𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑀𝑒 𝐴𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛 : Lookism

Chapter 12: Therapy

Meanwhile... 

"I got an invitation."

"Me too."

"Same."

The words echoed in the room, but the weight of them lingered in the air. None of them could ignore the tension that had been building ever since the invitations arrived.

Vasco, always the calm one, broke the silence with his usual monotone. "Didn't they just meet Daniel a few days ago? He didn't mention anything about this."

It was a valid question, and yet, no one had an immediate answer. Daniel had kept his plans under wraps, and now the group was left to piece it all together. But Zack, ever the decisive one, didn't waste time on uncertainty.

"We do know that there's something up with Crystal and Daniel since then. How can you all be so surprised?" Zack's words were sharp and direct, leaving no room for doubt.

The others had noticed too, but had been avoiding acknowledging it. The spark between Crystal and Daniel had been obvious, but no one had dared to confront it. Zack, however, had no patience for pretending otherwise.

"If Daniel's happy with it, then who are they to stop it?" Zack continued, his tone unwavering. "Just because someone in their circle will be in pain doesn't mean they should drag Daniel and Crystal down with them. Whoever's holding onto feelings for Daniel can get over it, right?"

His words stung, but they made sense. There was no denying that if Daniel had made his choice, it wasn't anyone else's place to interfere. But that didn't erase the hurt some of them felt. The thought of seeing Daniel with Crystal, knowing that someone in their circle was suffering, didn't sit well.

Zack's gaze swept over them all, daring anyone to challenge him. "Cut the drama and let's all show up at the ceremony. It's his special day. Get ahead of yourselves and move on," he concluded, his words final.

Just like that, the matter was settled. There would be no more hesitation, no more dwelling on the emotions that tangled them all. But as they each nodded in agreement, the knot in their stomachs didn't loosen. Zack was right—they had to move on. But for some, it wouldn't be that simple.

.　 . • ☆ . ° .• °:. *₊ ° . ☆

Can I finally...

"Repeat after me."

"Okay.."

"Lalalala."

"Lalalala."

"Mimimimi."

"Mimimimi."

"Alright."

"Alright."

"Perfect! You did a good job--"

"Perfect! You did a good jo--"

"You fucking dumbass, you don't need to repeat after me anymore!" He hits my head with a rolled paper. "Ouch, what was that for?" I whined, glaring at him.

 "Oh oh, oh! Whose being this cocky after treatment, eh? You just used to glare and say nothing, now look who's talking?" Byul said, sitting on the edge of his desk, a mischievous smirk tugging at his lips.

I could feel the mockery in his voice, but part of me couldn't help but feel... proud? A little. It was a strange shift. The silence I'd lived with for so long, the constant battle within myself to communicate, to express, and now... here I was, finally talking. And Byul, of all people, was being the one to push me to break through that silence. It felt almost... empowering.