It was almost midnight when Yuri left the party; she felt drained, not physically but mentally. A lot of things happened today. Though she never expected the turns of events, she was glad that she could learn something out of this day's fiasco. She was not ready to go home yet. Her mind was filled with doubts. She thought she knew her friends; she thought being a teenager was just another stage of human life, that they were too young to be evil.
It was sad to know that wicked thoughts and deeds don't come with age, shape, or size it comes with the heart's desire. There's only one thing in her mind, though, and that is to keep herself away from those kinds of people. She only wishes that one day she will find true friends, those who do not harbor ill intentions or have ulterior motives for getting close to her.
She made her way up to the rooftop. There should not be any soul out there by this hour. Step by step, her heels make click-clack sounds that echo around the spiral staircase up to the rooftop. When she pushed open the door, she was greeted by a strong gust of night wind. Her hair was messed up by it, but she didn't care. All she noticed was a beautiful night sky with hundreds of sparkling stars above and the dark green lush thick forest surrounding the whole academy. It differed from the colorful city lights. This one right before her eyes is more beautiful because it is natural and not man-made. She took in a deep breath and slowly exhales. Her eyes were closed. She stood there for a moment; she didn't know how long, all she knew was she can stay there forever, it was peaceful, this is the first time she came to the rooftop because her ex-friends didn't like it here, they'd rather stalk on their idle queen and fawn over her instead of appreciating the natural and unblemished beauty up here.
And again, she felt sad. It's official. She doesn't have friends; she knows that it will take long before she finds another group of friends, but she will make sure that they will be a good set of people, kindhearted and likes not only for her money and for her wealthy family or befriending her for connections.
"It was sure nice to be Hayley, even just for today..." she said wistfully.
Another day…
Yuri got up early even though it was a holiday, she lazed in her bed for a long time, playing on her phone, and browsing social media sites, she looked at her friend's feed, their smiling faces, her friends who could not get in the academy and studied abroad instead. They have plans, big plans for their future. One of them wanted to be an architect and build amazing houses, one wanted to be a fashion designer, and so on. They were still fifteen but they already know what they wanted out of their lives except for her…
What does she want to achieve in her life? What will make her parents proud? What kind of dream will give her satisfaction when it comes true? What kind of long-term goals will stay in her life and not bore her? There was so much to think of and yet it only ends with a plain big question mark that stays in her mind.
"Darling, it's way past breakfast. Are you going to keep on sleeping all day?"
She heard her mom on the other side of her door. Then her door opened. A middle-aged woman came in an adult version of Yuri. Many people thought they were just sisters because they look so much alike and her mother does not look that old. She was proud of her mother. Her mother is a certified esthetician and is well known in the entertainment world. She performed many plastic surgeries for actors and actresses here and abroad. "Good morning mom." She greeted her mother, but without her usual cheerfulness.
Her mom made her way inside her bedroom and sat on her bed. She caressed her daughter's messy hair and looked at her with affection. "What's wrong, darling?"
Yuri shakes her head no and sat up, then hugged her mother. "Mom…." She called her mother coquettishly.
Her mother laughed. "Do you have anything you want? Have you maxed out your card again? I'd better check your spending this month. You're getting cheeky with your money again."
"Mom, when you were my age, do you know that you wanted to be a beauty doctor?"
Yuri called her mother's occupation as a beauty doctor since she was young. She had a hard time pronouncing its professional term. Now, she's old enough to pronounce even the most complicated long words in the dictionary, but still, she liked the term beauty doctor instead.
Her mom hugged Yuri and swayed her a bit lulling her to sleep. "Hmmm….. When I was your age, all I knew was that I want to marry a prince charming. Back then, girls my age dreamed of marrying a rich and handsome man. We don't even care about having our careers. I guess it's because we are too young to think about serious things, the future, and all the adult problems."
"How did you become a beauty doctor, then?" Yuri got interested and her mood lifted. She thought it was unnecessary to have her life sorted out yet since she was still young.
"Oh, I was in my senior year in high school, I met your dad, he's a foreign exchange student, he's what you called today a laid-back guy, doesn't care about what will happen but not to the point of being irresponsible, I remember it was only a month after we get together, I was frustrated, I don't know what I want to do with my life. I don't have a plan! Then he said if I knew where my interests lie in, getting to college would be as easy as going to high school. Then I remembered, I like being pretty, but I also want to be just like your grandparent; a doctor, but I like a less bloody route in the medical field, I don't want to be pressured, but I want to help people who want to be pretty, whose dream was to be pretty, I thought, that will be very fulfilling when I see their transformation. It would be great to watch them appreciate my work. And so, I didn't hesitate, I went to a medical school in the U. S and spent 14 years of education. That's a long journey, but I never noticed the years because, for me, the time is well spent. I am doing what I love. It is my passion. I enjoyed what I'm doing." Her mother told her. Her smile says she's reminiscing on those years of hard work she spent to get where she is right now.
Not many people know that her mother is a member of one of the most respected organizations for plastic surgeons. She even has her medical clinic that was opened not too long ago. Though their family owned a big chain of salons and spas around the country and abroad, it was her dad's business and it will be Yuris when she's at the right age to manage their family business.
"Mom, is it okay if I don't have a dream right now?"
Her mother laughed. She hugged her tight and kissed her hair."Darling, you know what I always tell your father? What I always pray at might? For my babies not to grow too fast. I don't want you to mind your own business too early. I don't want you to talk about boys and go out till late with your girlfriends. I want you to stay cuddly and cute and act coquettish only to your mommy and daddy!"
Yuri giggled when her mother tickled her side. "My baby, don't grow up fast, not just yet. I still want to play dress-up with you, go out shopping like we're sisters, and have our movie dates..."
"Mom, why are you being so cheesy early in the morning?" She said and acted a bit disgusted with her mother's attitude.
That morning, Yuri realize she didn't need to feel frustrated and hopeless. Her mom's right. She was still young to worry about the future. What she wanted to do right now was to think of a way to thank Hayley for saving her last night.
After she was done with her breakfast, she went back to her bedroom, not to sleep again but to browse her cookbooks on her big pink bookshelf. Her big queen-size bed was on the right side, next to the floor-length sliding door that leads her to her nice and cozy balcony.
Her bedroom was designed to suit her mother's taste. It was very girlish. Everything is a touch of pink, from wall to ceiling, from her walk-in closet to her little balcony. It is a very Victorian style. When she was old enough to appreciate her mother's taste, she also incorporated her designs since she'll woke up every day until she has her own house. It might be because of her mother's influence that she liked pink so much that she only added more of that color to her bedroom.
She was in the middle of studying what cake to bake when her cellphone rang. She absent-minded took her phone and answered it, not knowing who was calling. "Yes?"
"Yuri, come out and play. I know a French dessert shop close to our school. It was super popular, and it is 'Instagram-able!" The girl on the other line has a high-pitched voice. The excitement was noticeable in her voice.
Yuri abruptly stopped reading her cookbook. She didn't know how to respond to her. Or if she won't.
"Hello, are you still there?"
"Oh, yes, still here. I'm sorry I can't. My mom asked me to babysit my brother."
"OMG! Who does babysitting when you have your nanny?! Come on now and stop dallying!"
"Honestly, I need to babysit my little brother. Enjoy your French dessert. Okay, got to go, bye. "She blurts and hung up the phone. It was quiet after the call. She was about to sigh in relief when…
"Who said I need babysitting?"
Yuri almost threw away her big and heavy cookbook when she heard a cute and childish voice behind her. She suddenly turned around from her study table. "
"YVO MICHEL RIVERA!" Yuri scolded her little brother.
The child was only seven years old and a handsome boy with big, sparkly eyes. He is so white and looks delicate. He looks more like his dad minus the sharp jaws his dad possesses. Their dad is half Spanish.
His mom's golden boy…
"I want to ask if you can bake me some cookies." He said a little serious his eyes looking at her cutely. How can she stay mad at him?
Yuri then inhales roughly and then exhales. Then bounce out of her study table and takes her cute little brother down the stairs and to her kitchen. Her mother knows Yuri likes baking, so she made it a point to give her own space and provide every baking equipment known in the baking world. Name it, she has it all!
"Her little brother climbed a tall chair and lean his small body forward on the long kitchen counter while her big sister was busy preparing all the necessary ingredients. "Okay, little guy, you want chocolate chip cookies?"
"I want some snickerdoodles!"
"Alright, then snickerdoodles it is!"
While she was busy baking her brother's cookies, she had an idea to bake macaroons as her thank you gift for Hayley.
"I heard you were talking to your friends. Why didn't you go with them?" Her brother asked while watching her bake.
She stopped for a second and then continues what she was doing. "I'm not in the mood to go out."
"Why? If it's before, you will bounce up and down happily in your bed while shouting yes!"
Yuri glared at her little brother and then threw some flour in his direction. His little brother giggled.
"You're no longer friends with them?" He asked while brushing off the white flour out of his hair.
"They are not a good friend. So, you must be careful in choosing your friends. Don't look for bad friends. They will only mislead you."
"You know who my friends are. One of them had a crush on you." His little brother teased her. Yuri giggled.
"If you don't have friends, then who are you baking for?"
"It's just a thank you gift. Anyway, I don't know how to be friends with her."
"Why? Are you mean to her? Did you feel guilty? That's why you want to bake for her?"
"Hah! I am not mean! She was the one who's mean to me!" she said, a little irritated.
"Then why are you baking for her? So, she will stop being mean to you? You're sucking up to her?"
"Yvo, do you still want your snickerdoodle?"
Her little brother turned quiet while pumping his mouth. He was impatiently waiting for his food.
Yuri suddenly thought: what's it like to be friends with Hayley? Looking at Angel- the god girl, and the ice beauty Raeven, they are getting along pretty well, so why can't she?
Well, there's nothing wrong if she tries. Right? "
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