It was a sunny, Sunday morning when the sound of cars disturbed my sleep. My eyes slowly opened after I turned around in my white duvet. Suddenly, the alarm I had set on the previous night rang. I flinched, then yawned upon recalling that I had to prepare breakfast. Without hesitation, I quickly rushed out of bed to the restroom, then back with my pyjamas on.

Seconds later, my phone rang — excitedly, I smiled upon noticing the voicemail was from Noel. "Wake up, sleepy head. I promised to wake you up earlier, but we slept so late last night." He yawned, "Have a lovely day."

I giggled at the sound of his sleepy tone. We spent the whole night talking about random experiences — I had no idea that Noel was chatty until the camp. My eyes closed as the scent of pancakes suddenly made me hurriedly place the phone on the study desk. "Oh, no, I'm late." Without hesitation, I ran downstairs with a smile on my face.

"Dad! I said that I'll make breakfast." My lips pouted at the view of my father who placed the tray full of pancakes and honey on the medium-sized, marble, dinning table.

"Look at you, after waking up?" He teased. I noticed the bright smile on his face before he embraced me. "You were so tired yesterday." I nodded, then sat opposite his chair.

"Yes, I had a stressful week." Evangeline really made me work twice as much for that bonus money. My slender fingers quickly held on to the folk, then I frowned when my tummy growled. "I'm so hungry."

Father picked up on my behaviour, and hence, another pancake was placed on my plate. My lips stretched into a short-lived smile before I focused on the meal. For several minutes, we quietly ate and made pep talk about random news. Moreover, his sudden appearance at home shocked me on Saturday.

Last week on Friday, I had decided to avoid night travels; hence, I slept at the nearest lodging site. But, when I arrived home yesterday in the afternoon, I found Dad asleep on the couch. It came as a shook because I thought the house had been sold off or invaded whilst I was away. Alas, it was my healthy father who had been dismissed from the hospital and promoted by Linyu's father as a senior laboratory researcher in the health sector.

I forcefully poked the strawberry on my plate — imagining it as Linyu's godforsaken face. I had relaxed for a while because I believed that he might've pranked me or joked about the deal. Maybe, he wished to see my reaction. Yet, that made my heart ache worsen. I closed my eyes, then sighed. My father had been happy since I saw him, and I would be a terrible daughter if I took that joy away from him.

"Papa, when is your first day at work? I want to make you some herbal tea." Although my eyebrows pressed and my teeth clenched, I forced a smile.

"Hm?" He swallowed the food, then responded. "On Monday."

"Really?" I faked the brightest eyes, then clapped my hands. "I'm so excited." A sudden pain in my chest made me guilty of the facade that I displayed to my family.

"That reminds me." He took a card and a small box, then gently pushed it through the table. My head titled at the action before my eyes widened. "It's a present for you."

"For me?" I stared at the bank card and brown box, which made me genuinely smile. Without hesitation, I opened the box, then covered my mouth. "Oh, my. This is the latest brand smartphone!"

"I thought you would like it, and I paid for your annual bus fares. You can stop riding the bike now." He laughed. Subsequently, I felt the tears that almost rolled down my heated cheeks. "Come on, don't cry. I know, I haven't supported you as a father should — I'll try my best to make you worry less."

"Don't say that, you've tried your best." I sniffed in the cries that tried to escape. Even as I felt happy that he was more relaxed, I couldn't get the guilt out of my mind.

"Okay, sweetie." He rubbed my hand, then smiled. "Eat some more, and go shopping for school equipment later. A new term is starting tomorrow."

I gasped when I remembered that tomorrow would be a school day. Quickly, I rubbed my eyes, then said my farewell to father before I rushed to my room. Monday was the most stressful day of any school week because my worst and favourite teachers taught on it. Which meant that annoying Ms Bella and precious Mrs Daniels would be available. Within half an hour, I had prepared for my solo shopping trip. Moreover, I had decided to change my appearance for the new term.

If only I had known earlier that it was the change that I needed for the year; I would've been perfect.

"Mascara is perfection."

I massaged my face with the smooth, rose scented cream before my gaze fixed on the portable mirror on the study desk. Gently, my shivering hand traced the eyeliner along the beds of my lashes — excited with the cute outcome. I giggled, then clapped my hands. My almond eyes always looked better with a thin-lined, winged eyeliner. My final touch was a lip moisturizer which made my eyes shut. It was the first time that I would be at school with a touch of makeup. Moreover, Noel, Victoria, and Evangeline are the only classmates that have seen me with it.

"Uniform is perfection."

My hand clenched the red necktie that I had struggled to form into a bow. Although it complimented the black jacket and fitted, black skirt — I had never liked it. Neckties always made my neck ache; hence it was either I wear the jacket or the tie. But, I needed today to be my perfect day; that was the reason for my visit to the tailor yesterday. Finally, I had a uniform that complimented my body shape and height. I cleaned my eyeglasses, then wore it.

"A beautiful morning, makes a beautiful girl."

My curly hair moved to the direction of my spin, at that moment, the phone rang. I stared at the name that flashed on the screen, which made me blink. "You'll be late for school." Dad's voice caused a vibration of the phone before I stormed downstairs with it tightly pressed to my ear.

"I'll be down in a minute!" I sighed, a little grateful for the bus schedule. I reached the table with my beige, leather bag barely hanging on to my shoulder. Moreover, I had a school shoe in my hand when I sat at the table. "Dad, I said I'll be ready before seven." I pouted.

"You have to learn to be punctual." Dad was dressed in a dark blue suit, and had a fresh haircut that made him look younger. A smile crossed my face when he picked up a magazine in his hand as he paced around the living room with a cup of herbal tea. It had been years since I saw him invested at the moment. He always seemed lost in thoughts and had wary expressions until dawn. "Let's go."

"What?" I gasped as the piece of bread in my mouth dropped out. "You'll be taking me?"

"Of course—" Father turned, then paused. "Are you ditching school?"

"Never." I shook my head.

"I see..." He picked up the car keys on the table, "Let me meet this alpha soon."

"Wait?!" I slid my foot into the shoe, then picked up the bag and bread. Immediately, I rushed out of the house before he input the locking codes. "You are so mean." I whispered.

The journey to school took less time than it usually did when I rode on my bike. I had been excited the whole trip because, I could feel the different atmosphere that surrounded me. It seemed summer was finally coming to an end. I sighed when the school structure became visible. Five minutes later, my father drove the car through the large, green, guarded gate where several cars lined up.

To avoid the traffic, I opened the door of the parked, black car in queue. Without hesitation, I jumped out before my father yelled out my name. But, I avoided further explanations about the unceasing traffic at the gate. Moreover, he would experience the exact issue upon exiting. "This is an advantage of cycling."

I quickly waved at him when he turned the car away from the queue. "He shouldn't be late to work." With that, I rushed to class.

The common, unspoken rule among seniors was about punctuality. Every senior high-schooler loved being late to class, even by a minute would be perfect. That meant, the third floor was empty until eight a.m when people would crowd it. Moreover, the first siren rang fifteen minutes before classes began.

I slowly walked through the empty classroom when the first settling siren rang. My eyes stared at the textbooks on the shelves that were fixed against the white painted wall. When I was almost to my seat that was located at the back, I paused, then walked toward Noel's table.

Noel sat at the window side of the building with Victoria beside him. My fingers traced the thick layered, white, medium table that had graphical and numerical engraved patterns on it. I hadn't thought he could be the type to write on his desk. "At least they are stickers."

Footsteps that echoed in the hallway and the random burst of noise made me blink. "It's almost time." My shivering hands quickly opened the bag, then pulled out a pineapple flavoured lollipop. When the steps became louder, I took a small paper sticker and wrote my initials before I pulled the chair inside the table with the things on it.

Suddenly, the door busted open and a group of girls walked in. I opened the windows momentarily, then another that was across it. When the class began to get crowded, I walked toward my seat with the group. I sighed softly, then sat down. My fingers traced the small, pink watch on my wrist — ten minutes had passed since the class siren rang.

Ms Bella walked into class with Victoria and Noel — their voices alerted the class of the presence of a teacher. Suddenly, the room was silent, which made me cover my mouth as a laugh almost escaped. My index finger playfully tapped my lap, when my eyes met Noel's random gaze.

"It seems everyone is prepared for today." Ms Bella pointed at the windows, then rubbed her forehead. "Ugh, I have a terrible hangover today."

She continued her complaints about salaries and fancy parties. My attention was on Noel who had pulled the chair, then stared at the paper and lollipop. In a quick second, he grabbed it and smiled as he sat down. I felt the sudden warmth in my cheeks before I refocused on the lesson. Luckily, most students enjoyed her trashy stories because it minimized the duration of the lessons.

"That's why you shouldn't kiss random men, kids." She paused, "... and I told him, it's either a Bugatti or I leave."

"Did he buy it?" A blonde-haired girl asked, eager to waste more time.

"That's none of your business, Missy." Ms Bella waved her hand, then moved the loose strands of brown hair from her face. "See kids, I'm a very busy lady. Now, open your weird textbooks immediately."

The classroom was filled with sounds of flipping papers and unzipping of bags. Subsequently, I opened the English textbook, then stared back at her. "Today's lesson is on page 127, about schematic reports." I heard the sound of cracking metal as she sat on the front table. "Since it's the first day, read the notes and submit the task provided."

Ms Bella stood with an erasable marker, then wrote on the board. "Task; make groups of three, then research on any sector of society. Write schematic reports with your findings." I crossed my arms, then stared at the book. "Example; you can visit a food processing company when researching about food production."

"I hate group works." I whispered, luckily only I could hear the words. Suddenly, my eyes stared at Noel, who had been fixed on his book during the whole discussion. A little proud smile appeared on my face, which was later replaced with envy.

"Parschel, send a copy of the grouping list to my email." Thereafter, she picked up her laptop. "Make sure the class is quiet, and when a staff member passes by — tell them that I went to the restroom. Class dismissed."

When she walked out of the classroom, the noise began. Momentarily, the usual students who ditched classes walked out, and the social media addicts pulled out their phones. That included me, I quickly turned it on when messages suddenly popped on the screen.

Pretty boy [heart emoji]
Thanks
I'll refer my dentist's complaints to you.
40mins ago

Pretty boy [heart emoji]
-Sent an image-
29mins ago

I laughed at the edited puppy image drown in books. Although Noel was terrible at chats, I noticed that his messages weren't meant to be understood without logical reasoning. A smile crossed my face as I typed the reply. But, the random representative alert made me pause.

"Check the online class group for the grouping list. Make sure that you form a private group with your teammates, then schedule multiple in-face meetings. Oh, the deadline is Friday." Victoria informed the class as she stood. Her eyes wandered around the class, then a smile crossed her face when she stared at me. I quickly smiled back.

When everything was over, the lunch break siren echoed in the hallway. Immediately, my classmates rushed out toward the cafeteria, whilst the few remained behind. I clenched my shirt, when I wanted to head to Noel, but recalled our conclusion.

My eyes stared at the table, when he walked out of class without a look in my direction. Behind him, Evangeline smiled when she pulled his hand. "Come on, I want that lollipop." She pointed at the object in his hand. They walked through the door — their voices inaudible as they walked to the fourth floor.

Unfortunately, I hadn't been to the fourth floor. But, the student council office and class representatives' special room was located there. Victoria was a class representative, whilst Evangeline belonged to the student council representatives. Hence, I never had the honour of viewing the area.

"We agreed that Monday would be the last day." I heard the familiar voice, which made me shiver. Suddenly, the happiness that I had turned into despair. My shivering fingers clenched the chair when he sat across my desk.

"What's your final decision?"

I had to get the matter settled. Moreover, I spent quite a lot of time thinking about the situation and my capabilities. He had me placed where I couldn't make a right choice. My built-up emotions began to loosen as drops of tears got the best of my calm facade. I had to make a wrong choice that was more worthy than the other.

Relationships could end, and Noel might lose interest anytime. My heartbeat increased at the thought — I traced the lining of the table, then cleared my tears. Family was more important, my father had been happy for the past two days. Moreover, I could choose not to provide the information after father's recovery.

I took a deep breath, then whispered. "Would you keep your promise?"

"I'll help your father to the best of my ability." He smiled.

"I'll do it." I spoke through clenched teeth. "I'll provide the information that I can manage to acquire within two weeks."

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