Searching for Love, Found Wealth

I stood up. Left for my Class Form teacher, took a sick leave and went home. My dream school wasn’t so dreamy anymore.

I wasn’t very smart so I did not need to be having missing classes or my senior exams would suffer.

How did that school turn out to be the most popular when it teachers were so lazy?

I tried phoning Michael but his phone line was going. It was really beginning to piss me off.

I wanted to have a talk with my mom about the school so I stayed up late chatting with some possible Korean guy on Facebook. We’ve been talking for a while.

I had to say, he’s stories didn’t match all the time. He seemed like a fake. But I didn’t care. It was social media after all, lots of fake accounts existed.

I’ll just keep fooling around with him till he opens up. I was bored anyway.

Mom eventually came home and looked very tired. She was surprised yet happy that I was still awake.

She confessed that she felt bad for not spending much time with me because of her work. I understood and I let her know I did.

When she enquired on why I was still up I began listing my grievances. I added that Charles hasn’t been picking my calls too.

Mom just nodded tiredly with a smile. I didn’t know why.

“I can’t imagine such schools. Filled with bullies and cute boys at the same time” it slid off my mouth but I didn’t regret much. I knew I could tell my mom anything.

“Cute boys eh? Well, the school was recommended to me. And isn’t today the first time the teachers slacked. Maybe it was the Friday weather stuff they had”.

Mom’s voice was low. She was gulping down water from time to time.

I immediately remembered. Friday weather. Charles had told me some schools did Friday weather.

Were they’d be lazy about studying because it was a weekend. Classes were usually shortened and school closed earlier.

And when I thought more on it. Monday till Thursday, they’d been good teaching timetable. Only that Friday, my first Friday, did I notice the slackness.

“The school is great, dear. Charles said his friend schooled there. He recommended to so his friend keep an eye for you. You’re good, don’t worry” Mom assured.

I asked her who Charles friend was but she didn’t know. I finally let her get some rest.

I had some rest myself. Next week I’d be going to school.

I wrote down the things I’d try to achieve by next week.

Find who Charles’ friend is. Resolve whatever dispute with Cara. Get a hold at the award I’d be competing for. Try encouraging Sheena to do the same.

Sleep sneaked on me while I was still deciding on what award that would be.

The next day started with an alarm I never knew I had blaring my ears out. I tossed it to the wall and it shut up.

I groaned in frustration as I was forced out of my dream of strangely playing Tetris. I was getting obsessed. But the game would always be worth it.

Maybe my brain was trying to tell me to strategize before making big plans.

And it was a Saturday. A free day. I could do all the strategizing I want.

I grumpily walked down stairs to see my mom eating omelet.

“What? Shouldn’t you be at work?” I asked frozen.

She looked sad, “Well, no work today. Isn’t it Saturday?”.

I gasped. I was becoming used to her outdoors.

“What can be done today to pass time?” she asked. I wondered if she already had something in mind. I did.

I tucked my own omelet down my hungry throat. Good thing I brushed my teeth before coming down or I’d have dropped down the omelet with a dirty mouth.

Not like the omelet cared. It should be dead and couldn’t smell anyway.

“Well, I was thinking. What award did you get during your own time. Like popularity award stuffs?” I knew her answer.

I’d heard it so many times but I needed to hear it one more time to help me channel my energy on something.

She had won top student and most innocent face. Mom was really cute and innocent looking so it was no surprise. I was surprised myself when I saw her old pictures.

I didn’t ask but mom began telling me of dad’s own popularity awards back at school.

I expected sports related things but none where.

He had won Mood maker, Top comedian, Nicest person #2. He was also the only person to had won three categories that year.

That was some legacy. I had to live to it. I had a feeling to love up to more. Mom narrated it was Dad’s funny personality that brought them together.

She was innocent and he was funny. One would think it was a perfect match in heaven till they heard about where they are now.

I was becoming sentimental with her narration so I acted uninterested and promised to fight hard to be “Top student”. I didn’t know how to but would try.

To improve her mood, I suggested we strolled around the neighborhood and make friends. For the first time, I was actually having neighbors who were excited to hang out.

My mom even found a lady who begged her to come around as she was a housewife and was always bored.

Mom was surprised but assured her that she’d try.

We continued going further and found a small church we’d be visiting by tomorrow. I found a local dog center.

And the owner told me I could come around to walk the dogs around every evening.

Mom said I could come around since I was usually home alone.

But I doubt I will. The man had been a bit flirtatious to my mom, I didn’t want to work while creating more space for him.

My mom is cool being a single parenting, I’m cool with it too.

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