“I’m off Mom!”

Tristan closed the gate of his house and began walking to his school, hand on his side bag strap and humming while on his way. Suddenly, he felt a faint smack on his back. “Hey! Good morning Tris!”

He turned his head around to see his classmate smirking at him. “Morning Samantha.” He waved his hand with a polite smile. Samantha joined Tristan next to him as they both talked to one another while on the way to school.

While walking, Tristan let out a yawn and stretched his back reflexively. “Another late night gaming?” Samantha snickered. Tristan hummed. “Compensation. Thirty minutes of gaming isn’t enough. Why do our teachers bury us with so much homework?” He let out a frustrated huff.

Samantha smacked him on the back again. “You? Complaining about homework? The only one who does them regularly? Wow.”

Tristan playfully rolled his eyes. “Shush, too much homework is too much homework, Samantha.”

“Touché”

Later on, more students were on the sidewalk as they finally reached their school. Tristan and Samantha entered the classroom, his eyes darted towards his classmates, Kevin, humming a song alone. “Hey, what’s up?” Tristan asked as he and Samantha took their seat. “Nothing much, just thinking about courses I’m going to pursue.” Kevin greeted. “What are you going to pursue again, Tristan?”

Tristan was about to think of an answer, but quickly changed his mind and shook his head instead. “I’m not going to college yet. I don’t know what I want to pursue.” He shrugged. “Plus, I don’t feel like going back to school yet. Maybe I’ll take a break for a while.”

Kevin looked confused, staring at Tristan in silence for a few seconds. “Why not? That would be a waste of time! Don’t you wanna graduate early?”

Tristan frowned a little. “Pursuing a course you’re not a hundred percent confident about would be a waste of time and money.”

Samantha hummed, joining in the conversation. “Tris is right. It’s his choice, after all. I know a dude who’s a freshman in his thirties, so age doesn’t matter when pursuing a college course.”

Kevin looked even more baffled by Samantha’s answer. But before he could respond, Kenneth, another classmate of theirs, entered the classroom dramatically. “Guys! Do you know Clarisse? From accountancy class?”

They all stared at him with various degrees of confusion, a little surprised by his sudden question. “Yeah, I know her. Why?” Tristan asked.

Kenneth let out a lovesick giggle, taking everyone by surprised. “I think I’m developing a crush on her! She’s always so kind and sweet and helpful…” His hands moved animatedly as he rambled on and on. “… she even helped me with my math homework! How couldn’t you fall in love with her?” he ended his long speech with a lovesick sigh.

Tristan chuckled at his antics, Kevin cooed and Samantha teased him for having a crush.

However, Kenneth’s lovesick expression slowly turned somber, shoulders dropped. “But alas, I am not blessed with handsome genes… and I’m pretty average, so I don’t have a shot at winning her heart…”

They felt flabbergasted by Kenneth’s sudden change of behavior. They all looked at each other before Kevin and Samantha each gave their words of encouragement to Kenneth, while Tristan’s eyes gazed down. His mind blanked the noise around him as he pondered a proper advice.

“Kenneth.”

His serious tone made them pause, and they turned their attention towards Tristan. “Not everything is about looks, but being presentable helps. It would surprise you how a good hairstyle and fashion sense helps.”

The three stared intently at Tristan, a little surprised, especially Kenneth, who looked perplexed instead. But Tristan didn’t notice their behavior, so he continued telling his advice. “Confidence plays an enormous factor too. Maybe befriend Clarisse first, get to know each other well before you make a move. But if she turns you down, don’t break off your friendship. It will make you look shallow.”

Tristan tilted his head a little and smiled gently at Kenneth, eyes twinkling with positivity. “Just don’t give up and trust yourself, Kenneth. You can do it.”

…

Silence. 

They openly gawked at him, trying to wrap around everything that Tristan just said. Especially Kenneth, whose mouth was agape.

Tristan felt a pang of anxiety as their silence slowly turned awkward.

Did… Did I say it wrong?…

He fiddled with his fingers to calm his nerves, trying to ignore the way they continued to gawk at him in an absolute silence that felt like an eternity.

When all of a sudden.

“Oh my god! Tristan!”

Samantha’s sudden laughter, combined with the repeated smack of her desk, broke the awkward silence, causing a chain of laughter between Kevin and Kenneth. “That was so cheesy!”

Tristan’s nerves calmed down after hearing their amused laughter, letting out a sigh of relief, and let out a small chuckle himself.

Thank goodness I didn’t mess up…

After thirty seconds of laughing straight, Samantha stopped laughing to catch her breath. She let out a few more chuckles before turning her attention towards Kenneth. “Tris is right, you know? You would look better if you style that long hair of yours. And wear your ID properly! Will you?”

Kenneth remained silent, staring down at the floor. He took his time to comprehend what Tristan and Samantha said. Each word struck his heart more and more. “… really?” he whispered, absentmindedly stroked locks of his hair. Tristan nod and hummed approvingly, keeping his gentle smile.

His body slowly straightened, expression rejuvenated with hope. “All right, I’ll try to do that! Thanks guys!” he dashed out of the classroom, leaving his classmates bewildered.

“Wait- where the heck is he going? Don’t tell me he’s going to get a haircut right now!” Samantha scratched her head. “We still have class! That dumbo!” she sighed in defeat, while Tristan and Kevin chuckled at Kenneth’s antics.

Then she turned her attention back to Tristan, sporting a proud look. “You always give brilliant advice, you know?”.

Tristan felt slightly taken aback. He looked at Samantha, confused. “Always?”

His confusion made Samantha more exhilarated. “Yes! Especially with love problems! Haven’t you noticed that so many people sought after your advice? Half of our classmates already did!”

Before Tristan could respond, Samantha leaned in with a teasing smirk, jaw resting in her hand. “Are you sure you’re seventeen years old and not a secret thousand year old wizard?”

Tristan blushed. “S-shush!”, He smacked her shoulders in retaliation, causing Samantha to laugh.

All of a sudden, Samantha stopped laughing and let out a soft gasp as an idea crossed her mind. “Oh yeah! Psychology!” she exclaimed, snapping her fingers at the same time. “That’s a good course you could pursue!”

Tristan thought about Samantha’s idea, but shook his head after a few seconds. “I’m not sure about psychology, I never thought about it.”

Samantha was about to say something, but Tristan quickly raised his finger to interrupt her. “But! Again, I just give advice! Just like anybody else!”

Whatever Samantha was about to say was replaced by sarcastic frown, “Yeah right, mister expert at love problems! Heck, you could be a radio jockey, giving love advice instead! That could be a cool job, too!”

Before Tristan could counter, he heard the footsteps of their teacher who had just entered the classroom, followed by Kenneth, mysteriously embarrassed while scratching the back of his head. His classmates went back to their respective seats as the teacher greeted the class. His previous thoughts were gone as he gazed down to ponder what Samantha had said.

Am I good at giving advice?

He looked around the classroom, his mind slowly recalled that most of his classmates approached him for advice, and some of them were love advice. Then he recalled his fellow schoolmates asking him for advice either inside or outside the school.

Now that Tristan had thought about it, some of his classmates were already a couple after they asked for his advice.

Suddenly, the sound of chalk hitting the blackboard interrupted his thoughts, snapping him back to reality.

Eh, maybe Samantha was just exaggerating.

Tristan grabbed his pen and notebook in his bag and began to take notes, earlier thoughts forgotten.

“…again, congratulations for class twenty twenty-two to twenty twenty-three for graduating senior high school!”

Tristan and his classmates stood up all together and roared as they threw their graduation caps in the air.

“Group hug!” Samantha shouted. She, Tristan, Kevin, and Kenneth all opened their arms wide and formed a group hug, jumping and laughing at each other in bliss. “At long last! Goodbye, high school!” Kevin shouted, causing a round of laughter.

They broke the group hug and went around to pick up their graduation caps. It delighted Tristan seeing the joyful expression of his schoolmates, parents, and teachers at graduation day. It made him feel a little bittersweet that he may not see them again for quite some time.

Out of nowhere, he felt his cheeks get pinched, causing him to jolt and reach for his aching cheek. “Ow!” Tristan turned around to see it was his mother, showing him an apologetic smile. “I’m really sorry to cut off your graduation, Tristan. I have to return to work now. Let’s celebrate tomorrow instead, alright?”

Tristan felt a slight pang of dejection, but he nod his head as he understood his mother’s reason.

“Why your school did your graduation on a Friday is beyond me.” She mumbled, then pecked him on the cheek before walking out of the venue. Tristan heard every click of her heels despite the loud chanting around the venue.

Kevin scooted next to him and let out a whistle. “Wow, that’s rough. Your mom just left.”

Tristan felt somewhat offended, but shook his head. “It’s alright, it’s not my mom’s fault her company didn’t allow her to have a full day off. At least she witnessed the graduation ceremony, so that was enough for me.”

“I still can’t believe that we’ve graduated after, like what? Six years of high school?” Kenneth said. “Felt like forever if you ask me!” Kevin butted, followed by a bark of laughter. Samantha shook her head with a smile. “And then four years of college, then fifty years of work. It will only end when we’re old with aching knees. How fun!”

Tristan playfully rolled his eyes in response, but his amused expression said otherwise.

“Hey guys! Want to hang out later?” Kevin asked. Samantha’s face lit up. “Yes! Let’s go to the Light Mall! We gotta treat birthday boy over here!” she jerked her thumb to Tristan, who suddenly looked like a deer caught in headlights.

“Y-you guys- you don’t have to do that! Hanging out is enough!” he waved his hands around, trying to reason, “Especially since Samantha is leaving for Baguio City tomorrow!”

His hesitation only made Samantha smirk as she leaned closer towards Tristan. “Nope! We’re in charge, birthday boy! It’s more important than my last day in this forsaken city!”

Samantha, Kevin, and Kenneth all chuckled together while Tristan let out a deep sigh.

There’s no point in arguing…