The Ace of Her Heart

3

Got inspiration for this story first. Took a while because I was on a drawing roll, instead of a writing roll.

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The first thing Sayaka takes note of is the pounding headache, as she awakens. The room is dark as she sits up in her bed, her eyes barely adjusting to the dim light shining through the curtains. A small groan huffs out her lips as she holds her head. Wincing slightly at the sharp & sudden pain nestled at her side as she takes a breath. Perhaps, it is a punishment for depriving her lungs of air for so long as she broke down. The pain was just a reminder she needed to ground herself. What time is it? Despite her curiosity, Sayaka makes no attempt to find out. She dreads whatever time is displayed on the dim alarm clock on her nightstand. She knows whatever time it may be, it's a step closer to the next day & honestly Sayaka wasn't sure she was ready for tomorrow. Involuntarily, she had blown off the President by being holed up in her room crying her poor little heart out. Then again, the President if it even bothered her; or if it did didn't do anything about it. Despite her better judgment, she grabs her phone to check for anything. Anything at all that perhaps could fool her torn heart. Nothing. 2:45. Nothing but the time on her screen. There's no message. No call. Not even an email. Nothing. Sayaka sighs, she should have known better. She was a fool to expect anything different from the President. She had foolishly hoped her sudden disappearance would cause her girl- the President a panic. Girlfriend. Girlfriend. "Girlfriend.." The term felt so foreign despite everything. They were still girlfriends, right? ..Right? Despite what the older girl had said behind closed doors, they were still girlfriends right? The heartache begins again & though the pain is unbearable once more, Sayaka clutches the uniform accepting it. Perhaps the answer wasn't as complicated as she thinks. Perhaps she's simply a desperate fool like her girlfriend had said.

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Sayaka lays in bed as her alarm rings disrupting the silence, already awake but making no move to shut it off. She hadn't slept anymore after waking up. She hadn't even gotten out of her uniform completely, her blazer lays on the floor as she contemplates her next move. She had cried again. Last night, she had felt so alone as everything sank in. The initial shock had worn off & now here she was with knowledge she wished she didn't know. "Shut that shit off!!!" A muffled yell comes from the room beside her. I guess I shouldn't let my grades slack. I've already missed yesterday. Sayaka huffs & slaps the alarm off. Like grades matter at this school anyway. They haven't gotten me anywhere. Sayaka stands briefly before feeling dizzy & falling back onto the bed behind. Ah. Yes. The stress. I haven't eaten since yesterday morning. She hopes the granola bar counts as breakfast because if it didn't then Sayaka hasn't eaten properly in two days. Taking a couple deep breaths to steady herself proves unsuccessful as it makes her feel lightheaded. "Isn't that great? It made it worse." Sayaka mumbles to herself as she lays back. Waiting a couple minutes before slowly standing again, this time she doesn't fall but there's a sickening feeling in her stomach that makes her think she shouldn't test her body's limits today. It's early. She forgot she had her alarm set earlier to get ready & greet the twins at the front gate. Now, Sayaka feels conflicted. How should she approach this? Confrontation isn't her strong suit. Oh god no. She couldn't exactly go up to the President & tell her about what she had heard. It would mean to out herself for eavesdropping. What would she even say? "Hey, I overheard your private conversation yesterday with Runa, talking ill about me. What was that about?" That was a stupid idea. The President wouldn't even be mad at her for eavesdropping perhaps. No.. She'd probably give her a chuckle alongside one of her cryptic answers that made Sayaka's brain hurt so much trying to decipher it. "Oh? What do you think it means, Sayaka? Surely you don't truly believe all that? Or did you really think YOU were ever worthy of my true affection? Oh dear! You poor soul!" It was one or the other. The President would make her doubt what she had clearly heard. Or would just cryptically admit it & Sayaka doesn't know which one would be worse. "I don't need to hear her telling it to my face. I've heard it. I knew it.. I knew.. I knew.." A sigh. Whatever. Sayaka takes this extra time to get herself presentable. Showering the dread away, hoping the cold water would clear her troubled mind.

Standing in front of the mirror Sayaka adjusts the ribbon in her hair. Her ribbon. This was a gift. She wonders how long the President pretended to find her interesting. Was it from the beginning? When did I become boring to her? She decides not to dwell on it as she feels a pang of the heartache return. "I don't think my body can handle another breakdown." Sayaka whispers to herself as she opens the door to her room. "Hah. You're still here?" Sayaka heads to the small kitchen; if you could even call it that; looking for practically anything to eat. Settling on cereal before responding. "You're up early." Sayaka's voice is slightly hoarse, she had taken note of it earlier but hearing it now made her flinch slightly. She'd have to hide that. She doesn't need anyone prying into something that still hurts. "Yeah? Well, your dumbass alarm kept blaring & woke me up. I would've kept sleeping but ya'know whatever. I'm here anyway." Midari responds, mouth full of the donut she had taken a bite out of. Normally, Sayaka would scold Midari for such disgusting behavior, now she doesn't have energy to do anything other than roll her eyes. "Hm. Sorry about that. I didn't hear it." Sayaka lies as she fiddles around with the cereal. She knows she's a terrible liar. She just hopes Midari doesn't begin to pry, she doesn't have the energy to explain. She vaguely remembers Midari talking to her yesterday but details are fuzzy as the headache continues to bother since last night. Midari eyes the other carefully, taking another bite. "Anyway. What are you still doing here?" Sayaka stops fidgeting, "I just..don't feel so well. So I decided to hang back for a little while before classes start." It wasn't a complete lie, but it wasn't the truth either. She was in fact not feeling well. Something inside made her feel hollow & yet full of pain. She also didn't know how to present herself in front of the President now knowing what she knows. A dilemma that in fact was only bound to get worse as the day progresses. Her eyebrows furrow trying to think of anything to avoid the situation. "What's wrong?" Midari asks before shoving the last bit of donut in her mouth. "Oh, just a headache that hasn't left me since yesterday." Sayaka responds, turning to wash the bowl she had been using. Appetite long gone as her mind flooded with dread of seeing the President. "Huh. Take some medicine or take the day off. I'll get the meds." Midari makes an attempt to stand, before Sayaka turns back. "No. It's alright. It'll go away soon." Matter of fact being, it probably won't. Actually, Sayaka knows the headache will get worse, but she reminds herself that the pain means she needs to get herself together. "Okay.. Well, I'm gonna get ready. Uh, Ya'know what? Let's get lunch later." Sayaka looks up from the counter in confusion, "What? Why?" Midari knows that this girl is practically a robot. Sticking to schedule to the dot. Seeing her yesterday in such a state, reminded Midari that this was just a teenage girl. A girl like herself. With clear troubles & someone who tends to forget to do the basic human necessities, like eat, hydrate, & rest. "To eat! Why else dummy? Plus, is it so hard to believe I just want to hang out with you for lunch?" "Yes." "Oh fuck you! See you at lunch later then." Midari responds in her usual sarcastic manner before disappearing into the room. Sayaka chuckles lightly. Secretly she's grateful that Midari didn't pry, but also cared enough to want to have lunch with her. Perhaps the older girl had an ulterior motive for the invitation but now Sayaka wouldn't have to worry about sudden plans with the President during lunch. Not that there were ever any to begin with, it dwindled ever since the.. The tower. Sayaka shakes her head, ridding the thought. She doesn't want to think about it. About that night. It was a lie. It was all a lie, yes she knew it now but it was a treasured memory she held close. Sayaka sighs, making her way back to her room. The first bell rings signaling classes are to start soon & Sayaka should get going.