Bubble Tea

Jade : Her story

Song for the chapter: See you by Johnny Orlando

Jade's POV:

High school life for me was a blend of academic pursuits and the sanctuary of painting classes. Unlike Katy, Audrey, and Gia, who thrived in the bustling social scene, I found solace in the quiet corners of my thoughts and the therapeutic strokes of a paintbrush. My dream? Brown University, an Ivy League sanctuary that loomed like a distant yet achievable goal if I maintained my focus.

But amidst the routine and aspirations, there was one person who had always been more than just a friend—Varchasva Patel. Since childhood, we had been inseparable, two peas in a pod exploring our extensive neighborhood like it was an undiscovered land. His laughter was the soundtrack to my childhood, his adventurous spirit my guide through countless escapades.

However, at the onset of high school, Varchasva was whisked away to a boarding school, leaving behind a void that I couldn't quite fill. Despite our best efforts to stay connected through calls and messages, the distance gradually eroded our daily conversations until they were reduced to sporadic updates. Eventually, even those dwindled, and we lost touch completely. I missed him dearly—the way he effortlessly turned an ordinary day into an adventure, his infectious laughter echoing down our neighborhood streets.

Little did I know, life had a surprise waiting for me. It was an ordinary afternoon after tuition class when the familiar sound of laughter drifted into the living room. Curious, I followed the sound and there he was—Varchasva. At first, I didn't recognize him. He had grown taller, his features more defined, and a maturity in his gaze that hadn't been there before. It wasn't until he spoke, using that familiar phrase from our childhood adventures, that I realized who he was.

"Jade," he said with a grin, his eyes lighting up as he saw the flicker of recognition in my eyes.

My heart skipped a beat. "Varchasva?" I managed to say, my voice barely a whisper as I took in his presence.

He nodded enthusiastically. "Yea Jade, it's me! I'm back."

I couldn't believe it. Varchasva was standing before me, after all this time. Memories flooded back—late-night conversations, secret hideouts, and that one Gujarati phrase he always used to say when we stumbled upon something exciting: Tu bau aghri note che!
(T/n:
You are a strange creature)

A thousand questions raced through my mind, but all I could manage was a shaky smile. Here he was, my childhood best friend, standing before me as if no time had passed at all.

As my mom disappeared into the kitchen to prepare dinner, Varchasva and I settled into the cozy familiarity of our living room. It felt surreal having him back after so long, like a missing piece of my childhood had finally returned.

"So, Varchasva," I began eagerly, unable to contain my curiosity, "what have you been up to all this time? Boarding school must have been quite the adventure."

He chuckled, a reminiscent glint in his eyes. "Oh, you have no idea, Jade. It was a whole new world for me. At first, I resisted the structure and rules—I mean, you remember how I used to be, right? The class clown, always finding a way to make everyone laugh."

I nodded, smiling at the memory. "You definitely knew how to brighten any dull moment."

"But boarding school changed me," Varchasva continued thoughtfully. "It taught me discipline, responsibility... things I never thought I'd appreciate. I found my groove eventually, and believe it or not, I even became a prefect in my senior year."

"Wow, that's impressive," I remarked, genuinely proud of him. "Looks like you've come a long way from the mischief-maker I knew."

He grinned sheepishly. "Guess I had to grow up sometime, huh?"