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The tension between his friends went awkward when they all sat down together, just not too far from the Kokotiam. They're only a few customers for this slow day and Tok Aba and Ochobot were keeping themselves busy.
Yaya, Ying, Gopal, and Fang sat on one side of the table. He and Suzy were sitting on the other side.
No one said anything, Fang seemed chill so far, despite knowing what they're here for. And he knew what to say because he kind of felt bad for what happened that day.
The two girls exchanged glances to avoid the awkwardness but they also knew that they'd had to face it.
Gopal just stared at Boboiboy while slowly munching his chocolate bar, but it's clear that he doesn't want to meet Suzy's stare in which it seems neutral on the outside. But they could all see the slight anger and disappointment in her eyes.
Boboiboy kept his optimistic smile on his face despite the circumstances in this situation. In truth, he planned this well ahead from that incident with the classroom decorating day. Because he knew they'll have to sort out Suzy's grudge with them for that matter.
As angry as Suzy was, she knew that too. So she agreed to meet up with Fang and Gopal, but she also expected the girls to come forward too.
And finally, the tension blew off when she spoke first. “I appreciate that you guys came forward.” She said, receiving a nod from them. “I'm honestly surprised that even you two kept your word and came.” She gestured at the two boys.
Fang huffed. “Yeah, if there's one thing about me it is that I keep my word.”
Suzy nodded in approval, at least his willingness helped her calm down a little. “Good.”
Gopal hummed. “Well, of course I came. I'm his best friend after all.” Boboiboy scoffed at that, and Suzy's stare intensified.
“Best friend?” She repeated in a cruel tone. “Best friends don't pull off a prank like that!”
Fang glared back. “And you call yourself a friend for being insane back there?”
Boboiboy grunted. “Fang, c'mon.”
Suzy gave him an icy stare. “That's different because both of you deserved that.” She sneered.
Boboiboy waved his hands around. “Can we please not fight? I want this to settle peacefully.”
Yaya agreed. “He's right, that's the point of this meeting here.”
“Besides, we're sitting real close to the Kokotiam, you guys will make a scene.” Ying added.
Suzy sighed and rubbed her forehead to stay calm. “I know but I just can't help it with these two.” She grumbled.
Fang bit his lip. “Well, we know your problem with us, so what exactly do you want us to do?”
Yeah, she pretty much anticipated this. And figured exactly what she wanted with them.
“Why did you two do that to him?”
Fang and Gopal looked at each other before glancing back at her.
“It's only a joke.” Fang shrugged.
She raised her eyebrow. “Is that even a joke to you? I mean, I shouldn't be surprised since you weren't nice to him from the start.”
He sheepishly chuckled. “Yeah, maybe it's because I'm still used to being a friend or something.”
“But even then, you kept messing with him before that.”
Gopal fiddled his fingers. “But I only joined his plan, once.”
Suzy grunted. “And why is that exactly? What did your ‘best friend’ do to you?”
Gopal waved his hands defensively. “Nothing, alright?! It's just…” he stuttered. “I only do it for laughs! Besides, aren't you a little rude at times? Even towards Yaya and Ying, and then Boboiboy?”
Suzy shook her head. “To be fair, I genuinely care, underneath that mean girl act I got going on. That's just my nature. But I don't go around embarrassing my friends in class like that. Unlike both of you.”
“So you don't like it when some people, even your friends, are very mean to your best friend, fair enough, I'd understand.” Fang observed.
Suzy tapped her hand on the table. “Just to be clear, I'm not friends with you two, yet. As angry as I am, I believe in second chances. And because I know he would've wanted me to since he's kind of forgiven you guys already.”
“She's right, I genuinely do.” Boboiboy agreed. “I hope you guys can get along with her once she's cool with you.”
“But it's going to take a while longer than you thought to earn my trust,” she warned them. “And it's also because I still don't feel right with boys to an extent, but I feel okay enough to give you both a chance to make up for it. Be nice to him and me from now on, deal?” A small smile crept on her face.
The two exchanged glances before showing an approving smile.
“Deal.” They both said.
That's good, but there's one more thing she needs to know. “And since you accept the deal, does that mean you're sorry too?”
Fang sighed in anticipation with a regretful look. “Exactly, we went too far last week.”
“And because of us, Boboiboy has been teased a lot in school and has to do counseling for a month.” Gopal stated, also feeling bad.
Suzy appreciated their honesty. “Yes, while that part is your fault, but at least now you own up to it.”
Boboiboy is grateful and proud of her for being the big girl and being lenient on them.
But this conversation is not over yet.
“However,” she stated, her smile faltered. “That reminds me of something,” she gazed at the girls. “I am also upset with you two.”
Yaya was taken aback by the accusation. “Huh, what did we do?”
Suzy huffed, her stare went cold. “Exactly! Not only that you two didn't do anything when they decorated his seat with pink, but you even thought putting him in the counsel's office was a good idea!”
Boboiboy raised his hands at her. “Suzy, wait! This isn't right to take it on them!”
“He's right!” Ying agreed, she looked hurt by her words. “While yes, we were wrong for not bothering to intervene, but you can't blame us for that too when we thought it could help him.”
“Help him with what?” She demanded to know.
Yaya stuttered. “Help him with the fact that everyone has been making fun of him for his fascination with pink color.”
Suzy groaned as she slapped her forehead. Then slid her hand down to her lip. “Do you seriously think that pink is his favorite color?” She glared at Ying. “It's that also why you didn't do it before he showed up?”
Ying paused to look back at her perspective that day. And the more she thought about it, she was now riddled with guilt. “Yes, I suppose you're right.”
Seeing her feeling bad made Suzy decide to go easy on them, since she and Yaya were her friends ever since she moved to this island.
“Mhm, I knew him long enough to know that pink was never his favorite color,” she stated as Boboiboy reluctantly lowered his hands to let her finish. “And I also knew him enough that I saw through that trick from a mile away.” She bit her lip, knowing full well what to say next. “But there's one thing you don't see, and that's why I'm upset with you guys for that!”
“What are you talking about?” Yaya asked, looking concerned.
Suzy ignored the worried look on his face, not that she doesn't care, but that look also says that they can't know. But they're gonna have to.
“Listen, not only are all the kids laughing at him for that, but doing counseling for a month , took a toll on him!” She explained. “He spent hours in that damn office ! He could barely keep up with everyday activities, at school, even in his home!”
The others were surprised by this revelation.
“But…he seemed fine as usual since then.” Yaya recalled.
Suzy replied with a scoff. “It may seem that way but only on the outside ! But deep down, he's so freaking tired. I was so worried for him that he'll work himself to death or something. I kept telling to slow down and rest but he didn't listen!”
“I already told you I'm not tired.” He insisted but Suzy shushed him.
“No, you still need a break, a lot .” She told him with a stern tone.
They look back at him with genuine concern with Fang speaking up first. “Boboiboy, is that true?”
He scratched his head. “Yeah,” he confirmed. “Don't get me wrong, I was super tired with my everyday tasks when I had to do counseling for a month. But,” he stopped for a moment. “You know me, I never stop for anything despite Suzy telling me from time and again to take a break.”
“He pretty much took after my stubbornness, that's why. ” She stated.
“Ooh, that makes sense.” Gopal commented.
Suzy nodded and turned back to the girls. “But just to be honest, I'm more disappointed with you two than how mad I was with them.”
Their faces went sour in regret. “You're right, we only made it worse for him,” Yaya said, turning her gaze to the boy. “We're really sorry, Boboiboy.”
Ying nodded. “Yes, we didn't mean to make you miserable lately.”
Boboiboy smiled in gratitude for their apology. “It's okay, guys. I understand, besides I've gotten better now.”
Suzy stared at him with a stern look. “Oh, is that so?”
Boboiboy insisted. “Of course! I got enough rest this week!” She scoffed.
“Fine, I'll take your word for it.”
Now that she's settled her issues with them, well for the most part, now it's their turn to ask.
Fang cleared his throat first. “Now that's done, we have to ask too.”
“What is it?” She doesn't know why but she has a feeling what they might be asking.
Ying thought out her words carefully. “Well…the way you reacted to that prank, why did you take that as something personal?”
She and Boboiboy stopped at that question since they both knew what to answer. But she's unsure telling them especially if she had to bring up his childhood trauma.
But when she looked at him wearing a reassuring stare, and a gesture to let her know it's fine.
“Well, the thing is that,” she paused for a bit. “There's more I haven't told you about how I befriended him.” Memories of Boboiboy being bullied at a very young age since kindergarten flooded back in her head, and so do the times she defended him twenty four seven.
“He's been bullied.”
The four friends were shocked. “What?! He's been bullied?!” They all exclaimed.
Fang slammed his fist on the table, thankfully not loud enough for anyone to hear that. “By whom?!” He demanded to know.
While Boboiboy was touched that Fang showed he cared, he let her continue.
“By those mean kids that have picked on him ever since kindergarten.” She recalled. “I saw that too, but I was shy and uncomfortable with boys that time so I couldn't bring myself to intervene.”
She grimaced at the reminder of being too sensitive for her own good to step in the times Boboiboy needed help the most.
Boboiboy decides to carry on when seeing her spacing out. “But it took her until first grade that she finally stepped in when I needed it. And ever since then, we've been best friends.” He looks at her with a loving smile. Suzy returns the smile, and thus vanishes that damn reminder.
“And so during the rest of the year, I've been defending a lot,” she added, turning back to the others. “Those kids were so mean that they even picked on me too. But I never let them put me down, I kept going, for him.” She smiled at the fact that all the pain and harsh treatment she received from the bullies were worth it in the end, as long as he's okay.
“Oh, that means you faced the ire of those bullies just to help him,” Yaya said. “Could that be why you went out of line last week?”
That's actually a good question. “Pretty much, I guess It was because when I saw that prank in class, I was suddenly reminded of how badly they treated him back home. And how much I've been inflicted by their hostility towards me when I always fought back. So that's why I snapped.” She admitted with a frown, but they understood the root of her behavior.
“Now I'm really sorry for what we did,” Gopal apologized, sounding so sincere. “Especially now I'm afraid of what you'll do to us if we mess up again.”
“It's alright, as long as you think about not doing it again and make an effort of being a real friend, I'd be very lenient with you two.” She replied.
“And then we made it worse.” Ying stated.
“But it's okay now,” Boboiboy reassured. “You two only did it because you wanted to help.” Suzy can agree with that.
“So why did those kids make fun of him?” Yaya wondered.
It was his turn to answer that. “It's because of who my dad is. You see, he's an ambassador and super busy, and he didn't have time to look out for me and that's why I permanently moved here with Tok Aba.”
“Oh, so they hurt you because they're jealous of you being raised by an ambassador who's actually your father?” Fang pressed on.
“That's right.”
And with nothing else to say for the next two minutes, they concluded that it's about it for this conversation.
“I think that's about it,” Boboiboy declared. “I bet we all learn something today.”
“Except that if someone else wants to mess with you again, Suzy will go berserk.” Gopal said.
“And also the teasing from our classmates.” Fang stated.
“I won't have to worry about that,” Boboiboy said. “Because this time, I have you guys. And she won't have to stand up for me alone.”
“And I'll never need to be aggressively hostile again.” As a matter of fact, she'll do her best to stay calm.
“Okay, now that everything is settled, we should all learn our mistakes by heart.” The rest agreed with Yaya's words of wisdom.
“Hehehe awesome!” Boboiboy raised his thumb up.
“So now that's done with, what do you guys want to do?”
Ying giggled. “Actually, we could ask you that, Suzy.”
“Hmm, I'm thinking we should take a little walk around the block. See what we'll see.” She suggested.
It sounds fun and productive, so they all agreed to the idea and departed from their seats. And Boboiboy is now happy that this issue has resolved and it'll never strain their friendships from now on. Despite lacking any powers, Suzy still likes to hang out with them.
This group may be filled with kids that are awesome superheroes, but Suzy is the major exception and proof that this group is not defined as being a superhero to be a part of this, but being a friend that matters more.
Hence that she's one of them, by heart and the spirits of their friendship.