I Don't Have To

A Mess - part 1

"Sigh. This is gonna be complicated. Yes, even those people."

"Hmm.. Probably thirteen. Oh, hold on, do internet friends count?"

"At this point, yes. I don't care anymore."

"30 it is then."

"That's a large difference."

"Are side comments included in your interview? If not, please shut up."

"Heh.. What are the qualifications needed for someone to be your "friend"? Do they have to do something specific? Or do they have to talk to you constantly?"

"I don't think I've ever thought about that. Hmm.. I think it relies on how I prefer to be with them and how I relate to them. Constant chat is also a factor, because it makes the bond stronger and it leads me to prefer being with them more."

"Wow. So you mean, if a close friend stops talking to you for years just without negative feelings, you're not gonna treat them as a friend anymore?"

"I mean, a friend is someone that makes you happy or feel enjoyment soo, without any contact they wont seem to fulfill that role."

"Wow. You suck."

"No side comments please. Also, isn't that the most logical explanation about friends?"

"Your perspective is understandable, but I just don't see it that way."

"Hey, I can have my opinions too. Would you care to share your perspective?"

"No. I have to finish this interview."

....

Shaina looked at me directly and said,

"You've answered my third questions already soo, last question:

Do you wish to be with these people forever?"

"They're the only ones that make me happy, so yes, of course." I responded with certainty.

...

"Finally. Psychology Class, I've done your bidding. I shall now forget about you for the rest of the year." Shaina says as she rereads what she wrote on the notebook.

"Psychology? Oh wait, we have different teachers on that subject. So, were my answers fine?"

"Your perspective in this topic really bugs me." Shaina closes her notebook.

"Enlighten me then."

"Nah. I'll leave the discovery of a different perspective to you. I'm not in the place to teach you how to treat people."

"Makes sense. So, can I leave now?"

"Hmm. Are you sure you want to leave? You have every chance to experience romance anime tropes right now."

"You really know what to say, huh? But you see, I may watch a lot of romcom anime, but I never expect those things to happen in real life."

"Sure. You just looked for underwear minutes ago."

"Except for that. I believe it could actually happen in real life."

"Keep living the dream, Josh."

"Alright. What do you have here that can entertain me?"

"With an attitude like that, I might as well kick you out of the house."

"Go on, I was about to leave anyway."

"Sigh. I have a couple of fighting games in the console." Shaina turned on the console.

"Odd game choice for a girl like you."

"You are a horrible person for thinking that."

"You can't change me, Mary Sue."

"I have flaws too, I'm not perfect."

"Sure, you aren't, Miss Righteous." I sat down on the floor, grabbing a console controller.

...

We played a different types of fighting games for about an hour.

...

And I lost every single match.

...

This damages my self esteem.

I've been playing these fighting games since I was a child, but had a break playing it since the console I had broke, and I can't ask for money from parents for these anymore.

But I still should've had the skills I had before!

...

"How are you this good, Shaina?"

"How are you this bad, Josh?"

"This is a really surprising thing to happen. I never expected someone like you to be this good"

"You expected. That's the problem."

"Yeah, I'm not gonna let this keep on happening." I took out my water bottle and drank a little bit from it.

...

I keep losing, and now I'm invested.

Oh no.

I'm actually going to play seriously this time.

I'm actually going to try hard for this.

...

Sigh.

I never thought this is what I would be doing inside a girl's room.

...