*It’s still Mason’s POV*
My eyes open to meet a white colored ceiling. I rub my eyes open, sitting up to see three people staring at me. Wait… wasn’t I on the grass a few seconds ago?
“You’ve finally woken up,” Austin says, his eyes moving to the card game they’re all playing.
Scanning my surroundings, I turn to the window where sunlight streams in from. It’s… morning?
“How long was I asleep for?” I ask in a groggy voice.
“I don’t get paid to answer those kinds of questions.”
“Right…” I say. I should’ve remembered he’s living a minimalist lifestyle.
“Liam. Please tell me how long I slept for.”
“Nine hours have passed, and if you are uncertain, it’s currently seven in the morning,” Liam says as he puts a card of his down.
Nine hours? The last time I slept like this was when I hurt Lily, although, maybe it’s because of what happened yesterday. Father is definitely mad with me right now.
My fingers pass through my hair repeatedly as I sigh. I guess it’s time for me to think of a life for myself- a life that’s finally my own because there’s no way father will let what I did slide.
But how would I do that? What major will I even take in college? Will I need to get a scholarship? Will I… cut ties with father? The thing is, if I do, I don’t need to own his company. I will be able to pursue anything that I love and maybe with the girl I love by my side. But maybe I’m not capable of living that way. After all, I lived my whole life skipping classes, living life to the fullest because I thought I wouldn’t have as much freedom as I currently have in the future. What will father think if I do cut ties with him?
My stomach rumbles, the empty feeling disrupting my thoughts. I guess it’s time to get ready for the day. And maybe taking a bath will clear my head.
•••
Taking a bath did not clear my head. It even made me think more than usual. Wiping my hair with a towel, I walk out of the bathroom, my eyes flickering to my phone’s screen. Why is it on?
I head to my bedside, reading the contents on my phone. Why… is father calling me? He rarely does. I turn off my phone and sit on my bed, the room getting less cool as my heart rate increased. I’m fucked.
“Did Lily reject you?” Austin questions, sitting next to me.
My lips press into a thin line, my eyes squinting. “No. I’m just thinking about something.”
“Something so important you’re on your bed with a robe on?”
“There’s nothing wrong with wearing a robe on a bed, and yes. It’s incredibly important,” I answer.
For the next few minutes, he twirls his hair, observing me in the quiet room. Actually, I could ask him for advice on what I should do. After all, money is his one and only love.
“Austin,” I murmur.
He hums a yes, and I look down at my hands, thinking over my words.
“If one day, you suddenly think you should strive to get a future you’ll be happy with, what would you do?”
“Is there any downside to that?” he asks.
“Well… maybe it could mean removing your parents from your life.”
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My gaze lands on him, his expression nonchalant.
“And if they don’t care?”
“What?”
“Will they care?”
I blink, processing his words, my gaze dropping to my hands again. “No. No they won’t.”
“Then I’ll get that future without hesitation. After all, it’s my life.”
My life. Huh… It seems I need to decide what I want. A choice that will make my current and future-self happy.
“Thanks, Austin,” I say under my breath, forcing a smile on my face.
It’s kind of funny; knowing that my younger self will have never expected me to have these thoughts- thoughts of leaving the person I always hoped will love me. Well… not everything lasts forever, and it’s probably time I change for the better.
My eyes land on the nightstand next to me and I open the storage drawer, bringing out the book and pen I put in it — things I used occasionally. Laying on my stomach, I open a fresh page and write down goals, something I see Lily do almost everyday. Whether it’s silly or something that requires a lot of commitment and work, I jot it down spontaneously, leaning on my hand whenever I stop to think.
When I can no longer think of anything to write, I let out a breath, reading each goal one by one. First of all, I obviously need to somehow get a scholarship since I need to stop being dependent on father. Maybe I’ll study music in college since it’s the only course I have in mind. And then I need to get a part-time job so I can save up for my future broke days. I can even work with Austin if he doesn’t mind. And then… I need to study hard. I’ve slacked off most of my life but if I want to get into college, I need to get good grades.
My pen traces the last goal I had written, the pen coming to a stop. So… is it unreasonable that my goal is to confess to Lily? Or… will she end up rejecting me? Either way, it may be time I let it out of my chest.
“Nice goals.”
I shriek, turning to Austin who’s reading the paper. “You’re still here?”
“Yeah?” he replies. “I was here the whole time.”
“Why?”
He glances at me, resting his hand on the bed. “Because I’m worried. The others are too.”
“…Really?” I question. Liam is quiet so I never know what is going on in his head, and Brian is honest but a bit distant. Wait- I forgot something.
“I didn’t thank Liam for yesterday, did I?” I point out, rubbing my hair. How could I forget something like that.
“This is why it’s hard not to worry about you. You’re soft-hearted and it’s probably why the others noticed you were acting odd.”
“But how did you know Brian’s worried about me?” I ask. “He definitely didn’t tell you.”
“You’re right about that, but ever since he stopped using that facade of his around us, he’s pretty easy to read. Well, I’ve always known how to read others, and Liam surprisingly knows how to too.”
“So that’s how you knew what I said to father,” I murmur, Austin shrugging.
“We honestly read both you and Brian’s lips so we got part of the gist,” he explains. “And now that you’re all better and have even written a goal for yourself, I hope you choose the right choices in life although some may suck.”
I smile, humming a yes. “I can’t wait.”
Austin's eyes move to my paper then back to me, a smirk growing on his face. “You should probably do your last goal as soon as possible though.”
I freeze turning to him. He’s teasing me, isn’t he?
“You know I might get rejected, right?”
“You won’t,” he says with unfounded confidence. “And since all those goals are what I think you’re supposed to achieve before we all graduate, why not just confess first and get it over with?”
“You’re saying it like it’s some math test,” I say under my breath, my vision moving into the distance.
If I confess, I might lose Lily forever. But if Austin is right that I won’t get rejected, then… I could date Lily.
“Stop smiling like a goofball. You’re single right now,” he points out.
I roll my eyes, chuckling to myself. “Maybe I will confess and… I will give it all I’ve got.”
“That’s the spirit, Casanova,” he exclaims. “Just make sure not to embarrass yourself in the process.”
I nudge his shoulder gently, laughing at his remark. For the first time, I’ll be making a huge decision—one that could either ruin our friendship or take it to a different level, one where we are more than just friends. Maybe this decision will change my life for good. In the end, all I can do is hope—hope that Lily has feelings for me too.
——————————
Lily's Playlist
• Windy Day by Helios Relaxing Space
• Melancholy by Helios Relaxing Space
• Dandelions by Ruth B
• The Other Side by Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron
• At My Worst by Pink Sweat$ feat. Kehlani
• Live Your Story by Auli'i Cravalho
• N/A
Mason's Playlist
• The Other Side by Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron
• At My Worst by Pink Sweat$ feat. Kehlani
• Live Your Story by Auli'i Cravalho
• Gift of a friend by Demi Lovato
• N/A