"Hey, try to tie your shoelaces, so you wouldn't fall again", that tall bastard humiliated me once again in front of the school premises as soon as the bell rang. He never really did anything nice to me, ever since this year, I really hoped he would never noticed me again.

I really did tie my shoelaces, it's just that he stepped on the remaining untied part that caused me to fall down. Forget about it. My shoes are already old and ripped, and I don't have enough money to buy one. I feel so much shame for myself, as well as for my family since we were just very poor people, switching from one place to another because we don't have enough money. My father already died so it's just me, my mother and my brother who lives. My mother is just a garbage collector and we currently live in our wooden rectangular cart. Since then, I always try to look for some ways in order to suffice ourselves.

Gladly, someone from my work place where I part timed got me a scholarship and they let me study here in the University of Birch. I'm also thankful for my classmates, my 2 best friends who always got my back whenever I'm sick, I'm hungry and all.

Then there's the cactus, who's always proud of himself just because he's rich and........quite handsome though, not gonna lie. He's always picking up on smart-ass weak boys and his whole squad was literally the whole official basketball team of our school. I sometimes wonder why they were still not expelled after all their gang fights. Literally disgusting.

And then there's me, sleeping in slumbers, and neighbors with some bunch of rats, sometimes our rival when it comes to food. Sigh. I always wished that someday, I would also be like Marilyn Monroe.

That famous girl with beautiful looks, an intelligent, rich lady with good body and money, living in a mansion with expensive cars and all sorts of that.

But you know, I think I don't have that kind of shy innocent girl look or mentality. I either don't have that bad e-girl vibes who tends to play video games all day and mess up with hot guys. Just ew, no offense.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

It's Saturday and it's morning so I came for a long run. I've been always practicing my running skills since the annual track and field competition across the universities will start again, and this time, the location for that is in our school. Luckily, I'm a student there and tend to practice and memorize myself running in the field.

I always set time for myself and if I ever beat my time, I will beat it again, until I'm no longer unbeatable from myself, with high hopes of winning the contest. I still use my dirty ragged shoes in my practice since that's the only thing that I have.

While resting on the bench, someone stupid kicked my back, thankfully not that hard, while I am drinking my water.

"Hey rat, bet you can't win against me, and oh, If you ever beat me today, I'll buy you some new shoes and will support you all the way, and I promise that"

He started to remove his t-shirt to boast his toned body under his white tank tops. His other boys were standing at my side waiting me to compete with him. Sigh. I can't promise that I will not laugh. Same old Finn.

I shake some dust off my shorts and
v neck, stretched my arms and kicked his foot. "Hey that's cheating", he said as his friend shouted "go" and we started to run.

"Hey, this is our first time again having some talk"

"Can we just talk later after this run" I hissed at him and outrun him. For just 13 seconds, I finished the 100m run. Phew.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"Ha..., What a....nice run"

He took 15 seconds to finish the track and boy he's such a snail compared to me and I broke my promise. I hysterically laughed.

"HAHAHAHAHA, good old days, isn't it funny, I told you, you will never beat me again in racing" I told him as both of us drank our water.

"Sure though, I just wanted to, you know, test you again" He felt embarrassment and I'm thankful for that.

"Hey, don't forget your promise, I wanted New Balance 860v10" I sat on the bench to catch some air

"Isn't that too pricey?"

"You're rich anyway"

He sat beside me and looked at the sky as well

"Hey, I'm sorry for ignoring you for almost 2 years, I actually....."

"No, it's ok, you're sick that time, and I'm really glad that today, you'll be able to study again and attend your graduation"

My tears started to fall accidentally because I really never thought that I would cry

"Hey....."

"You should've told me earlier you know, we're friends, like bff's, and....... You know, I worried about you"

He hugged me as I continue to cry. This is embarrassment.

"Yeah, I'm sorry that I didn't explained to you, I just, don't want you to worry since you're a very cautious person and look at you today huh"

He lift my face and squeezed it

"You really looked ugly today, and if I ever told you that before, your face will be like this up until now"

I slapped his hand and wiped my tears, he's such a total jerk

His other friends are eating ice cream on the other side of our place so, whatever

He's Finn, my long time best friend and we just rekindled today and I'm so glad that we have

"Yo, your promise ok?"

"Sure ugly princess, see you at sports fest"

Suddenly someone bumped to us intentionally to Finn, I can't deny it he's sure handsome

"The grounds here are so nice aren't they, even nicer with this boy"

She looked at him and he glared at her

"Hey, come with me tomorrow after the race, sure it will be fun"

Oh my marbles I can't stand looking at them without laughing and I can't really stop

Now Finn is laughing too and he even slapped my shoulders urgh

"Oh my Gosh, Cassandra, I think I smell something filthy over here, maybe the shoes of this woman AHAHAHA"

I can't stand their awkwardness

Finn and I just keep walking away from them

I can't believe the competition is fast approaching

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"Honey, I think you have some delivery today, better come now"

"Coming mom!"

We we're currently living in our grandparents bungalow and I'm just so happy.

I was thinking about the shoes that cactus will give to me, but it's more than that

"Aren't you gonna wear your uniform now or you'll change at school?"

Sasha lightly slapped my cheeks to wake me up and I realized

I already took a shower but I'm still in my pajamas and I forgot it's already 3:45 pm and the competition is 4:00 pm

Guacamole nuts

I rushed to my room to get my things ready and gave my mom a kiss

"Mom, you forgot about my competition!"

"I'm not the one who's competing but wish you the best Kelsey! Me and your brother will go there next!"

My friend pulled me to Faye's car and the wheels just got started

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"Are you sure you're okay with that?"

"Yeah sure, thanks for helping me!"

"Kelsey! You'll win this race!"

They're talking about my shoes and I said it's fine

That dumbass

I'm already walking towards the track and I'm still waiting for my sh-

"Hey"

Finn tossed a paper bag with a box in it and that's quite hard and heavy

"I'm sorry I'm late, but whatever it is, I know you'll do your promise"

I can't remember my promises to him anymore because it's just too many but, meh

He helped me wear the shoes, damn new shoes, I hope I will be fine

After that we stood up and he pushed me towards the entrance and he walked on the side

Damn I almost fall on the ground

As I walk towards my place he gave me a big thumbs up which is really embarrassing

"So it's you, and oh, your shoes are new, good for you, but I'll assure
you-"

"You're so nervous that you can't help but to chit chat-"

"Why do you always-"

"Give a girl the right kind of shoes, and she'll conquer the world"

I gave her a wink and started to run as the gun started to bang

She's so wordy but she can't even run that fast with her Salomon Speedcross, such an embarrassment

I managed to win the race with a time of 12.57 seconds, surpassing all of my fellow runners, that gap is really big among them all and I'm so-

"YAAHH!, You won the race! "

Finn lifted me and he started to run really crazy.