Jesta was a peculiar specimen of a human being. At first glance, she was a normal 19-year-old girl. She had a pretty common body type: tanned skin, perfectly fit body, and ordinary proportions. She makes up for all that though just by being Jesta.

I came as fast as I could, panting in exhaustion, finally arriving at the Serenity Mall. As I was catching my breath, I took furtive glances at my impatient companion.

She went away with her navy miniskirt and now sported ripped-up extra short shorts, a black tank top with a bright pink skull, and of course, her obviously dyed-blond hair. With that, coupled with her army-issued combat boots, Jesta was anything but ordinary.

"Hey," I managed. "Sorry I'm late. I swear the train just slowed down or something."

Jesta rolled her eyes, but she didn't seem all that offended by my tardiness. "Or you just missed the one I told you to take."

I had to laugh at that, because really, it was true. After ending the 5-minute call at 8 o'clock, I found myself feeling drowsy again and I just had to sleep juuust for a little bit. (What? Sleep was important for a growing girl!) But, here I was, way past the meeting time. If Jesta wanted to end our short friendship now, she would have done it and I wouldn't even feel bad about it. (In fact, future me really hoped that she had ended it back then.)

Only, she walked off like nothing was wrong and before I knew it, we were already shopping.

Now, let me tell you a little bit about my eccentric friend. First off, she was decisive. Once she had picked up an article of clothing, there was no longer any other option but to buy it. Second, she can be a tad bit too intense.

Here's what happened.

We were in a popular clothes store, and we were minding our own business. A salesperson tried to follow us around to give us options, but just one intimidating look from Jesta made the poor soul back away. So, we were alone and lazily browsing through our options. Jesta had already made me buy most of the outfit I would wear in tonight's party, so honestly, we were just window shopping by then. I was just about to ask Jesta if she wanted to go out for lunch, when a middle aged lady entered the store.

The lady had her chin up, as though she looked down at everything in the world. Her lips were pursed into an annoying little smile. And she walked down the store like she owned the place. Haughty, naughty, and impolite. Even without her saying a thing, I immediately knew her type.

It wasn't uncommon for the Mall to have these kinds of customers. After all, Serenity Mall was tailored for the upper class.

"Hello, dear." The lady spoke with the salesperson. "It is quite hot these days, isn't it?"

The saleslady nodded amiably and respectfully. "Indeed, Madame Wright."

I didn't really mind them, but suddenly I felt something abnormal going on with my companion. Looking back, I should have known that my life wouldn't have been so complicated if I had just left Jesta in that store. But the good girl I was chose to stay with her.

Jesta was stiff; so rigid that she seemed to be an actual soldier standing in attention with her combat boots. Her fists were clenched so tightly I could see her veins. But it was her eyes that really alarmed me. Wide. Unblinking. Bloodshot. She trained these eyes into the new customer like a cornered animal would to a vicious predator. No, that wasn't right. In retrospect, it was the other way around. Jesta looked like a crazed, starved bear coming out of hibernation, finally finding a feast to prey upon.

I did the only thing I could do at the moment. I prodded her arm, noticing the tiny goosebumps on the bare skin. Jesta woke up with a start, and made as though to pounce on the woman. But she was only reaching for her pouch on the seat, and then she stormed off, away from the woman and out of the store.

I was too shocked at what had happened, and when I tried to go after her, I stepped on something. A dark red blouse. The color of coagulated blood, dull and unremarkable. It was the only item she picked up but didn't buy.

As I stooped low to return the blouse, I heard the lady speak. "Bah! Teenagers these days. Did you see her hair? And her clothes? I swear they all lost their minds with their image of independence."

I looked up slowly, secretly relieved that she wasn't talking to me. The salesperson looked uncomfortable at the topic, probably wondering if it was alright to badmouth a previous customer.

The woman went on, as though getting more excited by her discomfort, "Honestly, I'm glad my husband and I couldn't have children. If it turned out like that brat, I would have thrown it off a cliff. Just like how goddess Hera did to her own son, right? I despise children."

I had already finished placing the blouse back into its hanger and was just about to leave when I heard her say with a mirthful laugh, "And now, that blasted man is dead, and so is his slut. Oh, my dear, it is really too hot these days."

With the air conditioner blasting away, I doubt the woman actually felt hot. I felt a cold sweat clamming up my back.

"I hope my husband felt a thousand times worse, dying from that fire."

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

By then, I hurriedly walked out the store. Glancing behind me for just the tiniest of moments, I found the saleslady pale in shock. With a start, I saw the older woman smiling straight at me, her thin lips the same bloody color of Jesta's discarded blouse.

Fuck this. I hastened my pace and looked for Jesta.

I found her minutes later under an artificial tree, spaced out. I brought her to a café so we could talk about what happened. I was secretly hoping that I could tell her about what I heard in the store too.

Later on, for the next few hours, she ranted. The corrupt privileged. The filthy upper class. The rotting government. I sat by and let her talk. She was furious. She spoke to me, but I didn't feel like she really knew I was there. I couldn't even butt in and tell her my own story. So, I let her do just that.

While she talked, I stared at her tan face and her dyed hair and her wicked clothes. It went on for a long time, and I had one cruel thought.

'Hypocrite,' I wordlessly called her.

You see, I told you before. I had an eye for things. Irrelevant things, maybe, like badges. In this case, I saw nothing but a hypocrite, hating on the world while wearing the most expensive branded clothes. She hid them well; mutilated her shorts to make them look less than they were. But I knew, ever since yesterday, that she wore nothing but clothes only the richest could afford.

I smiled at her as she talked, and I knew that Jesta, my new friend, was anything but ordinary.

The mellow light of the calm café contrasted well with the fury evident on her face. A question popped up in my head.

'Who are you?'

~~~

We barely made it in time. The Alpha Club Party was supposed to start at 7, and we passed through the guarded doors by 6:59. Jesta handled everything. She did my hair and makeup. The short, black dress she chose for me accentuated my pale skin. My dark brown hair was done with the gentlest of waves, brushing my exposed back comfortingly. For the party, I let my long hair down.

The senior who acted like a club's bouncer checked through our codes, and allowed us in the large, residential house. By the time our figures were inside, we were receiving some curious looks from seniors and lucky freshmen alike. I had no doubt we looked gorgeous, so I allowed myself a smile.

The usual activities went on. We met a few people. We got ourselves some drinks. We danced a lot.

I let some hands touch my skin and allowed the predatory gazes to caress my body, but when the hawks come down to take a peck at my lips or when I feel their fingers exploring places uncharted, I graciously leave and abandon the fun.

When my head was finally getting the ill effects of the well-mixed alcohol, I found myself in a dark room. I didn't know where I was, but Jesta wasn't with me. Looking around in a daze, I found a couple making out on a nearby sofa. The party music seemed blurred out inside this room, and I found myself staring at the only source of light: the widescreen television.

It was playing a news channel. At first, I didn't know what I was seeing. Red. Orange. Yellow. Black. I had the sudden urge to know what it was about. The tiny, wet noises from the couple masked the news anchor. I was getting frustrated and confused. I looked around the dark room for the remote. Just a little bit more volume and I can finally hear him.

Grasping about the room, my head dizzy, and my sight swirling, I felt the need to puke. I was crouching down and hugging my head when I heard a dark whisper right behind me, the voice tickling my sensitive ears.

"What do you think of the government?" it said.

Still unsure whether I made the voice up or not, I forced myself to blink at my new companion. Mr. Handsome. The very one.

I haven't seen him anywhere during the long hours of the party, not that I was especially looking for him. But Jesta did make obvious remarks that he would be present, and voila, here he was.

"The government?" I managed to mutter, my mind still in a haze.

He smiled gently. "Right. What do you think about it?"

There wasn't really anything to think about. "It's just there," I said.

His thick brows went up, and looked at me curiously. I desperately hoped I didn't look as bad as I felt.

When he didn't say anything anymore, I continued to speak, not even knowing what went out my mouth. "I mean it's just there. We can't go without it. No matter how shitty it is, we still need it."

The boy looked at me with the most curious green eyes. But underneath his almost flirtatious countenance, I glimpsed a hint of disappointment. I searched his face desperately, and knew that in a fraction of a second, he would choose to stand up and leave me in my sorry state.

My mind worked so hard in that very small period of time in order to salvage the situation. I finally had him near me, so I knew I had to make a move. Suddenly, the entwined couple moved about more rigorously, not minding the presence of company, and with those movements the hidden remote was clicked, and the television blared into loudness, almost like a celebration of this serendipitous event. The handsome boy and I turned to look at the television, suddenly alive with the sound from the anchor, and in that moment, my mind cleared.

Focusing on the follow-up news about yesterday night's arson of Governor Wright's manor, I knew what to say. I confidently turned to look at the boy, seeing the reflection of the fire ablaze, dancing around in his eyes. I opened my mouth to say the words that would make the future happen.

"It's just there, but it does deserve to burn."

I anxiously waited for his reply. But I was found for a long moment with shocked silence. 'Well, there goes my chance,' I thought wearily.

Feeling empty and could no longer bear to look at his wide eyes, I stared back at the television. Governor Wright had just been presented with a not guilty verdict for the rape and murder of a civil worker under his office. He might really have been innocent, but his track record has shown too many accusations piled up that even the law's judgment can no longer claim the man clean. Now, the television showed the wreckage of his home; the same home where he had burned alive, along with a handful of house helpers and his young mistress.

"With men like that, it deserves to burn," I muttered, more to myself.

With that, I was shocked when I heard him laughing silently, his almond-shaped eyes curled up in delight. "You're right."

In an almost frenzied way, he leaned closer to me, his kneeling form too close for comfort.

"Do you…" he started, but he never did finish his question.

"Zero!" A panicked shout called to the boy in front of me. There appeared a boy with thick glasses and messy, auburn hair. "Y-You have to hear this. You can't believe-"

When the new arrival saw me, his already wide eyes turned wider and looked at the handsome boy in desperation, signaling him with his eyes that they needed to talk alone.

With a sigh, the boy named Zero got up and moved to follow the other one into a room I didn't even notice before.

Just before the door closed, he turned his head to look back at my direction and said, "See you around, Yassi."

"How-" I started.

I could just barely see the smile forming on his face. "Jesta told me."

And then he was gone with the click of the door closing.