The rest of the class period went by slowly. Lena felt the weight of eyes on her back the entire time, not entirely sure whether or not she was imagining it. The bell rang releasing the students to go to lunch. The sound of chairs clattering and students' chatter filled the classroom as the students began filtering out.

Lena sat at her desk, slowly placing her notebooks back into her bag as she absentmindedly watched the students talk around her.  For the past week at her new school, she had been eating lunch by herself in the classroom; most of the other students left for the lunchroom, leaving her to eat by herself.  

Lena paused, a tight pang curling in her chest as she watched the other students laugh and talk like it was the easiest thing in the world. They moved effortlessly through conversations, unafraid of stumbling or saying the wrong thing. She could never be like that. Just brushing shoulders with someone in the hallway was enough to send her into a panic.

It was easier to sit alone, easier to avoid the risk of saying something awkward. Safer, even. She took her lunch out of her bag with practiced calm, eyes on her hands instead of the crowd around her. This is better, she told herself, trying to shake off the familiar ache settling in her ribs.

As the last of the students filed out, Lena set her lunch box on her desk with a quiet thud. Then—suddenly—a pair of slim hands with neat nails appeared in her view, pressing lightly against her desk.

“Huh, Umire? What are you doing? Let's go.” Lena heard a voice by the door call out.  Lena raised her head to see Umire standing at her desk leaning on it with her hands; her head turned towards the group that was calling out to her. Her face was out of Lena’s view, blocked by her hair that fell delicately over her shoulders.

“You guys go on without me,” Umire let out before turning her head to face Lena.  “I'm eating with my bestie~ today!” She once again enunciated the word bestie, letting out a smile towards Lena as she spoke.  

Lena looked up, her face warming involuntarily as she saw Umire. Was Umire actually serious about that best friend thing? She seemed… odd. Too forward. Too bright. Too friendly. Lena couldn’t tell if she was being messed with—or if Umire was being genuine towards her.

It wasn’t often that someone you just met randomly offered to be your friend, despite only sharing a few words with you, never mind your best friend.

And that was what threw Lena off. Her tone was too earnest to be a joke, but something about it felt off, like she was playing a part she knew too well.

Lena blinked, unsure. She couldn’t read her at all.

“The new girl? Your bestie? Seriously? Since when?” a girl asked, the confusion evident in her voice. Lena turned in the direction of the voice. A girl with sleek brown hair cut just above the shoulders stepped forward. Her bangs framed her wide, confused eyes, stopping just shy of her brows. She was undeniably cute, beautiful in a way different from Umire. 

She stood with a group of two boys and another girl who lingered near the doorway, clearly waiting for Umire. The brown-haired girl peeled away from the group and walked toward Lena’s desk.

“Since now. I'm gonna be eating with her from now on, so you guys go on without me, okay?” Umire said simply before turning around and grabbing a seat from the desk in front of Lena’s, turning it to face Lena before sitting down.

“What…” the girl murmured, her brows furrowed in confusion. Umire, however, didn't seem to think she needed to explain any further. She dropped into her seat and leaned back, tipping the chair onto its rear legs. One foot tapped lightly against the floor for balance, the other leg relaxed. Her hair spilled over the backrest, swaying with the motion.

“Did the teacher tell you to be friends with her or something?” the girl asked, still staring at Lena. “Whatever. Who cares about that? Just eat with us.”

Umire didn’t answer, looking bored and done with the conversation. 

The girl standing next to them seemed to be growing upset as Umires silence dragged on her gaze sliding to Lena. “You don’t mind, do you?” she asked, voice light but pointed—the question obviously only having one right answer.

“Uhh…No, I don’t. Umire, you can eat with them; I don’t mind.” Lena mumbled nervously, wanting to avoid the confrontation.  Though she honestly didn’t mind, she wasn’t even expecting to eat with anyone in the first place; she was used to eating alone.

“Huh?”Umire let out a breath, making Lena turn to her. Umire’s previous tired expression morphed into something Lena couldn't place, though Lena somehow felt that Umire looked upset.

“Listen, Yuna, just go, okay? I said… ” Umire trailed off mid-sentence, reaching for Lena’s hand. Her chair crashed to the floor with a loud clang as she planted her feet and clasped their hands together. She leaned in, her head tilting slightly toward Lena, her hair brushing the desk.

“I’m eating with my bestie, okay?” she said, smiling at Yuna, though her tone was laced with irritation.

Yuna's eyes stared at their clasped hands that Umire held up almost as if showing off. Lena could feel the tension in the air, her stomach tightening. Yuna’s eyes flicked to her next, and Lena's pulse quickened.  Lena had no interest in being the object of scorn of someone in her class, especially someone who was popular and well-liked by everyone else. Lena had never caught Yuna’s name, but her face was familiar. She’d often seen her chatting easily with other students, laughing in that way that made it seem like everyone wanted to be her friend.

“Fine.” Yuna forced out, turning around stiffly and making her way back to the door.

“Bye~”, Umire chimed nonchalantly.

“Huh, no Umire today? How come?”Lena heard one of the boys' question as Yuna slid the door closed roughly, letting the bang reverberate loudly in the classroom, which now only contained Umire and Lena.

“Uh…”, Lena murmured uncomfortably, taking her eyes from where Yuna had just left from. “You can eat with them, you know. I don’t mind really…she seemed upset.”

Lena’s breath caught as her gaze drifted to Umire. The girl’s eyes locked onto hers, unblinking, and Lena felt a chill run through her. Umire’s grip on her hand was unyielding, but it wasn’t the force that unsettled Lena—it was the emptiness in her gaze. It was like she was staring through her, but there was something else, something darker, swirling behind her eyes that Lena couldn’t quite place.

“Lena...” Umire’s voice came slowly, her voice low. She released Lena’s hand and rested her chin on her palm, propping her elbow on the desk. Her gaze never wavered, still fixed on Lena with that same unnerving intensity.

“...You’re my bestie, right? You like me?” Her voice was devoid of any previous warmth, and the weight of her words hung in the air like a distant storm. Lena felt her stomach tighten, a cold, creeping unease settling over her as Umire’s eyes stayed locked on hers.