Springfield High School, Class 2A.
as the bell rang, signaling the end of a brief math lesson. The class, which had barely lasted twenty minutes, was one of those rare, swift sessions, leaving the students to relish their precious break time. It was a momentary escape from the rigors of schoolwork, and the hallway outside the classroom was filled with students engaging in pointless banters and playful chat before the next class.
Sophia, Lisa, and Angela standing near the lockers in the hallway, Angela was going through her locker, she seems to be looking for something as they engaged in a conversation. Lisa, always the active one in the group, was talking enthusiastically about the new skincare products she had recently started using.
"Girls, I have to tell you about this new cream I bought. It's amazing! My skin feels so smooth, like butter. And the soap—don't even get me started on the soap. It's works like magic, Lisa gushed, and her eyes gleaming with excitement.
Sophia nodded, half-listening as she fiddled with the edge of her jacket. "Seriously"? Sophia said as continue listening to the music playing through her earbuds. Angela, on the other hand, raised an eyebrow, skeptical about Lisa's claims. "I don't know, Lisa. I think you're just obsessed with any new product that promises to make you look like a goddess. Does it really work that well?"
"I don't know, Lisa. Are you sure it's really that good?" Angela asked, her tone skeptical. "I mean, not everything that's popular really works."
Lisa shot her a playful glare. "Angela, you're just jealous because you haven't tried it yet!, You should definitely give it a go."
Sophia, who had been quietly watching the exchange, smiled faintly. Lisa's enthusiasm was contagious, but she didn't care much for creams or soaps.
Before Angela could respond, the sound of laughter and casual chatter interrupted them as Jonathan and Joshua walked out of the classroom.
Sophia's attention drifted to the pair of boys walking out of the classroom. Jonathan and Joshua were deep in conversation just as always.
Lisa gave a dismissive wave, clearly unfazed by Angela's doubts. "Trust me, Angela. You should try it. You'll see the difference.
Lisa, noticing the two boys, immediately changed the subject, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Speaking of things that are close and personal, did you guys notice how close Jonathan and Joshua are? I swear, they act like they're attached at the hip." She chuckled, nudging Sophia playfully.
Angela grinned, joining in on the gossip. "Oh, I think our Boss lady likes one of them, for sure". Angela said as she looked at Sophia from the side of her eyes.
Sophia shot Angela a glared, her eyebrows furrowing. "What do you mean? Like one of them?" she asked, trying to make sense of the comment.
Angela, realizing what she'd just said, froze. Her face turned pink as she quickly tried to backtrack. "I—I mean, they quit handsome Not like… anything weird, you know? Just... ," Angela stammered, her voice trailing off as she glanced at Sophia.
But Sophia wasn't buying it. She could see Angela's nervousness, and it didn't sit well with her.
"Wait a minute." Sophia gave Angela an exaggerated look, as if Angela had said something completely out of line. "What are you even talking about?"
Angela, now visibly flustered, held up her hands defensively. "No, no! I didn't mean it like that! I swear, I'm not trying to start anything. I just—" She paused and quickly added, "I wouldn't snatch Jonathan from you, if that's what you're thinking!"
Sophia's heart skipped a beat. Her face flushed a deep red.
Y...yo....you. "Wait. What? I never said I liked him!, Her voice cracked slightly, betraying her
Many other students in the hallway was attracted as Sophia raised her voice...they seems to have head something interesting. But they soon left the place after receiving an angry glare from her....she is one of the feared and respected presence in the school, hence no one dare to get on her bad side.
Lisa raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Oh, come on, Sophia. don't be like that, but you can't say you're not at least a little bit curious about him. I mean, he's definitely cute, right?" Moreover you have been trying to approach him since last term.
Sophia could feel her face growing hotter, and she quickly shook her head. "I don't have a crush on him! I barely even talk to him!, as for trying to approach him, I just want to be friends ".Her words tumbled out in a rush, trying to quell the sudden surge of embarrassment that was threatening to overwhelm her. "did I make it too obvious?, I don't think so?" She thought to her self, this was her friend, so it was hard for them not to catch unto something.
Angela, now apologetic, sighed and gave a small, sheepish smile. "I'm sorry, Sophia. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I was just joking around."
Lisa laughed, clearly enjoying the playful drama unfolding. "Looks like our queen has a skeleton in her cupboard," she teased, raising an eyebrow and giving Sophia a knowing glance. "Sophia, you're hiding something. You have to admit, Jonathan's not bad looking."
Sophia crossed her arms defensively, feeling her cheeks burn even more. She glanced away from her friends, her gaze unintentionally landing on Jonathan and Joshua as they continued down the hall.
Lisa's teasing voice snapped her back to the present. "It's okay, Sophia. You don't have to tell us everything. But if you ever want to spill the tea..." Lisa trailed off, winking.
Sophia sighed, realizing that no matter how hard she tried to deny it, the whole conversation had made her feel awkward and self-conscious. Her heart had skipped a beat earlier when Angela brought up Jonathan, and now it felt like her friends were reading too much into it. She glanced at them both, her mind racing with a mix of confusion and embarrassment.
"I really don't like him like that, okay?" she said, more firmly this time, though she couldn't entirely hide the nervousness in her voice.
Angela smiled, clearly relieved, while Lisa gave her a playful nudge. "Alright, alright. No need to get defensive. We'll just let you figure it out on your own. But don't think we won't be watching!"
Sophia let out a frustrated but amused sigh. Her friends were impossible to deal with. She glanced down the hall one last time, catching a fleeting glimpse of Jonathan and Joshua as they disappeared into the crowd of students.
......
..............
The cool breeze swept gently over the rooftop, rustling the few scattered leaves that had begun to turn amber with the changing season. The distant hum of voices and the occasional shout from the students below seemed like a soft murmur compared to the quiet, almost serene atmosphere atop the school's roof. There, standing side by side at the edge, were two figures — Jonathan and Joshua.
Jonathan, his hands casually tucked into the pockets of his jacket, looked down at the students below. His expression was thoughtful, eyes scanning the crowd.
Beside him, Joshua stood with his arms crossed, shoulders hunched slightly as if the weight of his thoughts was pulling him down.
"New term, new start," Jonathan said, breaking the silence. His voice was steady, with a hint of optimism that seemed to push against the weight of the school year that had only just begun. "I'm hoping to step it up this time. I want to really push myself, especially in history. I think I can make a real jump.
Joshua sighed heavily, leaning on the edge of the rooftop and looking down at the students who walked by without a care in the world. His face betrayed a mix of frustration and fatigue. "I don't know, man. This math class is killing me. I just can't wrap my head around some of this stuff. It's way tougher than last year."
Jonathan glanced over at him, his eyes narrowed slightly in empathy but also tinged with amusement. "You're telling me. I was almost lost during the first lesson. But come on, let's continue studying together maybe it will soon become fun".
Joshua shook his head, a wry grin spreading across his face. "Fun? With math? You've got to be kidding me. But yeah, I guess I could use the help. I don't want to flunk out of the class. It's embarrassing enough."
Jonathan laughed softly, the sound warm but brief. He appreciated Joshua's candidness
"I'll tell you what," Jonathan continued, shifting the conversation in a different direction, "instead of stressing over math right now, why don't we do something we both enjoy after school? You up for a bike ride?"
Joshua raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "A bike ride? Seriously? You mean like last time, when we took that route by the old park?"
Jonathan nodded, his smile widening. "Exactly. A change of scenery might help clear your head. Plus, we both know we need the exercise. You're starting to look like you've been living on instant noodles."
Joshua chuckled at the jab, unable to hold back a grin. "Alright, alright. You're on. It might actually be nice to get out of my head for a bit."
The offer to bike after school wasn't just a distraction; it was an invitation for something more — a reminder that sometimes, the best way to solve a problem wasn't always in a classroom or with a pencil in hand.
As they stood together, looking down at the students who went about their day, Jonathan and Joshua shared a brief silence. But it wasn't awkward. It was a comfortable pause.
"Alright," Joshua finally said, his voice carrying a lighter tone than before. "Bike ride it is. Let's see if we can't forget about math for a little while."
Jonathan's smile deepened, a sense of satisfaction settling in as he turned his attention back to the distant horizon. "Deal. We'll tackle it later."