Loving Leonora

Chapter Seven: Overthinking

It's been a few weeks since the school term started, and Lora can definitely say that she hate boarding school. She feel like she's in prison. Mobile phones are prohibited, class schedules are strictly monitored, and they only get to visit town once a month. Granted, the teachers are quite articulate in their respective fields, the facilities are first class, and the students are okay in general. Not to mention, her best friend, Talia also enrolled here to support her (or to nurse a broken heart).

She's feeling really antsy, she just couldn't wait to go out into the world again. She also learned that the Philippine Embassy is located here in Bern, and she might just take a detour. She just want to know if they have information on her mother, who used to work there, before being transferred to Spain.

"Lora, you look terrible! Didn't you get to sleep last night?" Talia asked in an anxious tone. They are in the library, doing their research.

"Yeah, I just couldn't sleep. I want to get out of here pronto!" she said rather loudly. Good thing the librarian is in the other part of area.

"Shhhh! Babe, it's not all bad. You should just look at things in a positive light."

"How Talia? Tell me? I just want to break out this place, I want to go home..." she whined.

"Hey, it's gonna be okay. It's almost weekend, we just have to bear it, then we can paint the town red on Saturday! Besides, a couple of guys from Edelweiss hall invited us to a party..."

"Party? Here? Oh really?"

"Lora dear, do you really think these people are all goody two shoes? Of course they know how to party, it's just a matter of a few broken rules and secret invites. Good thing they find us pretty, that's why we're in the guest list even if we're just newbies." Talia explained.

"What if it's an initiation Talia?! You know, boarding schools have a history on secret societies and the likes..."

Talia chuckled. "Can you hear yourself? Just a few weeks of being sober, and now you're becoming paranoid. It's just a simple party babe."

"But what if we got caught?" she asked.

"What did you do to Lora? Hello? I want my best friend back! You're not your usual self dear..."

"Yeah, I'm sorry I'm no fun these past couple of weeks. I just don't like being in an unfamiliar territory. And you know me, I don't trust people easily..."

Talia hugged her, "Hey I'm sorry. If you're not ready to go to that party, it's fine with me. Let's just finish that essay for World Lit."

"Thanks babe, I don't know what I'll do without you."

"Stop that, you're making me cry... Anyway, I've learned from Michel St. Clair, the cute guy from geography class, that the embassy is closed on weekends. But he knows someone who has a contact there. Here is the details." Talia gave her a small piece of paper.

"Wow, thank you so much! You didn't have to, really, I should be doing this on my own..."

"Nah, I just made your sob story an excuse to get that guy to notice me, I should be the one thanking you..."

"Gracias, gracias amiga..." she held the papper, and smiled genuinely for the first time since she got here. Maybe the universe is on her side now.