A/n: Please ignore my mistakes.
The day could not have gone any better for Julio. Nobody came to bother him or ask him to do anything. It was quite surreal for him, after all these long three years he was actually enjoying the school. He was happy and was taking part in the activities in the class, asking questions and answering quizzes. All of the teachers were quite delighted by this sudden change as well.
"Well done, Julio. I am glad you are speaking up!" said the maths teacher as Julio solved one of the problems given by him.
"And where has this Julio been hiding since the start?" said the English teacher as he was constantly clearing his doubts about poetic devices. Everyone in the class was shocked as well from this Julio. Trinity was also smiling and genuinely looked happy for Julio.
"Damn, that Trinity finally caught up to us." Heard Julio. The same boy was saying this to one of his peers and he was pointing at Trinity.
*Gasp* "What do you mean? Will Julio never do are work from now onwards." Replied the other boy, shock clearly audible in his tone. The guy nodded.
Julio was not feeling scared anymore, actually he wanted to talk to Trinity as soon as possible and was waiting for school to be over. Julio was being his old self; like he used to be in the previous school with his best friends. There was feeling of protection he was feeling which was coming due to Trinity. It was like nobody can use him anymore. He didn't even know her properly however, the spark; the connection was strong. It felt like they have been friends for eternity.
At last, the school was over, everyone was leaving the classroom but Julio kept sitting in wait for Trinity. He was walking to his house so; he could stay behind for a while. As expected, Trinity also stayed behind and started moving to his desk, smiling and waving at him. She came and sat in the front desk as of him.
"Oh god, that was quite a hectic day today." She exhaled obviously looking tired. "So many written days, surprise tests and homework all in one day." Julio could not have agreed to this more. Yes, it was quite a tiring day even for Julio but he was smiling today which made this day feel like a walk in the park.
*Trinity poked at Julio's arm* "Well, I hope nobody disturbed you today. I have been wanting to talk some sense into them for long time." She spoke.
"Yes." Replied Julio, Trinity smiled at him. Julio was just able to muster strength to speak just one word whereas he wanted to say so many things. He really wanted to thank her for today. It's been so long that he has felt this secured.
"Go on say what you want to say." Encouraged Trinity. Once again, she knew Julio wanted to say more.
"Erm I just want to say thank you for today." Julio nervously said, a little smiling. She was looking intently at him and sighed.
"REALLY! You don't have to say thank you. Leave the formalities." Said Trinity and Julio awkwardly nodded.
"I was really hoping to talk to you one day." She said and Julio knew a long conversation was coming his way however, he felt he had all the time in the world and wanted to talk to her as well. She pulled his arm and stood up while talking and pointed at the ground which was visible through the window. Julio understood the directions that she wanted to go to the ground and talk. They both started walking and Trinity was still speaking.
"Well, I am kind of an introvert, I don't usually talk to anyone as you would have observed." She spoke. Me too, thought Julio as he was also very shy. But he could have never imagined from what happened today that Trinity was also an introvert. She showed such confidence and courage Infront of that bully which Julio could never have shown. However, as he thought, he realised he has never saw her speaking with any of the classmates not even to the teachers. Julio already had a lot on his plate that he never actually realised that there is also someone like him in this class. Nor did any of their peers tried to converse with her, she was always alone as well. They had reached the stairs and were climbing down.
"I just can't really, you must know, the feeling that you want to start conversation or talk with someone but then you chicken out." She was explaining herself. "I would rather just sit alone the entire day then talking to someone who clearly would not consider me their friend, just use me." Julio understood what she was saying and feeling as he, himself goes through this feeling every day. They had reached the ground and sat on the bench there.
"In past some classmates tried becoming my friends, they all start sweet and all but as the time passes and assignments come, they show their true nature." She exhaled a deep breath; it was like she was reliving a memory inside her head. "Two of my friends told me directly that I have to make the group presentation, one told me that I have write her notes. To be very honest, I did their work, I don't why but I did. I guess I didn't want to lose them even knowing they are just using me." She sighed and shook her head like she feeling dumb for why she did that.
"You have to bear with me Julio." She said laughing.
"No, no go on." Julio replied.
"And one day I thought to myself that I cannot let them control me. I started saying no and no to everyone. The so called 'friends' stopped talking to me one by one. Today, we study in the same class but they treat me like a stranger. I felt very bad at first but then I didn't matter. Having no friends is better than having these bullies talking to you." She stopped talking for while and gave Julio time to comprehend her situation. She positioned herself facing Julio.
"You know why I told you all of this." She spoke. Julio exactly knew why and he shook his head in agreement.
"Since that first day of 9th grade to this day of 11th grade, I have seen students bully you in sake of being your friends. You have done a work ten times for others and never a single time you have said no to them. I see myself in you and I know why you haven't. you don't them to hate you, you want them to keep talking to you even if it is for their selfish gains. I didn't intervene up until now because I thought one day just one day you will speak up and say no." her face was fixed at Julio.
"I just can't say no." said Julio and she shook head knowing he would say that.
"I know but you have too someday. I just feel guilty that I haven't done this long ago but deep down I wanted you do it yourself. But now you don't worry, I will be your true friend and help you out. I know how important a real friend can be in someone's life." Trinity said. Julio wanted to hear someone say this that 'they wanna be his friend so much' for a long time.
"Thank You." He spoke. He wanted to say more but he hesitated again. His shyness got best of him again but Trinity had a smile on her face that conveyed she knew he wants to talk more but he couldn't.
"Oh my god! Look at the time, its been so late! OK Julio we should go now. We will talk tomorrow." She said.
"Yeah, see you tomorrow." Said Julio and he stood up from the bench and started making his way towards his home.
Today he was happy, very happy. He felt lighter today talking to Trinity although she did all the talking, he just listened to her. Still, this was more than enough for him. He never knew Trinity had gone through so much and is also lonely with no finds. Julio knew she was a pure soul; she was that small white dot in the black part of the ying-yang. He was determined to keep this friendship forever which was initiated by Trinity. As he was walking away, he heard coughing and he looked around it was Trinity. The coughs sounded painful and the pain was clearly visible on her face. She coughed for ten seconds straight with covering her mouth. Julio got scared and was concerned now. As he tried to move towards her, she looked up and signalled him to keep moving towards his house and that she was fine. Julio was worried but he prayed for the well-being of Trinity on his way back to his home.
TBC
A/n: I knew you guys wouldn't have expected me to write this soon. I had my ideas and just really wanted to write. Hope you guys love this.
Bye
Take Care