Chapter 9

...Chapter Nine: The Quiet Struggles...

Selene, having finished her chores for the day, decided to retire early to bed. “Mom, I’ll be sleeping first,” she said as she ascended the stairs after showering and preparing herself for rest.

Her mother, noticing something seemed off about her mood, asked, “Are you alright, child?”

Selene fell silent. Her mother’s concerned tone, so uncharacteristic, tugged at her heart. “Perhaps you’re just too tired from school. Alright, go to your room,” her mother added, unaware of the true reason behind her daughter’s somber mood.

Selene simply smiled and nodded before continuing to her room in silence.

Upon entering, she sat on her bed and switched off the light, leaving the room bathed in darkness. She gazed out the window, her eyes drawn to the stars. One in particular, as always, caught her attention—a single star shining brighter than the rest.

“Why do you always captivate my eyes?” she whispered softly, mesmerized by its light.

As she continued watching, her reflection in the glass caught her eye. A smirk curled on her lips. “You’re only beautiful in the reflection,” she murmured to herself, her gaze now cold and distant. “But not in real life.”

“Why am I like this?” she sighed, turning her gaze upward toward the ceiling. Why do I keep behaving like this? she wondered, her heart heavy. There are no tears falling, but why do I feel so down?

I feel like I can’t move at all, she thought, her body frozen, as if her soul had emptied.

Ding!

Her phone buzzed on the bedside table. Without moving her head, Selene shifted her gaze toward it, torn between wanting to check it and the reluctance to do so. She hoped it was a message from him, but deep down, she knew their conversation would soon dry up. It was better not to hope.

Yet, she picked it up. As she unlocked her phone, she saw it was from the group chat. She stared bitterly at the screen.

"Guys, we have an exam tomorrow, right? In four subjects?" one of her classmates had asked.

"Yeah, we do. Sh*t, studying's not my thing. I'll just ask for your answers tomorrow, HAHAHA," another responded.

"I really hate Algebra, Angelly. I'll ask for your help tomorrow," someone else added.

A bitter smirk tugged at Selene’s lips. Back then, when the group needed help, it was always her they turned to. Now, it was someone else.

Selene couldn’t help but reflect on how her academic performance had seemingly declined, perhaps because of her feelings of being overlooked.

She put her phone down, feeling the weight of her indifference. She didn’t want to study, but she had to gather the strength. She couldn’t afford to fall off the honor roll. She didn’t want to follow the same path her sister had taken.

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The days passed in a blur, and soon it was Christmas break. But Christmas didn’t feel the same this year. The festive spirit was nowhere to be found. All Selene could feel was the coldness of the weather. Still, she couldn’t deny the quiet beauty of the season, the stillness of it all.

She spent her holiday napping, scrolling through her phone, and gazing at the cold scenery outside her window, her cup of coffee warming her hands.

"He still didn’t message me, huh?" she murmured, staring at her phone. Joven’s name lingered on the screen, along with their past conversations. “I guess she really found someone new. He’s been ghosting me for a month now,” she added with a sigh.

"Selene!" her mother called from the kitchen, snapping her out of her thoughts. She was preparing food.

Distracted, Selene descended the stairs. “Yes, Mom?” she asked.

“Accompany your sister to buy some ingredients for the food. I forgot to pick these up earlier,” her mother said, handing her a list.

“Alright,” Selene replied, understanding it was for the preparations for Christmas Eve.

She went outside, where her sister Mariétte was getting the motorcycle ready. After hopping on, they sped off.

As they traveled, Selene noticed a group of teenagers gathered at a waiting shed, chatting and laughing. Her gaze lingered on them, and then her attention was drawn to one person—Joven, surrounded by his friends.

What caught her eye, however, was the girl who stood by his side. They seem close, Selene thought to herself as they passed by. Get a hold of yourself, Selene. Just forget about him already!

With that thought, they continued on their way, the road ahead as uncertain as the feelings within her.

To be continued...

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