CHAPTER 30
“Gwen, can I take a look at your essay on history? I badly need inspiration,” Aki said. We’re inside the library, one of the safest places if we wanted silence and peace while studying and making our assignments. We had to make an essay about the cold war and it’s due in our class later. I don’t know why Aki did not make his assignment at home.
“What if I don’t want to? You’ve been playing video games most of the time when you’re at home, and now you’re telling me you don’t have an essay that’s due a few hours from now?”
“Gwen, I’m sorry. It’s just I don’t have the motivation to study? Who does?” They both glanced at me. The person who finished her assignments earlier than the due, who always perfect her quizzes and tests, and was complimented by the teacher most of the time. “Of course, it’s Catherine. Now I wonder if humans are more capable of learning than werewolves.”
“I just like it. I love learning,” I said. And I also love to pass UCLA or Yale to leave this freaking town. Maybe I would care about revenge once we leave this town.
“Pathetic.” Gwen rolled her eyes. She gave her essay to Aki who looked so ecstatic that he’ll have her essay. Gwen glanced back at me and at the book that I was reading. “You’re reading about werewolves again? A whole nonfiction book about an alpha that was published only in this town? It was written a few years ago.”
I didn’t mind her. I continued reading the paragraph that I left off. “The alpha is the strongest warrior and leader in a pack.” I closed the book, letting my finger mark where I left off. “What if a beta tries to betray the alpha?”
“Anyone else will attack that beta. Aside from that, that beta couldn’t fight the alpha alone. That beta has half of the alpha’s power and strength. The alpha had trained enough to have that strength.”
“Okay.” I opened the book again.
“Why are you suddenly reading about the alpha?”
“Curious.”
“Don’t make yourself curious. In this town, in our pack, curiosity kills.”
When she looked at me with that intensive gaze, I knew I had to stop what I was doing for myself and Mila. But will I do what others told me to? Of course, not.
…
Felix and Jay were exhausted from work so I volunteered to wash the dishes. This is actually my favorite chore especially when no one is asking me to do it. It’s a kind of mindless task wherein I can multitask. A video about books was playing in the background. I love watching videos about books because it gives me a lot of great recommendations. One of them was my favorite young adult summer romance books that I love to re-read yearly.
Halfway through the video, an email notification popped on top of my phone. Oh. My. God. I received an email from UCLA! They already released the admission results and I’m panicking like a freak.
I dried my hands on my shorts and grabbed my phone in an instant. I can’t focus after this. My brothers who were watching television were looking at me crazily.
“Are you already done with the dishes?” Felix asked. He’s the strict one who wanted to finish every chore. He quoted before, “Don’t start an activity if you’re not supposed to finish it”. Until now, we had to follow that rule.
“Wait!” I used my hand as a sign for him not to bother me. “I just receive an email from UCLA.” My heart was throbbing. I wasn’t opening the email app yet I can’t breathe evenly. It felt like my heart would stop the moment I read it whether it’s acceptance or rejection. UCLA had been my dream school since I learned about them. They have a huge campus filled with nature beings. And my favorite cross country runner studied there.
“Make sure to finish washing the dishes after you read your email,” Felix noted.
I nodded like a child then I sat at the kitchen table. My finger was shaking as I tapped on the icon of my email app.
UCLA Admission Results
I closed my eyes, stopping the rash feeling inside my brain. I shouldn’t lose my composure just because of this. I will be receiving either congratulation or a thank you. I sighed heavily and clicked on the email.
Thank you.
I almost dropped my phone. I didn’t continue reading the email. I was rejected. I don’t know if I’m going to cry here or become positive when it comes to their admission. Maybe because I don’t have that many extracurricular activities to give them. Or I wasn’t just qualified enough to become part of them.
UCLA was my dream. UCLA was also my heartbreak.
My knees turned to noodles. I opened the email again and tried to spot the plot twist of my life. There’s nothing in there except for the number of students who applied and a whole paragraph of rejection. Even though I was expecting to be rejected or that I’m not qualified, it still breaks my heart that my only escape and goal in life disappointed me.
I turned off my phone and placed it on the table. I brushed my hair and started to sob.
“What happened, Cath?” Jay asked first. He stood up and tiptoed towards me. His strong and relaxing perfume was the first thing that embraced me. I didn’t answer. I remained silent. He wrapped his stone-like body to mine. “Don’t worry, Cath. Even though they rejected you, we all know that you deserve to be part of them. You’re overqualified.”
Felix hugged me too. I was so lucky to have two brothers like them. “Don’t let it hinder your dreams. There are a lot of universities who would accept you.”
“But UCLA is my dream,” my voice almost broke. And it’s my only escape to leave this town.
I started stobbing again. Instead of talking back and forth, they remained silent. I love that. And silence with their presence is much better than anything else in this world.