FRIENDSHIP AND MEMORIES: WHAT A JOY! 4

The incessant knocking on her door awakened Joe. She opened one eye then closed it again. She is still sleepy. 'Go away!' her mind answered subconsciously. The knocking stopped. 'Good.' But then, when her subconscious wandered back to dreamland, she was shaken until she finally opened her eyes.

"What's wrong with you? I have been calling you for a long time already. It's time for school," she heard David's lecture.

At the mention of school, she opened her eyes and quickly realized that she had fallen asleep while finishing the research paper. "Did I finish it?" she asked and immediately looked.

Her jaw gaped wide open after realizing that she accidentally turned off the laptop without saving her work. She looked at David worriedly. "It's gone," she said.

David sighed, "Well, I'll help you ask for an extension. Just hurry up already. It will be troublesome if we come late to school."

Joe nodded and quickly went to the bathroom to take a shower. In no time, she went out completely dressed in the male uniform. She headed downstairs where David was waiting for her. The chauffeur drove them to school five minutes just before the first bell rang.

There are only three more weeks before graduation. That is why most of the students were rushing with their projects, term papers and class assignments to meet the due dates. Those are prerequisites for graduation. And yes, Joe submitted all of the other requirements last Friday just on time! The research paper was the last requirement she had to finish. For a procrastinator such as herself, that was already quite an achievement!

Her class quickly began and as it came to an end, their instructor told them that he would wait for the research paper until the last bell of the day. Joe took a deep breath. She could not do it until the last bell. She has to attend her other classes for final quizzes and tests. She waited until all her classmates left. Then, she approached the instructor. David was still sitting at the back preparing his things for the next class.

"Uhhh… sir…" she began.

"What is it Joe?"

She scratched her head, "About the research paper…"

"What about it?"

"Uhh… well…can I ask for an extension?"

The instructor looked at her, "Why would you want to do that? Did you forget that you turned it in a month ago? David gave it to me together with his. Joe, I advise you to relax. Apparently, all the requirements are getting over your head," he said and walked out the classroom.

Joe was left in thoughts. She turned around and was greeted by a smiling David. "Did you…"

David nodded, "I know you'll procrastinate so I just wrote it."

Joe crossed her arms, "And you did not tell me?"

"You did not ask?" he said and began to walk to the door.

Joe smiled. Her heart raced. Before David could leave the classroom she managed to say, "Thanks."

David looked at her, "Just remember you owe me…'kay?" he said and walked out.

Joe took her backpack and ran to follow him. How lucky is she to have a best friend like that? Very lucky.

*****

GRADUATION DAY!

Joe fixed the tie of her school uniform. She put her blazer on and stared at the mirror. She shook her head and combed her hair with her fingers. The strands quickly followed the style she wanted. They were right. She does look like a boy. A HANDSOME ONE AT THAT. Her gaze went to the place where her breasts were. Since she must look like a boy, those things should remain hidden. And she was good at hiding them. She blew air upward, trying to fix some strands of her hair that were poking her eye.

"Are you ready yet?" David asked as he opened the door.

"Would you ever learn to knock?" she asked.

David smirked and stood beside her in the mirror. "You do look handsome," he said and slightly patted her head.

"Quit messing around."

David patted harder and chuckled. He messed her hair up.

"Geez David, quit it," she said, using her right arm as defense.

"Why? You wanted to be more handsome than me?" he asked.

Joe fixed her hair once more with her fingers and eyed David, "That girl Michelle might come today…" she said and walked out.

David followed her with a grin on his face, "I thought she was not your type?"

Joe looked at him, "You said she was not bad. So I think I might consider…"

"Consider what?" Madame Lila asked. "I heard everything. Dating her? That is preposterous!!!"

Joe bit her lower lip, "I was just kidding, Auntie."

David immediately put his hand over his mouth to hide his laughter.

"You'd better be…" she said. "Well, let's go. We do not want to miss your graduation."

Joe scratched her head. David moved closer to her and whispered, "Forget about Michelle. Mom has forbidden it." He winked and left.

She followed the mother and son out the mansion and into the limousine.

The graduation march sounded. The graduates walked in and took their respective seats. After all were seated, the celebration commenced. The principal addressed a short welcoming message. After, the class valedictorian stood up to give his speech. Then, the handing of the diplomas began. Joe narrowed her gaze a bit when the girls present started to scream as a good-looking Senior went up the stage and received his diploma.

'Madame Lila is here. If they scream when I get there… she's not going to like it.' She bit her nails as she saw her turn coming.

"Chen, Joe," the principal called.

Joe quickly eyed her left and right nervously. 'Don't scream.'

Everyone was silent. She controlled her breathing as she stood up and walked to the stage to receive her diploma. It seemed that at that moment, the graduates and the spectators were calm.

'Good,' she sighed as the diploma was handed to her. But she relaxed too early.

After that, the girls went wild, "JOE CHEN, I LOVE YOU!!!! JOE CHEN, YOU'RE HOT!!!! JOE CHEN, CALL ME!!!"

David quickly turned to his mother's direction. The elegant lady's eyes widened in shock. He looked back at Joe. He knows she is beyond embarrassed. 'Do something Joe… Anything…'

Joe, though really embarrassed, was quick to come up with the solution. The truth: SHE IS THE SECOND HOTTEST GUY IN SCHOOL. The solution: GIVE THE GIRLS THE HOTTEST GUY IN SCHOOL. She quickly turned to the audience and with a loud, very fluent, and a manly voice announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, DAVID JI," she said and pointed at him.

The girls went wilder and screamed at David's name louder, "DAVID JI!!!! DAVID JI!!!! DAVID JI!!!! DAVID JI!!!! DAVID JI!!!! DAVID JI!!!! DAVID JI!!!!"

Joe quickly walked down the stage and hurriedly sat down on her seat. 'Thank goodness,' she sighed.

David watched Joe as she rushed to her seat. Nice one, Joe.

"Uhhhh…" the principal was taken off-guard. "Well… Ji, David," he called even though it was not David's turn to go up yet.

David stood up quietly and with a stern face began to walk towards the stage. Because of his expression, the girls calmed down and sighed adoringly. David does not care. The truth is, he dislikes girls who display their affection in public. From his point of view, it is such shameful behavior. He received his diploma and walked down the stage with the audience quiet. As he passed the area where Joe was sitting down, he looked at her. Joe was faced down. He managed a very small smirk and sat back down.