Olivia’s Single Life

"Can you two stop already?" Olivia's exasperated voice broke the intimate moment Lindsay and I were sharing.

We pulled apart reluctantly, though I couldn't help but smile at Olivia's dramatic expression. It had been a few days since Valentine's Day, but our relationship was still so new and exciting that sometimes we forgot where we were. In this case, we were in her room because Lindsay had decided to bring me here after class to "study" together… or at least that's what we had said.

Lindsay tucked a strand of hair behind her ear while looking at me with a mix of apology and amusement.

"I'm sorry, Olivia. We didn't realize we were being… so obvious."

"So obvious?" Olivia threw up her hands in disbelief. "You two were practically devouring each other in front of me! Do you have no consideration for the single people of the world?"

I laughed, trying to suppress my grin.

"I don't think you're exactly the victim here, Olivia. You're the one who decided to stay in this room after we invited you to leave."

"Exactly!" she shot back, crossing her arms. "This is my room. You two are the ones who came here to invade my space with your endless kisses and sappy looks. It's like you're in your own world and I'm just an unwilling spectator."

Lindsay leaned toward me, pretending to whisper conspiratorially but loud enough for Olivia to hear.

"Maybe we should move somewhere else. You know, for the sake of her mental health."

Olivia threw a pillow at Lindsay, who easily dodged it.

"Very funny, Lindsay. But no, I don't want you to leave. I just need you to control your hormones when I'm present. Is that too much to ask?"

"I guess not," I replied, trying to keep a straight face. "Although, technically, you were the one who suggested we watch a movie together. So, in a way, you brought this upon yourself."

Olivia huffed, but I could see a glimmer of humor in her eyes.

"Fine, I'll accept responsibility. But now I propose a truce: no prolonged kissing, suspicious touching, or cheesy love declarations while I'm in the room. Understood?"

Lindsay and I exchanged a knowing glance before nodding.

"Alright," Lindsay said, though her tone suggested she wouldn't fully comply. "We promise to behave… at least until you fall asleep."

"Hey!" Olivia protested, throwing another pillow. "That's not fair! What kind of friend would do that?"

"A friend who knows you snore like a bear when you fall asleep," I replied, earning a glare from Olivia.

The next day, during our Humanities class, the professor began talking about the details of the final project for the quarter. He was a serious but passionate man, with reading glasses perpetually sliding down his nose.

"This project will be an opportunity for each group to demonstrate their critical thinking and creativity," he announced, adjusting his glasses as he scanned the room. "I expect great things, especially from some standout groups. For example, the team of Lindsay, Sack, and Olivia."

All eyes turned to us.

"Last term, you presented an impressive report at the university project competition. Although you didn't win first place, you managed to publish your work in an international journal. That's something very few students can boast about. So, for this new project, I expect you to surpass even your own standards."

Olivia, always quick to seize any opportunity to shine, raised her hand enthusiastically.

"Thank you, Professor," she said with a radiant smile. "I just wanted to say that we're more than ready for this challenge. After all, we're the perfect team: Lindsay, with her talent for deep analysis and ability to connect complex ideas; Sack, with his skills in calculation, logical analysis, and capturing visual details; and me, with my creativity and ability to think outside the box. Together, we're unstoppable."

The professor smiled, clearly amused by her self-praise.

"Well, Olivia, I hope that enthusiasm translates into concrete results. Remember, the theme of this project is 'The Influence of Pop Culture on Modern Identity.' You have creative freedom, but you must also be rigorous in your research."

As the professor continued explaining the details, Lindsay leaned toward me and whispered,

"Do you think Olivia really believes we're 'unstoppable'?"

"Of course she does," I replied quietly. "But don't tell her. She might start believing she's right."

Olivia overheard us and shot us a mock-offended look.

"Are you doubting my words? Let me remind you that I'm the reason our last project was so successful. Without me, you probably would've submitted something boring and predictable."

"Oh, sure," Lindsay said, rolling her eyes. "Without you, we definitely would've failed."

"Exactly," Olivia responded, nodding seriously. "And don't you forget it."

After class, as we walked toward the cafeteria, Lindsay suggested we start planning the project as soon as possible.

"We could divide the tasks," she proposed. "I can handle the cultural analysis and historical connections, as well as drafting the main conclusions. Sack can do the calculations and statistical analysis, as well as capture images that reinforce our ideas. And Olivia… well, Olivia can be in charge of making sure everything is epic and visually impactful."

"That sounds fair," I said, smiling. "Though, Olivia, try not to go overboard. We don't want the project to end up being total chaos."

"Relax, Sack," Olivia replied, waving a hand dismissively. "Everything will be under control. Besides, I already have some amazing ideas. This project is going to be legendary."

Lindsay and I exchanged a knowing glance, aware that we'd probably have to moderate Olivia's ideas to keep the project on track.

That night, as Lindsay and I walked back to our rooms after dinner, an idea occurred to me to lighten the pressure of the project and spend some quality time together.

"Hey," I said, stopping and turning to Lindsay. "What do you think about going to the movies tomorrow? We could relax a bit before diving fully into the project. My treat."

Lindsay smiled widely.

"That sounds great! I think we all need it."

"Definitely," I replied. "I'll tell Olivia too. Maybe we can pick a movie she'll like. Something epic, like she loves."

"Good idea," Lindsay said, laughing. "Though, knowing her, she'll probably want to watch something with explosions or dramatic romance."

"Whatever it is, it'll be fun," I responded, feeling optimistic. "We could use a little break."

The next day, when I proposed the idea to Olivia, she accepted immediately.

"Finally, someone has a good idea!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms in the air. "I was starting to think we'd never do anything fun."

So, the three of us agreed to meet that afternoon to go to the movies. During the film, we laughed, whispered comments, and enjoyed a well-deserved break. It was a reminder of how important these moments of connection were, even amidst the academic hustle.