The Worth of Taking a Risk

The New Normal

CATALINA'S POINT OF VIEW

It’s been a week ever since the election for student council. I’ve heard that the new officers are doing well and getting along well. I am so happy because another generation of student council had been born and I hope that they will treat each other well like real brothers and sisters. I am on my way to my room when someone covers my eyes.

“Haaa, whoever you are remove your hands at this moment,” I said and thankfully that person obliges.

“Wow, what’s with that mood Cat-Cat?” Stetson asked and we started walking again. I let out a heavy sigh first before answering him.

“Nothing, maybe I am still adjusting to our situation right now,” I said 

“You truly love the student council right? But that’s life Cat-Cat everything has its ending, whatever it is so just keep ongoing. Enjoy every moment you have with that thing or even with that person, so in the end, you won’t regret anything. You will say to yourself that, even if it ended at least I enjoy that moment and I will forever keep it inside my heart.” He said that made me speechless. Wow! I never thought there’s a poet side within this man.

“Wow! The thing you said just now somehow lift my spirit! Thank you Stets!” I said then smiled at him.

“That’s the Cat-Cat I know, a living smiling emoji.” He said then smiled.

“You know you are the real smiling emoji here. Ever since I met you in the student council room I thought you are a serious type of person that never smiles and never speaks unless it’s necessary.” I said that made him laughed so hard. I am looking at him while he is still laughing and while looking at him there’s a small pinch in my heart. I didn’t know that while looking at him I am smiling unconsciously.

“Did my laugh influence you Cat-Cat? You’re smiling so wide! I am happy if I do so.” He said. Out of the embarrassment that I felt, I looked away at him because I can feel that my face is burning.

“By the way, see you around?” He asked when we reached my classroom. I nod at him and smiled.

“Yup! See you around, by the way, I have a suggestion about your laughing manners.” I said that made his forehead curled.

“What is it?” He asked, I am distancing myself from him before I answer because I know he will react violently to what I am going to say.

“Well, maybe you can make your mouth narrower or cover it with your hands because earlier while you’re laughing I can see your throat,” I said and I was right because he was about to tickle me but lucky me I managed to slip.

“Maybe next time,” I said while laughing. He just shrugged his head and wave goodbye again and started walking towards his classroom. As I enter our room, I saw that Gus and company are looking at me with this mischievous look on their faces. I just shake my head while walking towards them.

“Aha, so what’s the real score?” Gus asked the moment I reached our row. 

“There’s nothing between us, okay?” I said but they just frowned at what I said. I looked at them with this puzzled look on my face and I can see clearly on their faces that they are telling me they didn’t believe me.

“Okay, okay I will tell you the truth,” I said and with that, they automatically looked at me while hoping that my answer is the same thing as what they are thinking.

“So, the real score between me and Stetson is that we are just friends! Close friends to be exact nothing more, nothing less. If you are not happy and contented with my answer then I’m sorry to disappoint you that’s the truth.” I said and I can see the complete disappointment on their faces. By the way, Liam’s squad became part of ours so my circle of friends became bigger!

“Oh, what’s happening here? Why your face is like that? You looked like you heard the most disappointing news ever in your life!” Liam said as he arrives. 

“Well, you’re right we just heard the most disappointing news ever!” Barbara said while still being sulky about what I’ve said.

“What is it?” He asked while sitting down in front of my seat.

“Well, you know that our loveless friend here is in love with Stetson right?” Luna started and Liam just nods at her. 

“Earlier, Stetson walked her here again for the second time! I also heard that during intramurals and elections they walk together from the main gate to the student council room. I also heard that among the student council members the two of them are the closest!” Barbara added. I let out a heavy sigh because I think they didn’t just hear it maybe they are around the student council to spy on me. You know, these friends of mine are always pushing me to have a boyfriend, so the moment they knew that I like Stets, they kept on pushing me towards him!

“Hmmm hmmm,” Liam responded to what Barbara said. I just rolled my eyes at them, and just get my phone from my pocket to read some novel. While reading, I am still listening to them because they might spread fake news and I don’t want to embarrass Stetson in front of everyone because of my friend's hallucination.

“Also, we all knew here what happened last intramurals right? Our precious loveless friend here was bullied by Stetson’s fangirls! So, to stop that bullying to continue Stetson decided to enter the tournament without even training, and thank goodness his team wins.” Luna said, she paused for a while just to check my reaction but since I am holding my phone they are now assuming I am not with them at the moment so she continues.

“And after the tournament, Stetson stands in front of the crowd where his fangirls can listen to him. So here’s what happened. Stetson used that opportunity to clean the name of our loveless friend here and not only that he states a clear threat to anyone that will harm our loveless friend here that if they bully again our loveless friend here he will be their enemy!” Luna said and they all screamed because of the thrill they are feeling. I just shake my head at them and started to tell my insights about it.

“Well, Stets just did that because he is a nice friend! Anyone will do that for their friends!” I said but they started teasing me.

“Ah, no I will not do that for my friend. As a friend, I will talk personally to the people who bullied you not say it in front of the crowd, and not only that threatening his fangirls for you? Oh, come on if I have fangirls like that I won’t do that, instead I will talk to them nicely!” Paul said, by the way, Paul is Barbara’s boyfriend yes they are in a relationship already for 2 weeks!

“Oh, is that so? But I’ve only known him for a few days at that time so he just does it for an upperclassman.” I said that made them laughed. 

“Upperclassman? Really?” Gus asked so I just nod at him.

“Yes! He told me, go read chapter 5 of this story!” I said and they immediately get their phone to check it. After a few minutes, I heard that they sigh in defeat.

“Wow! He truly said it, but it doesn’t matter you’ve been together in the student council for the whole 2 months! And after the election, he started to walk you here every morning!” Luna said not accepting her defeat. I was about to tell my answer when Liam stopped us.

“Wait, wait can you calm down first? I don’t know what you’re talking about anymore, and what’s happening!” Liam said so irritatedly.

“Oh, yes we’re sorry. So continuation, after the things Stetson has done for her, she still says that there’s nothing between them. Do you believe it? Because we didn’t believe it!” Gus said 

“So what’s the disappointing news about that?” Liam asked which made me laughed so hard. 

“HAHAHA! Oh my goodness! See? Liam doesn’t even care about it! Besides, what’s so disappointing about that?” I asked

“You are this close to having your first boyfriend Cat! This close!” Luna said while showing the gap using her finger. I just flinched it away from my face and let them argue again.

“And?” I asked that made them speechless.

“See? It doesn’t matter, right? Besides love doesn’t need to be at a fast pace. Love needs time, because if love happens so fast then it isn’t loved.” I said that made them speechless again.

“Besides, it will be more disappointing if Stetson will be Catalina’s boyfriend,” Liam said that made speechless too like them.

“Oho, what do we have here? Is it a love confession?” Gus said and they started teasing Liam. Looks like they found their new prey.

“What if it’s a love confession?” Liam said so seriously that made me looked at him. I feel again these butterflies in my stomach and I am starting to feel cold like I felt when Stetson told me he likes me as his upperclassman.

“OH MY GOODNESS! I KNEW IT! That’s why he is not disappointed about it because he liked Catalina! OH MY!!!!” Barbara said and they started to scream again. I looked at Liam and found out that he is also looking at me. I immediately looked away because I felt that my cheeks started to burn again.

“Calm down guys, it’s not a love confession,” Liam said suddenly that made me at ease but somehow felt disappointed. Geez!

“Oho, it’s too late to take back your word Liam.” Paul teased Liam and looking at him with meaning.

“Nah, I’m sorry to disappoint you guys but it isn’t a love confession. I just said it because, you know.” Liam stopped speaking because he is thinking about what to say next. I just shake my head to bring me back to reality.

“Yes, it couldn’t be a love confession because Liam is in love with Opal,” I said that made Liam blushed. I knew it, he still loves that girl he met during our freshman year.

“Oy! How do you know about that?” He asked but I just shake my head at him. Thank goodness they found another prey and started to tease Liam using Opal. That’s good though. If you are wondering whose Opal is well, she’s Liam's, first love. He likes him ever since we were freshmen now. I know that Opal also likes him but just waiting for Liam to confess his feelings but it didn’t happen because Opal transferred to a private school so they got separated. Maybe you are now wondering how do I know that? Well, Opal is my friend since childhood we are classmates all thru out our elementary days and we just got separated when we started high school.

“Hey, you became quiet suddenly,” Liam asked and sit beside me. I looked at him and smiled before I answer.

“Nah, I just missed Opal suddenly,” I said then looked at him, and it also looks like that he also misses the love of his life.

“I know you missed her too, by the way, she told me she will visit me this incoming Tuesday, oh! You can come with us, and you can also take that opportunity to confess to her!” I said but it seems he’s not fine with it. Ah! What a coward!

“Nah, just enjoy your day with her.” He said then smiled.

“But, she is also expecting to see you and talk to you. Don’t tell me you will leave her hanging with that hope?” I asked 

“It’s not my fault that she is hoping right?” He asked that somehow pissed me off.

“There’s no need to be mean okay? Stop acting as if you didn’t care about my friend.” I said and walk outside the room. Geez! What’s wrong with that man? Why he is acting he is not madly in love with my friend? Imbecile!

“What’s with that long face?” Stetson’s face suddenly pops in front of my face that surprised me so much!

“Oh my goodness!” I said that made him laughed but since I am not in my mood I just looked at him while he’s laughing. Maybe he noticed that I am not going along with him so he immediately stopped and keep his poker face all of a sudden.

“I’m sorry okay? What’s wrong?” He asked but I just sigh instead of answering him.

“Woah! That was a deep sigh. Ahm, let’s go to the cafeteria I’m going to treat you to some snacks to lift your mood.” He said and smiles at me. I was about to refuse when he suddenly pulls me, so I just go with the flow.

“Stop resisting Cat-Cat.” He said so I stand beside him and we started walking alongside like we always do. Thank goodness Stetson is always there for me to lift my mood.

LIAM’S POINT OF VIEW

I can’t help but get pissed when they started teasing me. What pissed me the most is that Catalina started the teasing which I truly hate. Why? Well, the answer is simple it’s because I like her. Yes, I like her so much that I didn’t manage to control myself to show my anger. It’s true that during our freshman year, I liked her friend Opal, but ever since I met her during the intramurals way back when we were in 9th grade in high school I started to like her more, and more. I was captivated not only by her beauty but also by her passion for serving the whole school. I started to ask her name my friends, and one of them told me that her name is Catalina Cruzes. After I knew her name, I started to check her social media accounts and I was more captivated by her beauty. So when I have the chance to know what her major will be for our senior high school I decided to follow her and thank goodness I was so lucky to be her classmate. I remember my reaction when I saw the official class list of economics 11 A.

Flashback

I was scrolling to our school’s page to see the official list for this year. I decided to take economics because I heard that Catalina is in this department. I decided to believe it even though it’s only humor, at least I tried.

“Economics A, oh there I am,” I said to myself when I saw my surname. Kwon, Liam, A. I looked at the females' list while hoping to see her surname.

“Cruzes, where are you,” I said to myself, and after a few seconds I saw two Cruzes, I read the first one. Cruzes, Tiana. That’s a cute name, but it doesn’t matter. I read the second one, and, and, 

“Cruzes, Catalina, U.,” I said and it took seconds for it to sink into me.

“Catalina? Oh my god! It’s her! It’s Catalina Cruzes! The love of my life since 9th grade!” I shouted inside my room while jumping on my bed. Oh my goodness! I am so happy!

End of flashback

Ever since that day, I have the opportunity to take a glance at her every day. She is not only a good-looking one but also she has a good heart that made me fall for her over and over again. 

“Liam, look Stetson is here again,” Paul whispered into my ears so I looked outside and saw that Stetson is laughing like a psycho, while my cute little baby is just emotionless. Ha! That’s my girl! You can’t make her smi----oy! Where the hell is he taking my Catalina?! Aish! That Stetson is getting on my nerves! That’s my girl! No other man should touch her aside from me!