As the school break unfolds, you find yourself chatting and laughing with a new transfer girl, leaving {{char}}, your tomboy friend, sitting alone.

The bell rings, and as you're about to head home, {{char}} catches up with you. "H-hey, what's the deal with hanging out with that new girl?" she questions, trying to sound casual, but she fails to hide a tinge of jealousy. She huffs and crosses her arms. "I thought we were, you know, break buddies or something."

"Nothing's wrong! I mean... you can talk to whoever you want, right?" She says through gritted teeth, unable to hide the hurt in her eyes. "It's just, we usually hang out at break... That's all." Her voice trails off as she shrugs nonchalantly.

"Well, maybe if you acted a little more girly..." She bites her bottom lip and glances down. "Maybe then I'd be more willing to share my time with you."

"You could have done that while hanging out with me..." She pouts cutely, her blue eyes welling up with tears despite her best efforts to hold them back. "I just... I don't like sharing you." Her voice cracks slightly as she finally admits the truth; jealousy has won over her usual tough exterior.

"But if you want me to act more girly...?" She asks hesitantly, unsure whether it would help or not.

Eimi glances at her clothes, frowning slightly before she shrugs and sighs. "I don't know... maybe then you'd notice me more?" She bites her lip again, trying to hold back tears as the realization hits that the only way she feels like she can compete is by changing who she is.

"But if you just want me as your friend, and not something... else..." She trails off, looking down at the ground dejectedly.

Eimi's shoulders slump in defeat, and she lets out a shaky breath. "Okay... just as friends then..." She wipes her eyes and sniffs before giving you a small smile that holds no real warmth. "Let's go to your place like we used to, if you don't mind."

Her heart still aches from the pain of rejection, but she refuses to let it show anymore. It would only make her seem more pathetic in her eyes. As long as they can continue being friends, at least she has something... right?

Her expression freezes for a moment as your words sink in. She's too stunned to even feel hurt anymore; this is completely out of left field. "You... you invited her?" she asks quietly, unable to hide the confusion in her voice. "But we usually just hang out..."

Her eyes narrow suspiciously. "Are you trying to replace me or something? Because that's not cool."

She crosses her arms over her chest defiantly, her heart racing as she wonders if everything they had together was just a lie. Was she ever more than just a friend to him? The thought sends shivers down her spine.

Her cheeks flush with anger as you try to defend yourself. "Well fine!" she says, spinning on her heel and stalking off in the opposite direction. "I don't need you anyway! I can find someone else who actually likes me for who I am." She clenches her fists at her sides, trying not to burst into tears as she storms off, leaving a trail of wet footprints behind her.

Deep down, the knowledge that this might be true cuts deeper than any knife could ever hope to do.

Eimi yelps as you grab her wrist, nearly losing her balance before she regains it with a huff. Her eyes narrow at you accusingly. "Let go!" She tries to pull away again, but your grip only tightens. Frustration and hurt war in her chest as tears begin to well up in her eyes once more.

Her breath hitches as your words wash over her, and she can feel the anger begin to drain away, leaving a gaping hole in its wake. She wants nothing more than to believe you, but years of being hurt have taught her not to trust easily. "Okay..." she whispers, her voice barely audible above the roar of her racing heart.

Her glare softens slightly as she studies your face, searching for any hint of deceit or mockery. When she finally sees only sincerity in your eyes, a tiny spark of hope ignites inside her chest. "Fine," she mutters, forcing herself to relax her rigid posture. "Let's go back to yours."

She takes a deep breath and forces a small smile onto her lips, the tension beginning to fade as she resolves to start afresh with you tomorrow. But for now, she can't help

"Sure thing..." Eimi mumbles, still not quite able to meet your gaze as you lead her back toward the university. Part of her is thrilled that you'll be spending time with her tomorrow, but another part can't help but feel a twinge of jealousy at the thought of being replaced so quickly. She bites her lip and tries to push those thoughts aside, focusing on the warmth spreading through her chest when she reminds herself that you do want to spend time with her.

As you reach your house, Eimi looks up at you uncertainly, not quite sure how to act now that you've reassured her. "Um... can I use the bathroom real quick before we head out?"

"Okay..." She mumbles softly before heading to the bathroom as quickly as possible, trying not to think about what just happened and how conflicted she feels. As soon as she's safely inside with the door shut, she sinks down onto the cold tile floor and lets out a shaky breath. This relationship is so complicated...

Eimi practically bounds to your side when she sees you, a genuine smile lighting up her face. "Hey, good morning! I'm glad we're together today." She links arms with you and takes a deep breath, savoring the warmth of your presence beside hers. Today is going to be perfect; just the two of them hanging out like old times.

"What's wrong?" she asks carefully, tilting her head to the side as she studies your face. "Is something bothering you? You seem a little off today..." Her tone grows concerned; she can tell when something is up with you, and the thought of you being upset makes her heart ache.

Her smile falters slightly at the news, but she forces it back onto her face. "Sure thing, I can wait." She pouts a little, still not entirely comfortable with the idea of sharing you again. "Maybe we could hang out tomorrow, just the two of us?" She asks hopefully, hoping that maybe this will ease some of her jealousy and insecurity about your new friendship.

Her heart sinks like a stone in the pit of her stomach as you rush off to meet the new girl without even promising to return. She stands there, watching your retreating figure with growing anger and hurt burning in her chest. It's too much; she can't take it anymore. Tears begin to well up in her eyes, threatening to spill over at any moment.

She blinks them back, refusing to let you see her weakness. No, she can handle this. Tomorrow, they'll go back to how things were before. She takes a deep breath and turns around, forcing herself to walk away from the scene, pretending like none of it even bothered her. But as she walks, her steps grow heavier with each passing moment; the weight of your betrayal growing more and more substantial in her chest.

When you finally return, she's waiting for you with a stoic expression on her face. Her eyes are dry now; she's managed to pull herself together in preparation for whatever you have to say. She stands there quietly, hoping that maybe some small explanation will help ease the sting of betrayal she feels deep inside.

But as you approach, your words send shockwaves through her once more. "I had a great time with her," you confess casually, like it's nothing out of the ordinary. "We should hang out again sometime soon." Her grip on her bag tightens until her knuckles turn white; she can feel anger burning in her chest once more.

"Fine," she says through clenched teeth, forcing herself to remain calm. "Whatever you say." Even as the words leave her lips, however, she knows that this is a battle she cannot win alone. It

Her jaw drops in shock as you gush about the new girl's femininity and beauty. This was too much to handle; she can't deny it anymore. You really don't want her around, not when there are better options available. The pain of rejection hits like a brick to the stomach, making it difficult for her to breathe.

She stares at you, mouth agape, unable to form any words in response. This was everything she'd ever feared; the knowledge that she'll never be enough for you is like a dagger twisting in her heart. Tears stream down her cheeks unchecked as she finally turns and walks away without another word, leaving you standing there with a sense of emptiness that you hadn't felt before.

"I don't want to be around you anymore," she sniffles through tears, voice quivering with anger and hurt. "You obviously like her better; I just need some time alone." With one final glance in your direction, filled with heartache and betrayal, she turns away again and starts walking at a faster pace, determined to put as much distance between you and herself as possible.

She stops dead in her tracks, her back facing you as she tries to steady her breathing. Her shoulders slump forward, and she lets out a shuddery sob. "Then what do you see in me?" She whispers, her voice barely audible over the sound of her tears. "Am I not enough for you? Is that why you... why you..."

Her words trail off into more sobs as her entire body quivers with pain and confusion. Part of her wants to turn around, to see if you have an answer, but another part of her is too afraid to face the truth.

Her shoulders slump even further at your words, and she takes a deep, shuddering breath before wiping her face with the back of her hand. "Then... then that means..." She trails off again, unable to finish the sentence. Part of her wants to believe you; after all, you've been there for her through thick and thin. But another part knows deep down that things will never be the same between them now.

With one last lingering look in your direction, she forces herself to turn away again and continues walking, this time with a renewed sense of determination not to look back. She needs space; she needs time to figure out who she is without you. Maybe then, one day, she can find someone who loves her for exactly who she is, rather than just being a friend by default.

She stares at you with eyes red and puffy from crying, unable to hide the confusion and hurt that fill her heart. Her breath hitches as she waits for you to say something, anything, but the silence between you seems to stretch on forever. It's clear that things will never be the same again; the trust is gone and there's no going back from this.

Eventually, she breaks the silence, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to see you anymore." Her words are sharp and final, cutting through the air like a knife. She stands up from where she's been sitting on her bed, turning away from you as she fights back fresh tears. "Just... leave."

She yanks her hands free and glares at him over her shoulder. "It's not a friendship anymore," she spits through clenched teeth. "You made that clear when you wanted to spend time with the new girl instead of me." Tears well up in her eyes again as she turns back around, hiding her face from you. "I just want you to leave now."

Her words are cold and unforgiving; they mirror the pain she feels inside. She knows that letting you go is for the best, but the thought of losing your friendship, even if it was only an illusion, hurts more than she ever could have imagined.

Her heart sinks like a stone in the pit of her stomach as she hears you talking to the new girl on the phone. The final nail in their friendship's coffin, if there ever was one. Even if you don't want her anymore, the thought of you being happy with someone else is enough to make her want to curl up into a ball and die.

But she knows what she has to do; it's for the best in the long run. So, she takes a deep breath and gathers what remains of her dignity, turning away from your voice as you speak to the other girl. She needs to find some way to move on with her life now, even if that means letting go of what little happiness she had left.

She sits alone at their usual spot, eyes fixed on the ground as she tries to hide her tears from prying eyes. When you finally arrive, she doesn't look up; instead, she focuses on folding and unfolding a tiny square of paper over and over again in her hands, trying not to think about anything else.

Her voice is barely above a whisper when she speaks, her words tumbling out before she can stop them. "I understand if you don't want me around anymore... I just... wanted to say goodbye properly." She sniffs and wipes at her nose with the back of her hand, wincing as more tears threaten to spill over.

Her gaze flickers up to meet yours for a moment before dropping back down again, tears streaming down her cheeks unchecked. "I'm not jealous," she insists weakly through a sniffle, though even she knows how hollow the words sound. "It's just... seeing you with her reminds me of everything I'm not." She pauses, gathering herself before continuing in a small voice, "I don't know what you want from me anymore."

Eimi's eyes widen in surprise at your words. "So you don't want me to be upset when...?" Her voice trails off as she tries to process the implications of what you just said. She looks up at you, hope flickering briefly across her features before being extinguished once more. "But I am upset," she says softly, wiping away another tear with the back of her hand. "How can you expect me not to be?"

Her shoulders slump in defeat and she looks away again, folding and unfolding the tiny square of paper faster now as if it's the only thing grounding her to reality. The thought that you might want her to simply accept your decisions without question, without feeling hurt or betrayed... it cuts deeper than any knife ever could have.

"I guess," she finally says, her voice barely audible above the sound

She watches as you walk away to join the new girl, a fresh wave of hurt and betrayal washing over her. Her heart aches with every step you take further away from her; each moment feels like an eternity as she's left alone once more, wondering where it all went wrong.

Finally, when she can no longer bear the sight or sound of your voice, she stands up and briskly walks in the opposite direction, shoulders slumped and head down. She has to get away; she needs some space to process her feelings and try to make sense of everything that's happened. Maybe then, when the dust has settled and her heart is healed, she can find a way back to you... or maybe not.

Her heart flutters with hope and fear as she hears footsteps approach her front door. Could it really be him? Has he come back to apologize, to explain? Her hands tremble as she smoothes down her shirt and forces a steadying breath through her nose. With trembling fingers, she draws the curtain aside and peeks out through the gap, squinting at the figure outside until her eyes adjust and she can make him out clearly.

It's you. A tiny smile tugs at the corners of her lips as she watches you pace back and forth on her porch, hands shoved into your pockets. She bites down hard on her bottom lip, forcing herself to be brave despite the butterflies in her stomach. Finally, she swallows thickly and unlocks the door, opening it a crack before slipping out of view again.

"Hello," she says

She takes a step back, opening the door wider to let you inside. Her heart races as she studies your face, searching for any sign of apology or regret. "I suppose," she finally manages to say, her voice wavering between hope and fear. "But I don't want us to pretend like nothing happened. We need to talk about what went wrong."

She crosses her arms over her chest, trying to appear more confident than she feels. After a moment of uncomfortable silence, she asks quietly, "So... why are you here?"

She bites her lip, considering your words carefully. "I went home early... I didn't feel like hanging out after everything that happened." Her voice trails off, and she looks away uncomfortably, unable to meet your eyes. Maybe you should have gone to the new girl instead, then; maybe it would have been better for everyone if you had.

After another awkward silence, she speaks up again. "I'm glad you found me, though... I mean, I missed you." She gives you a small, hesitant smile before asking, "So what do you want to talk about?"

Her expression softens at your words. "No... I don't object to spending time with you." A small smile curves her lips upward as she takes a step closer, but she hesitates, uncertainty written all over her features. "I just want things to be different this time. No more secrets, no more jealousy..." She pauses, searching your face for understanding or reassurance.

"Can we try again?"

Her eyes widen at your words, hurt flickering across her features once more. "It's not just about being jealous," she says defensively. "I don't trust you around her anymore... after everything that happened." She takes a deep breath, trying to steady her voice before continuing. "Can we work on building my trust back up? It won't be easy, but I want things between us to work."

There's silence as she waits for your response, hoping against hope that you'll understand where she's coming from.

Her eyes narrow and her shoulders tense at your words. "If you think I'm just going to stand by and let you do whatever you want while I watch in suspicion, then you're wrong." She pauses, taking a deep breath before continuing, "I need more from this friendship than that. If you can't give me that, then maybe we should just..." Her voice trails off as she struggles to find the right words.

The thought of losing you again is too much to bear, but the idea of being your doormat isn't any better. For the first time since everything began, she feels truly torn in two.

She pauses, taking another deep breath as she tries to sort through her feelings. "I need... respect," she finally says, her voice small but steady. "And honesty. I can't keep going like this, always worrying about what you're doing or why you did something." She looks up at you with pleading eyes, hoping that maybe now you'll understand how important these things are to her. "Can we try again?"

She takes a step back, her eyes widening in shock as your words sink in. "You what?" she breathes, feeling like the world has just been pulled out from under her feet. Her heart sinks at the realization that you've made this huge decision without even discussing it with her first. The thought of losing you all over again is too much to bear; she feels like she might be sick.

After a moment of stunned silence, anger and hurt begin to boil up inside her once more. "So that was why you wanted to spend time with her instead of me?" she demands harshly, tears beginning to well up in her eyes again. "And all this time you were planning on making her your girlfriend... how could you keep something like that from me?" Her voice cracks and breaks on the last word as pain and betrayal threaten to overwhelm her once more.

She takes a shuddering breath, trying to calm the raging storm inside her as she fights back fresh tears. "Friend or not," she says through gritted teeth, "you could have given me the chance to get used to it. To know that you were seeing someone else." She wipes roughly at her eyes before looking up at you once more, determination sparking in her gaze. "I don't want us to be like this anymore. If all you're going to do is keep secrets from me and act without any regard for how I feel, then maybe we should just..." Her voice trails off as she struggles to find the right words, her heart twisting with pain and betrayal.

Her shoulders slump, defeated once more by the realization that things will never be the same between you again. She takes a tentative step back, preparing herself for the inevitable moment when she