Dancing in the Dark ✓

09 | sasha

My protests went unheard as I was half-dragged out of the school compound by Leilani, even till the moment we were paying for the arcade tokens.

"I can just wait for you three at the exit," I offered desperately.

"Oof, stop wailing like a banshee," she scoffed back, grabbing my hand and pressing the tokens into my palm.

"I already planned to just go home and read and sleep."

"For this one Friday out of the other Fridays over the past two years, could you please try to have some fun?"

"It's so easy for you to make it sound so simple," I started, but she rolled her eyes, cutting me off.

"It is that simple. It should be that simple. You're always keeping it together for the teachers and your family and yourself, but what you really need is a break, Sasha. Just one Friday -- is that so much to ask for? For you to stop worrying about life and just let loose?"

I swallowed slowly. "The truth is, it is a lot to ask for. I can't afford to mess up this one shot."

This could be the one day I mess up my painfully crafted discipline. What if, this was the one day that unravelled my routine and hardwork, and I wouldn't want to return to reality after that? My self-control was thinning with each passing minute.

My parents had always told me that high school was the most important time of my life -- I had to produce the grades to get into a good university, which would help me to land a stable career, which would secure a lifetime of happiness. Delayed gratification, they called it. It wasn't that I didn't believe in delayed gratification -- I just wished that there were other ways to succeed other than these fixed stages.

"One shot at what? Becoming a living corpse who hates going out of the house?"

"There's nothing wrong with staying at home, you know. I have books to read and movies to watch. My list is rather long."

"So, you're just going to lock yourself in there for who knows how long?"

"Not everyone needs society and stimuli, Lei," I said gently.

She clicked her tongue. "Everyone needs a little of that."

I grimaced. "This wouldn't be giving into peer pressure, would it?"

It was her turn to wince. "Has it come to this? You forgot how it's like to have fun? That we pressure you into not stressing out?"

"It's stressing me out that I'm not stressed out," I joked.

A pained expression crossed Leilani's face. "I know how much academics means to you, Sasha. But even the most hardworking people in the world need breaks, or else your body and mind will take one for you, and it won't be at a convenient time. I promise that we'll get you home by 8pm, alright?"

I smiled meekly.

She gently took my hand. "Come on, the boys are waiting for us."

Theo and Deandre were already inspecting a motorcycle racing game when we caught up to them. Leilani widened her eyes in mock surprise. I didn't know you were a biker boy."

"I'll go easy on you," Deandre deadpanned, inserting his tokens. 

"Because you know I'd beat you in air hockey."

"We're playing a racing game now, though. Are you up for the challenge?"

Leilani pursed her lips. "Don't you look down on this passenger princess."

"Hey," Theo leaned closer to me, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Do you want to play the drums while they're at this?"

I faced him fully. "My rhythm isn't very good --"