Right time

"You need this before midnight ?"

"Yes Brian, midnight is the deadline for submissions, you know. You can do it before then, right?"

"Yeah, I'll do my best Luke."

"Oh, okay, thank you."

Ohhhh, this isn't gonna be easy. I haven't even finished my essay and now this. I should have told him that I won't be able to do both on time. As a friend, he might understand me. But what if he thinks that I'm selfish. Uhhhh, anyway, I told him "yes". Better start writing his essay first. Brian told, as usual, just to himself.

After coming home, he took a shower and started writing Luke's essay.

Oops, I can't write this one similar to mine. If Miss Bree notices she would punish both of us for copying. Well, this is not technically coping but still it's something like that. Ok Brian now focus.

A couple of hours later, Brian finished the essay for Luke. He mailed the essay to Luke's e-mail and called him to inform. Instead of an answer, he received a message; "I'm in a party call me later".

What ??

In a party?

I thought he's having practices for the next week's tournament. Did he really ask me to write his essay so he could enjoy his time in a party? Why would he do such a thing? I should probably ask him that.

Brian started typing a message to send to Luke. He spent some time thinking what to ask, typing, erasing, and typing again. Even though there was a raging urge which forced Brian to ask Luke what was happening,as always, Brian failed to gather enough courage to act in the way he wanted. At last, despite all his thoughts, he sent a message; "OK, whatever. I mailed you the essay".

At this point, blaming himself for being a people pleaser, had become a habit for him. He felt like a coward. While his thoughts were in a battle with feelings of anger and self disappointment, sleep hugged him tightly.

It was in the morning that he realized, he has fallen asleep without completing his essay, so he hasn't submitted anything.

No no no....

I totally forgot to finish or submit my essay. What should I say to Miss Bree?! I should tell her the truth. She might probably punish me but I'm not the only one who should get punished. Luke didn't even try to write anything. He was just partying. Alright, this time I will say the truth no matter what happens. But, what if everyone starts thinking that I'm stupid or something after I tell the truth? Forgetting to write my own essay but writing essays for others?

Thinking of that I am indeed a stupid guy. Let's see what will happen.

Brian went to school thinking to himself and he decided that he should meet Luke first and discuss what to do. Before the class starts, he managed to meet Luke and told him that he totally forgot to complete the essay and that he hasn't submitted anything.

"Dude !!!

I didn't tell you to write my essay without finishing yours, did I? Man, are you stupid ? I thought you already finished yours or you will finish it first and then write mine. You are not going to tell miss Bree that you wrote mine, are you?

I even submitted my essay and got 8.5/10 for that. If you tell her, no good will happen. You are the one who forgot to write your essay. Best thing is telling her that you finished the essay but forgot to submit it last night. "

His selfish words made Brian feel sick. He really wanted to punch Luke in the face, but he thought that what Luke told him is the ugly truth.

Luke never told me to write his essay first. I am the one who forgot about my essay.

In Brian's body where his brain and his mouth never go parallel to each other, a fight was going on, as usual. Being failed to know what to do, Brian just smiled, and walked away. With a numbed mind, he entered the class room.

At the end of the class Miss Bree made Brian stand and asked him why he is the only one who hasn't submitted the essay. Brian told that he wrote it but forgot to submit. Good for him, despite scolding, Miss Bree gave him another chance to sumbit it as soon as possible.

At the lunch break, Brian stayed in the classroom without going to cafeteria so he could complete his essay.

"Briannnn...."

He heard a familiar voice from behind which never fails to freeze him from the inside. With a sudden race in his heart beat, Brian stopped what he was writing and turned to the one who called him. 

It's Kristy. She is a smart and an intelligent girl with a kind attitude and a beautiful smile. She is also the girl on whom Brian was having a crush, almost for two years, but he never had the courage to confront her.

"Is that the essay you told Miss Bree that you have finished but forgot to submit?"

Her words came through a slight laugh.

"Yes, I haven't finished it yet. Can you please not tell Miss Bree? Thank you, and sorry."

Brian spoke, hiding his excitement.

"No need to say Thank you or sorry to me you silly, and... no, I won't tell anyone. Anyway is it okay if I take a look? I guess I might be able to help you to finish it soon. "

Brian smiled without saying anything. He felt like a failure infront of her.

"Alright then. I take it as a yes. Let me see your essay". Kristy sat next to him without further permission.

"Wow Brian, what you have written is very clear and rich in points. I wonder why you couldn't write this before. What happened?"

At that moment, Brian really wanted to tell her that he missed it because he was writing Luke's essay. But as always, the words escaped through his teeth weren't what he wanted to say.

" I forgot. That's it". Instead of telling the truth he said.

"Ohhh. Fine. I just wanted to help you. If you need any help with the essay don't hesitate to ask." She said.

" Thank you, I'm fine". Brian imediatly said. Thinking that she is bothering him, Kristy stood up to leave saying sorry.

"No, can you please stay? It's not that I want you to help me to finish this essay, but I really like if you stay just to talk. What I said is not what I actually meant." Brian said to Kristy, but only in his mind.

At this moment, Brian's head was a war. A war between the part which let Kristy leave while he actually wanted Kristy to stay and the part where he doesn't have the courage to speak as he wants. While Brian was blaming himself for not saying what he really wanted to say, he heard Kristy's voice again.

" Brian, I'm asking you again. Do you need any help? Do you need me to stay? "

Kristy said with a smile on her face.

Yet Brian couldn't speak. He stared at her while smiling.

After a couple of seconds Kristy turned back to leave, and finally Brian gathered enough courage to let his voice out.

" Wait,

I mean... can you stay? Since you are an intelligent and kind person, I think I could get some help".

"Oh, just because of that".Kristy sat near him with a suspicious yet friendly smile.

Both spend the lunch break talking and Kristy helped Brian with the essay. Talking with someone this much was strange to Brian. Even though he didn't tell how he was unable to submit the essay last night, he was truly glad that he was able to speak with her. They talked about her essay, class work, and table tennis. Even though Kristy wasn't very much into sports she always showed genuine interest when Brian spoke about Table tennis which was the sport he played. He even told her that he can't attend for that day's practices as he wasn't feeling well. Brian had never experienced talking with someone this much. Especially with someone he has an interest in.

They were able to finish the essay in time and Brian handed it over to Miss Bree.

After the class was over, Brian walked through the main hallway alone until he was joined by Kristy.

" So, how was it? Your essay? What did Miss Bree tell you? " Kristy asked.

" Thank you for helping Kristy. I got 9/10 for the essay. Miss Bree strongly advised me to not let that happen again."

After Brian replied Kristy asked him why he didn't tell the truth with a worried face.

"What truth Kristy ?"

"I heard what Luke said this morning. That's why I asked from you again and again about what happened. Anyway never mind, now it's over. Try not to be like that in the future."

Brian got really confused after hearing what Kristy said and even more confused when Kristy gave him a little pat on his shoulder.

Did she know all? I mean...all? Oh my god. I feel like a stupid liar. She might think that I'm a coward. But she seems to be fine. She is smiling and even gave me a friendly pat on my shoulder. Should I tell her now? No, it's even more stupid. Ok, then what should I do?.

While Brian kept talking to himself his table tennis coach approached him calling his name, which woke him up from the dream made of the mess called 'thoughts'.

"Brian, I was looking for you. Today we are going to have a special practice drill since the tournament season is coming. So all the team members must stay an extra hour after normal practices, from today onwards. You will be there, right Brian? "

The coach asked from him.

"Yes coach. I'll be there" after Brian's reply, his coach left them.

"Briannnnn, why didn't you tell him that you are not feeling well? You told me that you can't go to practices today. But why didn't you tell it to the coach? If you are having a headache or feeling ill you should inform that. Because of what you do, you often get into troubles. I know about you. To be honest I studied about you. That's why I know this. Come on man, try to speak when it's necessary. Tell others what you want to tell, not what they want to hear. Do what you want to do. Live a little."

The way Kristy talked, felt a little different for Brian this time. Yet, with a smile he replied;

"Ok then, maybe next time ".

"Huhh. Fine, but I'll be waiting and watching you until the next time and I'll be there remembering you that 'next time' is here."

Kristy told him with a smile and a wink.

" Don't worry, you will definitely have to be there when it's the 'next time' ".

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END