Chapter 2
1580 Words
Chapter 2
Days passed by so quickly that I didn’t even realize how close we were to graduation. Finally, senior high school is almost over.
But until now, I still don’t know what course I should take in college. What’s the best choice? I want to become a teacher, but I’m not sure if I can handle it.
I know there’s no easy course. But it’s different when you know what you truly want—when you love what you’re doing. Because when you love it, you’ll endure everything.
Sometimes, people learn to love the course they take just because it was their parents’ choice. Or maybe because they’re just following others. Pleasing them to get the validation they want? I don’t know.
What else? Culinary arts, maybe. I know how to cook and bake. But the expenses… if I choose that, I’ll need to save more money—way more than what I have now. It’s not that I already have a lot, I just want to have extra. I want security.
“Olivia, you look tired. Did you not sleep well?” Hailey asked.
We were at Hailey’s house.
“I slept late,” Olivia replied casually.
“Why?” Hailey asked again.
“Why are you so nosy?” Olivia shot back.
“Oh? Why are you suddenly mad? You can’t even ask questions now?” Hailey said dramatically.
“Wait—do you have someone you’re flirting with? Admit it already. I won’t judge you. We’re friends here.”
She was smiling, but I couldn’t tell what kind of smile it was.
“You talk too much,” Olivia replied, focusing on her phone again.
“Why are you like that? I feel so unimportant,” Hailey said, pouting.
“Because you really talk too much. Give her some peace,” I said, laughing.
“Oh? When I’m with you guys, hmm…” Hailey smirked at me.
“Don’t… shhh.”
What was that supposed to mean?
“I’m already used to you, Hailey,” I replied, laughing. She laughed too.
Everyone has that one friend like Olivia. She may seem cold, but she’s actually kind—too kind sometimes. The kind who loves too much and forgets herself just to think about others.
“Hi.”
Carl just arrived. He smelled really good.
“Hello, my love!” Hailey greeted him.
“Why are you so late?” she added, putting an arm around Carl.
“You shouldn’t have come this early. It’s WAY too early.”
She’s teasing again.
“Sorry. I had something to do, so it took a while. I also woke up late,” Carl explained.
Why did you wake up late? Never mind.
“Olivia also stayed up late!” Hailey suddenly said.
“You two, huh? What’s the tea? And you didn’t share it with me? Wow. So this is how it is now? Let’s just break up. This relationship won’t work if there are secrets!”
She placed one hand on her waist and the other on her chest, as if she were in a drama.
She’s crazy. Really.
Carl laughed and greeted me. I greeted him back.
“How are you?” Carl asked Olivia.
Hailey reacted immediately.
“Wow, so unfair! You say ‘hi’ to us, but ‘how are you’ to Olivia? Where’s the justice, Carl?”
“I’m getting tired of your mouth. Can you please close it?” Olivia said, clearly annoyed.
“Oh! Maybe you should remember that this is my house. OUR house,” Hailey said sarcastically, clapping.
Good thing I know them, this is a normal scene for us.
“It’s your house. No one’s claiming it,” Olivia replied innocently.
Hailey laughed sarcastically. Carl and I laughed because of the two of them.
We were inside Hailey’s room, getting ready to watch a movie.
“What are we watching?” Olivia asked.
“SPG, babe,” Hailey replied.
Olivia immediately threw a pillow at her.
“What the hell?!” Hailey shouted and rolled her eyes at Olivia.
“Are you crazy?” Olivia snapped.
“Relax! It was a joke!” Hailey said.
“If I didn’t know you’re single, I’d think you’re pregnant with that attitude.”
She squinted at Olivia.
“But you’re not, right?”
Olivia just glared at her.
Hailey laughed and apologized, flashing a peace sign.
We watched Call Me By Your Name. Yes—BL. Hailey said it was good.
We were lying down. On my right was Carl. Next to him was Olivia, and next to Olivia was Hailey, hugging her. Olivia didn’t complain. They looked cute.
The movie was beautiful. Timothée was handsome. The story was sweet… and painful at the end.
I glanced at Carl. He was already asleep. There’s always someone like that—watching a movie, then suddenly sleeping.
After the movie, we all fell asleep.
The next day came, and we were back at school again.
I’m really tired. I’m not going to lie. This life is exhausting. I want to rest, but I can’t. I need to work. Sunday is the only day I can call my rest day.
I actually have a YouTube channel. I upload dance choreographies and cover dances. I already have thousands of subscribers, and I’m very thankful. I’m close to a million. I have millions of views. Some people even cover my dances. It makes me happy knowing they liked it. Because of that, I also have an income.
Some comments are funny.
“I’ve watched this so many times, and I still can’t do it.”
Others say, “I’ll just keep watching. I’ve lost all hope.”
If I can do it, you can too. It just takes practice.
It’s not easy, of course. You need to work hard—especially if you’re not naturally good at dancing.
But someday, you’ll get there. Just believe.
Just like me. Belief is the only thing I hold on to. It’s what keeps me going.
School. Work. Dance. Upload.
Over and over again.
One night, I looked up at the sky. The moon and the stars looked so peaceful. They were so beautiful that I suddenly felt emotional.
Will it always be like this?
Every time I look up, I feel this sadness—like it has no end.
I hope I find the peace I’m longing for. I’ll work hard for it. I hope that day comes.
The next day, I saw my friends gathered in the corner of the classroom. It felt like there was new gossip. I walked closer and saw Olivia in the center.
“What’s going on?” I asked—but no one heard me.
“Oh? Okay. I thought it came from someone else,” Olivia said into her phone.
“Yes, thank you again. I really appreciate your effort just to make me happy.”
Huh?
Who was that?
Oh my God. Does she have a boyfriend now?
She ended the call.
“Hey! Who was that?” Hailey asked, hitting Olivia’s arm.
Olivia glared at her, but Hailey didn’t care.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’ll pluck your eyes out!”
Olivia sighed and looked at us. Her eyes briefly landed on Carl—but Carl looked away.
Like he knew who that person was.
“He’s someone I know,” Olivia said.
“Oh, really? Not obvious at all,” Hailey said sarcastically.
“You call him, he sends flowers and chocolates, and you say ‘thank you’ in that sweet voice? Sure. Someone you just know.”
“I’ll tell you later. Not now. Class is about to start,” Olivia said.
“Go back to your seats.”
Classes went on. Break time passed. Lunch time passed. Still, Olivia didn’t say anything.
I didn’t push her. I know she’ll tell us when she’s ready.
After school, they came to my place again. As if I had food waiting for them.
I didn’t have work today. I asked my manager for a day off. I needed to rest—even just for one day. Well, I’m going to resign in that canteen soon.
“Let’s cook pasta,” Hailey suggested.
The others agreed.
“Let’s just buy some. I’m too lazy to cook,” I laughed.
“You say ‘let’s cook’ like you actually cook.”
They laughed. Hailey pouted, embarrassed.
We bought pasta and drinks nearby. When we got home and placed the food on the table, Olivia’s phone rang.
Of course, Hailey—the certified gossip girl—was listening closely.
Carl and I laughed at her.
While Olivia was on the phone, Hailey made exaggerated faces.
After the call ended, Hailey finally ate.
“So, who was that? Your boyfriend? Since when? How long? Months already? Are you getting married next year?”
Question after question.
Olivia hadn’t even eaten yet. Carl almost choked at the last question.
“Married? Are you crazy?” Olivia snapped.
“Oh? Same thing,” Hailey shrugged.
“Fine. How many months? When will you break up? Make it early—I’m bitter.”
She laughed loudly at Olivia’s reaction.
Olivia finally told us who that guy she was talking to was. who he was and why they were acting that way.
They just started dating this year. Everything was still new.
We understood.
We won’t force her. We’ll wait until she’s comfortable sharing stories about them.
- Writer
