Boredom swept over Jolly as she twirled a pen between her fingers, resting her chin on her hand. The hour-long class felt longer than usual. Today, she was attending class alone since Kiara had informed that her grandma's health had taken a turn for the worse and now in the ICU. Kiara had to rush back to her hometown with her mom.
Jolly couldn't help but feel sad and anxious about her best friend's situation. She knew that since high school, Kiara had been raised by only her mother and grandmother. Jolly wished she could be there for her right now, but of course, skipping class wasn't an option ~ it would only lead to trouble with her dad. All she could do for now was message Kiara, check in, and support from afar.
"Okay, that's it for today's class. Your assignment for next week is to create an infographic based on today's material to prepare for the practicum," the professor announced, before packing up his books and laptop.
The students cheered in relief as the long class finally ended. Jolly quickly gathered her things and sent a message to Kiara, asking what she was doing.
********
While walking through the campus park, Jolly sighed a few times, loneliness clung to her like a shadow. She set the music on her phone after putting on earphones and then got on a bus, just to wander and pass the time.
There wasn't any particular destination in mind, simply just followed whatever direction her mood led. But now, she regretted the impulse. The bus had stopped at a familiar place ~ right near the hospital she often visited.
"Am I going crazy?" she muttered, annoyed at herself for suddenly craving wonton noodles when she was hospitalized.
"Please wait a moment, Miss. Your order will be served shortly," said the waiter after taking her order. Seated alone in a quiet corner, Jolly leaned on one hand, gazing through the window at the traffic passing by, her thoughts wandering far beyond the glass.
"Jolly?" A voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Aiden?"
"Are you alone?" Aiden asked.
Jolly nodded. "What about you?"
"I'm on a break and coincidentally, Mai and Rainier want to eat here," he pointed to the two senior doctors who had just finished ordering at the cashier.
"Miss Hadrien, it's nice to meet you again," Rainier greeted.
"Nice to meet you too, Dr. Rainier and Dr. Mai."
"Do you know Aiden?" Mai asked.
"Yes, I was the one who took care of him during his hospitalization," Aiden answered, and Jolly nodded.
"You're alone, right? If you want, come sit with us," Rainier offered.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course! Come on," Mai led Jolly to their table, followed by Rainier and Aiden from behind.
"Thanks!"
********
"By the way, you two seem to be getting along quite well," Mai said once their food had arrived.
"We are. We're friends now, right, Jolly?" Aiden replied, turning to her.
Jolly responded with nod and soft smile.
"Do you think Mai and I could be your friends too?" Rainier added with a lighthearted tone.
"Of course. Why wouldn't you be?" Jolly replied.
Rainier let out a small laugh. "You seemed a bit quiet, so I wasn't sure if this kind of chatter might bother you."
"Not at all. I'm okay with it," Jolly reassured him, shaking her head.
Mai smiled warmly. "Then let's drop the formalities. Just call us by our names, alright?"
"Sure, and please just call me Jolly too."
"That definitely sounds better," Rainier agreed. "It's more relaxed this way."
After a short pause, he added "Oh, isn't there usually someone with you? What's her name?"
"Ah Kiara? She went back to her hometown for a while," Jolly answered.
The three doctors nodded in understanding.
"So you're flying solo for now?" Rainier asked. "If you're free sometime, you're always welcome to hang out with us here again."
"I wouldn't want to get in the way of your work," Jolly said, a bit unsure.
"Not at all," Mai assured her. "Besides, there's Jeanne. Maybe the two of you could get to know each other. I think she'd be happy to have someone her age around."
"Jeanne?"
"She's one of Dr. Brenner's patients." Mai explained. "And I have a feeling you two might get along. If you're ever feeling a bit lonely, maybe you could stop by and keep her company.
"Alright. If I get the chance, I'll drop by again."
"Okay, enough chatting, Jolly, eat up," Aiden said, giving her a gentle nudge.
"Alright."
"You sound like her mom," Rainier teased with a chuckle.
"Well, she's under my care now. Gotta make sure she stays healthy."
Jolly gave a small smile. "Okay, I will."
********
"Where have you been?" The deep voice caught Jolly off guard the second she stepped inside. Both of her parents were standing there, but it was her dad's stern expression that froze her in place. All she could do was silently hope tonight wouldn't turn into another disaster.
"I stopped for food after class," she said quietly.
"I'm sure Mark already reminded you of our agreement."
"Yes, Dad." Jolly looked up, trying to keep her voice steady."I'll do my best to stay healthy and keep up with everything, so please... just let me stay in school."
"How many times do I have to say this? Your grades dropped this semester. Lucky you still have part of your scholarship. If they slip again, it's gone. And do you really think I'll keep paying out of my own pocket?"
She couldn't answer. Just silence.
"..."
"I don't think you can keep up your GPA, let alone keep that scholarship. Better to quit now, accept the engagement and stop being a burden."
"I mean it, I want to finish my degree. I even want to go to grad school. Just give me one last chance," she pleaded, sinking to her knees.
Leah, who had been quiet all this time, finally stepped forward. She knelt and gently pulled her daughter into her arms.
"Nael, please... just listen to what she wants, for once. I've never been entirely on board with the engagement either. Her GPA is still decent, it's just slipped a little. She said she'll work harder."
Nael exhaled sharply, crossing his arms. "Alright then. If you fail again, what are you offering in return?"
Jolly blinked. "What do you mean?"
"You know this isn't some casual deal. I could call off the engagement and let you continue your studies, but if you slip up again, what do I get in return?"
Leah's tone sharpened. "Why are we even talking about this? She's your daughter."
"Exactly. And that's why she needs to learn to stand by her commitments, just like I do. "This isn't something I can just let slide, her choice affect me too."
"Is it all about money to you? Is that how you see Jolly?"
Don't get involved, Leah. This is between me and her!" he snapped. "I'm giving her an easier way out, no struggle or uncertainty. But she insists on taking the hard route. So I want to know what's at stake if she fails."
Leah clenched her fists, holding back the words she wanted to shout. Jolly took a long, tired breath. It hurt, but she wasn't surprised.
"I... I'll do whatever you want," she said softly.
"That's all?"
"I don't have anything else to offer. I'll follow whatever you decide."
"Then you should have agreed to the marriage in the first place."
"I still have a chance. My scholarship hasn't been taken away yet. My grades just slipped a little, I can bounce back. And I'm going to fight for a graduate scholarship too."
"Fine," he muttered. "We'll see. But if you fail, don't say I didn't warn you."
With that, he grabbed his car keys and stormed out, leaving Jolly and Leah in silence. She helped her daughter up and guided to the couch.
"Are you really okay?"
"I will be. Don't worry."
"How can I not worry? You know how your dad is, his obsession with measures everything."
Jolly turned away, "and yet you're no different," she thought. "You just say it more gently." She knew her mom wanted the same thing ~ perfection, success, being the best. She just wrapped it up in a softer tone.
"I still want to finish school. I still want my dream."
"Then I hope you can keep that promise."
"I'll try my best."
********
"I told you, stop calling me!" Luisa snapped, her tone sharp and dismissive.
"Luisa, please just hear me out."
"I don't have time for this nonsense!"
"I never went behind your back. Whatever you heard, it's just gossip meant to tear us apart." Trent reached for her hand, but she yanked it away.
"And you think I'm supposed to believe that?!"
"I'm your boyfriend, why would you believe someone else over me?"
"Because the evidence is right in front of me! How am I not supposed to believe it?" Luisa's voice rose. "You got caught and still trying to deny it?"
"That video's a setup! It was edited, it only shows me talking to some girl at the bar, nothing more. We've been together for a long time. I know you, and you should know me better than this."
"You know Gary's never liked me. He's always been petty about my success. I'm sure he doctored that video."
"Even if Gary doesn't like you, he's not a liar."
"Then he's manipulated you somehow. Can't you see? He wants to drive us apart."
"Stop with the excuses!" she snapped. "For your information, Gary's been my friend long before you ever came into the picture and he's never given me a reason to doubt him."
"And more than that..." Her eyes narrowed. "You can stop pretending now. I know exactly what kind of person you are. You lied just to get close to me."
Trent stood frozen, words caught in his throat.
"Is that it?" Luisa said coldly. "Then we're done." Without another glance, she turned and walked away, leaving Trent standing alone.
"I can't let it end like this," he thought.
********
Jolly looking adorable in her oversized sky-blue hoodie, black pants, and her favorite white sneakers, sat in the hospital garden, letting the calming green scenery wash over her. The cool breeze made her feel more at ease. Today, she had promised to meet Aiden, Rainier, and Mai, feeling a bit bored and lonely, but since they still had work to do, she had decided to wait here.
She rubbed her temples gently, trying to ease the dull throb that had started creeping in. After sitting through two back-to-back lectures from 10 AM to 2 PM without a break, she'd had no time for lunch. Digging into her bag, found a painkiller and washed it down with a quick swig from her water bottle.
"Sigh… I might crash later if this keeps up," she thought. Still, she figured it was best to get a head start on her assignments. Pulling out her books and laptop, then began summarizing the material for the day's tasks.
She became so focused she didn't notice someone approaching, until a voice cut through her concentration.
"What are you doing?"
Jolly turned around, startled. A girl was seated gracefully in a wheelchair not far from her, clearly the one who'd spoken.
"You're in my spot," the girl added, her voice calm but direct.
"Oh! I'm so sorry... I didn't know," Jolly replied at once.
The girl offered a small smile and shook her head. "It's alright. I was just curious, it's usually really quiet here."
"I'm just working on some college assignments," Jolly explained.
"Out here? You don't seem like a patient. Are you waiting for someone?"
"Yes, I'm here to meet Dr. Aiden, Dr. Rainier, and Dr. Mai. They're still busy, so I thought I'd wait here."
The girl gave a thoughtful nod, then reached out her hand. "I'm Jeanne, by the way. What's your name?"
"Huh?" Jolly blinked, a bit thrown off by the sudden friendliness.
"I just wanted to get to know you, if that's alright."
"Sure! My name's Jolly. Nice to meet you."
"Who's Jeanne?"
"She's one of Dr. Brenner's patients, and I have a feeling you two might get along."
Jolly suddenly remembered what Rainier and Mai had said the other day. That's why the name had sounded familiar, it was her. So this is the girl they meant. She must've gotten injured, Jolly thought.
Jeanne smiled as Jolly shook her hand. "You're my first friend."
Jolly blinked, a little caught off guard.
"I usually just see Dr. Brenner and a few nurses. This is the first time I've really talked to anyone else," Jeanne said.
Jolly gave a small nod, still unsure what to say.
"How should I call you? And how old are you?"
"I'm twenty-one. You?"
"Hey, same here! Can I just call you Jolly?"
"Of course."
"You're in college, right? Where do you go? What's your major?" Jeanne asked, clearly excited.
"I go to St. Grace University, majoring in Science."
"That's so cool! I'm kind of jealous..."
"Why would you be jealous?" Jolly thought to herself. "Once you're healed, you'll go back to school too, right?"
Jeanne's smile faltered, and Jolly couldn't help but feel a bit confused. "I don't go to school."
"..."
"And I have a permanent injury."
Jolly immediately regretted her words. "Uh... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..."
"It's fine."
"Is it really impossible to recover?" Jolly asked.
"Dr. Brenner's been trying, but after five years, there's been no progress. It turns out my injury was more serious than they first thought."
"You're amazing..." Jolly said softly. "If I were in your shoes, I think I would have just given up and cried. But you still smile and stay positive like this."
Jeanne paused, her smile widening even more. "I'm glad I met you, Jolly. It was right to listen to my heart and become friends with you."
"..."
"I've always been pitied by people who hear my story, and I can't stand that. But your response made me sure you're a good person."
Jolly smiled back. "I'm glad I met you too."
"Hey, looks like you two are getting along pretty well." Rainier and Aiden walked over to the two girls who had been talking for a while.
"Are you done?" Jolly asked.
"Yeah," Aiden replied.
"Looks like you two hit it off without needing an introduction," Rainier commented.
"I just happened to see Jolly here and started talking to her," Jeanne explained.
"Well, that's great then. I had a feeling you two would get along," Rainier said. "Now you won't have to feel lonely anymore."
"Yeah, I'm really happy I made a friend in Jolly," Jeanne added.
Jolly and Aiden smiled.
Though it was just a brief moment, it was enough. Like a flicker of light, she had become a beacon in the darkness, helping me hold on a little longer.
"I hope I can smile more often and find happiness wherever I go."
********
"Hey, you're still here?" Aiden asked, surprised. It was getting late, but he found Jolly still sitting in the hospital park, surrounded by a stack of books.
"Did you finish?" she asked.
"Yeah, my schedule's clear for today. Aren't you going home?"
Jolly shook her head. "I want to stay here a little longer."
"What are you reading?"
"I'm working on some assignments."
"Since earlier?"
"Yeah."
"Don't push yourself too hard, you might get exhausted."
"But I have to catch up on all the time I lost when I was sick."
Aiden frowned. "Sick?"
"Yeah, I've been sick several times and missed a lot of classes, so I'm behind on assignments and lectures. If I don't catch up, my grades will drop."
"What kind of illness did you have? Why didn't you tell me?" Aiden asked, concern evident in his voice.
Jolly was a little caught off guard and looked at him.
"Sorry, I'm just worried. Why didn't you say anything about that?"
She shook her head. "I've been sick a lot, even before I met you. I guess I'm just weak. I get sick easily, even from something as simple as being tired. I often get headaches, high fevers, feel drained and I've even had vertigo."
"Have you seen a doctor about it?"
"Yeah, many times. My parents have taken me to doctors since I was a kid, but the results are always the same, it's just how I am."
"If you push yourself too hard now, you might end up drop again."
"I'm trying to hold on and taking vitamins. Hopefully, they'll help."
"Vitamins? Don't take them carelessly, especially in large amounts."
"Don't worry, I'm taking the usual vitamins, just as prescribed."
"If you need help, just let me know. I'll be there for you."
"Why are you always so nice to me?" Jolly suddenly asked.
Aiden raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"How many times have I been a burden to you? You know how I am. You should've let go from the start so you wouldn't be stuck with me like this."
Aiden fell silent. He knew if the conversation was heading this way, the best thing he could do was keep quiet. He didn't want to say anything that might make things worse.
"No one cares about me anymore. I really appreciate everything you've done for me, especially taking care of me back then. But now, I'm not your patient anymore." Jolly's voice softened. "If it's like this, I'm just going to be a burden to you."
"Of course not. What are you talking about?" Aiden replied, shaking his head. "We're friends now, and friends are there for each other, no matter what."
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*** To Be Continue ***