"Dear, I'm out! Mom called, they lost a box with an exhibit."

"Was it stolen?" I asked, alarmed. I knew how important this collection and curatorship were to my parents.

"I don't think it's a big deal, you know how mom always gets nervous before opening new halls and exhibitions."

"Yeah, she's all over me," I sighed. "Stressed and overwhelmed when there's something important is at stake."

"Don't worry, Ti," Dad awkwardly kissed me on the head. "You'll get a letter soon, even via your stupid email, you'll go to college in the fall and make lots of new friends. I know you're our special bird, but it's time to break out of the egg shell. There's potato salad in the fridge, don't forget to eat."

I nodded. Dad went to work.

Sure thing! Just keep the pocket wide open. In a couple of weeks, they'll realize I haven't enrolled anywhere. God forbid grandma and grandpa find out... I can't even imagine the commotion and chaos that will ensue.

Sam called on FaceTime. I thought I blocked his number.

I won't answer. Damn, why is he keep and keep on calling? Maybe something happened, not with him, I don't care about him, I mean... with Leah.

"Hey, girl! Long time no see. Are you really that upset? Are you still mad, girlie? You know it's nothing personal, right?" he annoyingly started. His face was shining with expensive lotion, and his haircut was also new, trendy with shaved sides. Already preparing for college.

"Why are you calling me? Did something happen to Leah?"

"Leah's fine. I'm calling to see how you are," he pretends to make a sad face, puffing up his lips. "Have you received the letter yet?"

"You know everything yourself perfectly. Don't play dumb. And we both understand whose fault it is."

"Poor thing! I don't understand why you're so upset. Stop sulking. Do you want to know how things are going with me? Soooo, I've already moved out. Look at this cool apartment my job helped me find," he purposely turned the camera so I could see the stylish loft as if it belonged to a famous influencer. I didn't want to look, but something caught my attention. A girl in a men's shirt: long light dishevelled hair and a cute figure. It was Leah.

"Sam, who are you chatting with there, let's go to bed..." she said languidly.

"Oops, haha! Got caught! Sorry, didn't mean to tell you about it, but Leah and I are dating now. What's more, we're so serious that we've already moved in together. You're not mad, are you, buddy? We should all hang out sometime. Love is love, you understand..."

An unwanted tear of hurt rolled down my cheek. I quickly ended the call and blocked him.

I probably cried for a whole hour. A classic meltdown after a long period of masking.

He knew I did like Leah, he knew how much I wanted to be friends with her, I told him in confidence, but he deliberately drove us apart.

A couple of years ago, I was unlucky enough to meet Sam at school. He had just transferred and had no friends. I wouldn't say I had a lot of them either, but they were there, and one of them was my beautiful Leah.

~~~

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