My Childhood Friend Loves Mocking Me Chapter 02

My Childhood Friend Loves Mocking Me Chapter 02

Jake leaned lazily against my bedroom door with a cup of warm milk in hand.

“Still wrestling with that physics problem set, Lila? Let’s be real, you’re just not wired for science.”

I kept silent and bent my head over my work.

He set the milk on my desk edge, then snatched the pen from my hand.

He leaned in, his taller frame looming over me and casting a shadow across my desk.

Warm breath fell on my hair, and he muttered, “Do you get it now?”

He casually ruffled the top of my head afterward.

“Look at Chloe, Lila. You’re both music students. How come she’s the smart one?”

I gripped my pen tighter, my throat turning dry.

“Mia says you’re dating Chloe,” I asked softly, “is that true?”

Jake froze, looking away awkwardly.

“Mind your own business. Take care of yourself first, fool.”

He turned to leave, and spoke again before shutting the door.

“I’ll drive you to the competition this Sunday. Don’t stay up late. If you fail the music academy entrance exam, try Central City University instead. They are both in North Town, just a few transit stops away.”

I stared at the bright moon outside the window and smiled bitterly to myself.

In Jake’s world, I was forever tethered to him, destined to trail behind him, tirelessly and without question.

I was meant to attend an art-focused high school after middle school graduation.

Yet everyone assumed I would go to the same mainstream high school as Jake.

Even Aunt Clara said firmly, “Lila will definitely go there with Jake.”

When it was time to choose our academic track in high school, despite being terrible at science, I still picked the same one as him, driven by a foolish, secret hope.

I fractured a bone in tenth grade, and the school suggested I take a year off.

Jake, who never took notes in class, filled piles of notebooks with study content and tutored me every day.

When others teased him, he only looked flustered and replied gruffly.

“Naturally. Lila is so slow, who else will look after her?”

I wiped the tears welling up in my eyes.

Yes, I was indeed foolish.

For eight years, I had never learned to defend myself.

For eight years, I had never stopped chasing after him.

That Sunday, Aunt Clara dressed me in a new dress with a warm smile.

“Our Lila has grown into such a pretty young lady.”

Jake tapped his shoe restlessly, then took my music case over.

“Enough fussing, can we go now?”

Aunt Clara called after us, “The venue is out of the way. Jake, you wait for her there, don’t go running off. And be careful on the road, you hear?”

I sat on the back of Jake’s motorcycle and put on the helmet he handed me, hesitantly clutching the hem of his coat.

Jake chuckled and pressed my hands firmly to his waist.

“Sit tight, don’t cry out of fear halfway.”

My heart raced, yet his next words chilled me instantly.

“You really need to change your shy nature. See how outgoing and confident Chloe is.”

I lowered my gaze and smiled bitterly.

When I first moved here, I was thin, quiet and prone to crying for my parents.

Local kids often teased me, calling me timid and crybaby.

Back then Jake would fight them all off and spoke sharply.

“Lila can do whatever she likes. She can cry or laugh, none of you get to judge her.”

He looked at me earnestly, “I will protect you forever, no one can bully you.”

But all the mockery and hurt I suffered now all came from him.

The competition went smoothly. The moment I finished performing, all judges wore approving looks.

My teacher pulled me aside excitedly.

“You did perfectly! These judges are from Southern Arts College, you are more than qualified to get in!”

I stayed quiet and forced a weak smile.

I packed my instrument and walked out as night fell.

The place where Jake parked his motorcycle was empty, with no sign of him anywhere.