Still here, in our hearts

Life, is a short gift, every one of us are gifted with. Living is like taking favours from all the daisies in your yard, knocking people off when they oppress your friends, baking a cake for your mom when she gets a promotion or on her birthday.

Living means, spending each and every morsel of life in a way, that completes, you. That drives you delighted, and optimistic.

Because, at the end of the day, YOU are the one that matters.

Sounds narcissistic? No-this isn't something narcissistic, it's called LIVING.And if you don't live life, then what's the point of it all?

But, there are times in life, when you'd get smashed from all the sides and then for some reason, your life will be a punching bag for the surroundings to punch at. Times, where you'd feel like kneeling on your bed, in the dark, with no one around, where you'd be able to let all your tears out, is the best fruitful thing to do.

Why?

Never ask why. It's called life. And in life, a lot of ostensibly 'unnecessary' things happen, without your consent.

In life, even individuals you know in and out will show sides, you had never expected to see, at least not from them. And it'll feel like you don't really, know them well. That's just how unpredictably sassy, and arbitrary life is.

'Honk'

"Lisa? You ready, sweetie?"

"Yes, mom-coming!" I shout, to her as I think of what to do, with my hair. 'Do I look okay?' I think, touching my hair. Moving my hands over, my ponytail, I ponder to myself, 'Let it, down? Or keep it the way it is?'

'Honk'

'Honk'

I hear the car tottering, downstairs. "I guess, I'll-" I mumble as I pull my hairband out, sliding my hair down. "Perfect," I mutter to myself with a smile, as I stare at the reflection, in the mirror.

'Honk'

'Honk

'Honk'

"Ahh-Luc coming!" I shout as I take one last glance in the mirror. With a confident smile, I say to myself, "Let's do this!"

I am Lisa, a typical girl in high school. Trying to sail through the ocean of life, with my small boat and a little component, which I like to call my go-to jubilant elixir -my connotation of pleasure.

And what this, jubilant elixir is, that this is the reason, the thing you think, will make you delighted. For me, that is strength, a distinguished power you can't achieve otherwise.

"Mum, I am going!" I say as I peek at the kitchen room. "Wai-tt" My mum, says, as she comes down hurtling, with a glass of milk and two pieces of bread, along with an omelette-my favourite sunny side up!

"Mum, I'll be late," I say, looking at the plate and the glass of white milk in her hand. Even though, that sunny side up seemed to be inviting me to it.

"Lisa, finish eating first, everything else can wait." My dear best friend wisely suggests me, with an eminent philosophy as if, he is the mighty-enlightened one, here.

I look back at him sitting in the driver's seat, as I say, "Huh-as if they all will wait, for me as I finish my breakfast?"

He smiles as he responds, "Of course, they will." Then his manners modify themselves, as he looks behind me, at my mom and says in what seemed like a courteous fashion, "Lisa, your health comes first. Who, will take care of you if you fall sick in school?"

I knew exactly why this bastard is saying these looking at my mum! Does he want to demonstrate he is the most adequate kid here, again?!

"Argh-Luc!" I say to him, with a frustrated look. He shrugs his shoulder and smiles again, before mouthing 'Hurry'.

'Wretch', I swear to him, in my mind. Turning around I look at my mum. 'Ah man, she is again, smitten by the most distinguished Lucifer of all spans' I inwardly whimper, as she says, "Luc is right, Lisa. Health comes first before any other thing." She glances at me, in a you-know-it look and says, "You know that."

"Alright, alright." I indulge, curving my head to look at the two of them, as I grumpily agree, "You both win," Looking at the plate of bread, the egg and the glass of milk, I add like a cranky person, "I'll eat."

"Good," My mum smiles as she hands the plate, and the glass over to me. "Lucas, you had breakfast?" She asks him, inclining her head in the direction of the car.

"Yes Mrs Julie, I had mine early in the morning." He cordially says, with a knightly tone, meant only-for-people-pleasing. "What a good boy, you are. Your parents are doing an excellent job at raising you," She affectionately starts talking to him.

Looking at them now, it seems as if they both are a real mother and son pair. And I am the futile friend of her son's, the good-for-nothing one.

Within a few minutes, I chew the last fragments of the bread as I say to my mom, "I am done."

Taking the silverware from me, she says, "Be careful", reminding me, as I jump onto the car, on the seat beside Lucas.

"Let's go-" Lucas beams as he speeds off the car.

"Ah come on dude-you are seriously not going to talk to me? Let's not fight on the first day," Lucas howls, as he looks at me, with his hands on the steering wheel.

I mumble, in a voice audible to him, "As if this is the first day of high school."

"Well, it is the first day of our semester," Lucas says with a furrow. Something he always does, whenever he'd have to defend his statements. He adds, peeking at me, "Ah-as if that thing even matters," "Whatever," I say, shifting my shoulder to the other side.

The car had its roof all open. So it was easy, to feel the wind, the breeze that kisses your open hair, as the car rolled onwards. "Oh, and did I say to you, how stunning you are looking today?" he tells me, with his eyes glancing at me, to catch mine-and give a wink, that's what this silly boy always does, whenever he makes me mad.

"Hah-" I take pride in that, like always, as I say, shoving my hair to the back with a cool move, "Of course, that I am."

"Haha-" and he bursts out chuckling. "Ah-come one. Did you just fool me?" I angrily shout out at him.

"Seriously Lisa, how many times do you fall for this trick of mine," he says, as he continues with his stupid chuckle.

"Luca-s!" I say to him, irritated, that this fool knows me so well.

"Alright alright, let's not fight anymore." He says, but I still smell him chortling.

We soon arrived at Maria's. The gorgeous blond-haired girl, standing in front of her appealing white house, waving at us with a giant bright smile, is Maria, one of my other besties. "Hey!" We clamour at her, as she jumps onto the back seat.

"What's up my buddies?!" Maria says with a smile. "As awesome as ever," I say, turning to her with a smile. "Look Bubble tick and- "I and Maria brush our pinkies together, and then slide them onto each other's faces with a big, "o-wink!"

Lucas chuckles as he sees us both go crazy.

"What-will Luc not attend our greeting, today?" Maria asks glancing at me and then at Lucas. This greeting she is referring to is our secret code, only our squad knows of. We have a code for everything.

"Ah no-" Lucas says, taking a turn left, "I got a punishment by Daring Miss Radfile, today."

"What-what did you do, early in the morning?" Maria asks him, looking like an enthusiastic

journalist who got an intriguing subject to cover. "Ask Daring Miss Radfile, she'll tell you why." Lucas tells Maria, before turning to look at me with a grin, "Right, Daring Ms Radfile?"

"Stop calling me that Old Slayer Sam," I tell him, pushing his shoulders.

"Well, you could add another little title to my name, replacing the old thing," Lucas offers, looking at me. "What is it?" I ask him as if occupied to listen to what he'd say, though I knew what it would be "Handsome" he says, looking at me with a smile.

"As if-" I giggle at this guy's idiocy.

"Wo-wo guys, see this." Maria, exults out, catching us both off guard. "What is it, Ari?" I ask her.

"I got some hot jokes to say."

"Oh-not again," I chuckle hearing the name of her special jokes, 'hot jokes'. "See this one-" Maria giggles along with us, as she asks, "Have you heard where the word "studying" came from?"

"Studying?" I ponder as Lucas nonchalantly answers, "From the 'students dying thing'?"

"Hey, how did you know that?" Maria asks him, as he never gets even a single one correct but this time, he answered it so smoothly?

I look at him and ask, "Hey, did you memorize all of the answers in LA?"

Lucas acts cool, and says with a grin, "Take a guess, ladies."

"I think, he met a girl, who taught him all these jokes." Maria flickers at him, as she looks at me and continues, "Right, Lisa?"

I add along with her, "Yeah, and to dazzle his-lady, he might have memorized all the," turning towards Maria I add, "all of the jokes?"

This time, Lucas didn't say anything. He glances at me for a slight second before, darting his eyes back onto the road, in front of him.

"What-don't tell me it is true?" I look at him and excitedly say, "Luc! You got a girlfriend, or what?!"

He glances at me, "Are you that contented?"

"Of course!" I exclaim. Maria, who is behind me asks, "Hey, Lisa, Am I hallucinating?" She turns towards Lucas, as she says, "Our friend, who has never been serious for anyone, finally has his girl?"

"Ah shut up, you two," Lucas says, turning to the other side. Amidst the traffic, the nicely aligned cars standing behind one another, and the red light glistening on the traffic light stand, I close my eyes. It all feels invigorating. So restorative.

"I miss him," I quietly say. Lucas tilts and glances at me.

Maria heavies an exasperated sigh and says, "Me too."

"When will he be back?" Lucas asks the both of us, looking at his right side again. "Hey, Maria did you talk with him?" I say, looking at the review mirror.

"No."She shakes her head. Turning towards Lucas, I ask, "Lucas did you talk with him?"

Lucas turns around, and for a moment, the sun appeared to endow upon his remarkable blue orbs. "No," he flatly replies.

"He rarely calls," He adds, "Only a few texts, sometimes, if he gets the time to."

"I hope he is alright," I mumble. "Yeah. . .Hope everything is alright with him, there," Maria says.

Lucas adds a small, "Yeah," before the traffic light turned green again, and we speed off, with the lingering sensation of someone significant being absent, today.