Mom, who should have been asleep up till now, didn't ask a single question she didn't need to. She just ran to me, gently pulled me out of the covers, and gave me a tight hug. I clutched onto her shirt like a child afraid of letting go.
I cried relentlessly into her shoulder, the fabric growing damp as the images Hoshino sent replayed in my mind over and over again.
They were screenshots of a group chat that he and my boyfriend—along with their friends—were in. In them, my boyfriend mercilessly joked about me. How I was stupid. How he didn't even care that much. How I was an "easy" girl. How he was going to continue seeing the other girl because it was "fun." He even shared our private, desperate conversations for everyone to see.
It was exactly what I had dreaded, and exactly what I needed: absolute, definitive proof.
I cried until the sensation left my body. Funnily enough, it was only when I went numb that I finally began to calm down. I pushed back, taking deep, shuddering breaths. Mom never let go of my hand.
"Mom… is it okay if I talk to you?"
To my surprise, she shook her head gently. "If you need someone to listen, I will be here. But if you are doing it because you feel obligated to—don't. I want you to speak because you want to, not because you have to."
I wiped my eyes, giving her a firm, determined nod. "No. I want you to listen. Don't say anything—just listen."
Mom offered a gentle smile and tightened her grip. She waited in the silence until I was ready, the warmth of her hand supporting me throughout it all.
After a few steadying breaths, I told her everything. About my boyfriend. About Remi catching him. About him accusing her of lying. About how I almost believed him. And about the screenshots.
When I finished, the room felt painfully quiet.
My body sank further into the depths of the mattress as I let go of Mom's hand and hung my head low. My bangs fell in front of my face, obscuring Mom's expression. I didn't move them.
I was ashamed. Ashamed over the mistake I almost made. But more than that…
I began to pick at my acrylics as the seconds ticked by with Mom not saying anything.
I don't want Mom to think I'm "easy" too…
Just as the tears threatened to return, she gently swept my hair away and kissed my forehead.
I flinched, my mind scrambling to understand what was happening.
She slowly pulled back, her thumb brushing across my cheek until she was too far away. She didn't say anything. She didn't need to say anything. Her smile told me everything.
"Luna," she said calmly. "I won't tell you what to do. Just do what you think is right. It's okay to be scared, okay to be unsure, but it is never okay to abandon what you feel because of other people. All I ask is that you do you. That's all."
She stood up, her gaze lingering on me just a little longer before she quietly left the room.
I closed my eyes and tightly clutched my chest, her words ringing in the darkness.
All I need to do… is be me? Is that okay? Is that even possible?
Suddenly, Hoshino's image flickered in my mind. I couldn't help but let out a soft, melancholy chuckle.
What am I even saying? Of course it is. He's been doing it this whole time.
Heat rose from my chest, steady and grounding. I took one deep breath, then opened my eyes. My room should have been pitch-black, yet I could see my surroundings clearly.
With a small smile on my face, I reached for my phone and opened the chat with my boyfriend. I sent him one message.
"Hey, you're a piece of shit. I'm done with you. Rot in hell. Toodles~"
Once he read the message, I blocked his number and threw my phone to the side.
Ahhh, revenge has never felt so sweet!
I collapsed onto the mattress in a quiet, shrill giggle, my pillow held tightly in my arms. I kept rolling around, my heart racing with a manic, wonderful rhythm.
I can't believe I just did that! I think… I'm a new me! New year, new me, baby!
I carried that thought into the dark until sleep finally claimed me.