My Loosing Game

The Price of Dreams

In the realm where dreams take flight,

Value dwells beyond mere sight.

For those bereft of guiding hands,

Their dreams, a solitary stand.

—---------------------------------------------------

The Price of Dreams

I saw a note on the school board saying the 12th-grade class is going on a picnic next month, and we all need to pay $100 by the 15th. I got worried, hoping the picnic wasn't something everyone had to do. I rushed to ask Cristina about it.

"Hey, Cristina, the picnic next month isn't something we all have to do, right?"

She wasn't sure, saying, "Umm, I don't think so, but almost everyone is going. Who wouldn't want to be part of the school picnic? It's going to be so much fun."

Seeing my unsure face, Cristina insisted, "Don't tell me Liyora you can't come. You're coming, and we're going to have an amazing time, okay?"

I reluctantly agreed, nodding and promising to join. But then the challenge hit me – how could I manage to get $100 in just 45 days? I started thinking hard about how to deal with this money problem.

I wasn't sure if I could join the school picnic, but I really want to go and enjoy it with my friends. The issue is, unlike others, I don't have parents to give money to the school. I have to find a way to manage it by myself because I'm on my own.

I always pray for a peaceful science class. But today, the super punctual person isn't here, making us all wonder why.

Our curiosity is soon satisfied when our sports teacher unexpectedly enters and delivers the surprising news that today's lecture is cancelled due to Mr. Matheves being on emergency leave. He advises us to use the time for self-study before swiftly leaving the classroom,

We're surprised but also relieved by the unexpected break.

Personally, the announcement brings an overwhelming sense of happiness to me. The constant pressure and tension associated with Mr. Mathews have always made me feel burdened.

"Hey, Liyora, has your dad come back from his business trip?" Cristina asked me.

Yeah, he's back but leaving again soon. Don't worry, I'm used to it, and it's totally fine."

I didn't like lying to Christina, but I had no other option.

"How's your family, Cristina?" I asked her.

She rolls her eyes and goes, "Ugh, don't even start. I've got this big brother, Tom, who thinks he's the responsible parent or something, always bugging me."

Me: "Responsible parent? What do you mean?"

She sarcastically says, "Oh, the 'big brother' act. Thinks he's the boss, but he's the laziest and most careless person I've ever met."

I chuckled, "Lazy and careless? That bad, huh?"

"Trust me, he's a pro at it. Leaves his stuff everywhere, never helps with anything. It's like having a permanent tornado in the house." Cristina said

I laughed, imagining the crazy scene.

"Liyora, you're coming for the picnic, right? I'm bringing my dad's DSLR camera along.

We will take cute and nice pictures together! I'm super excited; it's gonna be so much fun!"

After hearing Cristina talk about the picnic, I realised I needed to find a way to get $100 for high school.

I really wanted to join the picnic and have a great time with my friends.

I finished school earlier than usual, and with two hours left before my part-time job at the cafe, I decided to explore the town. While walking, I noticed a sign saying they were hiring part-timers. The catch—it was for a night bar, which didn't seem safe for me, so I moved on.

But then, I thought about the extra $100 it could bring in, and I considered giving it a shot, just for a month.

I went back to the bar, took a deep breath, and entered.

Inside, it was dimly lit with some music playing, not too crowded. I approached the manager and inquired about the part-time job. Surprisingly, since not many young girls applied for a job in a night bar, he offered me the position right away. The pay was significantly higher—twice as much as my cafe job.

Excited about the extra income, I decided to start working at the night bar from tonight. The only challenge was that my shift would end after midnight at 3 AM, and I needed to be up by 7 AM the next morning. This meant I'd only get around 3 to 4 hours of sleep. Despite this, I convinced myself that I could manage somehow.

After finishing my café shift, I had dinner and headed to the night bar for my first day. The manager seemed decent, and I was told to stand at the counter and serve. Two other guys, Jack and Michael, were there with me. They taught me how to handle customers starting to drink and how to act when they're drunk. I was a bit nervous, but Jack and Michael helped calm my nerves a lot. With their guidance, my first day at the night bar went smoothly.

…….

My phone's alarm had been ringing for who knows how long. I turned off the alarm again while half-asleep and went back to sleep. After some time, the alarm started ringing again.

I opened one eye in my sleep and saw the time on the clock. It was already eight twenty in the dreadful morning. The lecture had started in my high school twenty minutes ago, and I was still in my bed.

Was this going to be my routine? Could I manage this chaotic juggle of late-night shifts and early morning classes?

I already missed my first maths lecture, and the second lecture was Mr. Mathews' biology class.

I’m dead. Screw my life…

Somehow, I had to get to high school before his lecture started.

So, I somehow got ready in the next 15 minutes and rushed outside.

It was just a few minutes left for his lecture to start, and I was sprinting towards the high school's main door, lost in a hurry to get to the classroom.

And then, out of nowhere, I collided with someone. I was about to fall, but he caught me. Both his hands held onto my back, and both of mine were on his broad chest. The papers he had in his hands were flying around in the air. But neither he nor I cared.

I lifted my gaze to his face; his deep blue eyes were staring at me intensely.

It was none other than Mr. Mathews. It felt like time froze for me; my heart was racing fast.

a strong, chiselled jawline that commands my attention, paired with cheekbones that create a perfect symmetry.

His eyes are captivating; they hold stories untold, drawing me in with their depth and intensity,

with a magnetic presence that pulled me effortlessly.

The scent of his body was giving me a different kind of intoxication.

The sound of the first lecture end bell ended the moment we were sharing, bringing us back to reality.

Mr. Mathews let go of me, and I stood up straight. His papers were all over the floor.

"Sorry, Professor. I was in a hurry," I quickly apologised.

"Look Miss Liyora, these are your eyes, they are not a showpiece, use them sometime, okay?

Can't you walk properly and see where you're going? Look at this mess,"

scolded Mr. Matthews, pointing to the scattered papers on the floor.

Without wasting any time, I gathered all the papers and handed them to him. I avoided looking at him again.

He muttered, "What a terrible start to the day, all because of you," and left abruptly.

This rudeness from him is nothing new to me; maybe I'm just used to it by now.

That's why the impact of his rudeness doesn't affect me. If there was another girl in my place,

someone with a weaker heart, she would probably be crying by now.

With that thought in my mind, I headed to the classroom.

I had already reached the class; all the students had taken their seats.

Mr. Mathews was five minutes late, and I was the reason, which nobody knew. He took attendance and started the lecture.

……….