Stranger

ch23-part1

Traditions are the glue that hold a relationship together.

Whether it's a family, or a friendship, or a romantic relationship, traditions are always keys to the best memories and moments in a particular time in life. I love them and I respect them gratefully. Seems like I am the only one in my surrounding though. 

Last night I listened to Devon's advice and I applied to college. Not just one though, I applied to all the colleges that were close by and some a bit further, but mainly to all the ones that had a literature department. I had debated between medicine and law among some others, but I guess Greta was right when she said that when the time comes, you just know it. 

I  thought about applying to other departments too, just in case, but somehow my heart wasn't feeling it and I just couldn't do it. My laptop mouse had hovered above the apply button, but I just couldn't make myself press it. My gut was refusing to do it and I listened to it. Sometimes the instinct is more right than our own thinking.

So, after the hard part was done and now came the harder and worst part, the waiting, I had decided to get lost in the wormhole called the internet to just forget and try not to stress too much about the future. Thank heavens I did because a notification about the most important upcoming event came through. On Saturday, the carnival was opening. 

This, people, is the tradition. For the past five years, me and Trish had gone to the opening day of the carnival, trying all the foods and going on all the rides. We have never skipped it, ever. Sometimes, when he had no other smarter thing to do, Ethan would join us. 

The carnival was twice a year, once in spring and once in fall. On special occasions they can do it in summer too, but this has happened only once since me and Trish started going there. It was a main event in the town next to ours, Trish's home town now, and it was always in the same spot, never changing.

Dad would take us to the bus station in the morning from where we'd travel by bus for almost three hours. The best thing was that this was an organized travel, so the bus would directly go to the carnival.

After arriving, we'd first dive into foods, trying everything that looked tasty and was sweet (of course!) then we'd go to the rides. And we try them all, not leaving one behind. 

Carnival day was really the day I had made the most amazing and fun memories. Every ride, every corner of that field held a joke, an embarrassment, a memory that we'd always remind each other of whenever we'd pass it. It really was unforgettable.

Now, as I said before, traditions kept relationships in tact. I thought everyone went by this, everyone thought like this, but apparently not. And this came slapping me in the face last night.

After getting the notification, I quickly reserve two tickets and the second the check sign comes up on my screen, I pick up the phone to tell Trish the amazing news. Turns out the news were only amazing to me. 

Before I go into explaining, first let me clarify that I love Trish deeply. I know I have said this before, but I needed to remind you all of it once again because things will make a turn. 

Telling her about the carnival had taken the total opposite turn of what I had imagined. Trish had almost broken down on the phone, complaining how she hated her school and the fact that she had to move, how she hated the professors for not having the same teaching plan as mine did. After getting me worried, I had demanded for she to tell me what was going on and that's when the coldest virtual shower came. 

Trish told me that she had tests coming up next week and she didn't dare to even take bathroom breaks so she couldn't risk losing time from studying. She said that even she had been locked inside for the spring break too, her teachers still managed to give them some new material to learn and this now resulted in her locking herself in her room once again.