The Departure

"Hey, cheer up, we're not parting ways forever." Chloe nudged her trying to cheer up Alex who was walking smugly beside her.

"Really, do you think going there is funny right now?" Alex asked sobberly. "It might means me not seeing you guys forever."

She added slumping on the bench where some student waited patiently for their parents

"You can always come here during summer for vacation." Chloe said taking a seat beside her..."That's if your mum won't go against that idea. " She added looking into space.

"That means...."Alex started.

"We'll be coming over to your place to say goodbye." She said with a smile on her face. Pulling her into a hug, she tried to hold back the tears that was already clouded on her eyes.

Alex, a girl of 17years, brown in complexion, average height, with a curly black hair that rest on her shoulder.Oval shaped face accompanied with a beautiful emerald eyes, upturned nose and a full lips.

They were interupted by the sound of a car horn making them break the contact, while Alex quickly cleaned the tears that had already find it's way down her cheeks.

"Mum is here." Alex sad retiring her seat..."Are you gonna wait here all hours for your mum?" She asked Chloe who was now hugging her bag tightly on her chest.

"Actually, I already told my mum I'll be taking the bus home." Chloe said.

"And she agreed so easily to that?" Alex asked, eye wide. The car horn came again cutting them short.

"I guess because she know my reason why." Chloe answers with a mischievous smile across her lips.

"Goodbye then." Alex waved returning her smile as she hurried towards her mum's car.

"Sorry I'm late dear." Her mum Mary Ann apologized immediately she settled down in the car.

"It's okay mum. I benefitted a lot, and I think you know what I mean." She said as her mum smiled.

"So, we are going home from here, I guess.?" Alex asked her mum who sighed heavily at her question.

"Actually, I want to take you somewhere before we finally head home." Mary Ann replied.

"Really?" Alex asked to be sure.

"Yes dear." Mary Ann replied.

"Just a minute mum." Alex said, without waiting for a reply jumped down from the car hurrying towards Chloe who was surprised to see her coming towards her.

"Chloe... Mum want to take me somewhere, and I'm hoping you'll agree to come with me." She asked in delight.

"Uhmmm, I wish I can." Chloe started.

"Ofcourse you can. My mum won't disagree if you choose to come with me." Alex said frightened she might be turned down.

"Not about your mum Alex, my mum." She replied in a whisper holding her hands."She might say no to that idea."

"I can handle that." Alex said, bringing out a cell phone from her uniform pocket. Chloe gasped in outmost surprise.

"Do you still sneak in your cellphone?" Chloe asked.

"Not really Chloe, only on daily basis. Here, quick, speak to your mum." She said extending the cell phone to her as Chloe took it from her hesitating.

"Are you sure this will work?" Chloe said doubting her idea.

"Trust me, she won't say no." Alex replied with confidence.

She sighed proceeding to dail her mum phone.

"Hello" her mum said across the phone.

"Mum, this is Chloe on the line." She said with half confidence.

"Chloe?" Her mum asked in surprise.

"Yes mum." She replied half deciding to hang up if she become too harsh over the line.

"Ain't you suppose to be at home by now,?" Her mum asked.

"Yes mum."

"So?"her mum asked.

"Alex want me to visit some sort of place with her alongside with her mum... So, I called to ask for your permission." She finally said, heart thumping against her chest.

Her mum went silent on the phone for a while before finally speaking up.

"When will she be leaving?" She asked.

"Tomorrow." Chloe replied.

"Okay then, but don't come home late, your dad won't want to hear a thing." She said in a cheerful voice.

"Thank you so much mum!" Chloe cried out in joy as she hung up.

"What did she say?" Alex asked curriosly as she turned to face her.

"Where are we going?" Chloe asked with a huge smile on her face.

Soon enough, they were heading to only God knows where in Mary Ann car.

"Where are you taking us mum?" Alex asked curiosly.

"We're here already." Mary Ann said as she pulled over in front of a saloon.

"Are you being serious here?" Alex asked.

"Yes dear." Mary Ann replied turning down the car engine.

"Come on kids." She added as she exit the car.

Alex and Chloe exchanged a surprised and confused glance as they obediently did as they were told. They both followed patiently behind her chattering as they walk in.

"Maybe she's here to change her hair style...besides, you once said you'll like to change your hair style." Choe reminded.

"Ofcourse, I said that, and I'll be glad if I have in a wavy style." Alex said flaunting her hair backward.

"Good day Tracy." Mary Ann greeted a lady as she approached her.

"Hey Ann, I wasn't expecting you this early." Tracy replied as both ladies exchange peck and hugs.

"Hi." Alex and Chloe greeted.

"Hey girls!. I'm so sure Alex must be happy about her changing her hairstyle." Tracy said cheerfully.

"Actually miss Tracy, mum didn't make mention of a new hairstyle." Alex replied.

"Woah." Tracy exclaimed.

"Never mind Tracy. Just carry out your duty."

"For?...." Alex asked.

"For you ofcourse." Her mum replied turning to her.

"You don't have to behave ignorant Alex, just comply." She said shoving her on a seat.

"Choose a style Alex." Chloe said extending a book to her.

"None." She replied staring at the mirror. Chloe sighed, understanding her mood.

"Miss Tracy, can we have it straight?" Chloe said.

"No!" Alex yelled in protest.

"Yes Alex!" I've been into figure you out in all this styles and I think among all straight style is perfect." Tracy said.

"Tracy is right, straight fits you perfectly." Mary Ann said.

"Mum, are you asking me to do that because majority of them have their hair straight?" Alex asked sobberly.

"No dear, that's what seems to be perfect on you this moment. Understand me for once." Mary Ann replied pecking her forehead.

Alex went silent for a while, staring at the mirror as Tracy performed magic on her hair.

  *  *  *

"Goodbye Alex." Tracy waved at them as they take their exit.

"So, where should we go next." Mary Ann asked as they settled down in the car.

"Drop Chloe off and home we go...I'm tired already." Alex said relaxing more on the chair.

"You're right dear, we should get ready for tomorrow." Chloe said as Alex smiles at her smuggly.

 4:30pm

"Goodnight Chloe." Alex said as she watched her mount off the car.

"I arrived home pretty early, I guess." Chloe said.

"And I'm sure your dad won't be home by now." She said... "You should run along now."Alex said letting go off her hands.

"Bye!" Chloe said hurrying out of sight.

"Can we?" Mary Ann asked while Alex shut the car door. She sighed when no answer was coming forth, starting the car engine, they zoomed off.

  *  *  * 

9:00pm

Alex came down stairs, surprise to see her mum still and awake and busy with her laptop.

"Why're you still awake honey?, You should be in bed." Mary Ann said diverting her attention to her approaching daughter.

"I don't know mum, I just can't get myself to shut this eyes." Alex said slumping on the empty sofa.

"Why?" Mary Ann asked.

"Because I'm still thinking why we have to move all of a sudden to that place." She complained.

"You know what Alex, I tried to explain many times, but you seems difficult." Mary Ann said.

"I'm not been difficult mum, I'm just...."

"Why won't you just wait we get there and I'll explain everything again." Mary Ann said sounding final.

"Where will we be living?" She asked, finding it difficult to close the chapter.

"Well, Miss Park helped us with that already, including your School." She replied.

"Name." Alex asked curiosly.

"Uhmm..I think..." Mary Ann started trying to get the word in the laptop.

"Hanlim arts high school." She completed in delight. "Come take a look." She added shoving her to her side.

Alex stared at the school photo. Can't deny the fact that the building is attractive, she still find it hard to believe if she would be able to cope there at all.

She've heard a lot about Korea. Mostly about the bullies in most high schools. "What if she becomes a victim due to her skin complexion."

"Don't you like it?." Her mum asked, making her snap off her thought.

"Ofcourse." She uttered unconscious of her words.

"It looks good from the outside." She commented.

"The inside is not an exemption." Mary Ann said scrolling through to show her more impressive pictures of the classrooms and sinnig inclusive, uniform wasn't exempted from the picture.

"Cool mum." She said, sounding impressed.

"You should go to bed now honey as I'll do the same. I'll asked Mrs Park to make necessary arrangements before our arrival tomorrow." Mary Ann said shutting her laptop.

"Goodnight mum." She said embracing her mum as she gave her a goodnight kiss before exiting, feet stumping hard against the staircase. Her mum smiled, her eyes moisty as she watched her daughter exit.

 *  *  *

The next morning, 9:00pm.

The class came as promised, as some group of friends and neighbours came to say bye to them. Her classmates weren't exempted from the heart felt departure.

It was time to leave. Chloe was clutching tightly to her mum afraid to say goodbye. Alex walked towards her with a gloomy face as she extended a little teddy bear.

"I won't want you to forget me." Alex said as her eyes became moisty. Chloe looked at the extended teddy bear then at her before embracing her tightly and breaking into tears.

They remain in a lock position till a gentleman voice interrupted them. "It's time Miss Alex." The man said as they slowly disengage the hug while Chloe dabbed her tears with a handkerchief as she collect the Teddy Bear from her. She extended it to her mum as she took it from her, removing the ribbon that hold her hair, she extended to her as well as the hairpin.

"I won't want you to forget me either."She said as Alex took it from her trying to be strong by holding back her tears in front of everyone.

"I will hold unto this." Alex said trying to let out a smile.

"Come on Alex." Mary Ann said carrying last of their luggage to the car.

"Me too." Chloe said hugging the Teddy Bear. "Bye." She said.

"Good bye." Alex replied walking towards the car.

Getting closer to the car, she heard a name from a rare familiar voice.

"Alexander." The voice called. 

She turned to look at her caller, she was startled.to see her longtime Harvard Westlake Middle high school crush approaching her. Troy Jonas.

"Hey." She said.

"I came to say bye." He said handing her a banquet.

"So sweet of you Troy." She said.

"Hope I'll still remain your crush as you wrote on your locker." He asked as her cheeks reddened in embarrassment.

"So he knew." Troy is a famous basketball player in the Harvard Westlake Middle high school. He always have girls swooning all over him. But never knew he'll ever notice her one day.

"Thank you Troy." She said attempting to embrace him, but surprisingly, he leaned in to kiss her, right in front of her mum. Not really a quick one.

She still found it difficult to believe he kissed her. She searched among the students to see her smiling mischievously at her. She smiled back as it slowly dawned on he that it was real.

"He kissed me." She thought.

"Alexander!" Her mum voice interrupted her thought.

"It's time." She said to Troy.

"Yeah." Troy replied opening the car door.

"Thanks. And for this as well." She said referring to the banquet as he shut it close.

"Your crush finally found out he's in love." Mary Ann teased.

"Come of it mum." She said tightening her seat belt as the driver started the car engine.

 She looked back to see those who have made her life fun since many years. She can't believe they're moving for good.

There was a gentle tap on her window, as she turned to see Chloe with tears filled eyes waving at her as the car starters off slowly. She's also leaving her childhood friend but not the memory behind. She waved back as Chloe continued waving till the car is out of sigh. She stopped waving as well till Chloe is out of sight as well.

She relaxed on her seat, eyes closed, as the tears she've been holding back strode down her cheeks.

Only God knows when she'll have to see them again. She thought as more tears flowed, while Mary Ann watched her daughter through the mirror feeling sobber not for herself alone, but also for her daughter.