The Lie of My Childhood Friend

The next day, I took the new application form to school to get it stamped.

Watching that bright red seal marking my departure land steadily on the paper, my heart suddenly felt hollow for a moment.

I stood there dazed, and someone stepped in front of me.

Lena frowned slightly.

“Harry, did you change the password to your front door? After I walked Michael home yesterday, I immediately went to find you, but the door wouldn’t open at all…”

I cut her off and said simply, “Yeah, I changed it.”

She looked a little displeased and asked, as if nothing had happened and we were still close, “What’s the new password? So I can go take care of you at your place.”

I answered calmly, “No need. After the transfer, I won’t be living there anymore.”

Lena looked at the folded application form in my hand, as if suddenly remembering it. “I completely forgot about that.

“Don’t worry, Harry. I’ll come get it stamped tomorrow.”

Moments like walking and chatting with Lena had grown increasingly rare since Michael transferred to First High School.

I closed my eyes for a second, indulged the reluctance in my heart, and probed, “I’m not worried about anything between us.”

Lena stayed silent for a long time, then abruptly said, “Harry, actually I—”

Michael suddenly appeared behind her, holding a stack of notebooks, and complained affectionately, “Lena, didn’t you say you’d tutor me? Why did you suddenly disappear?”

As he spoke, he handed the notebooks to Lena.

“I saw that your tutoring schedule was planned out for the next two months, so I prepared the corresponding study materials.” Then he blinked playfully. “You won’t blame me for peeking, right?”

“Of course not…” Lena’s smile looked strained, and she glanced at me guiltily.

Seeing that I had no reaction, she actually looked faintly disappointed.

So while pushing me away, she was already planning the future with someone else.

Except her future had never included me.

I tried to maintain dignity on my face, but inside, bitterness spread like a dark, heavy wine.

I dug my nails into my palm to force myself awake. “You two talk. I’m leaving.”

Michael acted as if he had just noticed me and jumped in fright. “Ha—Harry…

“Are you upset because Lena and I are studying together?

“But my family is poor, and I don’t have the resources you do…”

As he spoke, he actually started sniffling again.

I didn’t want to play along, so I said coldly, “Move.”

Whatever thin trace of guilt Lena still had disappeared. She grabbed my wrist, her voice burning with anger.

“Harry, what kind of tone was that?”

Without letting me speak, she yanked me in front of Michael and shouted, “Apologize to Michael!”

The last untouched piece of my heart silently crumbled into dust.

This time, without hesitation, I raised my hand and slapped Lena hard.

“Lena, the person who should be apologizing is you.”

“But not to Michael—to me.”