Broken Boundaries

Chapter 20: Unreachable Dreams

Celeste

The morning's cold, and dew drops fall from the trees above like silent rain. I clutch my arms, my breath forming tiny clouds in the chilly air. The stuffy public bus comes to a halt, and I climb out, holding onto my school bag tightly, its straps worn from years of carrying more books than my shoulders deserve.

That's when I see Kyomi and Blake heading towards the school gate. They're laughing about something, Kyomi's high-pitched squeal catching my attention.

"Celeste!" Kyomi calls, her arm waving in the air like a flag, her whole body bouncing with excitement. I wave back, but keep my face neutral. For Kyomi, it's probably another school day. For me? Well, after yesterday, everything's different.

As they reach me, Kyomi immediately pulls Blake closer, eyes widening. "I heard you passed out in class yesterday! I checked the school clinic, but the nurse said you'd already left. Are you...okay?"

I shrug, feeling my pulse quicken. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a fever. Nothing serious."

Before I can catch my breath, I hear my name again.

"Celeste."

I turn, and there's Calvin, his face breaking into a smile when he spots me. His school uniform, messy as ever. Blake glances at me with a curious look. "Do you...know him?" he asks, but I don't respond. Calvin's footsteps quicken, closing the space between us.

"How are you feeling?" he asks, a hint of concern in his voice.

"Fine. Thanks for yesterday," I murmur, feeling heat rise to my cheeks.

He waves it off casually. "No problem. Can I carry your bag for you?" he asks, his eyes soft.

I shake my head. "Don't worry, I'm fine." But I catch Kyomi's side-glance, a knowing smile creeping across her face.

"Thanks for saving my friend's life," Kyomi says, nudging him playfully.

Calvin chuckles, running a hand through his hair. "It's nothing compared to what she did for me. She saved the last piece of memories I had of my parents." His voice trails off, the casual laughter fading, and his eyes darken with something deeper. The four of us fall silent as we head inside.

In class, Calvin sits beside me, his gaze lingering longer than usual. Owen, who's usually glued to his phone, raises an eyebrow at Calvin before turning to me. I pretend not to notice, burying myself in my chemistry notes just as Mrs. Ashton enters the room.

The morning drags on, and by the time break arrives, I slip out of class and make my way to the cafeteria. I'm hoping to spot Kyomi, but the tables are packed, and there's no sign of her. I settle into my usual corner, deciding not to order anything just yet. My head feels heavy, like yesterday's fever is still there, lurking in the back of my mind.

I'm lost in thought when Calvin appears, holding two strawberry-creamed cupcakes. He slides one across the table to me with a grin. "Consider this an apology for embarrassing you earlier," he says.

I stare at the cupcake, unsure if I should smile or keep my guard up. "We're not strangers anymore, anyway," I mutter, almost regretting the words as soon as they leave my lips.

Calvin's eyes light up, his grin widening. He doesn't seem fazed by my stony expression. "So, you do have a soft spot." He watches as I bite into the cupcake, and for a second, I feel like maybe, just maybe, I don't need to keep my walls so high.

"By the way, do you mind taking icing?" he asks, watching me eat the cake.

I nod, savoring the taste. "Not at all. I actually love cakes." The words slip out easily, and to my surprise, he chuckles.

"She's just my type," he mumbles under his breath, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth as he nibbles on his lower lip. I pretend not to hear, focusing on my cupcake.

As we eat, he stares at the cupcake thoughtfully. "You know, it's good, but not quite right. There's this place just down the next street. They have the best pastries. Maybe we could go there sometime?"

I raise an eyebrow. "You don't have to, and, you know, being a chef as a guy...it's not easy."

He laughs softly, pulling a worn notebook out of his bag. "Tell me about it. But I have dreams, big ones." He flips through the pages, showing me a list scrawled in his messy handwriting. "This is my 'to-do' list for the year. Everything I want to do before next December." His finger traces over each entry, and I realize he's revealing a piece of himself few others have seen.

"My dad used to be a chef in Paris," he says softly. "He was...well, one of the best. I want to follow in his footsteps, but my uncle-he thinks it's impractical. He says I should either be a food scientist or forget it."

I feel a pang of sympathy. "That's rough. But hey, at least you have dreams."

He closes the notebook with a soft smile. "What about you? Any big plans?"

The words catch me off guard. I chew my lip, feeling the weight of old ambitions settle on me. "I used to want to go to Harvard, to study medicine. Maybe even be an advocate for female rights someday." My voice drops to a whisper. "But...my English is terrible. I can barely speak in public without feeling like a mess."

Calvin's eyes soften, and he leans forward. "Celeste, if that's what you want, don't let anything stop you. You're smart, and you have Mr. Dominic as your tutor. That's got to help, right?"

Mr. Dominic. His name alone sends a shiver down my spine. "Yeah...but he left." I don't go into details, but Calvin nods, sensing there's more to the story.

The bell rings, cutting our conversation short. I watch him head to his class, a part of me wishing we could've talked longer.

That night, after finishing my homework, I find myself on Uncle Kunle's laptop. I type into the search bar, What do you need to get into Harvard Medical School? The results flood the screen. I skim through them, my heart sinking. A GPA of 3.8 to 4.0. Four years of pre-med courses. Eight years, just to reach my goal. And then what? The thought of my mother working tirelessly to support this dream weighs on me like a leaden anchor.

What if I change my course? The thought hits me like a punch. Could I really give up on something that's been with me since middle school?

I close the laptop, feeling drained. On my desk, Calvin's words echo in my mind, filling the silence. I grab an empty notebook, deciding I'll start my own diary, just like he has. But as I stare at the blank page, nothing comes.

Instead, I find myself reaching for an old book Mr. Dominic had given me-a worn collection of words and phrases. I flip through it, the scent of old pages bringing back memories. It's just been a month but it felt like years ago. I smile to myself, remembering the way he'd marked each line, correcting my grammar with that patient smile.

I close the book, hugging it to my chest. The room feels colder, emptier. My dreams seem so far away, like stars I can barely see on a foggy night. Maybe Calvin's right; maybe I should be practical. But something inside me refuses to let go.

My thoughts wander to him, to the warmth in his eyes when he looked at me today, the gentle way he handed me that cupcake. I hope it's not what I'm thinking... Whatever! There's something about him that feels different, something I can't put my finger on. And then there's Mr. Dominic...or at least, the memory of him. I sigh, glancing at the closed book on my desk.

As I drift off to sleep, questions swirl in my mind. How long can I keep this dream alive? What will happen with Mr. Dominic... and why do I feel this strange pull even though the lessons are over?