Restore Your Smile

A Tested Friendship

Hearing Sharon's words, James fell silent. It takes time to understand the event and relate it to the present situation. After a while, James asked, "So what can I help you with?"

"If it were me, I would honestly need someone to control Rebecca, sir. But if Priscillia .... I think this part you should talk to yourself, Pris," Sharon said.

"I-I'm scared, sir. I'm shy. Now they all know! I-I'm confused how to behave. I'm afraid to know what they think of me now." Priscillia let out her heart with a somewhat choked voice.

James was filled to see Priscillia become like this. It turns out that behind his confident attitude, stored the trauma and fragility that he tightly closed. Priscillia had not even reached the stage of being able to accept herself.

James took a deep breath. Then he said to the figure still hidden under the blanket, "The people who love you will still love you even though they know your 1001 shortcomings. On the contrary, the person who hates you will still be hostile to you, even though you have shown 1001 of your kindness. In conclusion, accept yourself as you are, without worrying about the views of others."

Priscillia was silent at James's words. After pondering for a while, Priscillia asked, "So according to you, I should tell people about my illness?"

"That's up to you. Say it to those you trust and feel the need to know your illness. But if you doubt, let them think for themselves. What I emphasize here is, do not be intimidated by their attitudes and views later. Stay confident like the usual Priscillia" replied James wisely.

"What do you think of Cecilia and Rebecca?" ask Priscillia again.

James smiled, "I think they're worth a try. Even if they don't respond as you'd expect, consider it an advantage for you to cut off your friendship early, before they let you down even more deeply."

"But I don't think Cecilia and Rebecca would be, Pris ...." Sharon expressed her opinion.

Priscillia remained silent for a while. Then, he opened his mouth again and said to Sharon, "Alright. Let's tell Cecilia and Rebecca. But you told me something like that, Shar .... I'm not ready to tell myself."

"Ga problem," replied Sharon lightly.

"Sir, can you please call Cecilia and Rebecca?" priscillia said this time to James.

"It is with pleasure, Lady Priscillia," said James following the style of Vivian, the Chairman of the Princess Lovers Gang.

Priscillia smiled at her BK teacher's words from under the blanket. He knew the Master was trying to lighten his heart and he thanked him for it.

James opened the door to the UKS. The door that opened again made the person outside the room shocked.

"How, Sir?" assault Rebecca and Cecilia as soon as they see James.

"You may enter" James replied with a smile.

Their eyes sparkled at the words. Without thinking any more, they instantly prepared to break through the door.

"But Rebecca ...." James's words made the two of them stop and return to face James.

"Please control your emotions well .... Remember, Priscillia is ..."

"Have a hard time, right, sir?" Rebecca continued James's sentence with a smile.

"Smart," James replied.

"Clearly!" rebecca said while grinning. Then the two resumed their steps to meet Priscillia.

Before James closed the door again, Lusi's doctor asked James, "How is Priscillia? Still safe?"

"Please, Sir. I stand by here," replied Dr. Lusi.

"Thank you, Doc. Excuse me, Doc. Excuse me, Mr. Joseph." Those who were called by his name only nodded their heads in response. After that James again closed the door of the UKS room.

Once inside, Cecilia and Rebecca were stunned to see Priscillia just hiding behind a blanket. But they tried to refrain from directly attacking Priscillia with questions.

Sharon invited them to sit around Priscillia in the patient's bed. After they sat down, he slowly began to speak his words.

James listens to Sharon to tell him about Priscillia's illness to Rebecca and Cecilia while leaning against the wall. He deliberately kept his distance to give space to the four friends. He is here just in case something unwanted happens. The rest he let them learn to solve their own problems.

Cecilia and Rebecca who were listening to Sharon's story could only fall silent. Their faces showed sadness and disappointment. But they had not commented until Sharon finished her sentence.

Until Sharon finally closed her sentence, "So that's the story. I'm sorry well, we've been covering it up from you guys all along."

"Why? Don't you trust us, Pris?" Cecilia responded the first time.

"Sorry, Cil. I-i'm scared. I'm shy. I think it's bad right now. I-I'm afraid you'll reject me once you know. Right now I don't dare to show this look to anyone. Sorry ...." Priscillia answered Cecilia's question with a choked voice.

"You fool, Pris! What do you think we are?! Who has been a trouble maker and you cover his behavior? I right? Do you know, if all this time I often feel a burden in our gang because of my character like this?! But this time, let me cover you, Pris! It doesn't have to look perfect! Gini-gini, I can be trusted, right?!" Rebecca voiced her heart with emotion. But tears began to flow down her cheeks.

The three friends were stunned to hear Rebecca's words. They did not expect that Rebecca had been harboring such feelings all along.

"Sorry, Bec. I didn't know you could think of it like that .." said Cecilia.

"But even though we never considered you a burden lo.." Sharon added.

"Yes, I know," replied Rebecca starting to sob.

The three people fell silent as they also heard a sobbing under the blanket. The blanket shook as a result of someone crying inside.

"Sorry, Pris .... I was too emotional. I didn't mean to blame you. I-I. .. just want to be honest .." said Rebecca feeling guilty.

The blanket was shaken again as Priscillia shook her head strongly.

"No, Bec .... I-I have to apologize. Ma-sorry .... Sorry ... and .. thank you ..." said Priscillia interspersed with sobs.

"Together, Pris .... We're a team, right? Ki-we're still the Princess Gang, right?" rebecca replied with tears that began to flow profusely. His hands began to extend hugging Priscillia who was still inside the blanket.

"Yeah. Ki-we're one team. Ki-us Geng Princess ..." said Priscillia stammering.

"Udah, Price .... Don't cry .... Your condition just improved. Do not drop again .." said Cecilia with a choked voice holding back tears. She hugged Rebecca and Priscillia.

Sharon joined her three best friends. The four friends began to cry while sobbing.

James who saw that from afar could only be moved and smiled. He was amazed by the strong bond between them. He knew after this that Priscillia would most likely experience a heavier shock from the view of the people in the school. But she hopes Priscillia can overcome it with the support of her best friends.

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