What's worse than your worst enemy showing up at the same party as you?
After a long day of volunteering at the library for the summer, I wore a white strapped, long-sleeved bow dress to Gianna's farewell party. The pink lights illuminated my dress, making it shimmer as I smiled and ordered my favorite drink.
Warmth bloomed in my chest as infectious laughter and celebratory clinks painted the bar in a vibrant vibe. I savored my drink, sharing in their merriment and nostalgia. I reflected on how volunteering at the library for long hours during the summer before going away to Yale soon meant that I could start a career that I've longed for since I was a kid.
My parents have had high expectations of me ever since I was a kid. They always ensured that I focused on my studies, so there were no parties, no drinking alcohol, and especially no dating boys. I felt the weight of my parents' expectations, each day a slow march toward a future I couldn't control, my heart pounding with fear of never finding my path.
Of course, I obeyed these rules that my parents put on my older brother, Noah, and me because I couldn't risk getting into trouble, and I couldn't risk my future being in jeopardy during my academic years. My parents came from a family that went to Ivy League schools; everyone in my family before them was a prodigy in their academic careers and outside of their academic careers.
My best friend Gianna approached me, radiating confidence in her stunning black off-the-shoulder dress that captured her figure. Her smile grew even brighter upon spotting me, lighting up her face and making her blue eyes sparkle with excitement. Her long blond hair had soft waves around her shoulders, styled and shimmering under the soft glow of the ambient lighting. A delicate touch of makeup enhanced her features, giving her a glamorous vibe.
"Hey, bestie!! You're here!!!" Gianna greeted me, her voice filled with excitement upon seeing me, her arms wrapped around me, capturing me in a warm hug.
"Hey, girl!! How are you? I wouldn't miss this for anything!!!" I greeted her back, returned the hug, and gave her a tight squeeze.
"I'm managing, but I'll miss my best friend heading off to Yale," Gianna said, her voice filled with a bittersweet mix of pride and sadness.
Yeah, me too, and we could spend these last few moments at the party here," Gianna said, a knot of dread tightening Gianna's chest as she suggested that we spend this moment together, the looming separation already casting a shadow over the fleeting time left.
"Things are about to change, but you can always reach out if you need to talk." I assured Gianna, making sure that she won't worry too much.
"You're right, but we aren't going to school together anymore, and everyone is accomplishing different things," Gianna replied, a pang of sadness in her voice.
"That's true, but you still have me and the rest of the girls," I said, my voice tinged with hope, even though I felt my best friend's sadness too.
After Gianna and I hugged each other, the doors swung open, and my friends, Heidi and Adeline, walked in, their smiles brightening the room as they approached Gianna and me. I could see the excitement in their eyes, and they wrapped us in a warm, tight embrace
As we pulled away, the chatter began to flow effortlessly, filled with laughter and shared stories, as we settled into the familiar rhythm of conversation that always brought us together.
"So Heidi, what are you gonna do in Germany after the summer's over?" I asked, smiling wide.
"I'm gonna study law at one of the top universities in Germany so that I can take over my mom's law firm in the future," Heidi replied to me, her smile widening as she continued talking about it.
"I am so happy for you, but I'll miss you" Adeline spoke up, her voice filled with happiness for Heidi, but tinged with a bit of sadness about not seeing her in person all the time.
"Thanks, girlie! I'll miss you too," Heidi replied, giving Adeline a tight hug.
"We should go to the table and make a toast!" Gianna announced, her voice filled with excitement.
"Yeah, that's a great idea!" Adeline replied, her voice filled with joy as Gianna found an open table.
"Guys, I found a table" Gianna exclaimed after finding a table, gesturing for us to come towards her.
After we sat down, Gianna raised her drink to us, we raised our drinks back, and clinked our glasses.
"To friends having bright futures." Gianna toasted, a huge smile lit up her face.
"To friends," We all replied, as we shared some smiles across the table.
Once I'd had my drink, I caught up with my friends on what was happening in their lives.
"So, are you excited to go to Brown, Adeline?" I asked her, my lips slightly parted.
"Well, I am excited to start a new chapter of my life, but I am nervous about what it's gonna hold."
"I get that, but it could be a great chapter," I replied, relating to the feeling that she felt.
During that conversation with Adeline, I remembered getting my acceptance letter from Yale, fulfilling my lifelong ambition, and having done so by sacrificing my greatest want, which left me with a powerful sense of self-respect.
A triumphant grin, wide and bright, stretched across my face; I could almost smell the scent of success after those countless nights of studying rather than partying. It resonated deeply within me, leaving an incredible mark on my life, but I also knew that my future at Yale could have some bumps on the road too.
While the four of us were talking, my older brother, Noah, came up to us, his footsteps proceeding toward us, and joined the conversation.
"Gianna, what are your thoughts on leaving for Stanford in a couple of days?" Noah asked, a look of curiosity was present, searching for Gianna's response.
"Well, Noah, I'm thrilled that we are going to Stanford together, but I will miss everyone here," Gianna replied, her heart racing as she tried to fight back tears.
"At least we can call our families and friends, though," Noah assured Gianna, silently telling her that they will still be in contact with everyone here.
As our conversation drifted along, Enzo Yoon—my brother's best friend and the bane of my existence since childhood—approached me with an arrogance that made my skin crawl. His chin held high while an infuriating smirk danced across his lips, revealing a confidence that I found utterly exasperating. His messy black hair fell haphazardly into his eyes, adding a careless charm that only heightened my annoyance. Enzo folded his arms across his chest as he saw me, his eyes skimmed my body from head to toe. What the fuck was he doing here right now?
"You know, the more I look at you, the more pathetic you are." Enzo taunted, his smirk widening across his face.
As soon as he said that, my fists clenched, my teeth started to grit, and my jaw clenched tightly before I knew it. I desired to lunge my fist into his face firmly, making his face covered in blood, making him wince in pain, and making him not mess with me even though he has never stopped.
"That's more of a you problem, than a me problem." I scowled at him and shot him a nasty glare.
"That's why you're pathetic." Enzo shot back.
At that moment, my eyes narrowed, my jaw clenched tighter than before, my fist clenched at his words, my heart was pounding inside my body, the heat of anger flushed through my face as it turned red, my breathing became shallow, and I leaned forward towards him aggressively, not backing down.
Who does he think he is? And why did he have to act his way? Especially towards me since childhood?
"Watch it, Enzo or you'll be sorry." I warned him, my voice was sharp as I shot him a nasty glare.
"Is this the moment when you always lose it?" Enzo mocked me, his voice thick with sarcasm.
"Is this the moment when you finally learn to back off?" I retorted, my voice thick with anger.
"Guys, stop fighting, please!" Gianna interrupted, her voice firm on her stance on the interaction.
"Why do you guys need to fight all the time when you see each other?" Gianna questioned me, her voice thick with curiosity.
"He usually starts it." I replied, my body stiff as I directed my words to him.
"You know, unlike you, I can actually admit when I am wrong, raven." Enzo grimaced, his eyes darting into mine with pure disgust.
Over the years, the mocking repetition of the nickname "raven" made my nostrils flare up, a dark shadow of misunderstanding and unjust judgment that made my urge to connect my fist into his clear skin to cause his face to bleed increased by the minute he hissed at me with that nickname.
"Enzo, what part of stop fighting do you not understand?" Gianna interrupted our bickering assertively, her eyes silently sending us a message to stop it.
"It's funny how riled up Raven is." Enzo let out a chuckle as he sipped his drink.
"Call me raven one more time and you'll have my fist connected to your face." I threatened Enzo and shot him a nasty glare.
"You don't have the guts, Stella." Enzo answered, his voice thick with arrogance.
Throughout the years my brother had been best friends with Enzo, he still thought that I was weak, that I couldn't protect myself, he thought that I couldn't have the guts to stand up to anyone, and I knew for a fact that he wouldn't fight with a woman physically even if he wanted to.
"You don't have the guts to attack a woman, Enzo." I hissed at him, my eyes fiercely piercing into his eyes.
"I don't, but I do have the guts to brutally roast a spoiled entitled brat." Enzo sneered, his jaw clenched as he rolled his eyes.
"Are you looking for a brain or what?" I sneered, my voice thick with pure disgust and annoyance as my mouth twitched.
"At least I had the guts to start a company and gain riches when you couldn't gain anything even if you tried." Enzo shot back, a smirk plastered across his face as my teeth gnashed. My face turned red with rage the moment he finished that sentence, I grimaced at the thought of his reality, I crossed my arms across my chest, rolling my eyes at his pure annoyance.
"You think you're so much better than everyone else, don't you?" I let out a scoff, my blood boiling with pure rage deep down inside, my knuckles turned white as I stood still with my clenched fists, fighting back tears.
"Awwww, is the little baby gonna cry now?" Enzo mocked, letting out a low chuckle as he continued to have that annoying smirk plastered across his face.
"Yeah, because your breath stinks." I grimaced, my voice thick with pure disgust.
"I didn't ask for your opinion on my breath." Enzo shot back, his voice was cold as ice, his eyes fiercely roamed around my body from head to toe, attempting to think of a brutal roast.
During our high school years, everyone saw Enzo as the hottest guy in school, the most athletic, but behind that surface that he displays, he was an arrogant prick who loved getting attention from the girls in school, he would constantly prank the teachers when they weren't expecting it, he always skipped classes when he didn't feel like it, and he would always bully people that he found fun to tourment all day.