"Courage"

It all occured on the last day of school at Harmony High, the students were all waiting for their Christmas vacation where they would get to carol within the neighborhood, eat together, open their gifts and to have fun with their friends and families.

Aila was waiting as well yet she couldn't think of any other plausible way for her to spend her vacation rather than the usual.

She doesn't have friends yet she was quite lucky to have a supporting and cool family. *However,* there was something missing inside her heart.

She tapped her pencil softly on her desk, trying her best to conceal the noise that she was creating as her Math teacher discussed.

"I heard that there's a grand Christmas Party at Leah's house this coming Saturday?" One of the students whispered from her behind, ignoring their teacher's lesson.

"Oh, I'm quite excited! We should definitely ask for an invitation!" The second student chirped, smiling widely at her friend.

Aila bit her lips, not wanting to eavesdrop on the social butterflies but she couldn't help it. The teacher's unwavering voice was slowly decreasing its volume as she focused on the conversation instead. She didn't understood why she chose to do that but deep inside, she wanted to go to at least a single party in her highschool life.

"Mhm, we'll definitely be invited knowing how famous we a--"

"Ms. Alonzo and Ms. Cagatin, kindly listen to the discussion. This lesson is involved in your exams AND your life." Our teacher, Ms. Angeles stated, frowning at the two ladies, lips were quivering in fear knowing how strict Ms. Angeles was.

"As I was saying, what is the answer to question #1?" Her voice echoed in the classroom, the deafening silence was surrounding the whole class, nobody bothered to open their mouths nor raise their hand.

A few minutes had passed and our teacher was still standing there, looking at us sternly before giving us a few moments for her to raise her white flag.

"You may all take your recess, now." The teacher sighed, watching how they would react and of course, the whole class started cheering as the tumbleweeds were no longer to be seen. Aila remained in her position, waiting for everybody to go outside, heading to the canteen.

Once everybody were all out, she took her notebook out and started to write her thoughts through poems.

"As it all ended in a bliss, her figure remained
Who would've thought what she had contained
Her thoughts that she gathered, it was all in her head
But nobody thought that she was actually dead
Emotionally, yes, she just wanted to attend the fest
Yet her fears controlled the rest
And that was the time where it had hit her chest
That from the start she really was a pest"

The tears strolled down, it landed on her paper, she realized her situation. She wiped her eyes with her hands before feeling a soft pat on her back.

"Aila? Are you alright?" She halted at the moment, surprised by the sudden action. She turned to the person who asked her, her eyes widened knowing that it was actually her teacher.

"What's wrong? Is there something the matter?" She asked out of concern for her pupil.

Aila bit her lips once again, having second thoughts if she should tell her or not. After deciding, she inhaled deeply and exhaled the remaining breath that she can let out.

"W-W-Well.." She stuttered, trying to gather her confidence to speak with the teacher.

"Hmm? Don't be afraid, I'll be here to listen to you as a friend." She smiled warmly at Aila which somehow made it easier for her to speak.

She stared at her 'friend's' eyes, trying to look if she was lying or not. But after seeing how sincere her teacher is, she decided to confess.

"I'm c-currently trying to f-figure out a way to go to Leah's party.." She replied in a timid tone.

"Why?"

"I-I honestly w-want to experience what it's like to attend one.. I am not sure if I have the courage to ask for an invitation and I really don't have friends that could help me with my problem.." She said, feeling a big weight finally lifted from her chest. Relieving, it was.

"I see, why don't you have friends?"

"I-I... I don't know.. Perhaps it's because I'm too scared to approach people..? I fear that I might be too bland for them to consider talking to so I don't get to socialize often.."

"But can't you see? I am having a decent conversation with you. You're not bland nor plain, you're rather interesting to be honest. Embrace your personality but for your own's sake, try to change. Try to be courageous enough to step up for your life. If you want this then work hard to achieve it! If you remain as who you are now, the chance that your life would fall down is honestly high." She softly lectured while grinning at Aila sweetly.

"Be who you want to be, my dear, don't let your demons tie you up."

Aila was surely motivated to do what Ms. Angeles adviced her to, Aila automatically smiled at her words, slightly crying from the joy that was overwhelming her.

She couldn't express how thankful she was to have Ms. Angeles as her teacher, with that, she stood up and beamed at her.

"Th-Thank you very m-much! I appreciate all of wh-what you had said!" Aila waved at her and bowed at her teacher with respect.

"Good luck." Ms. Angeles replied as Aila went out of the room, doing what she always had wanted to do;

To find friends.