three

Me and Veronica had a lot of catching up to do. We talked about our plans after the summer. She told me that she might take up a business program at a local state college because she said she dreams of starting her own company or firm if her plans succeed. I told her that I wanted to take up a journalism or creative writing program but wasn't really sure what to do after. I have dreams, but everything is still unclear to me. I'm also planning to take a year off and get a job while I figure out what I actually want to do with my life, because right now I'm just confused and don't know where to start.

I was heating up food from the Chinese restaurant we had for last night's dinner, and Roni was scrolling through her phone when she asked me, "Do you remember Luke?" Thinking of who it was, no, I am not familiar with any guy with the name Luke around here, "nope." I said as I put the heated fried noodles with pork dumplings on a bowl and handed it over to Roni. "Oh right, he's the guy I was telling you about during the summer last year."

I sat next to her while I ate my fried noodles and dumplings using chopsticks. "Oh? I didn't get his name because I never met him." I said while munching on my dumplings. "Yes, right. Well, I happen to be friends with him now," she said, while picking up her fork and starting to eat, "oh, okay, should I be jealous?" I asked teasingly, "Of course not! You're my top-tier best friend!" she said defensively. "I'm kidding! What about it anyway?" I asked curiously, "Well... he happens to stay in town for the rest of the summer," she said while still scrolling through her phone, "and that concerns me, why?" She looked up at me and said, "It does not exactly concern you, but!" She paused and looked down on her phone again as if she were reading a group chat's conversation, "Since he's staying, they want to hang out this afternoon at 4:00 P.M. by the beach later." She said as she took another bite of her dumplings, "Okay, it's fine. You can go, we can hang out more tomorrow anyway," I said, with a hint of disappointment because I was planning on asking her to go to the carnival with me tonight, but we can definitely do it another time. Besides, we have all the summer together. "Are you kidding me? I'm taking you with me!" She looked at me with her eyes lit up with excitement. "I already told Calum and the others that you're already in town!"

I wasn't entirely planning on telling my other friends that I'm already in town, because even though I have a free day today, I still want to spend most of this week with my dad and Nath. But of course, if Roni knows I'm here, so does everyone else. Although I have nothing against the idea of hanging out with my old high school friends, I'm just not ready to feel left out because I know a lot of things have changed. I didn't even go to the same high school during my junior and senior years.

I finished up my fried noodles and dumplings and said, "All right, 4:00 PM it is. Yay!" I said sarcastically, as I stood up and put my bowl in the sink, "Come on, Hana! Don't be a bummer. They've been dying to hang out with you too," Roni said as she pouted her lips, looking like she's begging for me to come with her. "I'm just not ready for the awkward atmosphere yet, you know there are things I can't always relate to anymore," I said as I sat down next to her again. "Besides, you have a new friend around, and my social battery isn't really working for me today." I added. "Don't worry about Luke, he's chill. You'll totally like him." Roni said as she finished her dumplings and stood up to put her bowl on the sink.

"Who's this Luke guy anyway?" I asked curiously, "Well, he happened to transfer from Australia during our junior year. Calum met him first in Physics class, and he just started hanging around during class breaks. He's chill, don't worry too much about it. Plus, Emily, Ashton, and Michael talk a lot about you with him," Roni said, still pulling off her persuasive look, "Alright. Let's just hope they didn't say anything embarrassing about me," I giggled, "It's a yes then!" Roni screamed with excitement, and I nodded to assure her that I'm not backing out. Besides, I also want to try out that outfit and bikini I bought yesterday.

As Roni was telling me how excited she was for later, the front door opened, and I saw Nath running to me, "I miss you, Hana! But look what I got!" She showed me a Happy Meal that dad bought for her. I guess they already had their lunch together. I checked the time on my phone, it's past 1:00 P.M. already. "Hello, Nath and Ray, it's been a while," Roni greeted them, "but I have to go home now. I need to get ready for later." Roni continued as she patted Nath's head. "Oh, why the rush? I got you girls a cheeseburger and fries from McDonald's," my dad asked. "I'm on a strict diet, Ray. I'll also be taking your daughter to the beach later, if that's okay. If not, I can kidnap her." I laughed at how casually she talks with my dad. She has been family to us since we were kids. "I'll be heading out now. Thank you for the Chinese noodles!" she said as she walked out the door to head home.

"I thought she was on a strict diet?" My dad asked. "I heated up our leftovers for lunch, and she's just too excited for later. She wants me to meet someone new from our high school friend group," my dad nodded, "I guess I'll have these then?" He lifted the takeaways to show me there's food inside. "No, I'll have both of them." I snatched the bag from him and ran upstairs.

The fried noodles and dumplings aren't filling up my stomach, and honestly, I am still hungry, which is something I am embarrassed of because even Roni doesn't know I can be a really huge eater. I'm too shy to eat a lot when I'm with others, so I only eat an acceptable amount of food.

I munched on my cheeseburger and fries as I scrolled through my Instagram to check on my friends' accounts until I finally saw him. Luke Hemberg. Oh fun, just like the burger I'm eating. I typed in his username on the search bar to get the gist of his public profile and, out of curiosity, a little information about himself. It's harmless to check on others these days anyway, because everything seems to be found over the internet.

I clicked on his profile, but I guess luck is not with me today because his Instagram says, "This account is private."