One: Blue Jeans
Some people come into your life and light you up like firework. They show you how it feels to be exhilarated, to be joyful in every moment you’re together.
He is my fire, and I’m his firecracker. Together we ignite. He’s my best friend, my love runs deep for him, and now that we’ve been together for almost a year, I don’t know how to live without him by my side.
But today… he told me he’s leaving. I was lost for words, I tried to swallow them so they wouldn’t burst out of my mouth. How could he do that to me? I knew he’d been planning this for a long time, I just didn’t think it would pan out because … well, because he loves me too much to leave… (cry emoji).
I should’ve known, dancing is his first love, I will never be able to compete with his dream to be an idol. That’s what he’s leaving me for, a camp to be a South Korean Pop Idol. I mean … can you believe it???
People say it’s one of the hardest camp to join in the world, even harder to graduate from there and be an actual idol … so what’s the point? But Lee is Lee … he works hard to get what he wants, he always gets what he wants, or at least he will die trying. I guess that’s a good thing, right? On my expense? Not so much.
Do I think he’s going to succeed? Damn it … yes, he’s that amazingly talented, no doubt in my mind he will smash this and make all the other contestants look lame.
Two years ... (cry emoji) ... that’s how long the camp will be. He will have to continue for intensive training, total isolation from any social interaction except for immediate family members. Once he becomes an idol, I will lose him for good (cry cry cry).
What is this madness???? We’re so happy together!!! Well … we have fights, but it’s nothing compared to what Jan and Kyle had, or any other couples I know. We always make up, he always apologizes even though it was not his fault. He loves me … doesn’t he?
I couldn’t bring myself to ask him, what would become of us? What does this mean for us? I was afraid of his answer. He looked so happy and sad at the same time … he looked worried but enthusiastic, I wonder if it drives him as crazy as I am right now.
I don’t know how I feel. I’m happy for him because he’s going to live his dream, I should be happy for him … shouldn’t I? (Cry emoji) I love him so much … I can’t even tell him that now, I don’t know how he would react. What if he doesn’t feel the same? He’s leaving me either way … he chooses something else over me, isn’t he?
She closed her journal and tucked it safely in her drawer. She’d been wiping tears off her face ever since Lee told her the news. In two months ... he will be leaving for South Korea, and they will not be able to communicate with each other for two years. He may be able to sneak out and make a phone call, but chances are, he would jeopardize his participant-ship in the camp where tens of thousands of people are queuing for a spot.
She threw herself on the bed, stared at the ceiling, her visions were blurry from the tears that kept pouring out of her glands. Was this the beginning of the end of her first relationship? She didn’t want to believe it. She wanted him to tell her he decided to stay because he didn’t want to be parted from her. Isn’t that what he was suppose to do? If he loves her enough, he would stay?
Gloomy morning. The next day after the news felt like the world is coming to an end. Everything seemed darker, colder, like all hopes were lost. Or maybe she was just sad. She avoided Lee’s calls because she didn’t want him to know she’d been crying all day.
The fact that she was going to be inaugurated as part of the senior year’s student council is no longer something she wants to celebrate. It only reminds her that time is moving closer to when Lee will be leaving. Everything reminds her of that. Sophomore year came and went, it was the best time, it was the worst time, both was caused by the same person. Lee ... her first boyfriend and then he was leaving by the end of her sophomore year.
“Hey!” somebody banged on the locker next to her. He sucked her out of her thoughts. “Mr. Edgerton wants to see you,” Darren said.
“What for?”
He raised his shoulders and pouted, “Probably had something to do with the student council thingy ... he wants you to see him in his office.”
Hazel sighed, “Okay ... thanks for letting me know.”
“No problem,” he tapped twice on the locker door and walked away.
“Oh ... there’s a new student coming, did you know?” he added.
“No, ... today?”
“Maybe ... you won’t believe who it is,” Darren carelessly turned without telling her who it was.
“Who?” she raised her voice.
“You’ll see ... ” he waved his hand up.
She couldn’t care less. Not that day. She had far bigger problems than to solve that riddle. She walked towards the principal office without looking around, afraid that she would accidentally met his gaze. She couldn’t handle him yet, she will cry.
“Miss Williams!” Mr. Edgerton upbeat voice greeted her. “I’m glad you can come see me this morning.”
“Good morning,” her sullen face forced a smile.
“Come in, sit down ... there’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about ... since it wasn’t confirmed until the last minute ... so ... here we are,” Mr. Edgerton’s smile was wide, his shiny teeth would brighten up anyone’s day but not hers, not that day.
She curved her lips.
“There’s a new student coming today, and ... let’s just say ... he’s very new to the town, he just moved from the city, in fact ... he’d just arrived last night,” he threw himself back on the chair.
“He needs a lot of help,” he raised his brows, “If you know what I mean?”
Hazel watched him in confusion, “I’m sorry ... I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean, Sir.”
Mr. Edgerton let out a long exhale, “Well ... he’s been homeschooled for years, he’s never been in a public school before ... he doesn’t know anybody here ... not yet ... although I’m sure he will adapt fairly quickly considering his social status,” he chuckled.
Hazel furrowed her brows, “Okay ... I’m still not sure why is this any of my concern, Mr. Edgerton.”
The principal smiled and leaned his elbows on his desk, “Yes, the reason why I summoned you is because as the next student council, I feel that you are suitable to be his student guide for the first few weeks or maybe a month or two that he’s here ... I need someone to explain to him how the rules works, how to manage his time to catch up with his studies ... make sure he doesn’t miss deadlines, how to prepare for exams, and introduce him to all the extra curriculum activities we have here.”
“Isn’t that suppose to be understood without explanation ... I mean, he didn’t live in a bubble all these years, does he really need someone to guide him through everything?”
Mr. Edgerton let out a sharp laugh, just one “Hah!” as if he agreed. He tilted his head to one side, “Like I said, considering his social status ... his parents feel that Mr. Reynolds needs to receive special treatment which they asked from myself personally, but as Principal ... I can’t give any special attention to a student just because of their social status ... I hope you understand ... I want to welcome him to be part of Pinehurst Valley High family ... but he needs to know that he is just one of the students here ... nothing more ... nothing less.”
“I see,” she paused. “Reynolds?” the name sounded familiar.
The Principal nodded, “Marlon Dean Reynolds ... I’m guessing you know who he is?”Start writing here…
