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Thirty Nine
c a t h e r i n e
I woke up from my trance when my phone rang. The memories of an unforgettable past dissipated in the air as I reached for my phone.
“Lisa?” I answered.
“Hey, where are you?” Lisa’s cheery tone competed with a noisy background.
I didn’t get to reply immediately. It almost slipped my mouth that I was meeting with Jackson. I nearly forgot that they did not know about him.
“We’re going to a karaoke bar. Come join us. You haven’t gone home, have you?”
Pinching my temples, I shut my eyes tight. This is probably the third time this week that I am refusing to hang out with them.
“I’m sorry, I went to my academy. I have a class today.”
As always, I used the excuse of going to my cram school. I was enrolled in those supplementary classes before but I have stopped going for a year now. Most
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Euphoria Forty
Vernon“You really don’t remember the girl?”Mingyu exaggeratedly combed his hair. With a fed-up look on his face, he glanced at me.“I told you a hundred times. Which part of “I don’t remember” you did not understand?”I sighed and closed my locker door. I leaned on it instead as I watched Mingyu frantically unload his things. There is a drug inspection to be held next month and just in case there is a random inspection anytime soon that isn’t announced, we wiped our lockers clean for safety measures.“You sure there’s nothing left in yours?” Mingyu suspiciously eyed my locker.I scoffed. “I don’t keep drugs in there.”“Yeah, what’s this?” He jokingly grabbed something from my back pocket and brought up a sachet of marijuana.I glared at him and caught his hand down. It was his of
Euphoria Forty One
Forty OneVernonCatherine was gone again for our first classes. These days it seems like I’m becoming the more diligent student than she is. My eyes were glued to her vacant seat amid all the classes that she had missed. It always feels weird when she isn’t around. Her absence is too loud.I tried texting her but she wasn’t answering. So to gather a bit of information about where she is, I forced Mingyu to ask her friends about her.We were getting ready for lunch when he had the chance to ask Lisa. Mingyu blocked her on the doorway. I immediately heard the girl’s irritated tone. “What the hell?” Her low-pitched disgusted voice echoed in the now empty classroom.“What? You’re the one nearing me.” Mingyu replied archly.I nearly rolled my eyes. He just can’t go straight to the point, can’t he? He even leaned his arm on the door as he tower
Euphoria Forty Two
v e r n o nThe realization dawned into me like nightmare coming true. My heart was hollowed, and my body froze for the ice-cold shiver that penetrated through my veins. Cruel thoughts raced through my head, and not the biggest effort could hide the venomous wrath that has dominated my body.“Are you okay?” Catherine’s soft whispers momentarily brought me back to sanity.At that very moment, I just wanted to destroy Jackson. The truth that I held begged to be freed. But as I looked at Catherine swimming in the shadows of the dark and worn-out bookshelf corner, her night-cloaked eyes holding me cautiously were the purest reflection of the sincerity that lies beneath her, I felt guilty.I could not lie to her. It’s terrible enough that her boyfriend lied to her. But I could also not be impulsive enough to say something that can change everything for her.She took another check o
Euphoria Forty Three
c a t h e r i n eIt vexed me when Vernon called all of a sudden. He asked to meet in a haste despite the already late hour.It was only a good thing that I was alone in our house, and Jackson wasn’t around despite the fact that I’ve been inviting him a lot lately.Without further thoughts, I trailed the mounted roads and narrow alleyways that lead to the Good Day convenience store. The sight of it when I was a few steps away tugged at my heart string. There was something about it that would never fail to make me feel warm. Its huge name, which says "good day" greets every visitor, no matter their purpose of passing by, with almost an imaginary smile.Inside its glass walls, I saw the new part-time worker behind the counter. The tables were wide empty, and the pa
Euphoria Forty Four
c a t h e r i n e“You sure want to talk to him?” Jackson checked in on me worriedly.It was the very same night he saved me from that party, I talked to him on his car and asked whoever tried to do it to me. He was reluctant at first but I convinced him through it.“Yes.” I said with a nod.“But wouldn’t it be harder for you?”“No, I want to talk to him. I can’t keep my anger to myself.”“W-what are you going to do? Are you going to sue him? Tell your father about it?” Jackson grew excessively panicky.I shook my head no. I am certain I
Euphoria Forty Five
c a t h e r i n e“You can’t do this. You need to calm yourself.” Vernon kept telling me as we rode the bus to Jackson’s neighborhood.“Maybe you should meet him another time. Please, this is bad. Let your anger subside. Face him when you’re rational.”“I am rational.” I made emphasis while restraining my anger.Ironically, I could barely speak soft nor breathe subtly for my chest is heaving so hard with unshed fury. Even my fists were balled, my fingers were burying so deep in my palms I am sure it was wounding by the second.I flinched when Vernon’s palm rested on top of my fists. He caressed it, leading me to relax.
Euphoria Forty Six
v e r n o n“What’s with the solemn face?” Mingyu shoved my arm.Disturbed from my reverie, I glanced at him with a scowl. It was early in the evening and we were playing basketball in a nearby court just outside our high school. Some of the late classes had just finished, and the teachers had already left too.Mingyu and I were practicing for our tryouts like usual. We sat on the bleachers to refresh ourselves, and for just a moment of rest, my mind instantly wandered to Catherine.“I was thinking about what might have happened to Cath..” I admitted after gulping from my water bottle.“Yea. That sucks.” Mingyu shook his head.I have a
Euphoria Forty Seven
v e r n o n“I don’t know about you, but my family can’t know I am using drugs!” Mingyu grunted in growing panic.I resumed putting on my shirt, and with a heavy sigh, decided not to worry about it for now. It is equally scary for me to be found out, but I could not be panicking right now too, especially that Mingyu’s going nuts over it. On top of that, I had Catherine waiting for me. That should take priority now.“I need to go, Mingyu. I’ll talk to you later.” I patted the taller guy’s arm and carried my duffel bag away.
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