Summer in 2018. Althea would have never thought that her first love would be someone she had been with for almost 10 years. She believed that this was all just admiration not until she realized that what she had felt was more than just admiration now. More than a crush. More than like. Perhaps, you’d call it love. In her case, she’d rather call it unrequited love.

The day Jay and Althea met was a memorable day for Althea. It is a moment she would probably never forget. It was obvious that this guy was going to become this girl’s most special person.

— The first meet

It sucks being a transfer student from another country. You have to adjust and adapt. The way they talk, act, and dress. You have to socialize and make friends. For some reason, it’s so hard for me to interact with other people. I can’t tell if they like me or not. If they’re just smiling at me when I’m looking but talk bad about me behind my back. I don’t know if they have good intentions when they approach me. I don’t know and I can’t tell either.

Well, what can I do? I still have to go to school. This kind of thought does not fit a first-grader at all. Maybe one day I can be a bit childish and stop worrying about these kind of matters. If only I didn’t have to live up to the standards of my parents. None of these would have mattered this much. Everyone’s expectations of me make me worry about every single thing I do. People feel like I’m close to perfect. I should always be perfect. Because when I’m not, no one likes me. Not my mom nor my dad.

Althea’s mom : Princess, where are you?

Althea : I’ll be right there Mom. I'm almost finished getting ready.

Althea’s mom : you’ll be late dear. You need to be faster.

Althea : yes Mom. I’m done. We shall go now.

Wow! What a great day it’s my first day of school. I can't be any happier. I'm not. This is not exciting at all. It’s not fun when you don't know anybody at school.

Althea has arrived at her new school.

Well, here goes nothing. I hope they like me. Let’s show a good smile in front of everyone

“Good morning! My name is Althea, I like reading books, playing dress up, and sweets. I hope we can all be good friends. I look forward to learning with you.”

They’re all just staring with a straight face. Do they not like me?

That was my thought back then but everyone looked at me with a straight face except that one guy. He was smiling. With cute dimples and green clothes. I knew then that a simple smile was enough to make me fall for him. I smiled back and wondered what his name was. I went and sat beside him, and then I asked for his name. His name was Jay, a name I’ll hold so dear in my heart. A name that let me experience love, heartbreak, and happiness.