"I didn't mean that, but you shouldn't make too many enemies…" he answered.
"Then what do you think I should have done in that situation?" Yolanda's patience wore thin as she coldly replied, "Should I have let them insult me? Or gang up on me?"
"No, I mean—" Bryce tried to explain.
"In that situation, no one in their right mind would advise me to back down," Yolanda snapped.
"Because if I take a step back, they'll think I'm easy to bully and push even further," she added.
Bryce was speechless. He was caught off guard by Yolanda's words.
After several deep breaths, he spoke. "I feel like you've changed too much. You don't seem to be the Yolanda I used to know.
"There have also been so many rumors at the academy lately. I'm worried that after spending time in juvenile detention, you've picked up some bad habits from those people…"
"If you really consider me a friend, why would you doubt my character based on those rumors?" Yolanda snapped.
It was understandable for Bryce to think Yolanda had changed because the current Yolanda was indeed different from the one in the past.
But regardless of which Yolanda it was, she would never harm others without reason or willingly fall into depravity. If Bryce truly valued her as a close friend, how could he question her based on unfounded rumors?
Bryce found himself at a loss for words. He wondered if he had ever truly understood Yolanda.
"No, that couldn't be!" He quickly dismissed that thought. He knew Yolanda better than anyone. He just hadn't seen her in a while and felt a bit out of touch.
Just as Bryce wanted to explain further, he realized Yolanda had left.
"Yolanda!"
He lifted his leg to chase after her but was blocked by an oncoming bus. By the time the bus passed, Yolanda's figure had vanished into the crowd.
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