Childhood days

"what did you just say?" she pumped while slightly glaring at the principal. She went straight to the office to clear the mess and to know why did they include her. She expected their answer but she still couldn't held herself back.

"come on Liana, that's just a competition. As a matter of fact, you're on of our ace. Shouldn't we be using you too?" he chuckled while twirling on the chair.

She hardened her glare before she straightened herself and cleared her throat. "Excuse me Mr. Brown but I already told you, I won't. In fact, I told you 4 years ago that I won't be attending any school competition," she turned herself to leave but she stopped when she heard him explain his side.

"our school has been doing fine. In fact, we were ranked as the 3rd brightest school in our country, but...Recently, after the best batch graduated, we lost our title and ranked down. If you keep on turning these down, should you be responsible for this?"

She gulped after hearing the fact, once again. She didn't want to betray the school. She admit, it was kind of her fault, all along. She just watched the school's title vanished without doing anything to get it back. The administrators tried their best to reach out to her for help but all she did was help them choose a suitable student and teach her her techniques.

"what's the benefit of this interschool competition?" she asked while sitting down. This would be the only time she would attend. No more next time.

The principal tried to hide his smile by directly answering her, "if we won, the other 4 school will choose us to go and compete to the division level or they will partner with us for some future events. The news of our school winning would be a great opportunity for us to rise again. Thus, disturbing the peace of those higher than us. But, it's not just our title. The prize will be given to the children's hospital near our school. "

She nodded between his sentences and made her final decision," fine, I'll have to agree with this one- BUT! there will be no next time of course, "

The principal stood up and shook her hands before smiling at her," of course, of course, thank you. "

~

"so we're finally going to see you in the event? Woah! Finally! I can see you getting anxious and pressuring herself on what's the correct answer," Ashley exclaimed.

She faced her and glared at her. They were eating at the restaurant named Buzztime, near the school. It was famous for its creative interior art design. It gives people a engulfing warmth and comfort. Sometimes, romantic essence.

"I just accepted it because of the benefits. It would help our school, a lot and also the children since the prize will be given to the hospital."

"then why do you show that face?" Victoria asked while feeding her the sweet and sour pork.

"Liana...perhaps, is I-it because of him?" Ashley stuttered, anxious of predicting Liana's thinking. She looked at her with those doe eyes as if saying, please help me, I don't know what to do.

"Who's him? You mean Jun?" Justin asked, earning a punch from Ashley.

"Yah! Lower your voice," she whispered-shouted while munching on the sweet and sour chicken.

Liana was silent. She didn't know how to answer that. He's not the reason, is he? She was thinking about him, but it was a long time ago. She was supposed to move on.

" So, who's him? " Justin asked, again.

"stop asking that question," Victoria warned before pointing at the zipped Liana.

"It's my childhood best friend. When he left, I didn't dare to participate in any competition since it'll just remind me of him," she found herself trembling upon sharing it to them.

"I told you to shut it." Victoria glared at Justin who was silent.

"He left without telling Liana. The day he left was the day Liana won the division level. She was so eager to tell him, but he wasn't there anymore. His house was empty. I remember how Liana cried, running up to her parents," Ashley wistfully told them.

"Yah, let's drink beer to get over it. Liana has to prepare for the competition. I'll pay for the beer," Dylan broke the ice and called the waiter.

"YAAAASSS!!!" they shouted, making her chuckle at their reaction.

"okay, okay, how about let's play a game," Ashley said while chugging at her bottle.

"Drink slowly," Christian told her while snatching the bottle.

"what game?"

"uh...lets bring back our childhood memories and if you experienced it, you drink," Ashley announced and they agreed. It was fun to bring back memories, but Liana? She wasn't ready.

"okay, I'll start. When I was a kid, I jumped on the puddle near the road and splashed everyone," Ashley shared and they all looked at their bottle before drinking. I'm sure, everyone experienced it.

"Right after dismissal, I would go to the nearest candy store to buy gummies and show it to my friends how cool it is." Christian told them, blushing at recalling the past. Altogether, they drank the liquor as they experienced it once again.

"I would pick up fights whenever they borrowed my crayons," Justin hastily said. Liana widened her eyes and slowly took the bottle and drank.

"Oooh," they teased both.

Dylan scratched his neck before sharing his embarrassing past, "When I was little, I always ran away from my mom, naked because I didn't want to shower at night,"

He earned their loudest laugh, teasing Dylan even if they experienced it.

"and then my mom would laugh at me while going to take the camera to picture me," Justin added.

"guys? Have you ever kept all of your foods away from your siblings and then eat inside your room or in the bathroom?" she asked them, knowing that it was weird.

"I guess I'm not the only one," she laughed when they drink.

"Aaiiyoo, I miss my childhood life. You know, when you don't have to worry about yourself because you have your parents," Victoria wistfully said while drinking another bottle.

"I know, when you can still do anything without shame. Hayst," Christian laughed at himself.

"those memories that I cherished so much," she said.