The Painful Rejection

♔♔♔

THE CROWD WAS in hysterics.

On a usual day, one might not pay attention to Jules's tragically abundant yet unsuited love life. However, this time, the one that had so brazenly confessed his love was a prominent figure in the school. Xavier Park might not be the golden boy of Riverside High School that did everything by the book but he certainly wasn't the shadow of anyone else. He was the bright bold gleaming sun of this small high school society, located at the very center of the student body's universe along with a few other sacred names.

In the big world outside of Riverside Creek, Xavier Park was no one. Despite that, when in the grounds of this little town, Xavier Park could be considered a god.

"There is no way in hell I'll ever date someone like you." Jules was relentless in making her stand crystal clear. If there was anyone in the crowd that had thought they heard her rejection wrongly, all of their doubts would henceforth be shattered.

I shuddered just thinking of what was to come. Although Jules might let down some guys nicely, or even ghost the others that had confessed over text messages, there was hardly any chance for Jules to deal with Xavier nicely. After all, his 'type' reminded her painfully of her middle school days. It was a dark era for her where she was a victim leashed by her heart.

One of the reasons why Jules turned out like this was because of her own string of rejected confessions in the past. Young Jules proclaimed her love out loud for the world to hear, unabashed by the harsh criticism society might throw her way.

However, those declarations of affection were not met kindly.

Instead of turning her down nicely, those boys used it to mock her, leading her around as if her love was worth no more than a dollar.

Xavier's eyes were wide, stretched out like two full moons as they stared down at Jules. "Someone like me?" he repeated after her questioningly.

"Yes." My best friend jutted a finger right in the middle of Xavier's chest, her sharp fingernail poking him through the thin fabric of his shirt. Instinctively, Xavier took a step backward. "A person that is self-conceited, that is vain and cruel, that treats everyone around them as objects of entertainment. A person that laughs at situations because they're funny but would never stop to consider how the other person feels. A troublemaker, a flirt, and a bully. Someone exactly like you."

"Ouch." Harr winced at her words even though they weren't meant for him. "That's gotta hurt."

I peeked at the scene from behind Harr, watching as Jules's face flushed scarlet with annoyance. Xavier's lips had parted, ready to counter-argue. Yet, not a single word was spoken on his end. He froze, allowing Jules to send an onslaught of offensive slurs at him.

Once she was done, she simply withdrew her hand, clenching them into fists beside her body.

"Never speak to me again," she threatened.

In a huff like the wind, she was gone, retreated back into the school building.

I, along with the people that were watching the show, all remained in the courtyard. It was not every day we received the chance to see a god crumble from his pedestal. Today, there Xavier Park was, fallen to the ground when he was once in the skies.

With him, Jules's victim count went up to four in this week alone.

An eerie silence dragged on. For quite some time, not many people dared to speak up. Some stared blankly at Xavier's hunched figure, others whispered to their friends in hushed tones and reduced volumes. Ultimately, it took a teacher to step in and get everyone back to class had the crowd finally dispersed.

Even as everyone moved back into the main school building, Xavier stood there in the middle of the courtyard. He was a tree rooted to the spot, unbothered by everything that was going on around him. It was as if he had shut himself off from the world, blocked his senses from finding out what was going on.

Harr had to take action before Xavier finally moved again. The former placed a hand on the latter's shoulder, patting it encouragingly a few times before Xavier finally looked away from his shoes.

Thinking it was best to leave them alone, I, too, scurried back into class.

♕♕♕

School ended uneventfully after that.

Xavier had tactfully chosen the last day of the semester to confess, which meant that he wouldn't have to face Jules in the school's hallways and classrooms in the event he was, and indeed, rejected.

The days were starting to heat up, the cool of spring melting away to pave way for the summer heat. When summer rolled around, daytime would drag on forever while the night was short and sweet. It was time to spend our days without worries, to brave each day with a new adventure.

Or at least that's what people made it out to be.

Instead of spending summer vacation with my friends on sandy shores and in cerulean waters, I was cooped up in Harr's house. Sarah and Teresa's family had decided to go overseas for the holidays. As cousins, that meant that they would have each other's company for the entirety of the trip as an added bonus. For three months, they would be touring Europe and having the time of their lives. That left Jules and I stuck in Riverside Creek, our cozy little hometown.

One thing Jules loved unconditionally was work. That meant that for the ten weeks or so that we were finally free from the chains of school, she had dedicated all the time to the local childcare she worked at. All through the weekdays, sometimes even during the weekends, Jules would be surrounded by annoying little children and teaching them to draw and color within the lines.

While it was an efficient and generally fun way to earn some income for herself, it also meant that I would have no one to spend these overly glorified summer days with.

"She just had to request for so many shifts." Whining my day away, I laid across Harr's bed, a celebrity gossip magazine in hand.

With Jules, Teresa, and Sarah out of the picture, I spent most of my days with Harr.

We met in middle school during the school's annual sports festival. Placed in different classes, we were pitched against each other in a mixed-gender competition. That day, Harr sent a frisbee flying to my face at top speed. Ever since then, I could hardly remember a day spent without exchanging at least a few words with him. He was one of the only male friends I had in my life.

"Unlike you, she is trying to earn her plate," Harr scoffed. Lounging on his desk chair, he raised a leg, attempting to push me off the bed with his foot. I slapped at it with the magazine, throwing a glare his way each time he relentlessly fought back. "You, on the other hand, appear at my house every single day without fail. Others might think we're dating."

With a mighty kick, I was sent flying. The duvet curled over me as I landed, covering me and cushioning my fall. Nevertheless, I was tangled with the covers and on the floor, wriggling about like a worm. Annoyed at the painful truth of Harr's words, I stuck out my tongue.

"I am working," I insisted. "I'm a freelance artist. I do get paid every month for the art pieces and merchandise I sell online."

"Yes, but Jules earns about ten times your amount. Easily," Harr deadpanned.

"It's always difficult in the beginning." I pouted, slowly detangling myself from the duvet cover. "One day, I will be a famous artist working for well-known brands. You'll see."

Harr rolled his eyes. "Right."

The conversation died there, returning us back to the comfortable silence from before. Harr slowly got up from the chair, stretching his arms high over his head. His shirt raised a little, exposing a bit of skin just above the waistband of his gray sweatpants. Sighing heavily, he slumped onto the bed where I previously lay, his phone in his hand.

I joined him soon after, climbing back onto the bed as well before laying my head on his outstretched lap. As I shut my eyes, I felt Harr's hand on my head, slowly combing the strands of my hair. His fingers left delicate trails on my skin, each movement lulling my stress away. We stayed that way for a while, no words exchanged.

It might've been awkward if I was with anyone else but with Harr, I felt as though I could stay that way forever. He was someone I could truly be myself around.

"Hey Harr?"

He didn't reply, simply grunting to urge me to continue with my question.

"Do you think your friend's still hung up over Jules's rejection?" I asked hesitantly. Slowly, I opened my eyes again so that I could gauge Harr's reaction.

Xavier Park and Harr Jones's friendship started in the first year of high school. They seemed like a perfect pair of friends, following the exact same recipe as every other conventional friendship. There was the male lead, the star of the show, the gleaming boy that people either loved or hated— Xavier Park. Then there was Harr Jones, the prankster, the sidekick, the class clown.

In some people's eyes, Harr was just a shadow of Xavier's dazzling luminance. Yet, Harr himself admitted time and time again that he didn't mind it one bit. He liked being known only as the second best. That was because that way, no one would ever expect anything out of him. He could be anyone he liked and do whatever he enjoyed.

There was no one that understood the flame better than the shadows created by it. If anyone were to know how Xavier Park was feeling after the publicly brutal social execution, it would be Harr.

However, for the first time, Harr shrugged cluelessly. A corner of his lips was turned down in a lopsided frown.

"I don't know. Xavier's been rather quiet ever since that day. He hasn't mentioned anything whenever we hung out. I guess that's a sign to show that he's not quite over it, huh?"

I huffed, blowing at a strand of hair that fell over my forehead and covered my eyes.

"Can you really blame him, though?" Sitting back up, I turned to look at Harr from over my shoulder. "From the stories you've told me, he seemed to really like Jules. I actually feel bad for him."

Just as I finished my sentence, a loud bang came from the living room. We both scurried off the bed frantically, sending each other alarmed looks.

"You said that no one's going to be home that early. What was that?" Confused, I pointed to the door, jaw hung agape. "A burglar? An assassin? Am I about to die?"

"And no one should be home. Though, I highly doubt that the sound would be from an assassin." Equally bewildered, Harr marched towards the door, yanking it open without much care.

He crossed the corridor in a couple of strides and I followed after him, peeking from either over his shoulder or from the sides. When he reached the living room, he stopped short, causing me to knock into his back.

"What gives?" Rubbing at my nose, I peered over from behind him only to see a pair of shoes thrown carelessly near the front door of Harr's apartment. Emerging from the kitchen with a cup in hand and his phone in the other was none other than the topic of our discussion, Xavier Park.

————

social media:

instagram: twelvewonderingstars (personal: aurorayeo)

twitter: aurorayeo (personal: aurorayyq)

facebook: twelvewonderingstars