When the hand of the evidently not-dead bloodied older woman grabs at me, I can see my entire life flashing before my eyes. Because Teal is here with me, my mind appears to linger on the time we first met.

We were both in our second semester of university and studying design, but neither of us had decided on a specialization just yet. In fact, we didn’t even know each other.

And during club recruitment day, I found out about the general design club. I decided to join.

Honestly, I was shaking in my boots; you never know who are the kind of people in a club like that. Regardless if they are the type to be overly committed, or only in it for the credit hours, they’re still a new person to interact with to a degree.

So with a shaking hand, I twisted the doorknob and stepped into the room as confidently as I could. Who would the judgemental seniors be…?

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“...”

Instead, I found my coursemate - absent-mindedly typing away at a laptop at a rapid pace. Upon hearing me enter the room, her head quickly turned to me. Our eyes met.

Her hair was tied in a low bun at the nape of her neck, and she had a long coat hung over the back of her chair. She blinked rapidly at me, and I couldn’t help but notice how thick her eyeliner was.

“... a-are you here for the, uh, meeting?”

It took me a moment to find my words.

“... if it’s the meeting for the design club, then… yes?”

I pulled up a chair opposite her, and watched her purse her lips. She wore a glossy purple lip, which complemented her blue hair.

“I…” She closed her laptop, then sighed. “This is, like, it, then. The seniors who used to work this club have graduated, and I’m the only newcomer this sem.”

“Oh!” So we were in the same boat, then. “I wanted to join the club too, so… I’m also a newcomer this semester, then?”

“Huh.” She nodded slowly. “Guess you’re right.” Then she stretched out a hand. “M’name’s Teal. Nice to meet you…-”

“Purple.” I reach over and shake her hand. “It’s nice to meet you too, Teal.”

Our smiles are polite, but genuine.

And thus, a friendship began to bloom.