The Wallflower's Revenge

AWR Chapter 14: Wonderful Illusion

The next day, Leylah excitedly went to school to check on her best friend Lea. She barely had a good night's sleep. It's because she wanted to be morning right away to see the results of Lea's hard work. Was she even serious about studying? When in the first place, Leylah knew that ‘studying’ isn’t in her vocabulary, ever!

Lea is known for being an innocent soul, a timid and quiet student who isn't very strong to stand up for herself. When she's alone, at least. Leylah knows that if Lea is with her, she gets tougher and stronger. She's tougher to even defend her to almost everyone. 

She even recalled the time when Lea disguised as a white lady to teach Eveelia a lesson. Leylah was surprised that she was able to do it. Not in her slightest expectation that Lea would be able to do all those things. In fact, she's even easily scared with almost everything, even little bugs scare her.

There's only her only weakness though: she's not a fast learner as what other people and even her parents expect of her. That's why when Leylah knew that Walter is one of her best friend's inspirations, she knew she had to do what it takes for her to get back on track.

As Leylah is walking down the hallway of their school, she spotted Lea going in the room, too. 

"Hello my best friend! How's the review going?" Leylah tapped her shoulder as she greeted her. Lea sighed and smiled. She yawned at the same time while looking at Leylah's facial reaction.

"I'm doing pretty good. I just realized one thing."

"What is it?" Leylah asked with a smile.

"What you're doing every single day of your life is not a joke, I mean, c'mon!"

"Why?" Leylah reacted between laughs.

"Who would study like that?"

"What? Lei, what exactly do you mean?"

"Well, now I realized many things after I attempted to study like crazy."

"Study like crazy?" She answered her between chuckles.

"Remember last night? I hung up because I was helping my mom with our dinner. After ten in the evening, I attempted to study after that,"

"Alright. So what happened next? That's what I am supposed to ask from you, you know."

"I can't handle it. I mean, after I did all those memorizations and a lot of problem-solvings? Dude, I pity you all of a sudden." Leylah couldn't help but laugh out loud because of Lea's exaggerated tone of voice while describing everything.

"I have no idea of what you're trying to say,"

"I pity you because I realized that being Mr. Carson's daughter is indeed no joke at all."

"You said it right!" Leylah cried.

"Imagine? Studying at least three lessons a day and gotta memorize all of it? Nuh-ah,"

"So you mean, you didn't study last night?" She insisted on asking.

"I did study but a maximum of two lessons only, plus I didn't have to memorize it like you do."

"Girl, don't be like me."Leylah said in a chuckle. She put her arms around her shoulders as they walked side by side.

"Yes, ma'am. I still want to marry Walter and have a normal life. I don't know about you," Leylah swallowed as she awkwardly smiled at her best friend. Lea might sound very compulsive at times but she's just joking, right? How she wished she could shush her best friend about her boyfriend right now. It looked like that's the most difficult thing to do, next to volunteering to be eaten by sharks.

"Of course. Thinking about getting married to the love of your life gives you countless reasons not to give up, no matter how hard it may seem." Leylah dreamily said that Lea couldn't help but to look at her all of a sudden.

"Hey, are you in love? As if you can even relate to what 'love' is all about."

"Well, I am just basing it on what I can see from you," Leylah immediately diverted her reasons to Lea that she smiled at her when she heard her simple answer.

"You have a point," She answered as she nodded.

"After our Math subject, you got to go with me."

"Where are we going?" Lea exclaimed in a very excited manner.

"It's a surprise." Leylah answered as she held her hand.

"What is it?"

"It is not a surprise anymore if I will tell you where, right?"

"I hate to be surprised! I will be curious to death. Please, bestie! Pretty please?"

"It's not going to be a surprise when I tell it to you right away."

"That's unfair!" Lea retorted. Leylah giggled because of her cute response.

"And it is also in one condition."

"Condition? What is it?"

"If you will get a perfect score in at least one out of three exams, you will like my surprise."

"If I don't get any perfect score?"

"Well, forget that I even offered you a surprise in the first place."

"Deal." Lea shook hands with Leylah with a grin. She could see how her best friend's eyes sparkled about the surprise she's going to do.

They all sat straight when their teacher entered the room. Leylah felt that Lea's hand poke her from her back.

"What?" Leylah whispered, turning her head a little to ask Lea.

"Are you sure about the surprise?"

"You will be thrilled to the bones and you gotta thank me all your life for it!"

"Well girl, you better watch out. I'm the next top one." They high five under their desks while facing their teacher.

----

Never in Leylah's expectations that Lea will have a perfect score in their Mathematics exams. They both celebrated it in the cafeteria. Lea treated Leylah for her favorite meal.

Meanwhile, before entering the cafeteria, Leylah asked where Walter's basketball will be held. 

"Babe? Where are you?"

"Whoa...as if you're not updated about my schedule."

"Well, I am just making sure you're in there right now. Shall I pay a visit?"

"What? Are you going to cheer for me, then?"

Leylah smiled secretly as she replied to Walter's chats while walking behind Lea who is walking faster than she is.

"I don't know. But I am accompanying a friend of mine. She wants to see you, you know."

"Alright, shoot. See you. I love you, love. Take care! Gtg!" 

Her on-the-spot chat to Walter saved the day. Good thing she had the most responsive boyfriend in the world. She smiled as she secretly slipped her phone in the pocket of her skirt. She was still shocked about the exam's result. As for her, it's never a surprise that she got a perfect score in those three exams. What's surprising was, Lea got the perfect score for the two exams. Honestly speaking? There was really no surprise that she intended for Lea. It was just her impulse to tell her best friend to keep her motivated. 

It turned out that she's more surprised than her after the examinations were done. Lea happily put the tray full of food on the table that Leylah chuckled because there are so many snacks.

"Wait, I am the one that's supposed to treat you, right? I'm the one who challenged you."

"Believe me, Ley, I honestly hoped that I would at least get a high mark but when you mentioned the surprise a while ago? I started to trust myself more and here's the result!

"Congratulations my dear best friend! I am so proud of you!"

"Yeah, and let us give credit to this 'Walter effect' that's behind all of these."

"I just want to remind you, Lei. It's not Walter who gave you the high score but on how you studied to achieve this far."

"But he's my inspiration…"

"Yeah but always bear in mind that you're the one who exerted a lot of effort from it." Leylah insisted as she smiled. She could see a grin on Lea's face as well.

"Alright. You had a point in there. Thanks again my dearest Leylah. You're the best!"

They both hugged each other and they felt like achieving together because of their perfect scores. Eveelia and Sophia looked at both of them from afar.

"Leylah and Lea, they're both stupid." Sophia clenched her fist as she looked at the two best friends eating happily.

"Girl, that's quite harsh. Quit it." Eveelia grinned. Sophia looked at her as if she couldn't believe it herself. Eveelia is backing out right now?

"What do you mean? I thought you hated both of them to the core?"

"I have plans, alright?"

"Wow, really? May I know those plans?" Sophia enthusiastically answers but Eveelia frowns at her all of a sudden as she folded her arms.

"That's not for you to ask because it's top secret."

"C'mon! Can you please tell it to me, too? I guess it won't hurt if you let someone know, at least even one, right?"

"Alright. I have a question." She can see a sparkle in Sophia's eyes as she looks at her so intently.

" If you're going to play any game over and over again, what will you feel?"

"I’ll feel bored?"

"Wow! I didn’t know you’re also using that little piece of mind that you have right now. That’s surprisingly amazing." Eveelia replied in a sarcastic manner.

"C’mon! What are those plans? I am dying to know myself!"

"Believe me darling, you're not included in my plans, you're even out of it."

"You're crazy."

"I'm not Eveelia for nothing, darling." She said while looking at the two friends enjoying each other’s company as they are enjoying their snacks.

"I wonder what your plans are…"

"You don't have to stress about it. Just go grab some popcorn and leave everything to me." Eveelia said as she projected a meaningful grin.

I'll let you enjoy everything. I will let you be happy and comfortable being in the same air that we breathe but know this, your happy days will eventually come to an end, I'll make sure of it.

“You know what?