Teen friendships

17. Someone's last and someone's first day

Anyways. I was happy that I got something delicious that day. When we were done with all our works of night, well, there was no work actually, we went back to sleep. Before I could sleep, I always checked my phone. There was a message from Steffie. 

'Hey Ano, see that you don't bring up any topic tomorrow in school about Mark. Don't even say his name. Even if you hear that word from outside, pretend as if you don't know. Okay?"

She was distressed about the three boys and seemed very concerned about their relationships. I replied with a thumbs up. Not to get too addicted to the phone at the midnight, I would keep it on the table, far from my bed.

After 8 hours, my eyes would get opened to see the new day. As usual, I had to go to school but before that, I had to prepare my lunch in the morning. Mom would just get up, do nothing and go to her office. I thought that at least she would help me because last night she was super happy. But no! The show lasted for only a few hours. After I was done with everything, I left for school.

I travelled ½ a kilometre and reached my school. The environment was the same. There is never a change unless there is some sort of celebration. Steffie and Lian were already in the class. I entered and wished them 'Good morning'. They wished me back and Steffie stood up and made me sit as if she was waiting for me to tell something.

I was right. She was weeping and started telling me, "You know what, today Lian would leave us and the teacher would introduce a new person. I feel nostalgic. I can't understand what to do." And she busted in tears. 

Lian was like watching the drama and didn't utter a single word. I told her, "Why are you crying so much. He is not leaving us forever. Even we are going to be in touch with one another. So what's the point of crying?" 

And then Lian spoke, "Ano, don't get tricked by her tears. She is just practising how to act." What? She was pretending and I thought it was for real.

She laughed at me and asked if it looked real. There was actually an inter-school competition of acting where she was given the role to cry. I wanted more details to know about that competition but it was the time for our lecture. The teacher came in and the students greeted. She didn't start to teach but called Lian in front.

"Class, it's a great honour for our school to have such an amazing man. He is a footballer, I hope everybody knows this by now. So he has been selected for the national team but not from school. It is completely separate. He won't be able to study with us anymore. It would be good if all of you wish him good luck before he could leave. Let's give him a round of applause for getting such a great opportunity to get qualified in the national team." 

Everybody clapped. The teacher told him to take back his seat.

She continued, "Now since Lian will be going, and it's also not too late since we started this new academic year, there would be a vacancy. So there are students who are transferred and would like to take his seat and continue to study. So we have a student who will be joining us from today. Let's put our hands together and welcome Mr Jonathan Davis."