He's Yellow

Chapter 1: Cringe

"I hate to break it to you, girl, but I really don't think missing tonight's study session with Jonah would kill you. You know for a fact that you have studied well already, and the exams will be just a piece of cake for everyone!"

I rolled my eyes at Martina as she kept persuading me to join their booth hopping later tonight around the school campus.

"How are you even sure that Professor Dan would go easy on us? He never went easy on us during the past years of studying under him!" I mentioned as we continued strolling along the hallway. Well, me as I continued walking down the building.

"Come on, Eli! It's not like you won't graduate valedictorian this time! I heard them talk about you."

"Stop pranking me, Martina. I need to graduate with high honors this time, you know that. And I won't miss an opportunity to study just because you heard my name being talked about in the department office."

"Ugh, I hate you, Elisia."

"Same goes for me, girl. I just can't go out tonight. It's the boss's rule."

I rushed outside the building to chase my own schedule. Tonight, at 6 PM sharp, Jonah would be hosting a study session with me and all the other girls who were not even involved in our class. These women were just flaunting themselves to a man who clearly had no intention of having any sort of romance in his life. He was just too kind to reject these girls.

I was about to ride a tricycle when I saw Martina throw an air punch toward me. This girl was definitely upset with the fact that she couldn't make me go to one of her social events.

It was the last two months before graduating from university. What could possibly go wrong within those last few months of life?

Well... everything!

We were bombarded with this weird idea that our professors would go easy on us since who even fails a graduating student, right? Well, mine do. I don't want to compromise my last days here in this living hell just to party or travel in advance. I just can't.

I received a text from Martina.

"You better hang out with me tomorrow after exams."

I just laughed a little and rode back to my dorm.

I have a lot of plans for myself, and that involves me being successful. Not everyone was born with enough wealth to cover their living expenses forever, and I am not favored enough to win the lottery. People hearing my story would actually feel bad for me and cry. Well, not that it is so new for everyone.

A child of separated parents. A child who was left with her grandparents because both her parents decided that it was finally okay for them to have their own separate families. A child whose worth was mostly measured by the amount of achievements she could bring to the table. A child whose validation came from her academic success and not her own dreams. A child who was probably born out of love but experienced none of it. Not like these things are new to anyone. I don't even care about my past anymore. My grandparents did their best for me and I believe that is enough.

I sat at my desk and mentally prepared myself to study for the night. Jonah was a good study partner, but the number of girls he brought inside our server last time was too much for my well-being. They weren't even Chemistry majors, which made me wonder why they were so invested in Jonah re-discussing his notes.

Jonah: Are you done? Maricar and some guys wanted to join us for the night.

Elisia: Are these the same set of girls from last time?

Jonah: I actually don't know, but my friend would join us because he wasn't able to attend his lecture about tonight's topic.

Elisia: ???

Jonah: He's under UPD Chem.

Elisia: UPD?

Jonah: Yeah, he's a friend I met during the Chem Congress. Thought it would be cool for us to study together.

Technically, all of us were under the same university system. The difference was that Jonah and I were from UPV, and this certain guy was from UPD. Two campuses from different areas of the country. We were not talking about kilometers of distance. We were islands away from each other. That was so random.

Elisia: Martina won't be here tonight. She's out partying.

Jonah: Bruh, I told her already to study first before going out.

Elisia: Just pray for her soul because she would definitely need it.

Jonah: Lol. You can enter the call now, Max is here.

I entered the call, and a certain Maximus with a cat as his profile picture was with his microphone on.

"Bro, I told you I can't go. I missed my lecture last week."

"You suck, Max. Mika would be there, and she would definitely kill us if you're not there."

"Bro, I need to study. Just lock the door when you guys leave."

Jonah was not in the call. That guy would always do unnecessary things that would drag this session longer than it needed to be.

Maximus: Hi!

I nearly shook all my coffee away when this guy suddenly greeted me.

Maximus: Hi, Miss mystery_avocado. I like your name here. That's fun.

I did not respond with my mic. That gives me a cringe. He felt too warm and too bright for me. I decided to just reply to his greeting via the chat box because I was not yet crazy enough to greet him back with my voice.

mystery_avocado: Hi.

Maximus: You can open your mic if you want.

This guy is definitely cheeky. When he said something, he didn't even think about it anymore. He was too... transparent for my liking.

I did not respond to his last sentence and decided to wait for Jonah and the "girls" to get in the call.

Before I sat in front of my desk, I had to do all the nightly routines I must do so that I didn't go insane. After arriving from school, I had to cook my dinner, shower, and prepare myself for the academic validation I wanted to attain tonight.

And that is to finish studying the last chapter for my exam next week and to do my last review for tomorrow's examination.

A fact about me is that I never liked coffee. People who love coffee are weird from my perspective, because who enjoys bitterness? Not until I entered university, which required me to stay awake more than my body needed to, and I needed some kick which I could not get from fresh milk alone.

Well, I'd like to say, I am one of the weirdos now.

Jonah: Eli? Are you there? My presentation had an issue, but it's okay now. Are you done?

When I looked at the call, from just being two people inside the call, we were now eleven. Eight people were definitely unknown to me, and I had no intention of knowing any of them.

I just replied with a thumbs up to Jonah, making him start his presentation.

Jonah was a cool guy. The guy who was not the smartest in class but definitely the most hardworking one. Maybe it is rooted from the fact that his dad and his sister were doctors, and his mom was a nurse. All of them leaned toward the medical side of the world, and I truly wondered why he was under the Chemistry program when he could have easily entered Nursing at another institution.

As for me, if I were asked about the reason why I pursued chemistry, maybe the thing that could possibly pass as a great reason for me to enter this undergraduate studies was because of my fixation for a guy mixing chemicals in a YouTube video.

At some point, I thought he was definitely wrong in some portions, and I thought it would be good if I was able to actually correct that guy.

Mrs. Mercado (my supposedly mom) wanted me to take Political Science because of her broken dreams, which included her becoming a practicing lawyer. Well, it wasn't my fault she got knocked up early, so I believed she had no right to tell me what to do.

Mr. Domingo (my supposedly dad) wanted anything I wanted, as what he claimed when he visited me one random day after my high school graduation. Well, not that I wanted his opinion.

Mrs. Mercado debated with me. But what could she do when I had already given up applying for other universities aside from the one I currently attend? She couldn't make me do anything I didn't want. Her opinions would be valid if she did not abandon her child.

Maximus: Wait, shouldn't this compound be [Ni(CN)4]2-? The geometry doesn't make sense.

Jonah: Huh? But it was discussed like this in class last week.

Maximus: I don't think so. CN⁻ is a strong field ligand. It should force electron pairing and give a square planar structure. Cl⁻ is weaker, so it should stay tetrahedral. Can you make a group chat for us on Messenger? I want to send my notes from my readings.

Jonah: Okay, wait a minute.

Maricar: I honestly have no idea what you guys are talking about, but both of you sound hot.

That totally cringed me out.

A few minutes later, I got notified of a new group chat with just me, Jonah, and Maximus in it. I did not hesitate to add Mika because that girl needed this too.

Maximus: Like this.

Jonah: What? I don't know, bro.

I decided to look at whatever they were talking about because my mind wandered off somewhere, thinking about my supposed parents.

Maximus: It's like that.

Jonah: What???

I sighed.

mystery_avocado: He's right, Jonah. You got the orientation wrong.

Maximus: Right? Thanks, Miss mystery_avocado.

Then Maximus just laughed and continued the discussion instead of Jonah.