled weakly.

“What’s wrong, Judy?” he asked again.

I looked into his eyes.

“I feel so alone in this, Ray. I have to do this on my own,” I thought.

“Ray…” I said again.

He held my hand.

“What is it?”

“I want you, Ray. Just you. When I get you, I’ll stop. I promise,” I said.

He looked confused.

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Come on, let’s go,” I said quickly.

He held my hand and pulled me closer.

My heart skipped.

“Judy, I love you… I really do,” he said.

I smiled brightly.

We suddenly heard teachers approaching.

We quickly separated and ran out of the classroom, laughing as we rushed down the stairs.

Honestly… it felt really good being with Ray.

Because I love him.

I concluded in my heart.