3RD PERSON'S POV
Orange walked into the bustling hallways of her school, the familiar sounds of chatter and laughter filling the air. It had been weeks since she last set foot on campus, and now that she was back, she felt a mix of anxiety and determination. She kept her head down, clutching her books tightly to her chest, hoping to blend into the crowd.
But it was impossible to go unnoticed. Whispers followed her as she made her way to her locker.
"Isn't that Orange from D Minor?"
"Yeah, I heard she quit the band."
"Why would she do that? They were doing so well."
Orange tried to ignore the comments, focusing on the combination lock in front of her. She took a deep breath, willing herself to stay calm. She had made her decision, and she needed to stick to it.
As she gathered her books, a familiar voice called out to her. "Orange! Hey, wait up!"
It was Jia, one of her bandmates. Orange's heart sank, but she forced a smile and turned to face her.
"Hey, Jia," Orange said, trying to sound casual.
Jia looked worried. "We've been trying to reach you. Are you okay? What's going on?"
Orange sighed, glancing around to make sure they weren't being overheard. "I'm fine, Jia. I just... I needed to focus on my studies. That's all."
"But you didn't have to quit the band," Jiainsisted. "We could have worked something out."
Orange shook her head. "No, Jia. It's better this way. I need to concentrate on school right now."
Jiafrowned, clearly not satisfied with Orange's explanation. "If you say so. But we're here for you, okay? If you ever need to talk..."
"Thanks, Jia," Orange replied, grateful for her friend's concern but eager to end the conversation. "I'll see you around."
As Jia walked away, Orange felt a pang of guilt. She knew she was shutting out her friends, but she couldn't face the questions, the sympathy. She needed to focus on herself, to find a way to move forward.
She headed to her first class, slipping into a seat at the back of the room. She pulled out her notebook and tried to concentrate on the lecture, but her mind kept wandering. She couldn't escape the memories of the band, of Rodora.
The bell rang, signaling the end of class, and Orange gathered her things. As she walked through the hallway, she spotted Rodora in the distance. Her heart skipped a beat, but she quickly turned and walked in the opposite direction, not ready to face her yet.
At lunchtime, Orange found a quiet corner in the library, hoping to avoid any more confrontations. She opened her textbook, but the words blurred together, her thoughts drifting back to the band, to Rodora.
"Hey, Orange," a voice interrupted her thoughts.
She looked up to see Mia, a classmate she had worked with on a group project last semester. "Hey, Mia," Orange replied, forcing a smile.
"Mind if I sit?" Mia asked, gesturing to the empty seat across from her.
"Sure," Orange said, grateful for the distraction.
Mia sat down, pulling out her lunch. "I heard about you quitting the band. That must have been a tough decision."
Orange nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, it was. But I needed to focus on school."
Mia gave her a sympathetic look. "I get it. Sometimes you have to make tough choices. But if you ever need to talk, I'm here."
"Thanks, Mia," Orange said, feeling a small sense of relief. It was nice to have someone who understood, even if just a little.
As the days went by, Orange settled into her new routine. She attended classes, studied in the library, and tried to avoid any reminders of the band. But no matter how hard she tried, the memories lingered, a constant presence in the back of her mind.
One afternoon, as she was leaving school, her phone buzzed with a new message. It was from Rodora.
"Can we talk?"
The sight of Rodora's name on her screen made Orange's heart race. Her thumb hovered over the message, a part of her longing to open it, to see what Rodora had to say. But she quickly shoved her phone into her pocket, ignoring the message. She couldn't afford to get sucked back into the emotional turmoil. Not now. Not when she was finally starting to put her life back together.
Orange took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She walked briskly, her footsteps echoing in the mostly empty hallway as she headed towards the exit. Outside, the crisp air was a welcome relief. She let it fill her lungs, hoping it would clear her mind as well.
The days continued to blur together. Orange maintained her rigorous schedule, burying herself in her studies, attending every class, and spending hours in the library. Her interactions with others became increasingly minimal. She exchanged polite nods and brief conversations with classmates, but kept to herself for the most part.
Weeks turned into a month, and although Orange was making strides academically, her emotional state remained fragile. Every so often, her phone would buzz with another message from Rodora, each one more desperate than the last, but Orange remained resolute. She didn't read any of them.
One evening, as she was buried in her notes, her phone buzzed yet again. She glanced at the screen, saw Rodora's name, and felt a pang of guilt and longing. Shaking her head, she turned her phone off and focused back on her studies. This was what she needed to do. She had to stay strong.
The next day, Orange was sitting in her usual spot in the library when Mia approached her again. "Hey, Orange," Mia greeted, taking a seat across from her without waiting for an invitation.
"Hey, Mia," Orange responded, offering a weak smile.
Mia studied her for a moment. "You seem really tired. Everything okay?"
Orange shrugged. "Just a lot of work. Trying to keep up with everything."
Mia nodded, but didn't seem convinced. "You know, it's okay to take a break. You don't have to push yourself so hard."
Orange sighed. "I know. I just... I have to stay focused."
"Yeah, but you also need to take care of yourself," Mia said gently. "You can't keep running on empty."
Orange looked down at her notes, her vision blurring with unshed tears. "I just... I don't know how to stop."
Mia reached across the table, placing a hand on Orange's. "Maybe you don't have to do it alone. Sometimes talking to someone can help."
Orange bit her lip, the words catching in her throat. She wanted to confide in Mia, to share the burden that was weighing her down. But she was afraid. Afraid of opening up, of letting the pain surface again.
"Maybe," she whispered, not committing to anything but not shutting the door entirely.
As the weeks passed, Orange continued to avoid Rodora's messages, though the guilt gnawed at her. She focused on her studies, but the emptiness inside her grew. She missed the music, the band, and most of all, she missed Rodora. But she couldn't let herself go back. She couldn't risk the pain again.
One afternoon, while walking home from school, Orange saw a small café she used to frequent with Rodora. The sight of it brought a rush of memories, and before she knew it, she was standing outside the door, her heart pounding. She took a deep breath and walked in, hoping the familiarity would bring her some comfort.
Inside, the café was warm and inviting, the smell of coffee and baked goods filling the air. She found a seat in a quiet corner and ordered a latte. As she sipped her drink, she let her mind wander back to the times she and Rodora had spent there, the laughter, the shared moments. She missed those times more than she had admitted to herself.
Her phone buzzed, and she glanced at it, expecting another message from Rodora. But this time, it was from Jia. "Hey, can we meet up? I miss you."
Orange hesitated for a moment, then typed a quick reply. "Sure. How about the café on Elm Street?"
Jia responded almost immediately. "I'll be there in 20."
Twenty minutes later, Jia walked into the café, her face lighting up when she saw Orange. "Hey, it's good to see you," Ellie said, sliding into the seat across from her.
"You too," Orange replied, managing a small smile.
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of everything unsaid hanging between them. Finally, Jia broke the silence. "We've all been worried about you, Orange. You just disappeared."
"I'm sorry," Orange said, looking down at her hands. "I didn't mean to make everyone worry. I just... I needed some time."
Jia nodded, her expression understanding. "I get that. But you don't have to go through this alone. We're your friends. We want to help."
Orange felt a lump in her throat, the emotions she had been trying to suppress threatening to overwhelm her. "I know. It's just... hard."
Jia reached across the table, taking Orange's hand in hers. "It doesn't have to be. We're here for you, no matter what."
The sincerity in Jia's voice broke through Orange's defenses, and she felt the tears she had been holding back finally spill over. "I miss the band," she confessed. "I miss you guys. And I miss Rodora."
Jia squeezed her hand. "We miss you too. And I know Rodora misses you a lot. She's been trying to reach out."
Orange nodded, wiping away her tears. "I know. I've seen her messages. I just... I don't know if I'm ready to face her."
"That's okay," Jia said softly. "Take your time. But don't shut us out. We care about you."
For the first time in weeks, Orange felt a glimmer of hope. She wasn't alone. She had friends who cared about her, who wanted to help her through this. She took a deep breath, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders.
"Thank you, Jia," she said, her voice trembling. "I really appreciate it."
Jia smiled. "Anytime, Orange. We're in this together."
As they sat there, talking and reminiscing about the good times, Orange felt a sense of warmth and belonging that she had been missing. She knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but with her friends by her side, she felt ready to face it.
The next day, Orange woke up with a renewed sense of purpose. She decided to start small, to take things one step at a time. She reached out to Mia, asking if she wanted to study together. Mia was thrilled, and they spent the afternoon in the library, working side by side. It was a small step, but it was a start.
Later that week, Orange attended a small gathering with her sister and Jia and others. It was a casual get-together, nothing like the intense band practices she used to have, but it felt good to be around people again, to laugh and talk without the weight of her troubles hanging over her.
Gradually, Orange began to let her guard down, opening up more to her friends. She started attending classes regularly, engaging in discussions, and even participating in study groups. The more she allowed herself to connect with others, the easier it became to manage her emotions.
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