FRIENDSHIP AND THE PROPOSAL (2)

Mimi and Fei had been friends for three months since they met at the school’s hostel. They were both part of the free education program that the government had implemented to make schooling accessible to all pupils and students across the country. But not everyone was happy about this program, especially the teachers. They felt that it was unfair and degrading to their profession. They often protested and criticized the students who benefited from the program, calling them names and making them feel unwelcome.

Mimi and Fei had to endure this hostility daily, but they didn’t let it affect their friendship. They supported each other and tried to make the best of their situation. They had different personalities and interests but also had much in common. They were both friendly, kind, and ambitious. They wanted to study hard and make a difference in the world.

Mimi was outgoing and adventurous, always looking for new experiences and friends. She had a bright smile and a bubbly personality that attracted people to her. She loved local music and movies and followed the latest trends and gossip. She was older than Fei by two years and acted like a big sister to her.

Fei was quiet and reserved, preferring to keep to herself and observe.

She had a calm demeanour and a gentle voice that contrasted with her sharp tongue and witty humour. She was obsessed with foreign pop culture, especially K-pop and pop music. She was a loyal fan of BTS and had posters of them all over her side of the room.

They were like the moon and the sun: different but complementary. They balanced each other out and brought out the best in each other. They shared everything and anything: their secrets, dreams, and fears. They spent a lot of time together: studying, chatting, laughing, and crying. They were inseparable.

But their friendship was not always smooth.

Sometimes they had arguments or misunderstandings over trivial things. Sometimes they felt jealous or insecure about each other. Sometimes they drifted apart or grew apart because of other people or circumstances. Many challenges tested their friendship.

One of those challenges came one day when they had a lunch break at school.

“Hey, what do you want to do this weekend?” Mimi asked Fei casually.

“I have plans with Lisa,” Fei said.

Lisa was Fei’s new friend, whom she had met in her music class. She was also a K-pop fan, and she and Fei had bonded over their shared passion. Mimi knew little about Lisa except that she was pretty, popular, and rich. She didn’t like her very much, either. She felt that Lisa was snobbish, fake, and manipulative. She also felt that Lisa was trying to steal Fei away from her.

Mimi felt a pang of jealousy and resentment. She tried to hide it by saying, “Oh, okay. Have fun.”

But Fei sensed something was wrong. She asked, “Is something wrong?”

Mimi snapped, “No, nothing’s wrong. Why would anything be wrong?”

Fei frowned. “You sound angry.”

Mimi said, “I’m not angry. I’m fine.”

Fei said, “You’re lying. You’re upset about something.”

Mimi said, “Fine.

Do you want to know what’s wrong? I’ll tell you what’s wrong. You’re ditching me for Lisa. You’re spending more time with her than with me. You’re ignoring me and forgetting about our friendship.”

Fei said, “That’s not true. I’m not ditching you or ignoring you, or forgetting about you. I’m just making a new friend. What’s wrong with that?”

Mimi said, “Nothing’s wrong with that. But you don’t need a new friend. You have me. I’m your best friend.”

Fei said, “You’re my best friend but not my only friend. I can have other friends too. You’re being selfish and possessive.”

Mimi said, “I’m not being selfish or possessive. I’m being loyal and caring. You’re being ungrateful and disloyal.”

Fei said, “I’m not being ungrateful or disloyal. I’m being independent and open-minded. You’re being clingy and narrow-minded.” They glared at each other, their eyes full of anger and hurt. They had never spoken to each other like that before. They had never felt so distant from each other before. They didn’t know how to fix their friendship. They walked away from each other without saying another word. They went to their next class without looking at each other. They sat on opposite sides of the room without acknowledging each other. They tried to focus on the lesson, but they couldn’t. They kept thinking about their fight and how it had changed everything.

They felt a mix of emotions: sadness, regret, confusion, resentment, and bitterness. They wondered if they had made a mistake. They asked if they had lost their best friend. Meanwhile, a boy named Lander was watching them from afar. He had a crush on Mimi for a long time, but he had never dared to tell her. He had always admired her smile, her personality, and her intelligence.

He had always wanted to be with her, to make her happy, to protect her. But he had always been too shy, too nervous, too afraid. He had always been waiting for the right moment, opportunity, and sign. He thought that maybe this was it. He thought that perhaps this was his chance. He thought that maybe this was his destiny. He decided to act on his feelings.

He decided to confess his love. He decided to propose to Mimi. He waited until the class was over. He approached Mimi as she was leaving the room. He called her name and asked her to stop. She turned around and looked at him with surprise. She barely knew him. He was just a classmate. He was just a stranger. She wondered what he wanted from her. She asked what he was going to say. She wondered what he was going to do. She didn’t have to wonder for long. He took a deep breath and said, “Mimi, I like you and want you to be my girlfriend.”

(Word Count: 1022)