Written by : Chun pypy
Ep1 : looks to other
Likan was a twelfth-grade student who used to be called a genius.
Back in the day, she always topped the class ranking every month.
But now, things seemed different. She no longer felt the same motivation or joy in studying as before.
Still, she tried her best to keep her reputation as a good student even when her heart wasn't in it anymore.
Yet, her quiet life at school was about to take an unexpected turn.
It was midday, and the classroom buzzed with excitement.
The class president, Mutu, had just finished handing out the test results.
He was one of the smartest boys in school — always number two in class.
Laughter and chatter filled the room as students checked their scores.
> "Yes! I passed!"
"Let's go celebrate! My treat this time!"
Voices of joy echoed all around.
Among them was Mala, a cheerful girl who had finally passed after failing many times. Her friends, SingSing and Tata, gathered around to celebrate her small victory.
A few desks away, Hana, who always ranked first in the class, quietly packed her books.
She smiled softly but never showed much emotion. Her best friend, SivSiv, was elegant and well organized, admired by many for her beauty and calm attitude.
Hana also had a boyfriend from another school , something that made other girls quietly envy her.
Meanwhile, at the very back of the class, Likan sat with her chin resting on the desk, sighing softly.
This month she ranked fourth , still good, but somehow, she didn't feel happy.
> "Why is everyone so happy about it?" she thought.
"Well, maybe they worked really hard for it."
She picked up her bag and left the classroom quietly.
---
As she walked down the second-floor hallway, a soccer ball suddenly flew up from below and hit the class window with a loud crash.
The sound made her flinch. Looking down, she saw a group of boys playing carelessly in the yard.
Likan frowned but said nothing. For a second, she thought about reporting it to the teacher, but then decided to stay silent.
When class resumed, the teacher noticed the cracked window.
> "Did anyone see where that ball came from?" the teacher asked.
No one answered. The classroom fell silent.
> "Likan, did you see anything?"
She hesitated, then shook her head.
> "No, teacher. I was outside eating a snack when it happened."
The teacher sighed.
> "Alright then. Let's continue with Lesson Three — Social Studies."
The matter was quietly dropped.
---
That evening, Likan didn't have much money left. Even her tuition fee was almost due.
For the past few months, she had been trying to manage by studying and working part-time.
After class, she went to the public library — her usual quiet spot.
Students from other schools were there too, some studying, some whispering and laughing together like they were on dates.
Likan sat alone, reading a book but unable to focus.
> "If I can't afford college," she thought, "what kind of future will I even have?"
She sighed softly.
Just then, she noticed Mala, SingSing, and Tata walking past, laughing happily.
Moments later, she spotted Mutu, the class president, walking side by side with SivSiv.
> "Oh… are they dating now?" she murmured under her breath.
Likan smiled faintly and looked away, choosing not to think too much about it.
........!
Later that night, she walked into a small noodle shop that had a "Help Wanted" sign.
She asked the owner if she could work there after school.
> "You're too young," the owner said.
"We can't hire minors."
But after realizing he was short on staff, the owner hesitated, then finally allowed her to try for one day.
Likan began washing dishes quietly while the others chatted around her.
She was nervous , the plates looked expensive, and she didn't want to break anything.
One kind woman noticed her struggle and came over to help, smiling warmly.
At the end of the shift, the owner told her,
> "If you break anything, it comes out of your pay. Got it?"
Likan nodded politely.
> "I understand. Thank you for giving me a chance."
When she left the shop, her hands were soaked and wrinkled from hours in the water.
They were the same hands that once held pens and wrote essays — now tired and trembling.
But to her, this was the first real step toward independence.
> "I can't give up yet…" she whispered to herself, looking up at the quiet night sky.