A Competition Between Two Friends

By Angelica Firon Simangunsong (Grade 8B)

I lived a happy life, an enjoyable one. One where others wanted, and one where others envied. But that wasn't the case for my friend Kenna, she lived just a perfect life as I do. We are both in high school and met in a gala event through our parent's. Though were friends, we are always competing. My father and mother do not like her nor her family, I'm pretty sure her family feels the same way about mines. Regardless of that, Kenna was still my friend… Well sometimes I suppose. We both really are competitive with our school grades and our extra lessons. Sometimes were more of enemies than friends. Our parents would make us downgrade each other and really fight to win what's best.

My final test is coming up soon and I know I'll have to work twice as hard to keep my position above. My parent's told me that I need to keep ahold my straight A's. If my rank drops one place, I know that something will happen. I'm not allowed to get out of the house, all I can do is just Learn, eat, rest then repeat. It’s an exhausting cycle that I have to do 2 weeks before the actual test. While I was learning, I was thinking of what Kenna might be doing right now, she probably is doing the same thing as me but does she get free time?

As I was sitting in my chair, I saw a couple of kids running and playing pass by outside my house. I immediately thought of Kenna again and how we used to have fun like that when we were kids. Of course our family didn't hate each other back then but after primary year, things just hasn't been the best for us, I'm not sure what really happened though. I miss the times where I can go out freely with Kenna and how we would eat Ice cream every single day after school. But now it’s all just learn learn learn every single day.

My parent's told me to get into Harvard for next semester since I'm graduating soon. They told me to be a doctor so that the family legacy continues on. Fact is, I'm not into that. I don't want to go to Harvard for next semester, I don't even know what I want to be. All my life was just about school and how I should do this and that, it never really was my life that I'm living. But I do have interests in creating my own business, it doesn't matter though cause my parents would probably not allow it.

The day I've been worried of has come, It's final's day. I see Kenna walking in towards the front door and I greeted her but she does not greet me back, only returning me with a glare.

When the test started, I immediately start to scheme towards the questions knowing that I can ace this test. After a while I finished my test earlier and waited for the rest to finish.

A week has pass and my results were all A's, Kenna's was too. Now, it’s time for me to take my college applications. I assigned for Harvard, but also Stanford without my parent's knowing. After the results were released, I jumped out of excitement since I passed both. I immediately call Kenna and she was pissed. She did not pass either, she passed Brown University. I was happy for her since it was her dream college but it was not what her parent's wanted.

I decided to live my life as me and take the opportunity to go to Stanford. My parents were upset but, I wanted to live my life as who I want to be and not what I have to be.

After a while, Me and Kenna lost contact. I feel like it’s sort of my fault for bringing up that call we had when we got applied. I really did miss her though I'm not sure she feels the same way as how I feel.

FEW YEARS LATER

I carried on with my life and now I'm a successful business owner in Washington D.C, I'm finally living a life I wanted to live.

As I was carrying my groceries to the car, I saw Kenna walked pass by me. I hugged her and we both cried. Kenna is also living her life. She is a successful designer now in Seattle and is having a holiday with her family.

I'm glad that it was not just me who wanted to live the way we wanted to live. I'm glad that we're both friends again and is free from our parents' expectations.