Page 177 of Light Leech

“What is your problem?”

I couldn’t hold it back anymore. “This… doesn’t feel like you, Ral.”

“Oh, so you want to push me into loving my Gui until I finally do? The zeg is your problem, Petya?”

“Mine? Your demeanor changed the moment I mentioned your Gui. It’s like you’ve tossed sense out the window.”

“Just because I used to cower before any mention of him? My whole demeanor? I’m motivated. Maybe you would learn what that feels like if you stopped hanging your head and playing the victim. Poor Petya has to feed on teeth like the rest of us, but he’s the only one who is allowed to be melodramatic.”

“Zeg, Ral–”

“All so you can let your crotch point you where you want because you’ll do anything for Naoma. What about us, Petya? Doesn’t this matter or is she your focus now?”

“Ralia? What is wrong with you?”

“Maybe I’m finally learning that I can express myself rather than keeping a fake zegging smile just to make it seem like everything is right. Why don’t you trust me over your zegging Gui who thinks something is wrong with mine?”

“Ralia. Please.”

“Please what? You know what, I think I need some time with him. At least Sha believes in what I am doing and doesn’t question every motive when it doesn’t fit his style.”

“Since when has he been the only one you can trust?”

“Since he decided to trust me.” The glass wall rose between us and our pods split.

My jaw hung open. I was at a loss for words.

I stared through the glass at her pod. Her glass went dark, obscuring everything within. I couldn’t close my mouth. I looked from side to side as if there would be some explanation for her uncharacteristic fit.

As expected, there was no answer.

The light from my flight panel shined on my face, but I didn’t want to numb my mind with entertainment.

I requested another pod merger.

She rejected it.

I closed my dry mouth.

“This makes me ill,” Zhu said.

Same here.

“I already knew that.”

Thanks.

“There is no need to thank me.”

Never mind. Back to her. Do you think Sha is making her act like this? She’s never this standoffish.

“Perhaps, though I am unable to communicate with him.”

What should I do?

“She is your friend. Why are you asking me?”

I don’t know. I thought you might know how to fix it if Sha is her problem.