Over the past few months, he had often gone over to his Ren's house, where he either met the Haoyi and So-Mang, his three sisters Yuna, Riko, and Hina along with many family and friends of the three boys who, most of the time, were not as complete as the first time he met them all but still enough for him.
During those days, he had spent time having study sessions with them, played many games either outside or inside, and hung out with each other at many places.
Those fun-filled days were good for the young boy who seemed to suddenly have a rise in confidence.
He enjoyed the many days with Haoyi, So-Mang, and Ren, and this is what brought his mother into joyful tears when the young boy told them over dinner, while his father smiled at him proudly, for all that his son had done for himself.
They were both wildly impressed with all that he has achieved, for he managed to have three best friends from his school, along with many others.
They noticed how much those boys have helped him grow as a person since he has become more lively and happy to go to school to meet up with those friends of his, and he enjoyed himself the best way he could with those same friends.
"Hey, so we are heading on a family vacation, so we won't be back until we returned next weekend."
Ren mentioned this in front of the three of them.
Haoyi: "What, so where would we hang out if not with you?"
So-Mang: "It is fine, we can just hang out in any of our houses, sound good for you, Haoyi?"
Haoyi: "Yeah."
The young boy then suddenly felt this huge, uncomfortable feeling rise when the idea of them hanging out in his house came to mind
The moment those words left his friend's mouth, a wave of embarrassment washed over him, not out of embarrassment of his always messy room or the idea of them not having fun, but the thought of them being present in his room made him feel afraid.
He could not explain why so many what-if scenarios came to his mind.
Despite hanging out with these friends of his for over a month, he is still not emotionally ready for them to come over to his house now.
Why would he be worried about his friends coming?
These three boys were his best friends since the start of the fourth year of elementary, and yet he is still not ready to invite them over to his house.
He wondered why these feelings were affecting him so much he did not want to say anything because it would be rude and mean to not invite them over his home, so what he can do is to just convince them to hang in their homes instead of his after he will not allow them yet until he is ready.
Just as he was rummaging in his childish brain, a sudden thought came.....what if they will not be into him when they see how he lives.
That made his heart sink as he questioned himself on whether they would still accept him or if he would have fun with them the same way he did at their house.
Over the years, from childhood, he has never invited any friends over, so perhaps this is what is affecting him.
Deep down, he was so confused about himself.
He thought over what was happening to him and in the end dismissed those thoughts as.....
Haoyi: "So you guys want to hang out in my place then."
So-Mang "Sure thing, dude, you down?"
These two guys stared at me, waiting for my answer.
The Young Boy: "Uhhh, yeah sure I guess so."
Haoyi: "You sure you want to come, you seem a little off....."
So-Mang "You doing okay, man?"
The Young Boy: "Yeah, well, sure, I am fine hanging out with you guys in your house."
In the end, the problem in his mind never arose again.
The young boy clearly forgot about this issue; however, he has to admit that one of these days, this is clearly a problem that came from separating his home life and his student life, along with his inability to have any previous friendships where his friends would be invited over to his home.
Throughout the last few days, one of his friends had to go on a family vacation away from home.
Yuna: "So we are here to have you study for your final exams."
Riko: "So you better be ready, you guys."
Hina: "Yes!.....Ready.!....Study!"
The four of them were kneeling in front of the three sisters, who had dedicated their time to help the young boy, and the other three were studying since they noticed their grades had gotten lower than the last exam because of how many times they had hung out with each other.
Ren: "Hey, ummm sis, why the heck are we kneeling in front of you?"
Yuna: "Because we are your tutors and we....."
Hina: "Huh?"
Yuna looked at the youngest, who then looked back in confusion, tilting her head.
Yuna"...well, Riko and I are the oldest...."
Riko: "And our youngest sister is....."
Yuna: "Moral support for you slackers!"
The young boy looked on at the three of them. Is this seriously what is happening now? Is this how siblings work? Is this going to be a long day?
The young boy, along with the help of his friend's two older sisters and younger sister, has begun tutoring as well as encouraging all four of them to pass their final exams.
Haoyi: "Dude.....your sister is so strict."
So-Mang: "Yeah, and cute too i mean, look at her, acting so mad."
Ren: "Hey, you jerks, do not gossip about my sisters in front of me!"
The young boy watches his three friends mingle with each other, now talking about his two friend's half crush half admiration for the third friend's older sisters. Meanwhile, the youngest sister sat by him, giggling very smugly over her cool older sisters.
Hina: "Hey, big bro, I give them my blessing hehehe."
Is what the youngest whispered to the young boy, and all he could do was stare at all three of them in astonishment. Does this clearly happen every time?
Hina: "You know it is good that there are no girls in his school."
The young boy wondered now what she was talking about."
Haoyi and So-mang were holding their laughter while his other friend, who was her brother, sighed and blushed in embarrassment.
Hina: "Because he is my brother and all three of us wouldn't trade him for anything, right, big brother."
She made an innocent smile while claiming ownership over him.
Both of his friends laughed.
Ren: "Shut up, you...guys!"
He wanted to call them idiots, but his sisters were watching him fiercely
The young boy looked on, confused what the heck is going on?
The study session went on until they were given a break, and all four of the boys were left alone while the sisters went off on their own business.
So-mang: "Ugh!...don't they ever give us a break?"
Ren: "Each of them is diligent. Why do you think mom and dad tell me every day that I am unlike my two older sisters and even laugh at me that my youngest is more studious than me her eldest."
Haoyi: "Hahahahah."
Ren: "Hey, stop laughing at me!"
Later now\AASD while the break is still ongoing.....
The young boy fell asleep while the three guys decided to discuss their plans.
Yuna: "So what do you all want to be when you grow up?"
This made all three of the boys decide to think
So-Mang: "I want to be a doctor to help others."
Haoyi: "I want to be in architecture."
Ren: "I do not know.....yet"
Haoyi: "Why do you not know yet?"
Ren: "I just don't, okay."
So-Mang: "Yeah, sure, of course you don't."
Yuna: "You have more time anyway."
Ren: "Sis?"
Yuna: "You are still young, so give it some time."
Ren: "Okay!"
Yuna then turned to the young boy and asked
"What about him?"
To which all of them turned
Haoyi: "Maybe after he wakes up."
Yuna" Yeah, okay then if you say so."
They all continued to discuss different things, and when the young boy woke up, they continued with their study session, forgetting to even ask about his aspirations.
A few days have gone by, and all four boys have answered their exams and are just getting the results of them.
.....
English: A+
Science: B-
Music: A
Physical Education: B
Mathematics: C
...
The three boys crowded over the young boy's report card.
Haoyi: "We wish you good luck, dude."
So-mang: "Yeah, sorry about this, dude, but we can not save you."
Ren: "Ummmm, my older sister will not be happy over your C rank in Mathematics."
The young boy shuddered.
Ren: "I mean, it is not a bad thing..."
So-mang: "Yeah, it is still okay."
Haoyi: "At least you did not fail compared to others, and look, you got an A+ in English, isn't that an achievement?"
The Young Boy: "Yeah..."
"So, you got a C in Math, huh?!"
Suddenly, they felt a sinister aura radiating from a group of people nearby, sending a chill down Ren's spine. The unmistakable voice echoed in his mind, reminding him of past encounters that had left him trembling with fear. He flinched, instinctively knowing that danger was close at hand.
That voice was a familiar feminine voice, one that used to be happy and soft, now becoming angry and disappointed.
They all turned to see the source of the voice.
Riko: "It seems you boys have slacked off more than you are supposed to, huh!"
There in the entrance were the three sisters emitting a dark aura, to which the young boy, Haoyi, So-Mang, and Ren ran away from the sisters, who began to pursue them with the intent to lecture and punish them.
Many days have past and Ren, along with their family, went off on their vacation, and the young boy, along with his two remaining friends, were sitting in the playground together.
Haoyi: "Hey, I know you are slow in academics, but I still could not believe you seem to get worse as the years go by."
Both of them commented on his current study habits.
"Where did you both hear that from?"
The young boy asked.
Ren: "Yuna and Riko may have told your mom before leaving for their trip, and in response, told them about your recent issues."
Why did Yuna and Riko tell their mom exactly? They were not his siblings, so why? Why exactly do they seem so angry at him?
"Why?"
Haoyi: "Cause they are worried, of course."
So-mang "Yeah, come on, man."
Haoyi and So-mang commented with concern for the young boy. They did not know all too much, but the way his mother and Ren's older sisters talked about it, they understood that something was going on, and then the young boy asked the obvious question.
"Did she have to be strict with me, though?"
Haoyi: "I mean, you lied to her and slacked off lately, also, you seem to have been getting more closed off."
"What?"
So-mang: "You know, lately you seem to be becoming more and more pompous like those other guys in school."
Haoyi: "Yeah, you seem to argue with others, dismiss other people, and begin to act so unfriendly lately as if you are conforming to them."
The young boy denied it, but those two friends of his could see something he did not know.
During the final days of the fourth year, the young boy, after having to deal with those other classmates in school, began to act like them, such as arguing back and becoming annoying.
"Unfriendly, huh? You think so? Well, sorry if I am."
However, despite not seeing it, the young boy accepted the comment and began to try to be more friendly with them.
In the end, the young boy, without realizing began to have this tendency to slack off and become lazier.
The next day, the young boy decides to stay at home, mentioning to them that he was tired of studying and declares he wants a break from studying.
He was unable, or rather chose not to hang out with those guys, after the first month of the summer break.
It has been one whole month of not seeing them, and as he spent his whole time alone at home, he began to forget some things.