OLIVIA
MY HEAD IS EXTREMELY ACHING. I felt the excruciating pain inside my head when I woke up earlier.
I was drunk last night, according to Zoey. Mom was upset, but I insisted on not drinking. That is to say; I did not consume any alcoholic beverages.
We fought for a while, but Zoey's expression changed when she heard something from my mother. Then mom was tending to me like a baby again.
Wow. Zoey's ability was incredible. I'm curious about what she said to my mother to change her mood instantly.
Anyway, it's a good thing the "drinking" incident occurred on a Friday night because we don't have school today. But I still have to go to school because our coach, Miss Peyton, said we would have a quick meeting, and it couldn't wait.
As a result, I had to continue with my studies. Mom dropped me off and will pick me up after the meeting is completed.
Despite Mom's medication for the hangover, I am still dizzy, but it is manageable this time. I went straight to the cheering squad room and sat down next to the girls.
"Do you feel all right?"
"How's it going for you?"
These were the girls' inquiries. Even though I was not okay, I just said okay.
They appeared concerned and questioned me further when Miss Peyton spoke up. Our cheer captain was by her side.
"First and foremost, I'd like to congratulate everyone on a job well done; congratulations, champions! Let's pat each other on the back and congratulate one another," the coach said. "All right, this is going to be a quick meeting because I know some of you are still hungover from last night's party."
The squad let out several 'oohs' Stella and Naomi were making fun of me, but Camila was unusually quiet and just stared at me.
"Now, as you all know, Piper is your senior, and starting next week, all senior students are required to concentrate on their academics and stop all extracurricular activities, including any club activities, so that all senior cheering squad members will be graduating; on the team today." That's exactly how it works. It was heartbreaking, but the school only wanted the best for the students. Particularly the graduating students.
"So, we're here because we're going to announce the new captain of our team," Miss Peyton said, and Camila stiffened. Her eyes are filled with hope, and I can see it in them. "Would you please do the honor, Piper?"
"Thank you, Miss Peyton. I will certainly miss you all, but we all know that nothing is permanent in this world, and life must go on. Don't worry, if I have spare time, I will make sure to visit you around. But so much for that; I know you are all excited to meet your new squad captain. I am asking everyone to please respect your next captain as much as you have respected me. Don't forget about teamwork and camaraderie."
I was utterly shocked. Are you kidding me? Why? What's the deal with me?
My teammates are applauding and congratulating me, but I... What exactly is going on here?
"Olivia, come here to the front," Piper motioned for Martin to approach her.
"Congratulations, Oli, and go!" Naomi exclaimed as she pushed Piper away.
"So, we all know Olivia here is a sophomore turning junior, and even though she's still in her sophomore year, I believe we can all agree that Oli has the potential to be a captain on the team, right?"
My teammates exclaimed, "Yes!"
I looked around at the girls, but only Naomi seemed genuine in cheering and smiling at me. Damn. Even Camila is smiling, indicating that she is dissatisfied with the turn of events.
"We had three candidates for being the squad captain. You might not have noticed, but since the start of our practice this year, I have asked help from the staff to get their candidates from the team and score each based on their performances, academically or extracurriculars. That is why Olivia has been chosen. Congratulations, captain," Piper gently patted my shoulder as she said those words. "Could you give us a brief speech?"
I couldn't believe what was happening, so I stuttered when I tried to speak.
"Ah, I-I'd like to thank everyone for their support; let's work harder, and I promise to do my best as your captain," I couldn't think of anything else to say. What happened continues to astound me.
The meeting went quickly, as Miss Peyton stated, and I am still buzzing. Now that I'm completely sober, I'd like to tell you about it. I was overwhelmed, but the announcement made me very happy.
The team congratulated me, but I didn't see the girls after our other team members circled me. I feel Camila is upset about what happened, so I sent her a message instead to check in on her.
Before I could text her, she was already outside the school. She even brags about how punctual she is. She claimed it was an instinct of a mother. I laugh at her.
I was eager to tell her what had happened, but she said Uncle Zaldy was home and we might be having dinner at our favorite restaurant, so as much as I wanted to tell her the good news, I kept it to myself first and will announce it in front of the family later. I was curious to see how they reacted. I know they will be pleased, but I want to share my success with my mother and the other two people who are very important to me.
~*~
WE VISITED AYAKO'S RESTAURANT. This is one of our favorite places to eat. As usual, we opted for their private room. It benefits me because I don't have to be concerned about my surroundings.
While we were eating, Uncle Zaldy asked, "How was school?"
Zoey replied, "It was fine."
"Hey, Zo," Mom said, "I heard you're the top one again this period; keep up the good work."
Zoey is, indeed, a very bright young lady. She's a quiet, low-key, humble young lady who excels academically.
"Thank you very much, Mom," she said with a smile. I'm not sure why, but every time Zoey refers to my mother as "Mom," I get a tingly sense of satisfaction.
"I'm hoping Olivia does well as well," Mom said.
"Wow, Mother, I'm in the top three; I'm not number one, but I'm number three," I grumbled.
"I'm only kidding, dear," Mom said with a smile. "Seeing both of you excel in your studies was more than enough for me."
"It's not a big deal, Mom," I explained.
"However, I heard that someone was named captain of the cheerleading squad," Uncle Zaldy explained.
Instead, it was I who was startled.
"Congratulations, captain!" my family exclaimed, and I was astounded when a waiter appeared with a cake and placed it on our table.
I can't help but smile from ear to ear.
"Make a wish!" exclaimed Zoey, who appeared to be overjoyed.
"It's not my birthday," I joked.
"There's a candle, so just make a wish, Vi," Zoey persuades me.
I just smiled and did what she said.
"How did you know?" I asked after they had finished congratulating me.
"Well, it was all over I*******m; did you forget you're famous at school, Vi?" Zoey asked.
"Really? Who posted it?" I inquired.
"It was from Piper," she explained.
"I am so proud of you, Vi," Mom said.
"Thank you, Mom, and thank you, Uncle Zal and Zoey."
I'm overjoyed. Everything is going so well. Oh, my wish for a happy high school experience is indeed coming true.
We went home after a delicious dinner. I was in Zoey's room, watching her play on her Nintendo Switch. You can only hear Zoey talking a lot when she's with me or when she's playing with her games. Yes, she is one of the loud players.
I was lying down on her bed, and she was comfortably sitting beside me.
I was going through my social media accounts. I*******m is where I spend the most time. Camila captioned a photo of us with heartfelt congratulations. Camila assured me that she was fine and relieved that I had been chosen as the squad's captain. Though she admitted to being hurt at first, she was relieved that one of us was chosen rather than a random squad member. I trusted her.
Stella and Naomi congratulated me and posted photos of us and the girls. I am delighted that they are so supportive. It felt surreal, but I have to admit that I enjoy the attention and position I've gained in the squad. I had finished checking my social media accounts and went to bother Zoey.
"Zo, are you not done yet?" I asked as I hugged her from behind. I take a look at her Nintendo screen.
"Almost done," she said, her hands tapping away at whatever she was playing. It was pretty gruesome, and there were a lot of zombies. I have no idea what she's up to. I'm not a gamer.
"Let's watch N*****x," I insisted.
"Yeah, sure," she said, still playing. "What do you want to watch?" she asked.
"There's this Korean drama that seems interesting and has received a lot of positive feedback."
"All right, one more time and... Done. Yes! I won!" she exclaimed. She was so thrilled that she strangled me and kissed my face lightly.
I couldn't stop laughing at what she was doing. Zoey is very affectionate, but she only shows it to my mother and Uncle Zaldy.
"So, what are we going to watch?" she inquired, taking a seat beside me. She was now lying down.
And, of course, I leaned against her shoulder and opened her laptop.
We started watching the Korean drama It's okay not to be okay when Zoey's phone started buzzing, and I could hear it because I was close to the bedside table where she had placed it.
"Someone is spamming your inbox," I explained.
"Who exactly is it?" she inquired. She was preoccupied with the drama she was watching. It was pretty good. All of the positive feedback was accurate. It was a fantastic tale. I was just caught up in who was inundating Zoey's inbox.
I took her phone from the bedside table and looked up who was messaging her. Yes, I am aware of her security code.
"It came from... Con-con? Who is she?"
"Ah, that's Nova. She might be sending me a lot of memes again. Let me..." she said as she reached for her phone when I opened the message from "Con-con."
Zoey was correct. It was all about memes. She took her phone from me and placed it next to her.
"I warned you. Con-con might be bored. Let's just watch this. Let her find another person to bother. This is an excellent Korean drama, Vi," she said, hugging me even tighter.
Fortunately, she didn't notice me pouting. That Nova, though. Uh-oh, con-con. But why would Zoey want to conceal her phone? Grr. Nova!
The entire time we watched the drama, I pretended to be Ko Moon-Yong, and Nova was the antagonist trying to bring the protagonist down. Nova was either the reporter Moon-Yong shoved up the stairs or the man she grabbed his hair from.
Fortunately, whenever there was a scary scene, Zoey hugged me tightly. I was, at the very least, relaxing. Zoey, like Ko Moon-Yong, was my Moon Kang-Tae and safety pin.
If it weren't for Zoey, I'd like to shave that Nova Coney girl.
And why are you behaving this way? You're jealous, aren't you?
My alter ego is speaking now. Of course, I'm envious because I'm her only best friend.
Is this the actual reason?
Yeah! There is no other explanation. So please stop bothering me and making me overthink things!
I'm having a real battle with myself right now. Is this what happens when you watch Ko Moon-Yong? Well, I'm not sure any longer.
I slept in Zoey's room after watching, and I always have a peaceful sleep when I sleep near her.
Zoey is more than just a safety pin for me. She's a haven for me. I believe.
ZOEY I USED TO BELIEVE MY FAMILY WAS PERFECT WHEN I WAS A CHILD. My father is attractive, dependable, and our breadwinner. And then there's my mother, the lovely and wonderful stay-at-home mom. Things were going smoothly. We are happy. My loved ones adore me. Mom and Dad had me at the age of twenty. My parents were too young, and their lives began, but my father was a man of his words. So, when my mother announced that she was pregnant with me, Dad did not flee but instead assumed responsibility for my mother and me. He was a wonderful, devoted father. Dad and mom's family helped them raise me, so it wasn't difficult for them. I admit that I was exposed to almost everything growing up. My parents come from wealthy families. Nonetheless, my parents instilled in me the imp
ZOEY "WELCOME HOME. You look so tired. You must be starving," I said to Olivia, who appeared in the kitchen next to the door. Her head and shoulders are bowed. She appears to have used up all of her energy today. "Sit down," I told her. She wouldn't budge, so I approached her and drew her to the nearest chair at the kitchen counter. "Eat first, then rest," I said, about to leave because I was going to prepare her food, but she drew me closer and hugged me from behind. I can feel her head resting on my back. There's that tingly sensation all over again. Ha! I like what Olivia is doing, but I'm also feeling guilty. "I'm so tired, Zola," she's the only one who addresses me as such. She said it was a combination of my first and last names. Olivia desired to stand out from the
ZOEY ELECTION DAY. "Interesting. Miss Queen Bee appears to be winning this election as well," Nova said as she handed me a box of cold pineapple juice. "Thank you," I said. I drank the box through the straw. "Ah, pineapple juice is delicious!" I exclaimed. "I know, that's why we're friends; we both like pineapple juice," Nova agreed. We clapped our pineapple juice boxes as if they were wine glasses. We are currently in the gym, counting and validating the ballots from today's election of new sets of SC. We were far away from the gym stage where the teachers were counting votes, but a large LED screen displayed the automatic updates of the votes. I am delighted to see Olivia advancing in the polls. She's truly unique.
ZOEY "CONGRATULATIONS, Vi!" I exclaimed as she walked into the house, holding a mini cake in my hand. She was stunned for a moment, but she smiled broadly when she realized what I was doing. "This is for me? Aww, you are so sweet," she said as she closed the door and hugged me. Despite hanging out with Aubrey and Nova, I still went home first. Olivia was out with the charmer bullies earlier, and they said they were going to celebrate, so she's a little late. My parents aren't here, but we don't have a curfew, so that's fine. "Thank you; are you drunk?" I inquired as I smelled her breath. I don't drink alcohol, but I recognize the aroma.
ZOEY "WHERE IS AUBREY?" I inquire discreetly. We were in our first-period class of the day, and her seat was still vacant. "She might be late," she said quietly. "All right," I replied. The teacher was calling names, but Aubrey was still not present. She was marked absent because she did not arrive until the end of the first period. Nova replied, "I'll call her." I was just staring at her, waiting for Aubrey to pick up the phone. Aubrey isn't a slacker, so we're concerned. She may be a little rowdy and upbeat, but she has never missed a single class since she transferred. This is the first time she has done anything like this. Fortun
ZOEY "DO YOU WANT TO COME TO MY PLACE ON FRIDAY NIGHT? Perhaps a sleepover?" Nova invited. We walked down the hallway during our free period, which meant we had to go to our respective clubs. I don't want to join these clubs, but I need them for my portfolio as part of my college application preparation. In a nutshell, I don't have a choice. By the way, I am a member of the Academic Club. Where else will I be? Anyway, the debate team was recruiting me, but I declined. Aside from the Academic Club, I am an Associate Editor for the student newspaper and have another club that I keep hidden from everyone. Yes, everyone. No one knows about it, and I have no intention of keeping it from them, but it just happened, and I'm not sure why I kept it a secret until now. At the moment, only one person at school is aware of it. Bu
OLIVIA "I DIDN'T realize you were already here," I said as I approached her bed. Yes, I'm talking to Zoey, who is lying down on her bed with her back to me. I stormed into her room without even knocking. We were used to it. "I was expecting you, but I was so tired that I didn't realize I had already fallen asleep. Zola, are you sleeping right now?" I kept walking near her bed. I lay down beside her when I reached her bed. I hugged her behind her back. Zola's back is extremely comfortable. And she appears to be sleeping, which is why she isn't responding. She might be exhausted as well. Zola is also very busy these days. She mentioned the Local Inter-School Quiz Bee competition to me a few days ago, and I believe that's what's keeping her busy these days. I came here to ex
OLIVIA "WHAT'S WRONG, Oli?" Naomi enquired. "Huh?" I decided to look at her. I was resting my chin on my left hand and didn't bother to change my position. "You don't appear to be in the best of spirits these days." "Am I?" "Yeah. Do you already have feelings for Will?" Stella jumped in. She was teasing me yet again. If I'm not mistaken, she's the one who has feelings for Will. We are currently in my assigned office in the SC room. It was a closed-door room, and there were no other members of the SC present at the time, so they were free to roam. I was sitting on the one-seat couch and had no idea I was zoning out.