"Laughter is a vibrant melody, harmonizing with the symphony of the silent cries"
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3 years earlier
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???: "get out, I said get out! Don't ever dare both of you to come here again. Find somewhere else to sleep! You don't deserve this house"
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Back to the present time, at noon after the last exam is over, everyone gets out of the class and fill the corridor. Some of them are discussing the exams and some of them are going home immediately.
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Lexa: "hey James, over here"
James: "hey Lexa, how was it?"
Lexa: "hmm how do I describe it like you usually do? Easy peasy lemon squeezy?"
James: "hahaha looks like I already gave you some gaming influence"
Lexa: "but thanks James, I'm glad we studied together last night, it helped a lot"
James: "shut it Lexa, you know I should be the one who says thanks"
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The corridor become more and more crowded that makes James doesn't realize that someone is approaching him
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???: "Boo"
James: "God you're scaring the shit out of me, how's your exams Jess"
Jessica: "It was kind of hard, but I bombed it. Wait, isn't she..?"
Lexa: "wait..Jessica?? Oh my god how are you?"
Jessica: "I'm very very good, gosh you look gorgeous, just like your profile picture "
Lexa: "stop it, you look even prettier than your profile picture"
James: "I have so many questions right now"
Jessica: "hahaha she's my lecturer assistant, she helped me a lot in calculus"
Lexa: "and we were just do the teaching remotely, so this is our first meeting"
James: "so that's why. By the way Jess, she's the 'another single person' I told you about"
Jessica: "whattt?? Really??? Oh my god it'll be so much fun at Makassar"
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Both of them began to hug each other cheerfully
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Jessica: "wait a second, so you're telling me that both of you are not, you know, that thing"
James: "eh, what? no, we're just high school best friend, right Lexa?
Lexa: "umm yeah, that's how it is"
Jessica: "aaaa okay, I guess I have to go now. I have to prepare for the basketball training, byee both of you"
James: "so I think I have to go too, I haven't seen Billy today, we promised to have a billiard battle after the final exam, bye Lexa"
Lexa: "Byee James, have fun with Billy"
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Both of them went into a different direction, Jessica to the basketball court and James to the canteen looking for Billy. Leaving Lexa alone in that crowded corridor.
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Lexa: "..."
Lexa: (highschool best friend, is that it?)
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90 minutes later, at the billiard court
James and Billy are having a conversation while playing the 15-balls of billiard
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Billy: "so how is your relationship with Lexa?"
James: "hm? What do u mean?"
Billy: "I saw you two have been together for a quite some time now, are you dated her already?"
James: "oh that part, no no we're still friend, and I don't know she feels about me"
Billy: "why not? You do like her, right?"
James: "yeah I do, and I already stopped dreaming about Cece now. But I'm just not ready for now"
Billy: "Is there something else blocking you?"
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6 balls remains, 2 solid balls for Billy, 3 stripes balls for James, and an 8 ball
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James: "god you always give me the hard ball"
Billy: "hahaha that's the only way to not lose against you. Back to the topic, is there something blocking you"
James: "no, not really, I just found myself having a lot of reasons to love her. But, I can't think of any reason why should she loves me"
Billy: "I see your point, you feel valueless aren't you?"
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James clutches the game, he put all of stripes balls and the 8 ball while Billy still has a solid ball. Ending the game with 4-3 in result.
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James: "huum, there u go the 8 ball"
Billy: "damn, now I have to pay for the bill"
James: "just like your name is, Bill Billy hahaha"
Billy: "My fate isn't it? About you and Lexa, I don't think you should think that deep"
James: "what do you mean by that?"
Billy: "see around you buddy, everyone else has their own lovers, what do you think of their reasoning? See me for an example, I'm not as clever as you, I'm not as popular as you, I'm not as good looking as you, but I got a girl from a dating app"
James: "okay.."
Billy: "so don't think too much for it, just as simple as make her comfortable is enough to make a woman stay"
James: "I get your point. Enough about me, how's your girlfriend"
Billy: "she's fine, she'll have a holiday trip with her family in 3 days, that means 4 days before our agenda with Jessica"
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Tring tring
James's phone is ringing
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Billy: "who is it?"
James: "jess, give me a minute"
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James picks up the phone call
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James: "hey jess what's up"
Jessica: "hey james sorry if I'm bothering you right now, can I ask for a favor"
James: "no it's okay I'm just finished playing some games with Billy, what is it"
Jessica: "I'm kinda low on money so I can't order an uber service, can you walk me home? I'm still at the basketball court"
James: "Right now? Okay okay I'll be there, bye"
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James hangs up the phone
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Billy: "I heard your conversation, you can go early buddy, I'll pay for the table first"
James: "sorry buddy I have to go, see you later"
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30 minutes later at the basketball court, the dusk starts falling
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James: "hey Jess, sorry I'm late"
Jessica: "heyyyy, no that's fine, thank you for your goodwill"
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10 minutes of awkward silence of walking together
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Jessica: "you like her, don't you"
James: "hum? What? Who's her?"
Jessica: "Lexa, I mean It's kind of obvious"
James: "huft, yeah I do"
Jessica: "so why you didn't make the move?"
James: "I don't know really, I guess I'm not that confident enough, and I also have a past with a girl too"
Jessica: "you dated someone before her? Thank god I thought you're gay"
James: "whattt, noo. I just had a relationship, it didn't ends well but I guess I'm healed for a bit right now"
James: "anyway, you said you're low on money, so what about the trip?"
Jessica: "don't worry about it, I'll do anything to make this trip happening"
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The days becoming darker and darker
She started talking to james without seeing at him and just looking down on the road
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Jessica: "James, do you know when someone is dying, they'll see a flash of their past moments and experiences"
James: (huh? why all of a sudden)
James: "umm yeah I think I've read it, that's why sometimes they're shouting their loved ones"
Jessica: "yeah, but what if they don't have memorable memories"
James: (what, why is she asking me these questions)
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The situation turns into a silence for a moment
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Jessica: "eh? I'm sorry, I must be crazy or something for talking by myself"
Jessica: "oh yeah you can stop here, I can go for the rest by myself, thank youu jamesss see you next week for the trip, bye bye"
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She started running towards a dark alley, turning her body for a second and waving her hand to James
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James: (Jessica, what happened to you, this is the first time I see her like this)
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That laugh when she's waving her hand, I can spot that the muscles beside her eyes are not tighten, it was a fake laugh
Jessica, the most cheerful and expressive girl I know, somehow shows me her other side. The next day, she acts normally like nothing happened at that dark alley
Jessica, she's an "Elsa", keeping her ability to protect the others and isolate herself
YOU ARE READING
Serenade of Farewell
Short Story"Serenade of Farewell" is a heartfelt story set in a coastal town. It revolves around four interconnected characters: James, a math prodigy; Lexa, an observant and kind-hearted girl; Billy, a resilient youth with a rulebook for life; and Jessica, wh...
