As I entered my room, I was met with an unexpected sight - my dad standing in the middle of the room, surrounded by college acceptance letters, his eyes scanning each one with a mixture of confusion and concern. My heart sank, realizing he had discovered the letters I had carefully hidden away, hoping to avoid this exact conversation.
"Dad, what are you doing?" I asked, trying to sound calm, but my voice betrayed a hint of nervousness.
He turned to face me, his expression stern, a deep crease etched on his forehead. "I could ask you the same thing, Robin. You've received acceptance letters from top colleges, and yet you haven't made a decision. Do you have any idea how crucial this is? You're ruining your future by delaying this choice."
I took a deep breath, gathering my courage, and stepped further into the room. "Dad, I want to make my own decision. I won't live your dream; I have my own to chase."
My dad's expression turned incredulous, his eyes widening in disbelief. "What are you talking about? I never forced you to follow in my footsteps."
I stood my ground, my voice firm. "You've always assumed I'd attend your alma mater. You've talked about it since I was a kid. But I won't. I'll choose my own path."
My dad's face softened, and he took a step closer, his voice gentle. "Robin, I think there's been a misunderstanding. I never insisted you attend my former college. I just want you to move forward with your life, regardless of the college you choose."
I was taken aback, realizing my assumptions about my dad's expectations had been wrong. I had misinterpreted his enthusiasm for his alma mater as pressure.
"Really?" I asked, seeking clarification, my voice laced with skepticism.
My dad nodded, his eyes warm and sincere. "Yes, really. I want you to be happy and successful. The college you choose is secondary to that. I just want to see you thrive."
I felt a weight lift off my shoulders as we cleared the air, the tension dissipating. I realized my dad wasn't trying to control my life but wanted me to forge my own path.
"Thanks, Dad. I appreciate your understanding," I said, feeling a sense of relief wash over me.
My dad smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm proud of you, Robin. Make your own decisions, and I'll support you every step of the way."
In that moment, our relationship shifted, built on mutual respect and trust. I realized my dad wasn't the enemy, but a guiding force, wanting me to succeed on my own terms.
As I busied myself with meticulously arranging the hall decorations for the prom party, Sophia suddenly appeared before me, her demeanor eerily cheerful, as if our breakup weeks ago was merely a distant memory. I raised an eyebrow, perplexed by her nonchalant attitude, wondering if she had forgotten the pain and heartache that had accompanied our separation.
"Sophia, what are you doing here?" I asked, my tone neutral, trying to gauge her intentions.
She fluttered her eyelashes, feigning innocence, her smile radiant but unconvincing. "Oh, just thought I'd lend a hand. You know, for old times' sake. We used to be such a great team, remember?"
I narrowed my eyes, skeptical, sensing a hidden agenda behind her words. "Old times' sake?"
Sophia's smile faltered for a nanosecond before she regained her composure, her voice taking on a nostalgic tone. "Yeah, you know, prom's just around the corner...we always said we'd go together. It's our senior year, Robin. We can't miss it."
My patience wore thin, her words stirring up memories I'd rather forget. "Sophia, we broke up. Remember? It's over between us."
Her expression transformed, a mask of confusion and hurt replacing her earlier cheeriness. "What's that got to do with prom? We promised to attend together, as a couple. You can't just forget that."
I sighed, exasperated, trying to reason with her. "Promises were broken when we broke up, Sophia. We're not together anymore."
Undeterred, she pressed on, her voice laced with desperation. "So, what's the outfit you've got in mind? I was thinking we could coordinate, like we always do...make it a night to remember."
I cut her off, firm but gentle, trying to spare her feelings. "Sophia, stop wasting your time. I'm not going to prom with you. I already have someone else in mind."
Her face crumpled, devastation and confusion etched on her features, as if I'd punched her in the gut. "What? You're...you're abandoning me?"
I empathized with her pain but stood firm, knowing I couldn't lead her on. "We're done, Sophia. Move on. Find someone else to share your prom night with."
Tears welled up in her eyes, her voice cracking. "But I thought...we always said...prom was our thing. You promised me, Robin."
I softened my tone, trying to ease her pain, feeling a pang of guilt for hurting her. "I know, Sophia. But things changed. We grew apart. It's time to let go."
Sophia's gaze lingered, pleading, as if hoping I'd change my mind, but when she realizes that I'm never going to change my decision, she spoke out.
Sophia's words cut through the air like a sharp blade, leaving me stunned and disbelieving. "If you're thinking of going with Sarah, I'm sorry to break this down to you, Robin, but Sarah has already gotten a prom partner."
My mind reeled, trying to process this unexpected revelation. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, my breath knocked out of me. I struggled to find my voice, my words tumbling out in a disbelieving stammer. "What...what do you mean?"
Sophia's expression turned smug, as if she'd won some twisted game. Her eyes gleamed with a triumphant light, her smile condescending. "Chris asked Sarah to prom, and she said yes. So, right now, I'm all you've got."
I felt like I'd been hit by a freight train. Chris and Sarah? It couldn't be. They'd never even hinted at a romantic connection. I thought back to all the times we'd hung out, the laughter, the inside jokes. Sarah had never mentioned Chris in a romantic way.
"No way," I said, shaking my head, refusing to believe it. "Sarah would've told me. We're friends."
Sophia shrugged, her smile never wavering. "Maybe she didn't want to hurt your feelings. But trust me, Robin, Chris and Sarah are prom-bound. I saw them together, laughing and planning their outfits."
I couldn't take it anymore. I turned and walked away, leaving Sophia's triumphant smile behind. My mind raced with questions and doubts. Had Sarah really agreed to go with Chris? Why hadn't she told me? Did she feel the same way about him? Was I just a friend to her, a confidant, but not someone she'd consider romantically?
As I disappeared into the crowd, Sophia's parting words echoed in my mind: "I'm all you've got." But I knew that wasn't true. I deserved better than a consolation prize. I deserved honesty and trust. And I was determined to get to the bottom of this prom mystery.
I needed answers, and I needed them now.