As Valeria entered the classroom, the room fell silent, with all eyes fixed on her. The students' gazes were intense, their expressions a mix of surprise and curiosity. Valeria felt a wave of confusion wash over her, unsure what to make of the attention.
Before she could process the situation, two girls rushed towards her, enveloping her in a warm hug. "Vale! Oh my god, where have you been? We've been worried sick about you!" one of them exclaimed. The other girl chimed in, "Yeah, why didn't you call us? We sent you so many messages, and you never replied!"
Valeria's confusion deepened as she stood frozen, unsure how to respond. She didn't recognize the girls, and their familiarity made her feel like an imposter. The class's collective gaze only added to her discomfort, making her feel like a spectacle.
As the girls finally released her from their hug, Valeria forced a smile, trying to play along. Valeria's mind was still reeling. Who were these girls? Why did they seem to know her so well? And why did the entire class look at her like she'd risen from the dead?
Valeria's curiosity got the better of her, and she asked the girls, "I'm sorry, but who are you both? I don't...I don't remember you." The girls exchanged a surprised glance, and the one with blood red, short hair and dark brown, sparkly eyes laughed nervously.
"Vale, it's me, Emily! We've been friends since freshman year," she said, her voice tinged with concern. Other girl with long black hair and deep concern in her eyes nodded in agreement. "And I'm Maya. We've hung out so many times, studied together...how can you not remember us?"
Valeria's expression was apologetic. "I'm sorry, guys. I have an accident, and my memories are... hazy. I don't remember much about my life before." Emily and Maya's faces softened, and they exchanged a sympathetic look. "Don't worry, Vale. We'll help you remember. We'll fill you in on everything you've missed," Emily said, smiling warmly. Maya nodded in agreement, and the two girls flanked Valeria, walking with her to their seats.
As Valeria shared the details of her accident, Emily and Maya's expressions turned from concern to shock and panic. "Oh my god, Vale, how did that happen?" Emily asked, her voice trembling slightly. Maya's eyes were wide with worry. "And why didn't your family tell us? We've been trying to reach you for months!"
Valeria's confusion mirrored theirs. "I've been trying to piece together what happened, but Amanda doesn't seem to want to talk about it much," she admitted.
Maya's brow furrowed. "That's not all, Vale. We've been trying to contact you for ages, but your family has been dodging us. Every time we called, either no one picked up or they said you weren't home. We even tried visiting your place a couple of times, but we were never allowed in."
Valeria's eyes widened in surprise, and she gave them a confused look. "I had no idea. Why would Amanda do that? Why would she keep you in the dark about everything?" Emily and Maya exchanged a knowing glance, their faces etched with concern.
The three girls sat in stunned silence for a moment, the only sound the murmur of the class around them. Valeria's mind was racing with questions, and she couldn't help but wonder what else Amanda might be hiding.
Valeria's curiosity got the better of her, and she asked Emily and Maya, "Why is everyone staring at me like that? It's like they've seen a ghost." Emily and Maya exchanged a knowing glance, and Emily leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It's because of how you're dressed, Vale. And the way you're behaving...it's really different from how you used to be." Maya nodded in agreement. "You're always...bold, confident, and a bit intimidating. You never wore dresses to college, and you always came in...edgy outfits."
Valeria's confusion deepened. "What do you mean? What kind of outfits did I wear?" Emily and Maya shared a look, before Emily spoke up. "You always dressed like a 'bad girl', Vale. You had a reputation for being fearless and fierce. The whole class, the whole college, was actually kind of afraid of you."
Valeria's eyes widened in surprise. "Afraid of me? What? Why?" Maya nodded. "You had a certain aura around you, Vale. People knew not to mess with you. But now...you seem so different. Softer, maybe? It's like you're a different person." Vaeria's mind reeled as she tried to process this new information about herself. Who was she, really?
As Valeria scanned the classroom, her gaze lingered on a girl who seemed to be staring at her with a mix of surprise and amazement. Valeria couldn't quite put her finger on the emotions she saw in the girl's eyes, but they seemed to hold a complex intensity. Was it fear, hate, or a desire for revenge? Whatever it was, Valeria sensed that there was something more intimidating about this girl, something that made her feel like she was looking at a powder keg waiting to be ignited.
The girl's eyes seemed to bore into Valeria's soul, as if searching for something or trying to understand the changes she saw in her. Valeria felt a shiver run down her spine as their gazes locked, and for a moment, the classroom around them melted away. She couldn't look away, transfixed by the intensity of the girl's stare.
Who was this girl, and what was her story? Valeria's curiosity was piqued, and she found herself wondering what had transpired between them in the past. Had they been friends, or was there a deeper, more complicated history between them? Valeria's eyes remained locked on the girl, trying to read between the lines and understand the emotions that seemed to be simmering just below the surface.