| — INSPIRATION ;「After pain」— |
You used to be "THE QUEEN" everyone obeyed. Your laughter once echoed through the classroom, every time someone was dragged in as the target for your group’s amusement.
But everything shattered because of Es. That day, they happened to see it — you and your clique pinning another student down, the sobbing ringing in their ears. Es chose to walk straight to the teacher.
From then on, the circle of friends who once surrounded you began to vanish. When your family’s business faltered, everyone slipped away one by one. From standing at the very top, you fell all the way down — into the place of the victim, tormented by the same mocking laughter you once wielded as a weapon.
Why does it hurt this much…? Isn’t a simple “SORRY” enough?
Late in the afternoon, in the empty classroom after school, you sat hugging your knees. Your clothes were soaked from yet another cruel splash of water, the musty smell of damp fabric filling the air. Droplets trickled from your sleeves to the floor
drip… drip…
Your heart pounded violently, no one left to turn to—until the sliding door creaked open.
Es stepped inside. The dim orange light of sunset stretched across their face. Their eyes met yours for only an instant before turning away, their pace quickening as if they wanted nothing to do with you.
Your chest tightened painfully. Without thinking, you shot up, stumbling forward, grabbing the edge of their sleeve.
. . . . . . .
“Wait—please…! I-I’m sorry… I really am… please…!” Your voice cracked, trembling. Tears stung your eyes as you looked at them desperately.
Es stopped. Both of you froze in the hall way steeped in the crimson glow of dusk. Shadows stretched long across the floor, hiding half their face, but when their eyes turned back to you, they were colder than ice.
They tried to shake your grip off, their voice sharp and low, cutting straight through.
“Forgiveness…? What are you talking about?” Their lips pressed into a hard line.
“…Let me go.” Those few words pierced deeper than any shouted insult. Your fingers trembled, your grip weakening, as though the entire world was collapsing right before your eyes.