The "Kins"

The year was 2067. 

Pumpkin, Munchkin, Kinkin, Berrykin and Keykin were the very best of friends.

They met on campus, the first year of their degree and they clicked almost instantly.

Over the course of several months, Pumpkin, Munchkin, Kinkin, Berrykin and Keykin spent many nights out together, exploring the new city they were living in, looking for places to frequent in the future.

They shared a lot of their secrets with each other and because of this, Kinkin always thought they'd stay friends long after finishing their degree, but Munchkin thought otherwise. He said nothing ever lasts and that no matter how close people are as friends, things would inevitably change.

And that's exactly what happened.

Slightly less than a year into their friendship, Pumpkin suddenly withdrew herself from the others. 

Kinkin realized this sudden change and approached Munchkin, asking him what the matter was with Pumpkin. Munchkin said he had no idea. Next, Kinkin went to Berrykin and Keykin. They, too, had no idea what was wrong with Pumpkin. Finally Kinkin brought the matter up to Pumpkin herself.

Pumpkin said it was nothing, and that she felt very bad because Kinkin and said Pumpkin was making use of her. Kinkin actually didn't mean it, but Pumpkin had taken it seriously, and kept her distance ever since.

After talking about it though, Pumpkin said she was very glad that Kinkin had approached her and talked to her about it, saying that no one else had bothered to ask her what was wrong.

With that, Kinkin thought that everything was settled and that things would be back to normal.

But no.

Things almost hardly changed.

Even though Pumpkin hardly talked to Kinkin, she would still sit in Kinkin's car when Munchkin, Berrykin and Keykin went home from class everyday. 

One night, Kinkin got invites to attend a party in town. She could only bring along three friends, but Berrykin and Keykin were determined to get Pumpkin to come along as well.

After much persuasion, Pumpkin agreed to come along.

During the party, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. 

It was only as the five of them left, that Pumpkin suddenly began to cry.

She cried and cried and cried and refused to tell the others why she was crying.

Finally they went to this place that had a fountain and lots of lights and they sat down and talked.

Munchkin, Kinkin, Berrykin and Keykin kept asking Pumpkin why she was crying. They asked and they asked and they asked and finally Pumpkin said that it was because of something Munchkin had said to her.

Apparently, Munchkin told Pumpkin that Kinkin, Berrykin and Keykin were happier without Pumpkin around and Pumpkin had believed Munchkin.

None of the others knew why, but Munchkin kept saying that there was more to it, although Pumpkin never said anything more.

Kinkin, Berrykin and Keykin continuously explained to Pumpkin that they were all friends and that no matter what happened they would always be there for each other.

There was a lot of shouting and a lot of crying. 

People who passed by were all staring

When Kinkin tried explaining things to Pumpkin, she shouted at Kinkin. And then Munchkin started shouting at Pumpkin out of frustration. And then there was hugging and Pumpkin apologized.

It took about an hour or so for Pumpkin to calm down after which they all went home.

It was the holidays.

Pumpkin, Munchkin, Kinkin, Berrykin and Keykin had all gone home to study for their final examinations.

When they came back, things were back to normal. They were all talking again, helping each other out with their subjects. It was nice. Everything was just the way it was.

On the very last day of the exams which was a Friday, Keykin's friend (Greenkin) had come down from Greenland. So Berrykin, Keykin and Kinkin took Greenkin around town. 

The next day, Berrykin, Keykin and Kinkin wanted to take Greenkin to this place with a fountain and lots of lights because Greenkin had never been to such a place before. Pumpkin and Munchkin also wanted to come along but since there was no space in Kinkin's car, Pumpkin asked Munchkin's friend, Airkin if he could pick Pumpkin and Munchkin up so that they could all go.

Finally all of them met up at the same place.

Once they were there, Pumpkin needed to use the restroom. While waiting, Kinkin suggested to the others that they could all sit by the seaside and enjoy themselves instead of having to go into the place with moving lights. Munchkin agreed. 

When Pumpkin came out and the idea was brought up, Pumpkin still wanted to go into the place with the moving lights.

After much discussion, Pumpkin, Munchkin, Airkin, Berrykin, Keykin, Greenkin, Kinkin and Munchkin's two other friends went into the place with the moving lights even though they had to pay to go in.

They enjoyed themselves.

Kinkin was not in the mood and was very tired.

Greenkin, too, felt quite uncomfortable.

Finally at around 1.45am, Kinkin told Berrykin that she wanted to leave. Berrykin then told this to Keykin.

Kinkin gave them an option. Berrykin, Keykin and Greenkin could either follow Kinkin home or if they wanted to stay on longer, they could follow Airkin home.

As Berrykin and Keykin were deciding who they wanted to follow home, Pumpkin suddenly comes up to Kinkin and shouts at her saying that Kinkin should just go if she wants to and let Berrykin and Keykin stay in the place with the moving lights.

Kinkin got very angry.

Kinkin wasn't forcing anyone to follow her. Kinkin had allowed them to make the decision on their own. And Pumpkin had come up to Kinkin and shouted at her just like that when Pumpkin hadn't even talked to Kinkin from the moment they stepped into the place with the moving lights.

Kinkin walked out without saying a word and waited to see if any of the others were going to follow her home.

Berrykin, Keykin and Greenkin came out not long after. They all went home.

Since then, Kinkin never spoke to Pumpkin again.

Pumpkin never bothered to even apologize to Kinkin for the way she behaved or for the way she spoke.

It was the holidays again.

Everyone went home.

Once they came back, it was the second year of their degree.

Berrykin, Keykin and Kinkin were still as close as ever.

Pumpkin never spoke to Kinkin. Pumpkin hardly even spoke to Berrykin or Keykin.

Munchkin totally stopped talking to Kinkin, for reasons known only to Munchkin.

Pumpkin talked very badly about many people in class. Now Pumpkin is close to all those people. All those people don't know that Pumpkin has talked badly about them.

Pumpkin has talked very badly about Berrykin, Keykin and Kinkin to all those people.

Although Berrykin, Keykin and Kinkin know this, they are not saying anything about Pumpkin to all those people.

Berrykin, Keykin and Kinkin don't know why Pumpkin is doing this to them.

Sometimes in class, Pumpkin will try to talk normally to Berrykin and Keykin but Berrykin and Keykin don't respond. This makes all the other people think that Berrykin and Keykin are the bad ones. All the other people don't know what Pumpkin has said and done to Berrykin, Keykin and Kinkin.

Pumpkin is very bad.

Although she is very close to Munchkin, she has said so many bad things about Munchkin to Berrykin and Keykin.

But Munchkin doesn't know this.

Munchkin is still following Pumpkin around like a puppy.

Berrykin, Keykin and Kinkin are very sad and angry.

They don't know why Pumpkin is doing all this.

As far as Berrykin, Keykin and Kinkin are concerned, their friendship with Pumpkin is over.

Sometimes people masquerade themselves. Be careful whom you associate yourself with.