Lenn work up after his slumber. A few moments later, he realized he had tears in his eyes as soon as he get up from bed. He had no idea why it happened. All he thought was that he had a great day but he felt out of sorts.
As his usual daily routine, he helped his mom with all the household chores, and sold their plants to many people in their community.
One day, two of his friends came to his home. They arrived at his door step and the girl gave a little knock. A kind man opened the door and said, "Well, greetings sir and madame."
It was Penelope along with Enzo. Her hair is usually blonde with blue eyes and her hairstyle is in bunches. She wore a white hoodie that has the word 'party vibes' on it with her blue dress and white sneakers. Enzo usually had a messy brown hair and brown eyes. He wore a thrasher hoodie, and black pants with his rubber shoes.
"Greeting to you too Mr. White.", Enzo replied while Penelope giggles.
Then she asked, "Is Lenn home sir?"
"Certainly you two, come in!", Lenn's dad led them in the house.
As they entered, his mom saw her son's bestfriends. Then she spoke while she smiled, "Why hello Penny and Enzo! How are you youngsters doing?"
"We're okay thank you Mrs. White!", they both spoke, nearly at the same time. They stared at each other, then giggled due to three seconds of silence.
Lenn's mom giggled then said, "Are you guys hungry or thirsty?"
"We're good, thank you!", Enzo replied while he smiled.
"We were wondering if- h-how Lenn is feeling right now.", Penelope spoke in a sensitive tone. "May we speak to him please ma'am?"
"Why of course you can kids.", she spoke as her husband passed by the kitchen.
He said, "He's resting in the room right now. You can comfort him as long as you like if possible.", he spoke while he smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ
"Okay, thank you sir!", Penelope smiled as she stood up for her to approach to Lenn's room along with it Enzo. "Laters!", he gave a high-five to Lenn's dad before he ran along.
They arrived at the door. She gave a little knock.
Lenn heard the noise and he expected to be his mom because her knock was gentle. When he opened the door, he was surprised.
"You guys...", he spoke in a weak tone. He then gave them a hug as a welcome.
In a moment, they sat on Lenn's bed as they laughed and talked about fun things.
Then Penelope said, "What's up with you by the way?"
"Yeah bro, you seemed slightly unwell last time.", Enzo spoke anxiously.
Lenn stared at both of them at the moment they asked him if he was okay, then he said, "I'm fine thank you. Are you guys okay?"
"Of course we are, but we're starting to get worried mate, you weren't acting so-", she paused, "so..."
"Secretive.", Enzo finished her sentence.
"Well, yeah... And that's very unlike you before.", she spoke while she patted on Lenn's shoulder.
Lenn stayed silent for a moment.
"Lennie, I thought we should talk to each other when one of us got a problem.", Penelope spoke while Enzo nodded. She continued, "I don't know if that only an emotional problem or there's something happened to you that we didn't know, and-"
"Woah, don't worry, I'm not hurt nor bullied.", Lenn interrupted as he slightly smiled.
"Then what's bothering you?", Penelope spoke in a sincere way.
Lenn sighed, he couldn't bare it when he saw his friends in their worried faces.
He decided to share a story to both of them, regarding on that day when he bought popcorn before their movie night. He included the part where he saw Lila at the slushy stand, which was next to the popcorn stand.
"Oh! The girl..? For real?", Penny seemed surprised.
"Yeah. She left without a reply. I understood because her parents were with her.", he spoke in a darker tone that Enzo held Penelope's right hand as a response. Lenn then raised his tone, "I know! I saw them."
"I wondered why she's afraid to do what she wants.", he paused as he looked down on his white bedsheet, then spoke in a darker tone "Wondering why is she so afraid of her parents." He looked back up towards his bestfriends, who seemed anxious at some point. "Am I overthinking you guys?"
Enzo then spoke expressively, "Seriously? I just overthinked about you due to your actions, and that was your only reason!?"
"Not exactly bro.", Lenn said while he leaned on his pillows.
"Calm down, there could be another reason why he felt this way.", Penelope faced Enzo while she raised her left arm and patted Lenn's head and realized something.
"And why are you holding my hand.", she raised her eyebrow.
"Erm- I-it's because of b-bro.. W-well I felt bad for him so I held.", Enzo stuttered as he instantly let go of her hand.
"But why mine, not Lenn's?", she crossed her arms while she smirked subtlety.
"I thought that was his hand!", he sniggered.
"You're weird bro.", she said calmly.
Lenn raised his head then he replied, "Yeah, why would you want to hold my hand?"
Penelope giggled while Enzo answered, "Erm- to sympathize with you of course."
"I don't think a guy would hold another boy's hand unless he likes him.", Lenn giggled along.
"What do you mean? Doesn't boys like girls?", Enzo said while he moved himself backwards from them. "You guys make no sense."
Lenn sat back up then replied, "Well, I guess you don't remember when we saw those two boys outside the school."
Penelope giggled, then said, "Oh those students when their school used to be near from ours?"
He laughed while he said, "Yes!"
"When we saw those boys having ice cream, and they shared both of their cones.", she giggled harder while she spoke.
Enzo replied, "Well I thought they're just having some bro time."
Penelope continued, "And then the boys got closer and closer.", then she shrieked. "ACK!"
"I never saw that.", Enzo said.
"Until now, you have no mood for observation young man.", Lenn giggled.
"At least I'm fit and handsome.", Enzo replied confidently.
They both laughed, Penelope leaned on Lenn's lap with laughter.
Enzo remained silent, then said, "What?"
"Oh brother, you haven't changed one bit.", Lenn said, smiling.
"Ey, hey, hey! I see the smile on your face Lennie", Penelope pointed his looks and laughed once again.
"Yay!", Enzo said.
Lenn giggled and said, "Well, you guys made my day. Thank you."
"What friends for pal!", she said as she slightly punched on Lenn's right arm.
Then Enzo spoke, "So what about the girl, what's her name again..? I kept forgetting what's her nam-"
"Lila.", Lenn and Penelope interrupted.
"Oh right! Why won't you just call her and find out she's okay?", he said.
"I don't really want to interrupt her. Besides, even if I did called her, I had to do those silly girl voices again.", Lenn slightly pouted.
Penelope and Enzo laughed then she said, "For real? What do you sound like? I'm curious!"
"Er- no thank you Penny.", Lenn smiled in embarrassment.
"I too sir, are curious!", Enzo replied.
"Learn your grammar bro.", Lenn spoke in a deeper tone.
"I'll grammar you with champagne if I had one!", Enzo said as he went closer to Lenn, seemed like he was ready for a punch.
"Okay man! Sheesh.", Lenn spoke as he sniggered.
"Please Lennard.. Will you do it for us please?", Penelope pleaded while she smiled and clasped her palms.
"Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it"
"W-well, I can't."
"Do it, do it, do it, do it---",
Enzo said it repeatedly until Lenn said, "Okay fine, just a little bit."
He attempted to make himself a high pitched voice. Surprisingly, they thought it was a girl talking. He sounded like a young woman with a calm, sweet, and soothing voice.
"Woah woah bro, you really just sounded like a girl", Enzo was stunned.
"I tried to imitate my- erm- my older friend. I got really good at it.", Lenn smiled in embarrassment.
"Oh!", Enzo giggled, "I thought I was your only friend back in Elementary. Then we met Penny back in highschool."
"Oh, well. Y-you were.", Lenn sounded like he just lost his voice.
His friends realized he became sad again. Was it due to what Enzo had said?
"Jeez, are you that sensitive now bro?", he asked.
"Hey Lenn, are you okay? Don't be sad again.", Penelope said as she looked worried.
"It's nothing guys.', Lenn spoke while he hugged his knees.
"Lennard, as a friend, I want to know what is going on!", Penelope sat up straight, and raised her voice.
"Sheesh calm down you guys.", he said in a hushed tone.
"No! We never seen you so... so..."
"S-so upsetting..?", Enzo spoke while he clenched his hands as he was intrigued by Penelope's voice.
"Yes!", she continued to yell. "What's going on with you, as if you hid something from us in your entire life!"
Lenn seemed like he tried to hold his tears from that. It's true that he hid something from them. Therefore, he had no intentions to bring some of his past memories to them at all.
"I'm sorry you guys, but I just can't-", he bursts into tears then lays down and hid his head with a pillow.
"P-penny... Erm- Penelope..? I think you messed up.", Enzo spoke as he tapped Penelope on her arm.
She then realized that Lenn felt worse when she yelled, and now she felt bad.
"L-Lenn, I'm sorry. i didn't mean to-", she spoke sincerely while she patted on Lenn's back.
"I want to be alone for a bit.", he spoke in a strained tone.
"What did you say bro?", Penelope didn't fully heard what he said.
"I think he wants to be alone for a bit.", Enzo replied, then he faced to Lenn. "We'll talk to you tomorrow or another day okay."
"Okay.", Lenn sighed, his face is still hidden with his pillow.
"Okay, Goodnight bro...", Enzo stood up with hands in his pocket and attempted to leave the room.
Penelope stood up and went along with Enzo. Before she closed the door, she gazed at Lenn and said, "I'm sorry, again.", then she closed the door from his room.
Lenn heard the door was closed. He took off the pillow from his head and he slowly rose up from his bed. He then stared at the door constantly, wishing that his bestfriends would come back.
But they didn't.
They didn't come back the next day.
During lunchtime, Lenn didn't seemed like he had enough strength to eat. He sighed. His parents were worried about him.
"Sweetie, what happened to you and your friends yesterday?", his mom asked. "I heard a noice and it may not be a good sign."
"I'm okay mom.", Lenn replied as he sat up straight, "It's just-", he sighed once again.
"What is it? You can tell us anything right?", Mrs. White asked as she smiled.
"It's just...", he thought about what he was about to say. Then he had a question. "M-mom, had you got this feeling o-of... of sadness that-", he paused as he took a spoon of mashed potato into his mouth. He then continued, "Do you got the feeling of utter loneliness because of a certain someone? Even if you were with a bunch of friends?"
"Well of course, sweetie.", she replied. "Why did you ask that?"
"Well, remember the new friend that I talked to you guys about?", Lenn replied in a straight face. He pouted once again, "Well, I saw her, at the mall, but she only smiled then left along with her parents."
His Dad coughed as he drank some water, "Who's the new friend again?"
"Lila dad...", he said calmly.
"Like, how many times had you met a girl named Lila?", Mr. White smiled as he leaned forward with his elbows on the table.
"Just two dad...", Lenn replied.
"Are you both close?"
"Well, we got close throughout the year.." Lenn added, "But, I feel bad for her. She's been through so much."
"I see that you are worried for a new friend.", his mom smiled. "But, what does it have to do with your loneliness?"
"I don't know. Probably a certain reaction or something.", Lenn sighed as he looked at his mom, then to his lap.
"You know, I may had that feeling before.", Mrs. White smiled. "I remembered how I felt when I first met your dad. He was very neat, but a shy one really." Then she began to share her story through her flashback. It was one of her fondest memories she ever had.
"He had medium sized hair, he's neat, and he is like the friendliest boy I met in high school.", his Mom spoke.
. . .
A flashback occur when Mrs. White was younger. She was in her first year of high school. She wore a long sleeved yellow dress with a white collar, and brown boots. Her hair was blonde and it wore two long braids and her plain purple headband.
Once, she picked up the books from her locker then she accidentally hit the boy's head as he sat down beneath it.
Then she slightly panicked, "Omg, I'm so sorry."
The boy who had medium sized hair and wore a white T-shirt and denim pants. He touched his head in a slight pain, then he picked up the book that the girl dropped.
"That's okay...", the boy spoke silently.
Then the girl said, "I guess you have to take a break on books and live more.", she slightly giggled. The boy laughed silently as he reached up his right arm as he handed the science book to the girl's left hand.
"Thank you.", the girl smiled.
The boy smiled in reply. Then the girl asked, "What's your name?"
"An----", he ate his words.
"What again?", she leaned herself forward closer to him.
"Anth---", his voice faced again.
She sat on the floor in a crouch position next to him. Then she said, "Okay, I'll tell you mine first. I'm Clarissa, but my friends call me Lisa.", she smiled as she spoke calmly. She added, "Can you tell me yours now?"
The boy, who sat in a tuck position, started to face directly at her and finally spoke louder, "My names Anthony."
"How charming!", she smiled. "Why are sitting all alone? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine...", he spoke in a deeper tone.
"You don't seem fine to me.", Lisa still smiled.
Then Anthony stared on the ground and sighed, "I just wanted to be alone okay?"
"Really? You're alright being alone?", she seemed surprised.
"Yes.", he then stood up. "I'll be going to my classroom then. Bye Clarissa."
"Nice to meet you.", she subtlety waved as he walked away to the school corridors.
. . .
Her flashback stopped. Lenn seemed amused, and the food on his plate were partially consumed. Both of his parents finished their food, and Mr. White tended to clear the table.
"Wow! So what happened next mom?", Lenn asked. "How did you and dad got close? Why did you guys like each other in the first place?"
His dad laughed. "She kept on approaching to me until I finally got to speak with her.", he spoke as he washed the dishes. "She's like, a nuisance to me.", he continued to giggle, so does his wife.
"Well I used to be so worried about you. You didn't seem to have any friends.", she spoke as she blushed with laughter and gently touches her right cheek.
"Really? What happened then?", Lenn asked as he took another spoon of his lunch.
His Mom replied, "Well, it's like what your dad just said."
. . .
Her flashback occur once again as she continued to share her wonderful high school memories.
She approached to the boy during lunchtime with her lunch tray. "Good morning Anth. How are you doing today?", she spoke as she sat down.
"I'm fine, thanks...", he replied as he slowly ate his salad.
Lisa noticed that he read something on his notepad. "Oh, what's your studying?", she asked enthusiastically.
"Trigonometry.", he replied.
"Oh that's cool! Is it hard?", she asked.
"It won't be when you pay attention.", Anthony replied.
"I see... May I ask what's your favorite color?", she eagerly asked.
"Green."
"Your favorite type of music?"
"Blues...", he sighed before he replied. He stared at his reviewer.
"Wow, green and blues... You mentioned both colors.", she giggled. Anthony didn't seem amused at all.
"Well, do you have a pet..?", she smiled.
"Yes, a dog."
"Ooh, what is his or her name?", she asked.
"Pugsey.", he sighed before he spoke.
"Well, I have a puppy as well, his name is Skyler. He loves to run around the house all day, so he's mostly at the backyard.", she spoke happily as she rearranged her lunch.
"Lady, you are so talkative.", he glared at her in an annoyed way.
"Oh, I-I'm sorry. W-was I being too loud? D-don't worry, I'll be quiet I promise.", Lisa spoke faster. She then sat up straight, zipped her mouth, and hastened herself to be silent for him.
Anthony stared at her in a straight face, then look at the table again as he took another nibble of his salad. He then stared at Lisa again, as she smiled at him while she held up one of her egg sandwiches. Luckily, Anthony smiled back in a pleasant way.
. . .
Throughout the months, Lisa shared many of her stories to Anthony as he liked to listen to her. He gained more confidence around her since they communicate with each other more often.
Whenever Lisa spent her quality time with the two girls, which were her friends, they always asked her that question. "So Lisa, you got a boyfriend yet?"
"You girls, no. I don't even want to have one for a lifetime.", Lisa spoke confidently. "What about you Steff, how are you and your boyfriend?"
Steff spoke as she blushed , "Well, we went okay and- and our first date went out great! He's a really sweet boy."
"EEK! I'm so jealous!", her friend screamed.
"Calm down Rose. I know you'd want that particular moment too, but wait okay! Time flies fast you know.", Lisa said as she cheekily crossed her arms as she smiled.
"Oh I know Lisa...", Rose replied then she started constantly to her face. "It's too bad that you can't even find someone yet. You're so pretty!"
"Yeah sis!", Steff said.
"Girls please, I'm only 13 years old. I had to wait like, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18-", she counted with her fingers, "5 years for me to turn 18." She placed down her hand as she added, "I'm not so sure about you two, but if you want to date with someone in a younger age, then okay. Fine! I support you."
"Aww, you're just too innocent to know sweetie.", Rose said.
"Yes. Someday, you might find someone special for you. Then you might feel something you never felt before!", Steff spoke as she held Lisa's left shoulder.
She giggled then replied, "Thanks girls, but I don't be think I would find that boy who would truly love me for myself. As least you girls are quite lucky!"
. . .
Once again, during lunch. Lisa sat at the same dining table as Anthony. Lisa shared many of her tales to him, and they most likely talked about their school subjects.
"I'm very confused with the addition and subtraction of polynomials. I tried to follow it, but I can't seem to do it right.", she told Anthony her troubles from her recent class.
She continued as she pointed to her book about the solution, "I get it that we just need to find the like terms of the variables and exponent, yet I'm confused for the subtraction. I mean, I tried to follow, but I ended up with one mistake or more."
Anthony picked up Lisa's book then gave her some instructions. He told her what he remembered and wrote it on his notepad.
"As you could see, you needed to change the sign, and the subtrahend, all these numbers inside the parenthesis.", he spoke as Lisa said, "OH!", before he finished his sentence.
"Didn't you remember how to solve integers in subtraction, or weren't you paying attention?", Anthony looked at her as he asked, then she replied, "Well, I guess I forgotten the whole process, or maybe you're right. I used to be okay in integers last year, especially with multiplication and division."
"And do you know how to multiply and divide polynomials yet?", he asked as a reply.
Lisa shook her head as a no. Then he said, "Okay then maybe another time, meanwhile would you like to practice by solving these questions?"
She smiled, "Sure!"
. . .
Throughout their high school years together, Anthony was a tutor to Lisa, as she tended to make him feel happier than before. His confidence improved as he spent his quality times with her, and he would she his personal feelings to her as they went along to the cafeteria, and mostly they had ice cream.
Before Anthony went to college, his hair was trimmed in a middle part hairstyle. He frequently wore longer sleeves, slack pants that's either black, beige, or white, and his black platform boots.
He met with Lisa at the park after she spent her afternoon with her girl bestfriends.
Her hair were no longer in braids, but it's still tied up in bunches with a clip for her bangs. She wore a long sleeved orange dress with a white rounded club collar. Her dress were filled with flower dots pattern, and she wore her platform sandals that its heals that were not high enough. Fortunately, that was the first time they spent together outside school, since it was summer. They waved at each other at first, then sat on the bench together and talked to each other.
"How are you and your friends?", Anthony asked.
"Oh we're okay. We just usually talk about girl stuffs, try on some new clothes.", Lisa bubbly replied. "We just checked some of the new fashion trend that all girls would like. Of course, I won't even use make-up or earrings on this one."
Anthony asked slowly as he pointed to her outfit, "Oh, so is that a-"
Lisa replied as she smiled, "Why yes, this is a new dress. Do you like it?"
"You look lovely.", he blushed as he smiled towards her.
"I'm sorry what?", Lisa giggled.
"I-I mean it looks lovely.", he hasted to speak up while she giggled.
"Thanks anyway bro.", she smiled with her hands clenched on her lap.
They stared at each other for a moment, then Anthony cleared his throat then spoke, "By the way."
"Yes?"
"Since I'm going to college, I might not be seeing you for awhile."
"I know. I just wish we could have more time.", Lisa sightly loose her smile as she spoke.
"Don't worry, we could talk to each other after school, if I'm not too busy.", he spoke. He looked sincere as he held her left shoulder for comfort.
"It's not only that I'm worried about. I'm worried that I wouldn't get to see you anymore during recess, and dismissal. Not to mention that you're going to a school that's far, far away.", she spoke expressively along with her hand gestures. She then stared on the ground and said, "We may not spend much quality time together after this."
Anthony gave her hug, then she tightly hugged back to him as she slightly teared up.
"Aww, is that how you feel? Don't worry, not even different schools could keep us apart.", he spoke while he patted her back.
He let go of her, then grabbed something from his backpack, "Since we wanted to avoid severance, maybe I could give you my telephone number?", he said.
"Well, can I give you mine as well?", Lisa wiped some of her tears then smiled.
"Yes, we could exchange parchments.", Anthony smiled.
Lisa slightly giggled then she said, "Okay."
. . .
As time flew by, Anthony and Lisa talked to each other on telephone oftentimes. They seldomly met each other at the mini-mall in California since they're quite busy with their individual lives.
Nevertheless, Lisa was sad, because she missed him every single moment at high school. Her two bestfriends came to cheer her up.
"Oh c'mon girl, frowning too much might destroy your beauty.", Rose tried to sound cheerful as she patted Lisa's head.
Then Steff said, "Yeah, besides, this isn't the Lisa we know and love."
She sighed then she smiled to them, "Thanks for caring so much about me girls. I appreciate it, but I just couldn't control my feelings you know."
"Aww... Why would we not care for you? You've been acting like this for like, a month.", Rose said. She looked sincere. "Could you finally tell us what's wrong?"
"I don't know, you two might tease me again.", Lisa said as she looked sadly towards her cup of tea.
"Listen girl, we're sorry about that. But when one of us is sad and blue, we should be there for each other.", Rose spoke to her calmly while she placed her right hand on her left chest.
"Yeah mate! We would never tease you when you're feeling sick. Isn't that what your bestfriends should do?", Steff said.
Lisa faced towards her friends again and smiled lightly, "Yes, you're right girls."
They smiled as Rose stroked Lisa's hair while Steff held her hand. She sighed, "I guess you both should know something. Don't worry, it's not serious, it's just purely emotional."
The two of them seemed interested. Then Steff replied as she smiled sincerely, "We're listening."
Lisa then told the girls how much she missed her friend, Anthony, since he went to college. She missed the times they spent together at the cafeteria, when they studied and talked to each other. After that, she then said, "I'm worried girls."
"Worried for what?", Rose asked.
"What if-", she paused as she stuttered, "W-what if I...", as she leaned on the table.
Steff smiled and said, "Are you falling in love?"
Lisa quickly sat up straight and shook her hands as she yelled, "Wh-what!? No!"
"Well, that's kinda how I felt for Jack before he became my boyfriend.", Steff replied as she slightly giggled.
"That's different Steff, your relationship was kind of rushed.", she spoke in a more serious tone. Then she pointed from Steff to Rose, "You on the other hand have more crushes than your schoolwork."
"I'd rather focus on my studies with a friend. A-and, no offense girls, but I'm just annoyed with you two talking about boys all the time!", she slightly raised her tone as she seems anguished.
"Well I'm sorry that you think that way Lisa. We thought you like that topic as well. After all, like they said, many girls only had one thing on her mind.", Rose spoke confidently while she looked sincere.
"Yeah, which is boys.", Lisa seemed slightly annoyed. "But that doesn't mean I had to be one of them. Even if I did fall for someone I know."
Steff shrieked then said, "Oh my gosh! You are falling in love!"
"Well...", Lisa smiled awkwardly.
Rose calmly said, "Aww Lisa, you don't need to hide it from us. Don't worry, we won't tell a soul to anyone."
She slightly giggled, "Okay girls, you got me. You know. But please don't tell him when you saw him. Besides I'm not really into that stuff yet. Okay? Do you girls understand?", she asked in a more serious tone.
Rose replied, "Of course my friend." Then Rose and Steff hugged Lisa as she felt a lot better after she talked about her troubles to them.
"Thank you girls.", Lisa said quietly as she hugged them nice and tight.
. . .
After 2 years, Lisa finally went to the same college as Anthony, because she knew where he studied and told her parents. When they met again on the first day of school, they ran towards each other and hugged together.
Anthony smiled as he hugged her gently then he said, "I kinda miss you, you nuisance."
Lisa lets go of him and held his hands as she said, "I missed you too bro."
During recess, they hanged out together at the cafeteria once again. Lisa's bestfriends didn't asked her about boys anymore, but they still asked her about Anthony and their fashions. They still talked about their love interest, every though Lisa would just listen to them while she wrote a letter on her yellow pad.
After a year, there's been a concert that took place near where Lisa lived. Her bestfriends loved those boy bands, and their genre music. The girls got 3 tickets, but they got one extra ticket to give.
"You know, why won't we give this one to Anthony.", Rose said.
Lisa choked as she took a sip of tea, "Really? But what if he doesn't want it?"
"Then I'll invite my boyfriend over.", Steff said. Then the three girls laughed. Then she continued, "Yet, I doubt that he would come, besides we kinda got issues or some disagreements."
"Don't worry Steff, you two will work it out.", Rose tapped on Steff's right shoulder. Then Lisa said, "Yeah, just stay positive and be patient to one another."
"Thanks girls! I will wait.", Steff replied in delight.