Reflection

" good I'm glad you get it " Clara said with a concern face "Let’s change the topic. Who’s this Romeo guy? You said he’s bothering you?”

Emma’s expression changed instantly. The light dimmed. “I don’t know. He’s just another guy. He keeps following me after class. I don’t like him.”

Clara caught it immediately. That was Emma’s ‘serious face’ the one she only made when something was really wrong.

“So tell me, Emma. What is it? What’s actually going on?”

Emma swallowed hard. “It’s… it’s Rebecca.”

Clara froze. The color drained from her face. “That stupid girl again? What are you calling that name for? That useless, horrible what did she do this time?”

“The thing is… she’s here, Clara.”

“Here? What do you mean here? Is she in our video call right now?”

“No, not the call.” Emma’s voice trembled. “I mean here. In Colombia. In my university. In my class.”

Clara shot up from her bed so fast the camera shook. “REBECCA IS THERE WITH YOU IN COLOMBIA? And you didn’t tell me? Emma, are you okay? Has she said anything to you? Has she touched you? Tell me right now.”

Emma shook her head quickly. “Not yet. But she saw me in the lecture hall. She smirked. The same smirk she used to give me in high school before she said something cruel.”

Clara’s jaw clenched. “That’s it. I’m transferring. I don’t care if the paperwork falls through or if my dad has to call in every favor he owes. I’m getting on the next flight to Colombia next semester if I have to.”

Emma tried to smile to calm her down. “Clara, do the calms ”

“No. Don’t ‘Clara, me.” Clara’s eyes were blazing now. “I’m not letting her do to you what she did in high school again. Not when you’re finally starting to breathe. Not when you’re finally starting to smile.”

Emma looked away, her voice quiet. “I can handle her, Clara. I’m not the same girl I was back then.”

“Are you sure?” Clara asked softly. “Because you look like you’re already hiding again.”

Emma didn’t answer. She just reached for her hoodie on the chair and pulled it over her shoulders, hiding herself again like she always did when the walls felt too ugly

Clara stared at her for a long time on the screen. The smile was gone now.

“Emma… why are you putting your hoodie on now? I thought you said you weren’t going to hide anymore. Is it because of what I said earlier? Because if it is, I didn’t mean it like that. I swear I didn’t.”

Clara’s voice softened. “I’m only saying people with your size, your shape, don’t match someone like Alex Maradona. I said it so you wouldn’t get hurt. That’s all. Why are you putting your hoodie on? Is it because of me?”

Emma shook her head. “No. It’s not you, Clara. I just… I feel cold.” It was a lie, and Clara knew it the second it left her mouth.

Clara sighed and forced a grin, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Fine. But tell me… how is Alex Maradona? Do you think he’d actually like me?”

Clara acted it out, grinning ear to ear, teeth and all.

“Well, he’d like girls like you, wouldn’t he? Clara, you’re beautiful. Smart. Modern. You’re very pretty. Of course he’d like you.”Emma laughed despite herself.

“Oh my God, I can’t wait to go to Colombia now. You know what? I think I would’ve studied harder back then. Maybe I would’ve gotten into Columbia with you. But that would’ve needed connections, and I messed up the entrance period.”

The two of them were still talking when faint voices started echoing from Emma’s side of the call.

Clara frowned. “Emma? Your roommate?”