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016

Author: C.L.Lisianto
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

Loretta returns to her room around five in the morning. We wouldn't have our first class on this post"party day, even though she ideally wouldn't have seen me and Ethan like this. Half naked and cuddled, lying in the same bed. A giant question mark was drawn on her face. Surely, I was some kind of hopeless piranha even on her levels, in her head, of course. In my conception, I was and am just a free woman.

Free of labels, free of the need to explain myself, giving satisfaction to one or another, free even of prejudices.

But she came in without saying anything, just grabbed some clothes to get ready in the bathroom. She saw that I saw her, so I thought I had to get Ethan out of here before she even got back to her room.

" Come on, wake up, Ethan. " I move him as soon as Loretta closes the door.

" Huh? What? He wakes up slowly, still trying to locate himself.

" You gotta get yourself home, come on.

" There, okay, okay.

He gets up, still a little confused, gathers his clothes and in l
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    Before she could answer, a movie flashed through my mind about the moment Peter and I first met. " Peter? Like Peter Parker?I had thought he was cute the first day, but so much had happened since then. At least now, I no longer saw myself in this position of being Peter's candidate for a boyfriend. I saw him more as a friend, almost a brother..." Do you really want to know? It happened. And it was a lot, baby! " Loretta finally confessed, snapping me out of my reverie. She was clearly excited about the news, to the point of infecting me with her happiness." Oh, tell me about it. How did it go? I want details! " Oh, sordid details, please don't! " she says, finishing her lipstick. Only she herself would not neglect her lipstick to go to class, so early in the morning. ". No, I won't. Tell me! You know all about me and my fumbles..." Wait, fumbles? I wouldn't put it that way... " Adventures? " I say, smiling, naughty. " All right, I'll tell you... but... " she says, in a whisp

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    " So you can start, I'm all ears. I love hearing about your adventures. “ Mellanie sits on the bed, excited.I make an expression as if to say “Really? We haven't even brushed our teeth yet." But Loretta is happy to see you and her tongue itches to update you." Speaking of adventures, you're looking at a much more daring girl than me and you combined. In a week, she surpassed us. - Loretta says, provocatively, totally ignoring my presence.Mellanie opens her mouth in a big O in mock puzzlement, and then they both burst out laughing."Be more specific Lori, what do you mean by that?I roll my eyes and before they continue this game of talking about it in front of me, as if I were invisible, I join the conversation too." You mean I'm a free woman and a kisser, that's it! I don't see a crime in that, do you? - I question, directing the question to Mellanie." Of course not, but what you are not telling me, are the details that matter most! - She insists.I look at Loretta as if asking

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    "Shall we go to the library?” Peter approaches me in the hallway at the end of one of the classes."Ahn... Okay, it could be.” I answer, looking around, a little confused."I need to talk to you, alone. - He says, in a firm and convincing voice. I don't remember seeing him so serious."Fine. Is there a problem, Peter?" It's not really a problem... It's nothing serious. But I wanted to talk soon, and alone. - He reinforces.Loretta and Mellanie are on another floor of the building, in an extra class and in a different grade than us freshmen, so it wasn't difficult to follow Peter to the library without them, considering that the last few days we've only been hanging out together.Luckily, the space was practically empty. The huge library was perhaps the quietest and most private place on the entire campus. At this time, close to lunchtime, it was even emptier, with a maximum of four students, reading or studying." Here we are. You can talk - I ask, smiling lightly and gently." I don

  • At Break Time   023

    I leave the library with my thoughts still scattered, trying to come up with a way to fix something that wasn't even my fault after all.In the corridor, towards the exit and on the way to the republic, Loretta leaves one of the classrooms, her extra class had ended less than a minute ago." Aria, what a coincidence to find you here! - She calls me, making me jump." Coincidence? Um... why?" Can we go to the cafeteria? I'm hungry and I have a good gossip to tell you.I clear my throat lightly and say yes, no problem. Apparently, she had no idea what I had just learned from Peter." Ready, speak! - I ask, feigning custom and animation."It's about Peter!I widen my eyes, my heart stops for two seconds."What happened? - I ask, trying my best to hide it." He texted me just now, I was in class and I only saw him after class ended. He says he wants to talk to me later today, in the cafeteria. What do you think it could be?My hands start to sweat. All I want is to piss off Loretta. It w

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  • At Break Time   071

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  • At Break Time   070

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    Like after a long bad dream, after facing several days in the dark, Monday arrives again, with new air, a new glow. Classes resumed, the case was covered in the local press and the movement of students walking all over the campus returned with a vengeance.Peter is still in recovery. His lungs were badly affected by the water he ended up breathing in."Are you going to make it in time for the first period?" Loretta asks, finishing touching up her lipstick.I still need to brush my hair, which, now waist-length, keeps getting knotted.“I just need to stop by the closet in the main hall to get some books. But I'll meet you in the auditorium.“Okay, don't be too late. She winks mischievously.She knows I'm in an internal battle looking forward to seeing Max again after a week of not making contact. After all.It takes me a few minutes to find the key to the little padlock that opens my hall closet. I know it's in some bag, but it's that old story, which one? I turn everything over, find

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