The Way He Looked At Her So Tenderly It Was Cute And Revolting At The Same Time. She Was Laughing At

The way he looked at her so tenderly it was cute and revolting at the same time. She was laughing at something his friend said. She was beautiful. She was practically perfect. With her cute short hair and small yet fit stature, who wouldn't like her? Not only that but she was smart and kind too — popular as well. What more can anyone ask for? He was beautiful as well. The perfect boy, they called him. Smart, athletic, good-looking, nice, funny — they were both perfect. They had their flaws, yes, but to everyone, they were perfect. To everyone, they were meant to be. To everyone, they were star crossed lovers. To everyone, they were the "It" couple. To everyone...but me.

To me, they were just another one of my friends. To me, they were just one of the few people I trust my life with. To me, they were one of they few who understood me. To me, they were the people who helped shape me to become who I am today. To me...they were just that one meant to be couple that I have the unfortunate luck of liking one them, maybe a bit too much for it to be platonic.

That's right, I like one of them. I like one of my friends — not just any of my friends but the one half of the ultimate "couple". Amazing, no? |

She stared at the screen in front of her as she wondered how she would continue her story. Bags were under her tired eyes as she had once again stayed up late to continue writing. A yawn threatened to escape from her lips but she held it down, fearing that even just the slightest of sounds would wake her darling mother up and now that wouldn't be such a pretty sight. Her eyes flickered tiredly to the bottom left corner of her laptop and mentally cursed herself at the time that stared back at her.

3:27 AM

She was running out of time and she knew it. It was her fault though. She could have started sooner and this wouldn't have to happen yet here she was again procrastinating till the last second before jumping to stay awake to finish her project. This time though it wasn't for school. No, it was for her own personal problems. Valentine's was nearing — or rather, Valentine's had come and she has yet to post a Valetine's special in her story. It wasn't needed, she knew that. She could have just typed out "Happy Valentine's" or write a short poem but no — her overachieving mind won't stand for it. She has to do something big and writing a Valentine's special was her plan. Problem is though — it's already Valentine's and she's barely started. Don't get her wrong, she had started before but every one of her drabbles just seems too cheesy or too sad for her and she wouldn't stand for it, removing and deleting paragraphs over paragraphs before re-writing or writing a whole 'nother idea than the last. Her hand reached up and ran through her messy hair before slowly going down to her face and rubbing it. She was tired. She had class tomorrow and she barely slept a wink — sure she's done it before, by that she means going to school with little to none sleep, but that doesn't mean it sucks any less. She's used to it, even got a schedule on what to do when it happens, but the idea of having to fight to stay asleep in class and keep her grades up while worrying about her Valetine's special and her upcoming seatworks and projects isn't really appealing to her. Or at all.

Small padded footsteps can be heard a few ways behind her making her turn and smile tiredly at the sight of her sleepy dog who stared at her before merely going to her feet and laying down. She sighed and bent down to ruffle her fur before sitting back straight again and staring at her laptop and the words typed in it, wondering just how she should continue. After a while of staring, she reached a hand out and promptly erased her drabble and hovering a hand over the keyboard, a new idea already in the making.

Valentine's day — A. K. A. The day couples use as an excuse to be more PDA than usual and spoil their partners. I hate it |

Nope. Too bitter. She erased it again before drinking from her cup, frowning when barely any coffee reached her lips, and hovering her hands on top of the keyboard yet again.

A cheer can be heard from a few ways behind her as yet another person confessed to their crush and got a yes. Her eyes rolled at the thought. How the hell do people even find the courage to confess when she could barely ask a classmate for a pencil without panicking? But then again, that was only her — maybe it was different for other people? Maybe. |

A sigh escaped her lips as she found her hands hovering above the keyboard, not knowing where to go next. She was never going to finish this on time. She closed her tired eyes before snapping them open at the small whisper of a notification, though she flinched at the sudden sound. Her eyes skimmed across the words before shaking her head with a small smile. They knew her too well.

New message from 'Fami-REE'

Sleep.

She looked at her dog before sighing. She'd have to finish this later today. With that, she closed her laptop not without saving her draft and grabbed her dog before going to bed to at least have some sleep before she goes to school.

==

That's it. She's going to die. If not by the hands of her friends then by her very own. A small groan escaped her lips as she laid her head on the wall beside her, staring with tired eyes at her teacher who droned on and on about something — Was it Linear Equations? Or was it Probability? Honestly, she didn't care anymore. All she wanted was sleep yet she can't have that. She's one of the honor students meaning she has to keep her grades up. Just great. Her eyes flickered to the empty seat next to her as her stomach churned at the thought of her sick friend before flickering to the girl in front of her and surpressing a wince. The girl in front was her friend. A very, very concerned friend who had smacked her the moment she saw her eyebags. Her eyes then tiredly swept across the classroom before settling at the front of the class and on her teacher. She must have looked dead right now. With her eye bags and her somewhat messy hair but what she didn't know is that she didn't look dead. Honestly, she just looked as if she was in a bad mood — her glasses covered her eye bags pretty well apparently. She watched as her teacher's eyes swept around the classroom obviously thinking of which student they should torture with questions next. Their eyes was about to settle on her but she had flickered her own to one of her friends which made her teacher call on her friend and not her. Oops. She flinched a bit. Sorry.

Time seemed to both drag and pass by within a blink of an eye as even though she felt as though the day would last forever, it was already their break. It was only half day for them meaning that they can leave before lunch but they still had recess — most commonly known as free period. Her friend — the one who had smacked her — pulled her to her feet and had her go downstairs to buy food for her stomach. Damn woman. Still, she let her friend drag her downstairs and buy her food to eat. Once the food was given, she slowly but surely began to eat, listening half heartedly to her friend's conversation with one of their younger schoolmates — a student who was a year below them she believed? — and putting in her input here and there. It seemed as if her friend had decided to tell a random stranger — to her knowledge that is — that she was Pansexual and began teaching said stranger about the LGBTQ+ community with vigor like no other. The thought made her smile, half fondly and half teasingly.

"So you can come out to a random stranger but not come out to your parents? Okay," She teased knowing full well how hard it is to come out to your parents before laughing lightly as her friend turned her head at her and started spluttering reasons why then laughing along with her. She was starting to wake up now. That's good. Her eyes flickered to the sudden movement a few ways to her left and she furrowed her eyes slightly at the sight of people she hadn't seen before. What were they doing at her school? Seeing her confused face, her friend sighed and reminded her. "Our sister school is practicing their concert in our school, remember? That's why we have a half day today. To give way to their practice."

"Oh."

That was all she could say as she went back to eating. Her friend, used to this, simply went back to her conversation with the stranger not realizing how deep in thought she had actually been. Her mind tried to find reasons why she was so disappointed all of a sudden. Was she disappointed that they weren't new students? Not likely. Was she disappointed that their sister school's practice had been the reason why they had half day? She wasn't complaining but maybe she thought it was for something else? Maybe she thought her school decided to be nice and give them more time to spend tine with their family instead of spending Valentine's day at school? Maybe.

But as her eyes swept around the area she sat in the cafeteria, she was suddenly reminded why she hated Valentine's so much as she saw the multiple roses and gifts other students, mostly girls, carried. For her, Valentine's was just a day to rub it in her face that no one loved her like that and no one probably will at the lack of gifts given to her. Her eyes looked back at her still conversing friend and frowned a bit when she remembered that her said friend had gotten chocolate from one of their other friends — one from the year below them — yet she had received none from that friend. She was being selfish though and she knew it. They all had been busy and of course they wouldn't be able to give gifts to each other that much. Plus the friend in the year below them knew her friend — the one who smacked her arm and forced her to eat — longer as she had been a transferee last school year while her friend had been in the school since 5th grade. Of course people knew about her friend. Still she couldn't help but feel a bit bitter at the thought yet didn't complain, mostly because she feared the answer. Maybe the friend in the year below them hated her and this was how they decuded to show it. A bit dramatic for her to think about but drama was in her veins so you can't blame her. She feared the thought of not being enough.

A cough broke her off from her thoughts as she looked at her friend who'd apparently been calling for her for the past minute. She smiled a sheepish smile before slowly standing up and throwing her trash in the bin, her friend following her lead. She waited for said friend to fall into step with her before the two walked together upstairs, conversing about nothing yet anything at the same time. Mindless chatter, one would say. The two reached the third floor — the floor their class was held in — before the two slowed at the sight before them. Yet another one of their friends from the year below was blocking their way to class. The two friends shared a look before approaching the younger student. The two barely reached them when the younger student began ushering her away. Ouch. She tried not to let her hurt show and succeeded for the most part — anyone who paid attention would have seen but luckily for her, no one was paying attention to her, at least not to her knowledge. Before she could even make a joke or a smart remark to cover her hurt, the younger student promptly told her that one of her classmates — another one of their friends — was inside their classroom which is why the whole class from the year below was screeching. Understanding and knowing that it was only a way to make her go away, she relented and went inside, immediately asking her other classmate friends what was up. One of them simply told her that the friend — the one who was in the year below them and inside — was being forced to hug one of her classmates — A.k.a. said friend's crush. Her still a bit sleeping mind struggled to process the information as suddenly one of her other friends began talking to said classmate — the crush of the younger student — and asking if he could hug her friend instead. Her body and mind worked on autopilot as she suddenly went to her classmate and her friend before asking her classmate as well to hug her friend with her hands in a prayer position as if begging. Her classmate took one look at her and her friend before promptly agreeing. He went to her year younger friend before looking back at her.

"What do I have to do?"

"Hug her."

Her words were immediate and without a thought. Her classmate nodded his head and turned around before giving her year younger friend a hug that barely lasted a few seconds — it was short yet enough for people, including her, to start cheering. But as her mind suddenly caught up with her actions, she stopped midway to her cheer and merely smiled a small, happy looking smile as she realized just who exactly the classmate had been. It had been her crush. Her crush that was silent and suffering. No one except a select few knew and even then, they didn't know that it was back or that she still liked him seeing as that she'd only told them once about it and barely brought it up ever again. The hug ended a few moments ago yet people were still cheering and she was still smiling, her eyes hollow in thought. Her eyes flickered to her classmate — her crush — no, her friend who caught her gaze and smiled a small tiny smile of greeting before she suddenly turned around and walked away. No one noticing the sudden slight shift in her mood. After all, no one cared about her enough to notice.

She saw her friend — the one who'd smacked her — still with her friend who had been the one to send her away and went to them before uttering two small words and smiling as if she was happy for them — as if she wasn't slowly dying at the ingrained picture of the two.

"They hugged."

But of course, her friends took no notice of the pained undertone in her voice and merely said their pride for their friend before going back to their previous conversation. Knowing with a heavy heart that she was not needed, she went away and walked towards her other friends noting how the friend he had hugged was in the group before sharing her happiness because yes, she was happy for her friend, she truly was —she just didn't wish she had to suffer for it because there was no way she would tell them she liked the same guy. No way. She had to be a good friend and she couldn't do that by liking the same guy as said friend — even though in this case it's admitting seeing as that she already liked him, she just didn't admit it to everyone yet.

"Ay! He hugged you huh? How does that feel?"

She briefly thought of the countless times she'd hid her pain with jokes and almost laughed bitterly at the thought yet held herself back.

"It was really nice."

The way she'd said it with a blush told her she enjoyed it really and smiled a small smile — one that many thought was of fondness but was really of sadness as if she'd realized something that made her give up.

"You really like him, don't you?"

"I do."

The fact that there wasn't any hesitance in her friend's voice made her heart ache yet she still smiled as if nothing was wrong.

"Well then, I wouldn't know what that feels like."

Lies.

"I've never really really liked anyone before."

Lies. Why do you do this?

"No one really caught my eye yet."

Lies again. Why do you hide?

"I've never experienced having butterflies in my stomach yet or anything like that..."

Again, lies. Why can't you just tell them?

"But — I wonder, if I do like someone, would it make me as happy as you are around him?"

Yet another lie. Her eyes saddened at the thought of her pain for merely liking the one guy she shouldn't have liked but of course, they interpreted it as sadness at the thought of not liking someone ever and being alone. They never did interpret her sadness correctly.

"It will."

She had to resist the urge to scoff at that and merely just smiled and nodded her head slowly.

"It will huh?"

It won't. It didn't now. It won't the next time.

With that she rushed to say her congratulations for the hug and before noting how all her friends were busy and simply, silently, walked away and to the restroom praying that no one would be there.

Fate was on her side that day as no one was in the restroom making her sigh in relief. She went to one of the many unoccupied stalls and locked it before closing the lid of the toilet and slowly sitting down. She clasped both her hands together and bowed her head down as she stared hollowly at the floor beneath her, knowing that she was too tired to cry but was awake enough to feel hurt. She put her head on her hands as she closed her eyes wanting to just wake up and find out it's all a dream but it isn't. She knows that and plus there's this part of her — the kind soul in her — that knows that if it was true, if it's all a dream then her friend wouldn't have actually hugged him and as much as that would have made her okay, it didn't sit well with her, remembering just how happy her friend had been. She was mean but she wasn't mean enough to wish to remove someone's happiness for her own. But even then, she allowed herself to be selfish in her short moment of privacy. She allowed herself to think of what would have been if she had been the one hugged and what would have been if she had confessed to him once upon a time instead of chickening out. Different possibilities surged through her mind as she allowed her tears to form yet refused to let them fall.

After composing herself, she walked outside the stall and splashed water to her face, happily noting how she didn't look like she was about to cry, before walking outside and back to her friends who didn't seem to notice a thing. She took a deep breath before she reached them. This was it. Time for the act. With that, she continued walking towards them with a happy smile, immediately joking around with them and hiding her pain behind her mask like always. She'd be damned if she let them knew what was really happening in her mind.

==

Stressed and tired. That's what she was right now as she laid on her bed with an exasperated look on her tired face, her phone a few ways away from her hand. At the sound of a ping, she turned around and looked at the notification before opening her phone and immediately going online. She scrolled down and checked who pinged her before suppressing a groan. Yet another person had complained to her about something. You see, she was a staff of a server and lately a lot of people have been complaining to her about something and now she had both Online and IRL problems to deal with. She closed her phone before rolling back to her previous position. It's been four or five hours since she got home from school and she has yet to receive a gift of any sort from any people she knew and the fact made her heart ache in pain.

She was about to cry or at least whine like a child when she received a notification. She suppressed a groan, thinking it was another person complaining, but rolled over to her phone nonetheless. Her hands wrapped around her phone as she opened it. Her eyes scanned the words of the message and immediately she was smiling.

New message from 'Bunch of Dumbos'

Wholesome Dumbo

HAPPY SINGLE'S DAY MOTHERNOTFUCKERS!

The fact that 'Wholesome Dumbo' refused to call them MOFOs was enough to make her laugh. She opened the groupchat between her and her fellow server staffs which became her online friends and immediately responded.

Awkward Dumbo

It's nearly night for me but Happy Valentine's to you too

Not even a second later he responded saying that she was too far ahead in time and she laughed. Each and every staff lived in different parts of the wrold and therefore, they had different time zones making it hard for them to communicate yet they without fail manage to talk to each other every day. It was somethine she's always looked forward to everyday. They were her anchors when life isn't the best to her. She smiled as she replied to his text saying that he should blame time zones and all that. A laugh escaped her lips when another staff member chatted back and said that they were being loud but still said Happy Valentine's day or rather, they said "Happy Single day" because they all just didn't have Valentine's that day. It was like the domino — or was it buttefly? — effect took it's place as one by one each and every staff woke up or checked their phones and suddenly, they were all chatting and joking around as usual. It was when she was laughing at something another staff said that yet another staff member decided to speak up but this time in a more serious note.

Wholesome Dumbo

I cherish you guys, you know that right?

The words were enough to make her world stop as 'Wholesome Dumbo' continued his speech about cherishing her and the other staff. Her heart felt light and her eyes stung as he continued with his words. A smile graced her lips as he ended his speech with a small note.

Wholesome Dumbo

Happy Valentine's day. I love y'all.

She felt like crying then and there because no one had ever said that they loved her. Not straight up anyway. Her heart was hammering with love yet it wasn't romantic. It was pure platonic, familial love that was running her heart. And suddenly, her mind woke up and she remembered that Valentine's wasnt just a day for couples but a day for people to show their love. After all, it's not the day of love for nothing and there are so many more kinds of love other than romantic. Just because Valentine's is usually associated with couples and all that doesn't mean it's all about that. No, it's a day to show people how much you love them. Sure, you should do that everyday — you should show your loved ones how much you love them everyday — but Valentine's is just a day to remind us about that. Or at least, that's how she interpreted it. And so, with her mind that barely got any sleep last night finally up and running, ideas swirled around her brain and she smiled. Time to write.

Awkward Dumbo

I love y'all too. I gotta go now though — I have an idea to write. Thanks for the wake up call!

With that, she closed her phone not without reading the replies of goodlucks and supportive notes they gave her. Adrenaline pumped her veins as she grabbed her laptop and started to write with vigor like no other. Her mind ran so fast that ideas — both previous and new ones — merged together to make a story that satisfied the young writer's mind.

A few hours that felt like minutes to her later, she was nearing the epilouge. She typed in the last few paragraphs in mind and as she finally clicked on the last period, she took a deep breath and leaned back on her pillow before reading her creation. It was based on her. It was of a girl who wondered what will happen on her Valentine's day when she suddenly saw something heartbreaking for the gal. She had then ran and her friends saw her before rushing to comfort her. They managed to do so after a few moments and suddenly, they were all joking around and having a moment. And in that moment, the main character realized that just because she was single and it was Valentine's and yes, her crush apparently liked another girl, doesn't mean that her Valentine's was ruined. After all, Valentine's wasn't just about romantic love. It can be of purely familial love or any other kinds of love there are. With that, she saved her draft and published it, sending the link to her friends afterwards.

And in that moment — while I laid there on Sarah's lap as she continuously patted my head and surrounded by all of my friends, all of us joking around and laughing like the maniacs we are — I realized something. Valentine's isn't just about loving someone romantically, it's also for something else — for other kinds of love like familial love. And as I watch all my friends laugh at a joke after they've comforted me, I realized that I don't need any man to make my Valentine's day a special day. I have my friends for that and that's what matters. Katelyn, who was grinning proudly as she had been the one to crack the joke that sent everyone laughing, noticed how deep in thought I was. "You still with us?" She asked jokingly but all of us could hear the concerned tone in her voice, no matter how much she tried to hide it. Knowing that I won't be able to lie like last time nor was I going to in the first place, I smiled my usual charismatic smile that made everyone of my friends physically sag in relief and smile back.

"Not going anywhere, anytime soon."

"You sure bout that? You're not going to run away again and hide to cry your hearts out?"

All of us knew the silent message behind Charlie's words. 'Are you sure everything will be just fine?'

"Yep, I won't. I'm sure of it."

Everything's just fine. And for once, I actually meant it. After weeks of dreading and moping around because of Valentine's, I'm finally content and happy. Maybe not fully happy but I suspect it's because of Brian's confession to Lea but happy nonetheless. I watched as they deciphered the meaning of my words before smiling both fondly and happily. It's been a while since I was fine and so I suspect they were all glad for the change. The dark side of my mind came up and made me briefly wonder if they were all mad at me for being so difficult to handle but I had suppressed the thought and forced myself to cone back to the real world and be content because I definitely needed a break.

"You okay?" was the first words greeted to me as I zoned back in the conversation which made me look up at Sarah who had been the one to silently whisper the question to me. I watched her for a bit in silence and noticed the worry in her eyes which made me smile softly. She'd always been a worrywart. I nodded at her and squeezed her hand.

"I'm alright."

I mean it.

"I just realized something important is all."

I just realized how much all of you mean to me

"No need to worry."

So don't worry about my silence.

"Everything will be alright."

I'll be fine.

"I promise."

I'll make sure of it.

I stared at her eyes and watched as she tried to decipher if I was lying or not. Finding that I was telling the truth, Sarah allowed herself to relax and squeezed my hand back.

"Everything will be just fine," She repeated my words making me smile. "It will be," I said to her before sitting up from my position on her lap and joining the conversation my other friends were having.

"I agree, Mason does seem gay to me."

My words caused all of them to laugh even as said person spluttered a retort before giving up and laughing along, knowing I meant no harm. Laughing along with them, I stood up and gestured for all of them to follow me, which they did even though they were all noticeably confused.

"Come on. Let's go ruin a random couple's day on Valentine's."

That certainly got them grinning before following me as I ran back to the school and out of the school fields, all of us laughing as we all thought of ways to prank our other friends who were couples and ruin their day before making it up to them. This is what Valentine's was supposed to be about. No, I don't mean ruining other people's life — It's fun, yeah, but that isn't what it's about, we just did that because of a joke and since we were all pranking couples that we knew so it was no harm. I meant so say that Valentine's isn't about finding a guy or girl to spend time with and be your Valentine. Sure, maybe it kinda is about that but it's also about spending time with your loved ones and reminding them how much you love them. Who knew it would take me seeing my crush confess to another girl to realize that Valentine's is so much more than a day for couples? |

Publish Draft?

Yes | No

Draft Published

02 / 14 /20

I NEED MOTIVATION GODDAMMIT

lmao, let me believe

Unexpected Turn of Events

━━━━━━━  ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:**:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧ ━━━━━━━

Bored. Supremely bored. That was what she was feeling as of that moment as she watched the rain fall from her window seat, a mug of hot chocolate in her hands. She watched the rain fall and stared at the raindrops on her window. A sigh escaped her lips as she turned her eyes from the window and to the hot chocolate in her hands. Blowing it slightly, she took a sip before leaning her head back to the wall behind her.

It had been raining for quite a while now which dampened the girl's mood. While she wasn't the most outgoing of the bunch, she did, however, wanted to go outside particularly on that day but fate wasn't on her side it seems as the rain fell right asleep she was about to leave. A few minutes later, she found herself in her current position. Curled up in her window seat, a cup of hot chocolate in hand, and a blanket around her to shield herself from the cold that came with the rain. Not to mention she was bored out of her mind. Her eyes flickered over to where her vast collection of books were and was tempted to read or re-read a book or two but she knew she'd probably give up on it halfway. Yeah, that's right. The bookworm, also known as the girl is so bored, not even books can help her. Oh the horror!

Her thought process made her crack a smile before she shook her head at herself. Boredom and Isolation really made her weird. She wondered what she could do. Her eyes raked her entire apartment as she tried to find a way to keep herself entertained, all the while taking a sip from her mug. What to do? What to do?

As she was finding something to entertain herself, padded footsteps can be heard coming from the hallway making her perk up with a smile. Whatever it is, it clearly wasn't a threat as the girl seemed relaxed despite hearing the footsteps. "Hey, baby. Slept well?" She cooed at the seemingly jogging pup once the pup was near her. The pup was a black and white Havanese pup and was a cutie as well. The pup smiled at the sight of her owner before jumping up and landing on the girl's laps making said girl laugh. "I missed you too."

The girl — a blonde of average beauty, if she does say so herself — smiled at her pup before finishing her mug of hot chocolate. She placed it down the small table she had near her before readjusting her sitting position so that she was no longer slouching and rather sitting up. The blanket moved and we finally caught a glimpse of what she was wearing. The blonde wore a baggy sweatshirt and a short to go with it. Her hair was in a messy bun as she nuzzled her face on her pup's exposed stomach. "Cute baby," She cooed as she smiled at her pup who smiled back, her tongue sticking out. Her pup then sat up and licked her face making her laugh and lean back, holding her pup in place so the pet doesn't fall. "Stop it!" She exclaimed through her giggles which made her pup stop licking her face and tilt her head. Before the blonde could even comprehend what was happening, her puppy ran off somewhere. A sigh escaped her lips as she sat up from her window seat. The blonde began to stretch and yawn as she realized how long she had been curling up for.

Blinking the tiredness away from her stunning crystal blue eyes, she put on her flip flops before walking off to follow her puppy. Who knows what would happen if she left her puppy alone for long? "Cookie? Where you, baby girl?" She called out for her pup, momentarily smiling as she called out the name of her pup, Cookie. It was childish, she knew but the moment she saw her pup, cookies were the first to come in mind which then led to her name. She walked around her apartment to try and find her pup but to no avail. Where could have Cookie ran off to? The blonde furrowed her eyebrows as she began to worry about her pup. Yet, she need not worry any longer for instead of finding Cookie, the pup found her.

A sigh escaped her lips as she stared at her mischievous, nearly a year old, pup who simply tilted her head, not knowing that she had basically almost made the blonde panic. "Don't scare me like that," She spoke softly as she began walking over to Cookie but the ever so mischievous pup only smiled before running off somewhere. Not really in the mood to run, the blonde owner merely just followed her pup, not bothering to run. She wondered where Cookie was going to as normally the pup doesn't run off...unless she wanted to show her something. The thought made the blonde curious as she quickened her footsteps.

Her crystal blue eyes caught sight of Cookie's furry leg turning around a corner to — wait, that's the storage room. Why was Cookie going to the storage room? Even more curious, the blonde followed the pup and put a hand on her hips as she watched Cookie put up her paw on the storage room's door as if to will it to open. Mentally melting at the cute sight of her baby, the blonde snapped out of her trance before going over and opening the door for her pup. Cookie was obviously overjoyed at this and she immediately dashed inside the moment she was able to. "At least wait for me." A laugh escaped her lips as she followed her pup. Looking around the room, the blonde was suddenly hit with a rush of nostalgia as she looked over the many "trash" inside the storage room, all of which she didn't have the guts to throw away. After all, each and every one of these so-called trash held great value in the blonde's heart and she simply couldn't let them go.

Her amused eyes slowly began to haze as she recalled all of the meanings behind all of the items. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she forgot that her pup was there as well. She only ever remembered when her feet felt something furry hit her. Looking down, she saw Cookie look at her making the blonde smile sheepishly in awkwardness. "Sorry, baby." It was also in that moment that she noticed that Cookie was standing in front of a box filled with yet another set of items she didn't have the courage to throw away.

"What do you have there?" She asked softly as if Cookie would be able to answer, all the while she slowly began to crouch down to get a better look at the box. Cookie didn't respond as jshe merely put up her paw on the box as if to tell her to look inside. Sighing, the blonde crossed her legs underneath her so she was sitting in a more comfortable position. She then gestured to her lap and Cookie immediately obliged, moving to sit on her lap yet again as the blonde began to look into the box. It didn't take long for the blonde to realize that all the items in the box were her "souvenirs" from her school that she stayed in since the start of middle school to the end of highschool before she transferred away for college. The school has always been close to her heart, closer than her college school had been, for she had met many people and made friends. In that school, she learned to open up and let people in which greatly helped in the making of the woman she was today. She rummaged through the box, finding things that made her wish she was young again but was careful not to hurt Cookie.

The blonde smiled brightly as she looked at the elegant black necklace box. She opened them only to grin even wider than before as she saw the necklace inside. The necklace wasn't anything fancy. It was just a simple necklace with a blue heart in the middle. She lifted the necklace in the air as she stared at it in awe. "I forgot I had this," She muttered to herself before looking down at her pup who stared right back at her. "What do you think? Should I?" Seemingly already knowing what her owner was asking, Cookie merely licked her face in agreement which made the blonde laugh. "Okay, okay," She spoke as Cookie stopped licking her. The blonde sighed before putting the necklace around her neck. She marvelled at the simple beauty of the necklace before looking at the box only to furrow when she saw a note inside the necklace box. Grabbing the note with great delicacy, she put down the necklace box before opening the note and smiling at what was written in an ever so familiar scribble.

I thought you'd like the unnecessary gift.

~ E. C.

Tears gather up in her eyes as she continued to smile. He actually went out of his way to buy her a gift when it wasn't an occasion. How sweet. She put the note on her lips and kissed it as the tears fell from her eyes. Guilt swallowed her whole when she remembered how she only merely grabbed the gift years from his hands and didn't even open it until now. All because she was petty and jealous... Just how foolish had she been?

Looking down, the blonde put the note back in the necklace box before snuggling to Cookie. "You made me cry. Why did you bring me here?" She asked her pup through her furs but was never the less grateful Cookie led her here. It just reminded her of something she had to do... Something she had to fix...

Cookie obviously wasn't done yet as she got out of the blonde's hold before nudging the box again and turning to look at the blonde in the eye. The blonde merely stared back with her still teary eyes before sighing and looking at the box again. This time, the one that caught her attention was a worn down photograph. Still feeling numb, the blonde slowly but surely grabbed the photograph and held it with so much care as if it would break if she didn't.

The picture was of two children. Possibly teenagers, around 15. Both of them were wearing uniforms. The girl of the two wore a beautiful light blue button up classic above the knee length dress with a light blue blazer with a dark blue trimming and the school's emblem embroidered on the left pocket. She also wore dark blue stockings and a lightly blue shoe with a small heel. She was a beauty. Even as a teenager, or so it seemed, the girl could be considered gorgeous. She had light hair, blonde it seemed and stunning blue eyes. The girl was standing near a boy with her posture straight and hands behind her back. Her face wasn't all that expressive but anyone can tell she was happy from the glint in her eyes and the quirk on her lips. The blonde who stared at the photograph knew exactly who the girl was. After all, how could anyone forget what they looked like back then?

She then looked at the boy and she felt like she couldn't breathe. Unlike the girl, unlike her, the boy had no problem with showing emotions as he smiled brightly in the photo. Yet the bot wasn't smiling at the photo, she was smiling at the girl, fondness and excitement clear in his face. The boy wore the same blazer as the girl but instead of a dress underneath, the boy had light blue pants and probably a random shirt inside the blazer. Though, the boy also had the same shoes as the girl, minus the heel of course. The young blonde woman who stared at the photograph almost wanted to cry right then and there yet she didn't as she turned the photo around to see two different handwriting, one was a scribble and the other a beautiful cursive writing.

“No matter what.”

Éric and Amélie

5th year and 6th year, respectively

The writing had the blonde, now known as Amélie, cry silently as she put her head down, her tears landing on the photograph her somehow, it wasn't ruined. How? She didn't have the time to think about it as she put the photograph aside and hug Cookie who didn't complain one bit. Everything came rushing back to her as she remembered her so called Highschool sweetheart, Éric. The were one of the school's power couples despite Éric being a year younger so it was a surprise when they found out they broke up. If only they knew that the reason for their breakup was because Amélie got jealous over Éric's friends which promptly led to the two arguing and breaking up... Tears fell ever faster from her eyes as she cursed her young self. A sob escaped her lips as she pressed her face on Cookie's fur. The breakup, despite being years ago, still hurt for Amélie as Éric was the one who convinced her to open up... To be the woman she was today... And she ruined her chance of happily ever after just because she got too insecure. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Éric probably hated her now for being too clingy, too needy, too insecure but it wasn't as if she could help it. After all, her childhood bullies did make it so she'd always doubt herself... Amélie took a deep breath as she finally removed her face from Cookie's fur. "I'm sorry, baby," She cooed softly as she ran her hands through Cookie's fur. The pup merely shook her head and left. Cookie's actions confused and hurt Amélie but didn't bother to follow the pup as she stared at all the old school items around her, her hand subconsciously clasped around the necklace. She noticed how all of the school items around her were mostly form Éric and if not from him then it's an item that holds a memory with him in it. A broken chuckle escaped her lips as she shook her head. "How foolish of me," She spoke to herself, referring to her old self before getting ready to store all of it and leave it alone like she had done all those years ago. But, before she could do that, Cookie came running in with something in her mouth. She ran over to Amélie and placed down the item only to reveal it's a phone before nudging Amélie and nodding to the phone. Confused, the blonde slowly picked up the phone and looked at Cookie in confusion. The pup seemed to roll her eyes, if that was even possible, before putting her paw on the photograph and more specifically, on Éric.

Understanding what Cookie wants her to do, Amélie shook her head. "No. Besides, he probably changed his number since then. It has been years," She immediately denied only to fall silent at Cookie's stare. Defeated, she sighed. "Fine, I'll call but he might not answer anyways," She spoke as she began dialing the number she hadn't failed for years.

Hearing the familiar ringing, she placed the phone to her ear and stared at Cookie as the seconds passed. The blonde seemed to be saying that she knew that he wouldn't pick up to her pup through the use of her eyes yet the pup stood strong. Rolling her eyes, Amélie took a note of how Cookie could be so stubborn sometimes before realizing the the phone has been ringing for quite a while now. As it reached it's final ring, Amélie slowly began to pull the phone from her ears, trying to hide her disappointment despite the fact she expressed that she didn't want to call him a few moments ago but then—

"Hello?"

The familiar voice made Amélie's eyes widen as it registered in her mind. Despite it being years, Amélie knew that voice. It was definitely Éric. She also noticed how his voice grew deeper but didn't dwell on it that much. No, rather she was too busy panicking that Éric actually answered her phone call. Sure, she wanted to talk but what was she supposed to say? What if he heard her voice and knew who she was before just hanging up? Or worse, what if he began yelling at her the moment she revealed who she was? What if?—

"Look, if this is a prank, I'm not in the mood right now, I'm too—"

Amélie glanced at her triumphant looking pup, momentarily rolling her eyes before responding to Éric, not really think much about it.

"Éric?"

Silence came from the other line which made Amélie nervous. Oh great. Now he knew who she was. She shouldn't have said anything! But then again, if she didn't, Éric would have hung up...yet he is silent. Too silent. Her eyes widened. What if he's too shocked right now and once he realizes it's her, he'll start yelling? She had to hung up. But she can't leave without a small goodbye...

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have called I—"

"Amélie?"

The way he spoke her name so tenderly like all those years ago made her almost want to cry. Tears already in her eyes at the mere sound of her name coming from his lips, she nodded but then she remembered that he couldn't see her.

"Yeah, it's me."

"Why are you calling?"

Because I miss and still in love with you.

Those were what she wanted to say but she didn't dare utter any of that as she stayed silent. Sure, what she thought was the truth but not the entire truth. After all, she had been practically forced by her pup to call him. Not that she'd tell him though. She'd rather not have him think her as crazy.

"Amélie?"

"Uhm..."

It was one of those times that Amélie hated herself. Really? You're calling your ex and the only answer you can think of to his question is uhm? Wow, Amélie. Just wow. Just great. Fantastic. You're doing great, honey.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have called. I just— I should go—"

"Wait!"

His voice stopped her from hanging up as she waited for him to continue. Yet he never did. A sigh escaped her lips.

"Look, I'm sorry to bother you, I'll just—"

"Do you want to meet up?"

Amélie swore she stopped breathing as she heard the offer her ex gave her. Sure, she heard it was bad to go back together with your ex but they were only meeting up. It wasn't as if they'd immediately get together. No matter how much she wanted to. While Amélie still love Éric, she's more cautious now. She didn't want to feel the pain of heartbreak again. Not when she wasn't even fully over the first one yet. Realizing she had yet to answer, Amélie smiled as she does so.

"If I say yes, are you going to stop cutting me off?"

A laugh resounded from the other line making her heat soar. It's been too long since she'd heard his laugh. Too long.

"That's a yes."

"Then I agree."

Her immediate answer caused Éric to smile in relief, not that Amélie knew. Like Amélie, Éric was also still not over their breakup and meeting up with her might just fix all their ties. Even if they won't go back together, at least they'd have each other back in their lives and that was all they needed.

"I'll pick you up at 8 tomorrow then."

"You don't even know where I live."

"Trust me, Amélie. I know."

"Have you been stalking me, Éric?"

"I thought it was romantic."

A laugh escaped Amélie's lips as she shook her head, not knowing how her laugh caused Éric to smile widely from the other end of the line.

"I'll just see you tomorrow at 8, you dork."

"See you then."

With that, their phone call ended with the two young adults smiling widely as if they were still teenagers. Amélie glanced at her pup and ruffled Cookie's fur. "Thanks for that, baby," She spoke as she slowly stood up. Amélie looked at Cookie before looking around the storage room, an idea in the making. Her crystal blue eyes glanced at the door and smiled. They still had plenty of time before they go to sleep. "What do you say we redecorate our apartment?"

A bark followed by laughter can be heard coming from their apartment as the pair began to grab the items in the storage room to use for their redecorating.

Who knew that was started out to be a boring day would have such an unexpected turn of events?

Haven't gotten one yet but still though — be careful guys and gals. Stay safe and stay smart. If you don't know that number, don't — and I repeat —don't click the link. Never ever do that. Be careful.

WARNING!!!!

People, please be careful. There are also people tracking children and people and putting bids on them based on their profile pictures on whatsapp, tracking and kidnapping them. Especially young children, so please be cautious, especially parents who have their children as their profile pictures.

Please pass this on to everyone so that they are aware of the danger. I don’t how it is all around the world but I know it can’t just be here so please please spread the word. Thank you.

"THE WORLD EXPECTED HER TO BE THE DAMSEL, so she went up and showed them how to be a Queen."

— A woman's motto