The girl's ocean blue eyes seemed to pierce through Valeria's very soul, as if searching for something hidden deep within. Valeria was transfixed by the girl's gaze, unable to look away from the hypnotic depths of her eyes. The girl's long, slightly silver-flecked hair cascaded down her back like ocean waves, and Valeria found herself mesmerized by the way the light danced through the strands.
As she stared at the girl, Valeria felt a sense of being seen, of being understood in a way that she didn't fully comprehend herself. The girl's gaze was both captivating and unnerving, making Valeria feel like she was standing on the edge of a precipice, staring into the unknown.
The girl's beauty was otherworldly, and Valeria couldn't help but be drawn to her. She felt a sense of curiosity, wondering what lay beneath the girl's enigmatic exterior. Who was this mysterious girl, and what did she want from Valeria? The air seemed to vibrate with tension as the two girls locked eyes, the classroom around them fading into the background.
As Emily shook Valeria out of her trance-like state, Valeria turned to her friends with a questioning look. "Who is that girl?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Emily and Maya exchanged a knowing glance, and Emily's expression turned cautious.
"That's "Janeliya Anderson," Emily said, her voice low. "She's...your favorite target, Vale." Valeria's confusion deepened. "Target? What do you mean?" Maya's eyes clouded over, and she added, "You know, whenever you're angry or bored or irritated, you always take it out on her. You bully her, mock her, and make her life miserable. You've even gone after her friends and things."
Valeria's eyes widened in shock as she processed the revelation. She felt like she'd been punched in the gut, her mind reeling with the implications. "I...I did that?" she stammered, her voice trembling. Emily and Maya nodded in unison, their faces somber.
As the truth sank in, Valeria felt a pang of pain in her heart. She couldn't believe that she had been capable of such cruelty. The thought of hurting someone, of being a bully, made her feel sick to her stomach. She looked back at Sophia, who was still watching her with an unreadable expression. Valeria's eyes dropped, and she felt a wave of shame wash over her. Who was she, really? And how could she change?
As the class drew to a close, Valeria made a silent vow to herself: she would never bully Janeliya again. In fact, she would make a conscious effort to keep her distance from the girl, allowing her to live a peaceful life without Valeria's interference. With a sense of determination, Valeria gathered her belongings and headed home.
After a brief rest, Valeria joined Amanda at the dinner table, exchanging a warm greeting before they began to eat. As they sat down to dinner, Valeria brought up the topic of her friends, asking Amanda why she hadn't told them about her accident and memory loss.
"Why didn't you tell Emily and Maya about what happened to me?" Valeria asked, her eyes locked on Amanda's. Amanda's expression turned evasive, and she dodged the question. "I didn't want them to disturb you during your healing period, sis. You needed rest and quiet."
Valeria pressed on, curious about her life before the accident. "But what about my life before the accident? What was I like? You know, my friends said some things that really surprised me." Amanda's eyes flickered, and she attempted to deflect the question again. "Let's not talk about that right now, sister. You're still recovering. Let's focus on your health and well-being."
Valeria sensed that Amanda was hiding something, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. She felt a growing sense of unease, wondering what else Amanda might be keeping from her. The dinner table, once a place of warmth and comfort, now felt like a battleground of unspoken truths and hidden agendas.
As they finished dinner, Amanda mentioned that Valeria's 21st birthday was just one day away and she asked if Valeria wanted to celebrate or throw a party. But Valeria's expression turned somber, and she shook her head. "I don't think that's a good idea, Amanda. With Mom and Dad's passing and my accident, it doesn't feel right to celebrate this year."
Amanda nodded understandingly and accepted Valeria's decision. "Okay, sis. We'll skip the celebrations this year. You need to focus on your recovery." With that, Amanda got up and headed to her room, leaving Valeria to her thoughts.
As Valeria lay in bed, she couldn't shake off the image of Janeliya's piercing blue eyes. The look in those eyes had been painful, like Janeliya's very soul was shivering with fear or anxiety whenever Valeria was around. Valeria felt a pang of guilt and confusion, wondering how she could have been so cruel to someone before her accident.
She thought about what Emily and Maya had told her, about how she used to bully Janeliya and take out her anger on her. Valeria couldn't reconcile that behavior with the person she was now. She felt like she was living in a different skin, with a different personality. The more she thought about it, the more she felt lost and uncertain about her own identity. Who was she, really? And how could she make amends for the pain she might have caused others? As the night deepened she slept with thought of Janeliya and her past life.