"That day" Nayer's POV (GN! MC and Nayer)
This is a short snippet I made to compensate for my inactivity lmao. It's about the first time Nayer and MC have an actual conversation. This scene will appear in-game, though modified (especially MC's dialogue) so it brings more room for you to choose your MC's personality. Nayer's thoughts about this encounter will remain basically the same. Anyway, thank you for reading!
*"El sapito" means "the frog", "El zapallo" means "the squash", "El zapato" means "The shoe."
If I had controlled myself earlier, I wouldn't be doing the janitor's job now. I'm tired, for fucks sake. Itâs six pm already.
Rolling my eyes, I continue cleaning the windows.
I hope mom saved me dinner this time... Huh, who knows? Maybe she ordered something. Hope it's pizza, that at least will make this shitty day not so shitty.
"Oh fuck! Ow ow ow!"
I turn around to see the person with whom I share my misery. I can't help but smirk when I notice they'd hit themselves with one of the chairs.
I immediately recover though and change my expression for a worried look.
"Are you okay?" I want to laugh so bad, sadly, I can't or I will look like a douche. It's so annoying to keep appearances.
"Yeah... Sorry for swearing by the way" They're apologizing for swearing? That's cute. It almost makes me feel bad for making fun of them in my head.
What is their name by the way?
With a dismissive wave of the hand, I turn around to continue my apparent lifelong goal of cleaning the windows.
Yeah sure Ms. El sapito (her real name is Elsa but, calling her "El sapito" "El zapallo" "El zapato" it's more fun), send two teens to clean the classroom after class for a month, it's not like we have homework to do, or you know, a life.
I think this punishment is just to show us how petty she is, I mean, it's not my fault that kid's screw-up was hilarious. I think even she thought was funny, and my classmates did too, but they're just cowards who can't show what their true feelings are.
A sour chuckle escapes my lips. Oh, damn. I'm a hypocrite.
With the most subtlety possible, I look over my shoulder. The kid who screwed up that day and, consequently, made me screw up things with Elzapallo too, is now busy trying to use the broom. Lol, what the heck, they're not even holding it correctly!
Hmm, they seem fun to be around. I'm aware their mom owns that famous bakery near the beach, though everyone at school knows that.
I guess we're similar in that way because, and I'm conscious I'll sound pretentious, everyone knows us. Though, I wonder... Do they have a true friend?
I mean, there are always people around them, but do those people really know them? Sure, you laugh together, you talk to them about lunch or whatever's going on at school, they tell you about their things and you listen. Always listen.
Do their friends know about their struggles? What worries them? Do they even ask them for their thoughts? And if they do, do their friends just not use them as an excuse to continue talking about themselves? You know, it's not those friends' fault if they don't do the things mentioned above. Sometimes, you're not the victim. How can others see inside you, when you don't give anyone the chance to do so? What can they do anyway? Give you a sympathetic smile and tell you everything's gonna be alright? Look at you in that sorrowful way we all know and say theyâre sorry?
People don't care about your feelings and that's okay. They'll get bored of you and stop talking to you eventually, that's fine. It's nobody's responsibility to care about you, or to stay alongside you in your worst moments. Everybody's alone with their problems, it's stupid to try to call for attention, you'll either, be ignored by the people that don't love you enough or be a constant worry for the people that do. There are no good consequences, so there's no point in letting anyone see...
Do their friends, do they...? Or maybe I'm the one...
Woah, okay. That was boring. I can't believe I had a mini existential crisis while cleaning some stupid windows. What the heck, it's not like I'm even doing that anymore.
"Uhm, hi? What's wrong? " Well, if this wasn't the cherry on top. They caught me staring at them like a creep. Awkward.
"You know, I was wondering why we never talk to each other at school. We have some friends in common." High fiving myself rn. Good save.
"Ehmm, I don't know? I guess the opportunity never presented itself. I mean, I guess it was there since Ms. Elsapi- Elsa, ordered us to do this cleaning thing but, I don't know," I notice they're playing with their fingers. "We never talked."
"Meh, we sometimes say hi to each other in the hallways," I shrug. "I'm Nayer, though I think you already know that so, here's a fun fact: My last name is Flores and my family owns a flower shop," I chuckle. "Isn't that so stupid that's funny?"
They smile, though I can't discern if it's a forced one "I already knew what your last name was" Yeah, but I just remembered that I don't remember yours! I even forgot what your first name was! Terrific huh? "I guess you can call me NĂșñez, like everyone."
"Yeah, I already knew who you were too" I didn't. I smile confidently nonetheless, for one so you believe that I'm telling the truth, and two because I want to laugh and this is the closest thing I can do to express my amusement. "Thanks to you, we've been the school's cleaning forces for two weeks already. I'm not complaining though, I'm sure my mom is thankful that I'm finally being somewhat productive." Letâs pretend I havenât been cursing myself almost every day for laughing at your joke two weeks ago, and also that I donât want to go home and sleep.
"Says the person who has the highest grades in our class,â They tell me while still trying to clean. And me? I gave up a lot sooner. "Modest much?"
I have to restrain myself from smirking. They are entertaining. âSounds like someone is jealous theyâre not even in the class top ten.â I think, but instead say: "Oh no, I'm not modest at all"
"I can notice" They state playfully and I know they're just trying to tick me. Too bad for them, I'm not known for getting into sarcastic banters.
"Well, I'm glad then, because it's not like they matter anyway," I smile politely and charmingly like I always do. "Everyone can get good grades if they set their minds into it, just put some effort and you'll see results, I assure you." Yeah, sure you will. It's not like I repeat the same thing to other people who ask me for advice on this topic.
"Yeah and then, what else? You're going to put a gold star sticker on my forehead and tell me that all things in life are accomplished by working hard? Good try, but we're not in kindergarten anymore," They stop grinning, the look they give me now is more of a curious one "You know, everyone seemed shocked you laughed at what happened in class that day, you... normally don't do that."
âYou mean, acting like a human being and finding things funny? I guess I'm a reptilian thenâ
"Really? Well, it was kind of funny, I gotta admit. Though our actions were wrong."
"Oh come on, stop being such a goodie two shoes for once, please" They sit beside me at another desk, finally stopping cleaning "Don't you, I don't know, get tired? Sometimes I wonder if you have any flaws at all or something"
Now, that's just ridiculous. "I don't think I'm a robot." I gasp mockingly "Unless... my parents built me 16 years ago and designed me so I can grow up as real humans do! Oh my God, what if they couldn't afford another robot so that's why I'm an only child? Oh no! Nuñez, what have you done?!"
They cackle at my poorly made interpretation of an existential crisis "Sorry for revealing your family's long-kept secret," they bite their lip and continue. "But, I'm serious. Look, I don't know you that well, but I admire how you never lose your cool. You're always nice to everyone, get along with the teachers, help other people... I kinda wanna see what has to happen to break you."
For once, I don't have an immediate answer. What- what am I supposed to say? Thank you but also fuck you? Nothing can break me? But if I say that wouldn't it be proving their point?
Before I can answer, my phone starts to ring. I excuse myself and exit the classroom.
Oh, it's just mom.
"Hello?"
"Nayer." My mom says but gets cut off by my dad screaming something at her, I can only discern my mom's answer "Can you SHUT UP?! Don't you see I'm talking to Nayer!"
"Mom? What's going on-"
"Yeah, I'll talk to you in the way I want," My mom continues, dad screams some more and I think the phone is left somewhere else, away from her, because now my mom's voice is sounding distant too. "YOU started with this!! You think you can step on me every time you want but I'm tired of your shit!! TI-RED!"
"You always talk like you're a Saint!," I can finally hear what my dad is saying. "Poor Veronica, always the victim! You know the business is from MY side of the family!! What do you even have to do with it? But noo! You're always a noisy bitch who doesn't know her place, I'm telling you-!"
"It's my child's problem too!! And I don't want Nayer to inherit something in shambles!! You're calling me a bitch, for what? For telling you to stop spending the shop's funds with your lazy friends and instead invest in the business?! You never like when someone tells you your truths in your face!"
I perceive footsteps coming closer, and I realize my mom has picked up the phone "Nayer, I wanted to tell you to come home this instant! We have to have a conversation about the flower shop urgently, your father doesn't listen to me but maybe he'll listen to you!"
"Mom, he doesn't listen to me either," Rubbing my face, I sigh, frustrated.
It's always the same with them. They insult each other, mom cries and I have to intervene, dad ignores both of us for days, they reconcile. The cycle never ends. I'm always the mediator, always the one who listens to my mom's complaints, and the one who gets treated badly by my dad too when I wasn't even the one he was arguing against.
The worst part is, I would understand if they hated each other and got separated, but no. They act normal and pretend nothing had happened, or my mom starts ignoring my dad for weeks until he begs for her forgiveness. And for what? They'll never divorce. They "love" each other, and later insult and curse the other until one of them explodes. And for what? They'll never divorce and I'll always be in the middle. Always the mediator between them, the therapist, the one who also receives the punishment. Yet, They'll never divorce.
Living in my house is hell.
"Come on woman, don't get the kid involved, they probably having fun with their friends now! They have a life!"
My mom chuckles bitterly, "You don't even what your child is doing! Don't you remember they have to clean the classroom after school? You sure are the father of the year!â With a determined tone, she now directs her words to me. âNayer. You have to come home right now so we settle this with your father once and for a-"
Beep.
Oh fuck, oh no.
I impulsively hung up the call, fuck! I'm dead, I'm screwed-!
But, when my phone starts to ring again, I don't answer.
I know I should, but I can't bring myself to do it. I catch myself hypnotized by my phone screen, reading "Mom's calling" over and over again... Answer, answer. She needs me. Answer, I'm the only one that can calm them down.
(Don't you, I don't know, get tired?)
Nuñez's words echo my mind. They have no idea. Iâm always, so, so tired.
("I don't think I'm a robot." )
And yet, everyone was so surprised because I laughed at something I shouldn't have. How many people think Iâm unbreakable? I guess thatâs what I always aimed to project, right?
Itâs good that I always keep myself in check. Itâs good that I donât depend on anyone else, and yet, why do I feel so empty?
I turn off my phone and enter the classroom. I find Nuñez carrying their backpack and ready to go home.
"Where are you heading to?" I ask them. Hopeful? Desperate.
"Oh!" They startle, did I catch them off guard? "Ehm, I'm going to Ms. DarĂo's house. Do you know her? My mom buys the things she needs from her and, she's a nice lady. Anyway, Why the question?"
Am I escaping my problems? Yes. Am I doing something irresponsible? Yes. Do I care? A lot, but I'm tired of caring. For once, I want to stop thinking everything, to premeditate, to listen, to pretend...
Just this once, I will do what I desire to do. Even if itâs just for tonight, letâs be free.
I grin from ear to ear.
"Can I go with you?"