Life Behind the Scenes - Lev H.

11

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Chatters surrounded the noisy classroom as the first day of the week started.

It had been two days since the group hung out. Nothing really happened yesterday, other than small jokes shared here and there.

The management refused to let the group see the camera footage without the consent of the higher ups and the group had nothing to do with it. So with slumped shoulders, Yumi and everyone else left the museum and ate lunch.

After eating lunch, they decided to go home after that. And as Sunday rolled around, Shin actually asked the group to hangout but Inuoka declined the four since they had an upcoming volleyball tournament and had to practice. And one by one, everyone disagreed.

Yumi had a lazy Sunday after that. With no homework to do, and no schedule to catch up, she was just lying in bed the whole day.

"Yumi, can I copy your homework? Mei wouldn't let me copy off of her." Shin walks up to the girl as he whines. Mei just rolls her eyes and continues talking to their classmates.

"Sure. But, I really don't understand the lesson so review it first before copying it." She said truthfully. "It's okay, I didn't even understand a word our teacher said."

Yumi let Shin off to copy off of her paper and she sludges off her desk. Until Miriko pulled her out of the classroom and lead her to the vending machines.

"What is it?" Yumi asks curiously. Miriko randomly dragged her to the soda machine and the only thing she could think of a reason was Miriko had another gossip.

"Nothing, I just wanted to get some fresh air." Miriko shrugs her shoulders and Yumi does the same.

"Anyways, when I was passing my club application: I actually passed by the men's volleyball club and saw that they're selecting members who'll go to some school for a match." Ofcourse, why was Yumi actually convinced when Miriko said she has no gossips. The girl's got ears everywhere. Scary, but Yumi just thought that's probably the way she is.

"Oh cool, did Lev and Inuoka got in?" Yumi asks as she drops a coin to the vending machine and pressed the button that activates Fanta.

"I don't know, the hottie coach already saw me before they could announce the students, so I ran for my life." Miriko answers casually and drinks on her soda.

"Seriously? Hottie coach?" Miriko laughs when Yumi pointed it out. "Y'know, when the first time I saw you, I never knew you'd be this thirsty for older men."

"Correction: hot matured people." Pointing a finger at Yumi with a mockful professional expression.

Yumi rolled her eyes and opens her can of soda. "Oh! Yumi, Miriko. Hey!" The two girls looked at Lev who was approaching them.

"Oh Lev, what are you doing here?" Miriko perks up and eyes you. "Came here to get soda. What are you guys doing here?"

Yumi answers his question, tracing her finger on the lid of the can. "Oh just- hanging out. Taking a break."

She smiles nervously. "Okay- excuse me." Lev responds just as awkard as Yumi was. "Oh! Of course, sorry."

After getting his drink, he immediately waved goodbye to the two girls and Miriko bursts into laughter.

"Yumi, you're making it obvious that you like him." Laughing to Yumi's demise, she wipes her tears off. "I don't like him!"

"Sure," Unbothered and unconvinced by Yumi's response. A scowl was evident on the girl's face and just lets it go.

"Oh! It's almost time. We should head back." Miriko changes the subject and both girls scurried off to enter the classroom before the teacher.

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"No, 'cause I didn't understand a word our teacher said." Shin cries to the group and Mei rolls her eyes. "Well, if only you actually listened to our teacher instead of passing notes to me about some cringey pickuplines- like what the cake." Mei complains, censoring her semi-cuss at the end.

"Wait- you actually read my notes? That's so cute." He awes at Mei, and the girl gagged at him.

The four were now gathering up and the only one missing was Inuoka who was speaking to someone on the door.

Yumi didn't know the guy and it seems that Mei and Shin didn't know him either. "Who's that?"

"Oh that's one of his seniors in the volleyball club." Miriko answered and she nodded. Yumi didn't recognized the person. Messy black hair, tall demeanor, and a sly look.

And one thing for Yumi to describe him, it was that she was sure that he and her wouldn't be on the same side. Not caring about it any further, she focuses on her own desk and waits until Inuoka goes back to his seat.

Yumi could feel shuffling in her sides and curious about what's happening, she looks up and saw Miriko talking to their classmates secretly.

She laughs lightly at the sight. Another gossip, she thinks. Miriko have the latest gossip in her hands everytime and it surprises not only her but the whole group and maybe even other grades.

It wouldn't even surprise Yumi if Miriko would suddenly know something personal about her. Like a selfie from five years ago that she swore she deleted.

"Is everything alright?" This was also one of the good tactics Miriko had to get gossip. Transforming her original intentions to a question for the other to open up. Scary and manipulative.

"Yeah, good news, even. Apparently, I'm one of the players who got chosen to go to a school who was supposedly our past rival." Everybody in the group congratulated him. Inuoka really was a good player, after all.

"Not only that, I'm now a regular player in the club."

"Wait- no way, man. That's awesome." The two boys bumped their fists together and even did a little handshake.

"When are y'all going?" Miriko asked beside her. "Apparently, this Friday." Shin gasped and everyone looked at him. He suddenly slumped down with a frown. "So you go'n skip classes? That's so unfair!"

We rolled our eyes at him and continued with our conversation. "By the way, Yumi!" She heard Mei call out for her when she was cleaning up her lunchbox. "Yeah?"

"So have you decided which club to join?"

Yumi stopped dead on her tracks. After she and Miriko went on club-hunting, that bsically was about it. She never really thought where to join. The girl shooked her head and Shin who must have been listening to their conversation, spoke up.

"Well, you should think about it now. I heard from our seniors at the first day of school that more clubs you go, gives you a higher chance of getting accepted to ivy league colleges."

"Pretty sure that's just a lie and a way to get you to join their clubs. And it's actually about the dedication and not the number to get you accepted." Mei disagrees at him and sat on the desk.

"Should we really think about that guys, we're still first years." All of them nodded at Inuoka. The day eventually went on with no troubles.

Yumi was now walking down to her condo after her and Miriko split up at the road but when she saw a cat with orange-white fur walking down with her, she stops to admire the furry animal. Light meows escaped the cat and yawned cutely at her. Yumi chuckled at the cute creature who was closing it's eyes, as if it was tired from its daily venture it had today.

Yumi crouched down until she was sitting on her legs she held out her hand to which rubbed its face on her palm.

Small smiles escaped Yumi's mouth. She had always wanted a cat since she was little but a part of her knew she wouldn't take good care of her. Yumi could barely take care of herself and ends up hurting herself at the end. And bringing a cat along would just worsen it.

She sighed as she got up, left the cat at the side of the road and went home to find Nari preparing the food. Yumi quickly went up to change into her clothes and went back to the table.

"How was your day?" Nari asks. Yumi looked at her with a bored expression. "Oh you know, the usual."

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