Chapter 2 --- Her Side

---In America---

---In a Coffee Shop---

"Kat, Guess what? Guess what?? �..� Marie said eagerly.

"What girl, what are you so happy about?� Kat asked.

With a happy and exciting face, Marie said, �I�m going to the Philippines to study there and help out with my country, and I might even get married with Marcus, we�re both going there together�

"What? Really? You are? � I am soooo happy for you Marie, I am so proud of you.� Kat said with a smiling face.

      Kat and Marie had been best friends ever since grade school. The only thing that was different between them was their nationality, college and life style. Kat went to U.C Berkeley, while Marie went to a state college, but they were still best friends and always call or meet up with each other and vent to one another. Marie was popular and always had boyfriends but that did not stop her from her education, Kat on the other hand was in school and involved with various activities around campus. She didn�t really care much about relationships. She was always the one who listened to her friends when they had problems and drama with their boyfriends. She didn�t want to go through what they did, so she kept herself busy with school and different activities. She also had a part time job that supported her income because she didn�t want to ask her parents for money. Kat always had a dream to study aboard or at least traveled around, but her parents didn�t have money for those types of expenses.

"Hey Kat�Kat�KKKKKAAAAATTTTT!!!� Marie called.

Kat got scared and jumped a little, �What Marie, gosh don�t need to scream, I�m right here...� Kat replied.

Marie studied Kat�s face and continued, �I know you�re here, but you�re not listening. What�s wrong with you?�

"What do you mean what�s wrong with me? I�m ok. I�m not sick or anything.� Kat said quickly.

Marie added, �I�m your best friend, I�ve known you for a very long time, I know how you act, what you like and what you hate and I know your face reactions. I know you like to be hyper, goofy, and entertain people with your smiling face. But you like to hide your feelings while trying to make others feel happy about themselves.�

Marie patted Kat�s back and finished what she had to say, �I know when you�re hiding your feelings. You have to stop caring for other people so much and care for yourself too. And you should at least tell people how you feel and stop hiding your feelings.� Marie stopped for a while and waited for Kat�s reaction.

Kat was going to say something, but Marie just went ahead and continued, �I know you don�t want to work right after college, I know you want your masters degree or at least travel around the world to open your eyes. Talk to your mom, she might understand you and your needs� Marie finished what she had to say with a warm smile at the end.

Kat looked at Marie and spoke, �Look girl, Thanks for understanding me, but it�s different. Your family is not in the same position as mines. I am the only one who is educated and they are depending on me to work and earn money for the house. You are lucky. Your family is not like mines. You have a house and they have enough money to support what you do, but as for me, I have to wait until I earn it myself.� Kat looked at Marie and continued, �Don�t worry girl, I know what I want to do in life, so don�t worry, I want you to enjoy your time in the Philippines and write me.� She finished with a returning smile knowing she just lied about her life. She didn�t know what to do, or where to go.

Marie smiled and questioned Kat, �What are you going to do next after college? You�re gonna graduate in a couple of weeks.�

Kat answered her questions with a big smile �I have an interview on Monday, yes this Monday in the city. It�s my aunt�s work place. She told my mom that they wanted someone young, fresh, and new right out of college. So my aunt told my mom, and my mom told me, funny huh, old folks nowadays be having hook ups.� Marie and Kat both laughed and continued on with their lunch and conversation.

      Kat was in her 4th year at UC Berkeley, full time student and worked part time. She would have to quit her work place once she graduates, because they only hired students for part time positions. She had started to search for jobs, but luckily her mother told her the news. She had an interview at her aunt�s work place. Her mother wanted her to work after she finished college. She was the only one in her family that got the chance to go to college and get educated. A few days ago, her mother told her that her aunt had gotten her an interview for a good company. In Kat�s heart, she didn�t really want to work. She wanted to travel around the world or at least study aboard. She had always wanted to go to Laos and Thailand and Japan and every other place imaginable; if she had a chance she wanted to get her masters in Thailand or Japan. But due to her family�s socio-economic status, they couldn�t afford for her to go anywhere. She knew if she did that, it would be a disgrace to her parents and their reputation. Even though she could care less about it, it was because her mother that cared so much about it, she had to also. Her family wasn�t rich but enough not to be homeless.

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