It was Christmas 1993! Students were on vacation, they're free to register in the principal to go home to their parents or to stay in school for the rest of the season.
Lila was reading her book in her dormitory. She heard a knock from the door then closed her book and place it back to her bookshelf. She stood up from her seat to walk towards the door.
She opened the door. "Hello!", Lenn bursted.
"Oh, Lenn.", she spoke silently in a straight face.
"Oh, Lenn..", she spoke silently.
"Are you going back home? Maybe we could hang out sometime?", asked Lenn.
"Well, I'm staying here for vacation. I preferred to be alone.", said Lila.
"Then I'll stay here." he replied.
"Why..?"
"Because I want to get to know you better. Plus, I could use some alone time nowadays.", he replied.
"What about your parents?", Lila asked.
"Well, I do missed them. But I'll stay here for my new friend!", he smiled.
"Even though I was quite mean to you?", Lila spoke sincerely.
"I know you have your reasons, don't worry!", he spoke calmly.
She gave a little smile as she was grateful for Lenn's kindness.
"Hmm, I never seen you smile before. I think you look pretty.", Lenn said.
Lila started to panic a little. Then she said, "Thank you."
The next day, the both of them were at the dinning table at the garden alone.
Lenn stared at those students remaining hanging out with their friends. Lila ate her cookies while reading a book.
"Well, it's a mystery book.", she said.
"Title?"
"The Client."
"Sweet! What's it all about..?", Lenn sounded pleased.
"Well, a young boy named Mark, who lives with his brother and mother in a trailer..", Lila paused, looking at him smiled then continued.
"Then Mark and his younger brother witnessed the suicide of a mafia lawyer. Then he hired an attorney to protect himself, but he didn't realize yet that the Distinct Attorney was using him to take down a man family."
"Wow! But do you think it was a suicide or a murder?", Lenn asked.
"Would you like to read it, to see it for yourself?"
"Could you read it for me instead?", Lenn replied, "I'm not really fond of reading."
"Well, you're smart by memory, but never from books. Are you lazy?", Lila asked.
"A little bit, but I do my works well.", he sat up straight as he answered.
"Lovely..", she gave a straight face to Lenn as he finished his lunch.
Later on, they walked through the corridors together and then they saw Lenn's other friends at the park.
"Hello guys!", he greeted.
"What's up Lenn!", said by a boy.
"Hi Enzo!", he replied.
"How are you guys?"
"I'm fine, thank you!", Enzo replied as his friends went for a skateboard ride.
He asked, "Would you like to join in bro?"
Lenn moved a step backward while saying, "No thank you."
"Okay, I'll see you later then. Bye.", waved Enzo as he started to ride his skateboarding.
"Goodbye.", sighed Lenn.
Lila stared at Lenn, as if she was she was concerned.
Then she said, "Come with me."
"Where?"
"I'll show you something."
"Er- okay."
Lila took Lenn to her dormitory. She grabbed one of her books from her shelf after they entered as Lenn closed the door for her.
"What are you favorite kinds of stories?", she asked while reading the book cover.
Lenn replied while giggling,
"Well, any kinds?"
"Well would you like a scary book then?", Lila spoke in mockery.
"Er- no thank you.", Lenn stuttered.
"Okay then.", she spoke as she picked up another book from the shelf. "How about this?"
"Er- hehehe, that book seemed too formal in my opinion", said Lenn.
"Well it is a novel from a real-life basis.", Lila placed the book to the shelf, then faced Lenn while she asked, "What do you want?"
"Well, I guess a fun book."
"Well..", Lila picked up one book from the right side of the shelf.
"I guess this is what you want?"
"That's cool! However, I'm not fond of superheroes either.", he spoke as he stroke his own head in uneasiness.
"I guess you just preferred to do math huh? I got a whole book about it for college.", Lila said as she picked up her four books on the second shelf.
Lenn stared at the title as he picked it up from Lila's hands. "It says High School.", Lenn said.
"Well it's a review anyway, for our upcoming lessons since we are studying for architecture.", Lila replied softly.
"That's fine by me!", said Lenn.
"Thanks!"
"You won't mind if we could study together again won't you?", Lila asked.
"I don't mind at all sis.", he smiled.
Hearing him spoke happily made Lila smirked as they read and play a little game together at the moment.
. . .
At Christmas day, they got a present from their parents.
Lila got a letter from them, and she opened it.
It says there, "Merry Xmas to my brilliant angel, sorry that we haven't contact you for months. Your father has been very busy, and I had to help him as much as I could. As always I appreciate your efforts and I will be waiting for you when you get back.
Here's your present from me and your father, make good use of it! I love you sweetie." - Love Your Mom
Lila has that sadness look on her face while reading that letter. When she looked inside, and there were $100 in that envelope.
She smiled, but she was slightly sad about the note. She placed the money back to the envelope, and kept it in one of the last page of her photo album.
On Lenn's side, he received a box from his parents. It was a medium sized present box with a green wrapping paper and a blue ribbon.
In his dormitory, he kneeled down on the floor, and read the labels.
From your dearest mom and dad, "Merry Christmas! We Love You!"
He smiled as he opened his present in excitement. His present was a sweater. A dark purple sweater with some white pattern on its sleeves, and it has the letter at the front that says, "L".
He was very happy with his present, and he saw another figure inside the box. It was a picture of him and his parents in a frame. He was younger that time, in front of the church. He nearly cried as he missed his parents dearly. He remembered those good times that he and his parents spent together. Especially when they used to go to a restaurant, running round the park, watching a family movie together, and helps him with his homework.
He heard a knock while he was daydreaming.
He stood up, and wiped his tear. He walked to the door and opened it.
It was Lila.
"Good afternoon Mr. Lenn.", greeted by her.
"Lila, happy Christmas!", Lenn greeted happily.
"Well, I got something for you."
Lenn replied, "What is it Lai-ls?"
She gave him a tiny envelope. It was smaller than the ones she received.
"Oh, is this like a card? Aww you shouldn't have. Thank you!", Lenn said.
"You- Y-you didn't open it yet, y-you dim-witted idiot...", she stuttered.
He opened his mini envelope and he picked up a paper-like object, and realized it was a $20 bill. "Why are you giving this to me..?", Lenn was curious.
"My parents said to use the money for a good use, and it is.", she replied.
"But I can't accept this.", Lenn hastily spoke.
"Do you accept a gift from your friend or not?", Lila's face turned serious.
"Well, I do... but-", he spoke softly.
"Then keep it, just save it at least for something good.", she interrupted then she smiled.
"But you're my best present I had right now.", he continued. "Here...", he spoke as he handed something to Lila.
"Ooh what's this..?", she asked as she looked closely what Lenn was holding.
"It's a friendship bracelet, I thought we could be buddies.", he smiled while applying his left fist bump in front of her.
"Well, I never told you I like bracelets.", Lila spoke as she picked it up from his right hand. "It reminded the first one I had. It was filled with beads, and it's purple."
Lenn replied, "But, it is beads and purple."
"Oh, I hate it that you're quite ignorant. You witty dumb idi--", she hitted Lenn with a notebook gently as she spoke in annoyance.
. . .
It was January, and the students returned. Lenn was happy to see his friends again from their home.
Lila on the other hand watched him as he spent his quality time with his batch mates, while she read her favorite book.
Lila and Lenn started to chat quite often during breaktime.
When February came, everyone at school seemed excited.
"Who's going to be your valentine?", says the girl to her friend. "I bet it's John."
"OMG Lizzy, shut your mouth.", said the other girl.
"Hello ladies.", a certain boy came.
"What's up homie! Do you know that Genevieve has a-"
She covered Lizzy's mouth,
"I-it's nothing John, you know that she's a teaser."
The boy, John, laughed, "I understand that." As he stopped laughing, he glanced directly to the girl as he said, "By the way, Genie, I was thinking that maybe would you--"
"Would I what mate?", Genevieve said.
"Maybe would you like to- erm- spend time with me sometime. Especially since it's the month of you-know-what...", he spoke more silently as he continued.
Genevieve blushed as she didn't believe what he just said, "A-am I hearing it right?"
"Well it's fine if you don't want to, I just want to ask.", John said.
"WHAT'S UP PALS!", said by Enzo, who just arrived with Lenn and Donnie.
"Hello boys!", Penelope spoke from behind the two girls. "You guys just interrupted the moment."
"What moment?", Lenn asked.
He began to notice that one of his two friends were glaring at each other constantly. Lenn gasped while he clasped his hands on his mouth.
Enzo noticed aswell, and yelled, "GENIE'S GOT A BOYFRIEND!" four times in front of their faces.
"YASS JOHN HAS GOT A GIRLFRIEND!", said by Lizzy along with Enzo.
"You guys, don't tease them.", said by Lenn as he smirked to Lizzy and Enzo.
"Why not bro, and what about that new girl you were frequently with?", Enzo replied in a sassy tone.
"The new girl..? Aren't we all new here because it's our first year in College?", Lenn crossed his arms while smirking with curiosity.
Penelope hasten to speak, "You idiot, it's about that girl you were talking with every lunch break.", she points towards the girl with her purple dress and her straight bright hair, which is Lila.
"Oh Lila? No, she's just a good friend.", he smiled as he looked at her eating peacefully.
"Hmm, are you sure bro?", Donnie asked as his right elbow bumped to Lenn's arm.
"Yes!", Lenn raised his voice.
. . .
On Valentine's Day, after classes, everyone exchanged their gifts to their friends and their fellow classmates. Lenn gave his cards to his friends, and some of his acquaintances. Later, before evening, he approached to Lila near her dormitory. Lenn yelled as he knocked, "Lila!",
Then Lila went directly to the door and opened it to see him. She smiled, "Oh, hello Lenn."
"I want to give you something!", he showed her a small chocolate bar and a card.
"Happy Valentine's Day sis.", Lenn greeted softly.
"Oh my, well thank you.", Lila felt uneasy because it was unexpected for her.
"I know it's seemed cheesy, and quite girly. Although I'm willing to give you a present since you didn't got one or something.", Lenn spoke in a hushed tone.
"No one really did something benevolent for me. Well, except my parents maybe. Thank you.", she spoke softly.
"You're welcome.", he smiled.
"Is there anything I could give to you in return?", she asked.
"Aw Lils, our friendship is the best gift that I could ever think of. I just wanted to give you those little gift as my gratitude.", he replied calmly.
Lila lost her smile as she almost blushed in front of Lenn. "W-well... Thanks anyway.", she turned around for him not to see her face.
"Wanna study for the test next week?", he asked as he still smiled towards her.
"Well, of course.", Lila's voice sounded strained when she spoke.
"Okay, see you later mate!", Lenn spoke as he walked away happily.
Lila clutched her arm as she viewed Lenn as he walked away from her. She seemed very concerned, worried and afraid on what's about to happen. Therefore, she trusted him, and she's willing to accept the fact that Lenn seemed to like her as an equal. She decided to enter her dormitory once again and read one of her books.