"Before I dismiss the class, I'll return your test papers from last week's test,"
My lips curved upwards. I'm sure I nailed the exam because of course, I studied like there's no tomorrow and did an all nighters to take in every information in order to answer every single question with confidence.
"I want to congratulate Mr. Elijah Mendez for getting the perfect score!"
My smile faded as my professor handed me my paper and saw that I had made one mistake. I felt my world crumpled for the nth time. I turned my head to the person that I despise the most. I saw him glanced at his paper before looking at me wearing his stupid smirk. He just shrugged like he was bragging about his perfect score to me.
I rolled my eyes to the side before folding my paper to the smallest size then placed it in my bag with frustration. Fuck him and his arrogant ass!
"I think you should stop competing with him, Mimi," I glared at Lilith for saying such words to me. She raised her hands like she's giving up when she saw my reaction.
I'm in the students' lounge right now together with my friends to hang out but I prefer to make this hang out time useful through studying. They talk while I read my notes cuz I don't want my scholarship to disappear. But this time, they try to get into my nerves talking about my rivalry with Elijah Mendez.
"Aren't you two competing since like high school? Aren't you tired or something? Because honestly, you lose most of the time," said Sean, which really annoyed me. I threw my pen at him.
"Ouch!" he grunted.
"For your information, I'm not the one who initiates the competition, he is! Besides, I took the college program that I'm sure he's not getting but guess what? He enrolled in the same program! And we are in the same class like in almost every course in this fucking college program!" I ranted.
"Okay... Okay calm down. You guys should stop provoking Mimi," Jane said. I feel like Jane's the only normal friend I have.
"And speaking of the devil. Here's our evil Editor-in-chief, Jane," I followed Sean's stare and saw that he's looking at Elijah Mendez who's strutting in the students' lounge. I almost rolled my eyes to the side when I saw the person he's with, Caleb Mendez, his cousin.
"I know who you looking at," Lilith said with her playful tone. I just rolled my eyes at her before bringing back my stare at him.
Elijah and Caleb are cousins yet they are so different from each other. Caleb is such a gentleman and Elijah's not, he's an asshole. Caleb is so dreamy from those fine chiseled jaws, pointed nose, fair skin, and gorgeous eyes behind his cute glasses. I could stare at him all day.
"So what's the plan about Caleb? When are you going to approach him?"
My forehead furrows at Sean. "We don't need to do anything. I'm fine with looking at him from afar,"
"You're hopeless, Mimi," Lilith said.
"It's not being hopeless, I just think I'm not his type. I don't want to make my hopes up,"
"He literally likes you during high school!" Lilith exclaimed.
"He did but we're not in high school anymore, everyone's different now including Caleb,"
Caleb did confess to me in eighth grade but I was busy with my studies and my competition with Elijah Mendez so I wasn't able to entertain his feelings. I regret ignoring him when he stopped approaching me cuz I didn't know that I developed feelings towards him.
"Why don't we drink after class?" Sean suggested and everyone agreed.
They think it's the perfect time to drink since midterms are over. A time to unwind from all the stress that we experienced from the exams.
"I'll pass," I declared and their smiles faded. "I have work, remember? I still have chores to do at home and also, study,"
"Okay, but if you change your mind, I'll pick you up immediately," I nodded at Jane.
It's not that I don't want to come with them. I just have a lot of things to do. I do have fun with them sometimes but not as often as they have fun since I'm on a tight budget. I am very grateful that they understand my situation. There are times that they offer help but I don't accept them cuz I just don't need it. I'm fine and I can handle myself.
After class, I immediately go to work as a sales lady of a famous clothing line. It's an exhausting work since I have to deal with arrogant elites for five hours. I have to continue smiling from all of the insults that they throw towards me. I got used to it though. I went straight home after a long shift at work and cooked dinner before mom gets home from work.
I heard Kenzo—my little brother—come out from his room. "What's for dinner, Mi?"
"Curry," he grinned before asking to taste the curry that I am cooking. He loves this dish so much. I purposely cooked curry today cuz he did well at his baseball game yesterday.
"How's school?" I asked.
"It's fine, nothing special," he answered.
"I know right," I chuckled. I could relate to that.
Mom got home right after Kenzo set the table. Mom works in a food factory so the salary is not that good. That's why I need to work too to help with the bills here in the house.
After dinner and after tidying the kitchen, I went straight to my room to do my homework and also review my notes. I need to absorb all this information in order to beat Mendez this time for sure but now, I can feel my eyelids falling and I'm not liking it. As I was fighting my urge to sleep, my phone suddenly beeped for a text message from Jane.
Mimii hellppp - Jane
about what?? - Naomi
Can you edit my article for the campus paper?
Don't worry all you have to do is copy and paste
I'll send my prompt rn just please help meee
The EIC would kill me if I won't submit it right now.
It's already past its due!
I thought it was 11:59pm but it was 11:59am and it's 11:48pm rn!!
Please Naomi you gotta help me! - Jane
sorry can't email your EIC
i don't like him - Naomi
I am very aware of that, Mimi but I just really need your help, pleaseee
I don't wanna die because of a late submission!!
Please, Naomii just this onceee I don't wanna be kicked out of the publication!! - Jane
fine!
since I love you I'll do it - Naomi
I did Jane's favor against my will. I even cringed when I typed Mendez's email addresses on my laptop. I just don't like seeing his name everywhere. My blood would boil thinking about his existence.
My sleepy system suddenly woke up when I noticed that it was not Jane's file that I sent to him, it was the confession letter that I made for Caleb in high school! I immediately sent Jane's file to cover up the mistake that I made. I hope it works.
I space out for a bit and deeply realize what I just did before standing up from my seat, grabbing and pulling my own hair.
What the fuck did I just do?! Out of all the people that I have to mistakenly send that file to, why does it have to be Elijah Mendez! The fact that he's Caleb's friend is just... I just want to bury myself and disappear in this world! He would definitely tell Caleb and it would be very embarrassing cuz I rejected him and... Fuck! I hate myself! And Mendez!
"What are you doing?" I stopped what I was doing when Kenzo suddenly opened my door.
"Nothing," I replied, then fixed my hair and my stance.
"It doesn't look like nothing to me,"
"Just shut up and go back to sleep," he chuckled before closing my door.
I released a long deep sigh before throwing myself on my bed. This day is just the fucking worst day ever!