1 Balance

"That is all for me today, class. Do not forget to email me your report. Deadline is until 11:59 today. Beyond that is subject to subtraction of points every minute you are late to pass it. Goodbye now." The professor told to his class as he picks up his stacked white papers and black briefcase.

"Yes, sir!" Most of the students said in union while others stretched up their body to waken the sleeping muscles due to long hours of sitting in the cold classroom as the AC is maxed on to battle the summer heat outside the building.

"Let's go to the basketball court! Hurry! The try outs for summer camp of the team is starting. We must join!" Said a student as he excitedly fix up his white long sleeve and black slacks of pants. The one who he is talking to was another guy who is hanging his head low and he takes his backpack.

"I rather go to the baseball team for summer camp. I'm still too short for basketball." He said as he stand side by side of his friend who is almost three inch taller than him. The tall guy who looks embarrassed by the sudden realization but laughed and grabbed his friend on the shoulders.

"Don't worry! You have the skill! Also, we're only 16 and still growing! No worries, okay? Let's go!" The tall guy said and pulled his friend out the room.

"But... I'm even a year older." The short guy said and sigh as they went out the classroom.

Another scene is happening on the other side of the room which is with the girls. A girl looks takes her long brown hair with her hand and looked into it.

"I should probably cut my hair. It's getting so hot this days that I just can't deal with it right now." She said looking and twirling her hair. A friend of hers raised her hand then lightly hit her forehead.

"You moron! Just when I have a good news about your crush who, by the way definitely likes long haired girls! " Her friend said to her and then went back to the side and touched her newly cut short black hair.

"Although I do agree it is so hot that's why I had my haircut yesterday, haha!" She said apologetically.

"Geez. Fine, I'll just have my hair tie up all the time like yours back then." The long haired girl said almost embarrassed by the fact of knowing her crush likes long haired girls like her.

"Anyways go ahead at the locker, I just need to finish cleaning up. Okay?" The short haired girl said. Her friend nodded as she picks up her bag and went out the room and said her goodbye.

When the long haired girl was out of sight on the corridor. The short haired girl came in to the room again and sighed to herself and touches her hair.

"I really didn't want to cut my hair though..." she quietly said to herself. She thought about how her friend's crush that confessed to her yesterday. She couldn't bear to see her friend heartbroken so with a heavy heart, she cut off her hair.

Suddenly she noticed pair of black shoes in front of her as she is looking down.

"Do you mind? I need to get out of the room to throw out the trash." She was startled to see a young guy who is looking at her directly with his piercing blue eyes combined with his deeply ebony hair. He doesn't look unfriendly nor friendly, he just really seems to be doing his job. Which is today is their turn to be the classroom's monitor at the end of class.

"Ah! Sorry, Jamie..." She said then step out the way and clutch hard on her fist because of the embarrassment. She is also wondering if she was heard by her classmate Jamie.

Jamie came back in from the outside with an empty trash can.

"Cleaning up of the room is almost done here. Could you just go to the professor's lodge to report?" Jamie said to her classmate. The girl looked around and she noticed that everything is all good already. She felt embarrassed that they were supposedly share responsibility today, but it seems that her classmate only did the work.

" Don't worry, the room was already cleaned to begin with since none of our classmates really litter the room. So just do me the favor of going to the professor's lodge to report, alright?" Seemingly being able to guess her thoughts, Jamie followed up to what he said prior. The girl was relieved so she nodded then immediately took her bag to go to the professor's lodge and report the monitors duty is done for today.

"By the way, a guy is waiting for you outside the room from Class B." As soon as Jamie said that, the girl looked outside the door and there is a guy standing waiting for him.

"T-thank you for letting me know!" She said and dashed out the room. The guy who was waiting was startled when the girl she was waiting for run past him. So he chased her as she runs.

Jamie just shrugged and looked at the tables and chairs. He then started on moving and aligning then quietly and alone. When he was done, he grabbed his backpack and looked at the room one last time to check then closed the door. He was about to head out the building to go to the gates, but he decided to go to the professor's lodge and gave a report.

"Ah! Jamie! Thank you for your work. What about the other class monitor?" The elderly woman asked, their class advisor.

"We both shared responsibility of cleaning up the room, although to begin with, there's not much to clean since my classmates do know to properly dispose of their trash. I let the other monitor went ahead since it might get dark soon so she needs to hurry home. " Jamie answered her perfectly. The elderly woman smiled.

"My! What a gentleman you are, Jamie. Anyways, as you said it is getting dark outside so hurry home, okay? Thank you." Their class adviser bid him goodbye and he left the room.

Walking out the building and looking at the gate. There's a guy with blondish hair stood there as the sunset adds color to his hair that made him look like extra good looking, but Jamie just give an acknowledging nod when he gets to him and then they started walking together.

"Jamie! Have you thought about of what I said last Sunday?" Jamie's friend said and hugged him on the shoulders. Jamie moved his head side to side.

"Not good, my relatives wants me to stay with them for the summer. So I'll pass with your offer, Donte. Also get off, you're heavy!" Jamie said and took his friend's hand off his shoulders.

"Geez! Bro, think about what you are declining! It's a world trip for the whole summer! You don't need to spend anything! My parents will shoulder everything! You know how they are to you, right?" Donte insisted to his friend. While Jamie just shrugged him off by saying there's nothing he can do. Donte just keep on asking him until they reach the separate road they usually say goodbye with.

"Tsk. We still have a week left to school before summer vacation so be prepared I will keep asking you to say yes! Hahaha! Bye!" Jamie's ever cheerful friend said his goodbye and took the right road going up, while Jamie took the left road going down.

Jamie knew exactly how his friend feels, even his friend's parents.

Jamie kept going down the road until he reached an old, colored cream apartments with grey roofs. The apartment is two storey with six apartments. Three on the top and Three at the bottom. Jamie lives at the second floor third apartment. He got his keys in his bag and opened the door. He automatically lift up his left hand to flick the light switch of the house at the left side of the wall. The place was old, but not shabby and still in the good shape. Jamie came in and locked the door then properly removed his black shoes and set it aside. The apartment was a bit small for three people. There are only one bedroom, but there is a small loft area above the kitchen and bathroom where Jamie's bed is originally located.

"Hello, Mom and Dad. I'm here." Jamie said and picked up a picture frame on the top of the vanity table of his parents room.

He then put it down and also his backpack. He then removed his school uniform and neatly hook it back to clothes hanger. He changed to his casual white shirt and boxers short. He opened the TV at their small living room then went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

When he was done, he had two dishes and two cups of rice. Jamie sets up the table and prepared a meal for one person. Which is for him and then he silently eats while he is watching documentary shows.

at 7:00 o'clock PM exactly, Jamie's phone rang particularly with a metal rock band music. It is the ringtone Donte set to his contact info on Jamie's phone.

"Yow Jamie! What's up! Changed your mind yet?" Jamie can imagine his friend's wide grin just by the tone of his voice.

"Nope. Hanging up the phone now." Jamie answered and end the call. He didn't put it down, because seconds later Donte called again.

"How about now?" Donte asked. Jamie still watching the documentary and completely used to his friends antics of persuasion just continue with his declining.

"Still no. Hanging up." Jamie said then end the call. This continues on until Jamie finished his meal. Then he told Donte be will be washing the dishes and not disturb him. Which he did, but as soon as Jamie was done drying his hand with a towel, the phone rang again, Donte knowing his friend's time in doing the dishes. But Jamie still refused and hanged up the call. Again, Jamie did not put his cellphone down knowing he will call again, but to his surprise, a few minute passed and he did not receive a call. This got Jamie worried so he initiated the call.

"That got you worried, ain't ya?" Hearing that teasing tone pissed Jamie so he immediately ended the call and set it aside. Not a moment passed by he received a call. Jamie answered the call and was planning to plain out reject him again when a different voice spoke.

"Hello, Jamie?" This got Jamie calmed down so he cleared up his throat and answered politely.

"Yes, Auntie?" Jamie's voice became politely as he is now talking to Donte's mother.

"I'm so sorry if my son is playing pranks on you again. You know how he is. He's just so mischievous despite being 17 years old now." Donte's mother voice sounded so sweet and apologetic then concerned.

Jamie knew Donte's family and they are a bunch of kind hearted and nice people. That's why Jamie knew their intentions when he was asked to come along.

"It's okay, Auntie. I am used to Donte's mischief by now. You don't need to worry." Jamie said in a calming manner. Seemingly available to hear the conversation, Jamie can hear that Donte is refuting back about him being mischievous.

Mrs. Henderson laughed softly then got back on the phone.

"Anyways, Jamie. I heard you will not be coming with us this summer. We were looking forward of you joining us on our trip though. Is it really a no?" Mrs. Henderson soft spoken words and sincerity made Jamie feel bad.

"I will see what I can do. Please give me until the end of the class, Auntie." Jamie sighed and smile slightly.

He knew their intentions. They are a bunch of overly kind hearted people. They don't want me to feel alone nor go to my relatives that I haven't seen or get to know into.

"Okay. I hope to hear a good news soon. Anyways, it is getting late. Better sleep right to have energy tomorrow morning. Goodnight." The phone was then heard to be handed by Donte back and Auntie saying goodnight to Donte.

"Bro! You have to come with us! It will be so much fun. Anyways that is all for now! See you tomorrow!" The call ended and Jamie looked at his phone. It is now almost 9 o'clock pm.

Jamie just looked at the tv screen and seemingly continued to do his normal routine of watching until exactly 9 pm. At this time, he goes to the bathroom and brushes his teeth, wash up, then go to bed. He looked at the picture of his parents and him when he was 10 years old.

"Good night, Mom and Dad."

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