Chapter 2

POV : Rinerva

My name is Rinerva. I am currently on my final year studying psychology in Demise. I thought that I was doing well in my life, I have good grades, I can help my parents work, I am polite and I can do anything I want, what more can I ask? I knew that my parents wanted me to find happiness, that's why I agreed to go to Demise after high school. I don't have friends besides Lily and James, everyone must've wondered how can that happen? Well, others who talked to me mainly asked about lessons, so I would rather call them acquaintance. I'm not worried or anxious or anything the fact that no one wanted to be friends with me, especially those of opposite gender, James is an exception though. Sometimes I asked myself....why? is it because I'm an introvert, I'm too quiet? or that I don't have the same interest as them? maybe because I talked too formal? But I can't be too informal with those whom I don't know. This is also one of my weakness, I overthink. That's why it's best to not think about it anymore, but I am grateful for my family and friends. That's all that matters.

My best friends, James and Lily were always with me since kindergarten, they are very nice and always have my back even though they knew I have trouble with socializing amongst kids my age. And although we still meet 3-4 times a week, I knew that they were busy. James is taking medicals and Lily is taking botany. Sometimes I only meet one of them. Both of them offered me to study in Demise with them. Initially, I rejected them, I honestly would rather continue my studies back home, in Themz. But They said that it is a good opportunity and the fact that my parents agreed with them makes me think twice. Since my parents said that they can afford me studying abroad, then I think that it wouldn't hurt to try study there, if I don't like it there, I could always come back home.

However things are much different from what I expect. I never thought that Demise could be so beautiful and diverse. It is a country close to the sea, I could feel the morning and afternoon breeze everyday. What I like the most is the 2 seasons here, spring and autumn. Elegant flowers are able to bloom for a longer period of time here and the soil is fertile that any plants can grow in both seasons, no wonder Lily chose to study botany here. The temperature is also well fitting for me, not too hot nor too cold, the culture here is not that much different from Themz. People here are also friendly and helpful. I'm rather surprised I can fit in well. And just like that, almost 4 years have passed by, and it is almost time for graduation.

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Lily            : "By the way, graduation is coming up soon. When will your graduations take place? don't forget to invite me!"

James      : "I'm not done with my studies yet...I still need another 3 years of study to graduation...pray for me so that I can finish my studies before I lost my mind"

James said jokingly complaining his situation with his two confidants, his humor is always the one who keeps the conversation lively.

Lily            : "Well, I will have it on October 28th. What about you Erva? When is yours?"

Rinerva's eyes shifts from her food to her friends, with a slight curve on her lips, almost seems like a smirk. "What a coincidence, looks like we'll be graduating together." " You mean...Yours will also be on that date?" Lily's eyes widens, and smiled widely as she couldn't contain her excitement. "Then we must celebrate afterwards, We can have cake, food, games....." Lily listed every single exciting stuffs that she could think of while Rinerva's attention shifts to James who seems to be deep in thought. "What's wrong with you? You're not the one graduating, is that why you looked so gloomy?" James quickly snapped to reality when he realised that Rinerva was talking to him. "No...If you two have the same graduation date, then it means that I could only attend to one of your ceremony." Rinerva and Lily exchange looks and smiles. "Well my graduation will take place after lunch though, at 2 p.m" Lily explained while she stares at Rinerva with a hopeful look on her face. "What...a...coincidence..." Lily and James' look hopeless and sad that Rinerva couldn't hold it back any longer. "Mine will end at 12 p.m. I could still make it to your graduation if I rushed as soon as I finished." The surprised look on Lily and James as they rose their head that were lowered before, followed by enthusiasm with a slight annoyed answer from them. "Well, that's good news, why didn't you finish your sentence before giving us false hope...huh..." James held his fork tightly on the table. "I'm sorry, sorry I thought it was fun teasing you guys." "Well you do like teasing other people when you yourself don't like to be teased huh?" Striked Lily with her arms folded and gazed locked on Rinerva. "It can't be helped, I took everything people said seriously" Rinerva calmly answered despite her friends' nagging while starting to clean up the plates. "But still, whose graduation will you attend if you had to choose one of us?' Lily asked out of curiosity with her hands on her chin. "Yeah James, Who???" Rinerva's eyes shifted directly from the plates towards James and fixed her sharp gaze on him while with another teasing tone. "You, don't give me that look. It gave me chills as if I did something I shouldn't do" James pointed his hands to Rinerva. "Yeah yeah, just answer the question." replied Rinerva as she head towards the kitchen. "If I were to choose...…then.....I won't come to any of your graduations. I'll just open your livestreams from two different devices and watch them together. There, problem solved, I can congratulate you during night time too right." Lily and Rinerva once again looked at each other and then towards James and burst out laughing. "What...something wrong with my answer?" James asked while helping to clean the table. "Nice save you did there. I was worried for a moment that you couldn't answer so I thought that I should stop teasing you" Lily said with tears at the edge of her eyes, perhaps since the laughter didn't stop for a whole 5 minutes.

"It's getting late, you guys should go home first, I still need to close the restaurant." "No need, we're roommates after all, it's better if we went back together, you can head back first James." As Lily said while walking towards the restroom. "How can I let the ladies went back by themselves, wouldn't that not make me a gentleman?" James replied rather loud to make sure that Lily still heard what he said, while he himself went to the cashier, where Rinerva was cleaning up the counter. "Dinner's on me, no need to thank me" As Rinerva noticed James that was approaching. "Well I'll be paying next time, wouldn't let the two of you pay everytime we eat will you?" Rinerva smirks and look him in the eye, "Then thank you in advance, you can ask Lily where we'll be meeting next time." James scanned  the room, hoping that Lily won't pop out later on." Rinerva rosed her right eyebrow, "She's still in the restroom, probably brushing her teeth since she will most likely head to bed once we're back. It's already 10 pm, she must be tired." James smiled and leaned closer to Rineva, eventually stopped by her ear, and whispered, "I need your help."

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