It was a Friday afternoon, Cassandra and I were at the beach training again. The day for Arpie High’s entrance exams is only two months away. My stomach gets butterflies everytime I think how fast it’s approaching.

Two months left, and I still haven't even awakened my magic yet. What should I do?

As Cassandra and I take a short break, we decide to sit at a nearby bench to watch the sunset while eating ice cream. Then I hear an unfamiliar, mischievous voice of a girl and it catches my attention.

“Oh my, is that you, Cassandra?”

Excited, Cassandra stands up, “Emily?! Hi! It’s been so long!”

I wonder who she is. Must be an old friend of Cassandra. And what’s that boy in glasses behind her doing with that rock? Oh well, I’ll just continue eating my ice cream while the two of them catch up.

“It has been long. And, um, Cassandra, who is that handsome guy sitting next to you? Is he your Boyfriend? You naughty girl.”

Handsome?!?!? BOYFRIEND?!?!

Our faces get red, and the two of us look at each other, embarrassed. But while we look at each other, Cassandra gives me a calming smile, and looks away.

“Geez, Emily, he’s-he’s just a close friend of mine. The two of us are training together for Arpie High’s entrance exams.”

Emily gives a mischievous smile as if the reactions she got from the two of us filled her lustful intent.

“Hmmm? Just close friends? Okay, I’ll believe you this time. So what’s his name?”

I stop licking my delicious ice cream, and get a worried look on my face.

Oh no, my name! She can’t find out! It’s-It’s too embarrassing!

Cassandra tries to answer, “His name? Well, his name is Cyn-”

I quickly interrupt Cassandra, “BELLY!! My name is Belly!! Weird, right?! Hahaha!”

What the hell is that awkward laugh, you idiot?!

Cassandra looks at me, confused, trying to figure out why I don’t want Emily to know my real name. But then she remembers one of the dreams her and I had together.

I told Cassandra that I’ve always been embarrassed of my name. I guess my Mom always wanted a daughter or something? But Cynthia Abella isn’t exactly the manliest name for a 13 year old boy whose balls have yet to even drop. Kids used to bully me in elementary school for how girly my name is, it was then that I thought of a nickname for people to call me instead, Belly. Since then, I’ve tried my best for no one to find out what my real name is, and for those who find out somehow after elementary school, I’d beg them to keep it a secret--to forget about it--and to just continue calling me by my nickname, Belly.

I eye at Cassandra, trying to convey the message that I don’t want Emily to know my humiliating name.

She thinks for a second “Hmmm…” then she smiles and says, “Idiot’s name is Cynthia Abella, and he’s also a HUGE perv!”

What?!?! NoooOOOUUUUuu!!! WHAT are you doing, Cassandra?!?!?!

I brace myself. Expecting a burst of laughter to escape from Emily and for that laugh to completely shatter the already-shattered, little self esteem I had left, which was zero, of course.

Shockingly however, Emily says, “Ahh? Cynthia Abella? My, what a beautiful name for a pervert.”

B-B-Beautiful?

My face turns even redder, and Cassandra eagerly agrees, “Right?! Don’t you think it’s nice, Emily? I wish I had it!”

I look at Cassandra, confused, wondering what exactly is she up to.

Why-Why isn’t Emily laughing?

Emily asks me, “Abella, from the looks of things, I’m guessing you’re embarrassed of your name, correct?”

I stare at her blankly, still trying to understand how she cannot comment on why a boy like me has such a feminine name.

I answer Emily’s question, embarrassed, “That-That is correct.”

“Well, it is a very ladylike name, embarrassing for a boy to have, but take it from me, your name is what you make it out to be. Your name doesn’t identify who you are. You identify your own name regardless of what it sounds like.”

Contemplating her words, I realize that this is another one of Cassandra’s big damn life lessons that she’s trying to teach. I look at her indifferently.

Oh, you think you’re so clever, huh, Cassandra?

She gives me a knowing smile while sticking her tongue out.

I agree with Emily, “Ye-Yes, ma’am.”

She turns to the boy behind her, “What do you think, Lukie? Have anything you’d like to add?”

The nerdy-looking guy who had been standing there silently before suddenly begins approaching me while staring at the strange rock in his hands that glows a brighter and brighter light-blue hue the closer he gets to me. He then looks up with stars in his eyes and a dedicated expression on his face.

“Yes!! You might be the key, Cynthia!!”

I-I might be the-what-now?

He then offers his hand to me, “Help me, Cynthia! Join the club that I’m starting at Arpie High and assist me on my quest to find the Spirit Portal!!”

“The-The Spirit Portal??? And what club at Arpie High???”

“The Spirit World Club!! Legend has it, and studies from all around the kingdom show, that there exists a whole-entire world parallel to our own, where magical and majestic beasts, spirits from past lives, and many more mystical qualities beyond human comprehension reside--lying in wait for us to discover! And by observing this rock I collected a while ago near the glowing tree in the outskirts of Heavenly, Cynthia, you can serve as a worthy sacrifice for the discovery of the Spirit World!!”

My voice cracks, “S-Sacrifice?!?! Sacrifice as in I’ll be killed???”

I turn to Emily, surprised, “Who-Who is this dude??”

She giggles at my expense and let’s him answer for her, “My name is Lucas. Lucas Emilia, Emily’s twin brother. I am captain of Arpie High’s soon to be Spirit World Club, and I am on a quest to discover the portal that shall deliver us to it!”

This dude is crazy--totally crazy! He sounds like a pothead, and has he already been accepted into Arpie High? How? He keeps talking about these ludicrous things that I don’t even understand, what should I do…?

“So what do you say, Cynthia, will you join me on this adventure?”

But then, I suddenly remember the kids back in elementary school who bullied me for my name, Cynthia.

… In all honesty, trying to find a world that’s different from our own… a world that may be less cruel than this one… sounds like fun.

Cassandra, listening to Lucas, watches in awe, “Wooww! The Spirit World… That’s so amazing! I think I’d like to join the club with you guys, too, once I’m accepted into Arpie High! What about you, Belly?”

“Um… Yeah… It-It’d be nice to join.”

I doubt I’ll even get into Arpie High, though. There’s no way in hell someone as weak as me can ever be accepted into such a prestigious knight academy where only the best of the best attend… I hate myself.

Cassandra and Emily finish reminiscing about old times and talking about how Emily and Lucas were in fact accepted into Arpie High already due to recommendations, and also how Lucas is determined to use his genius intellect for finding the amazing Spirit World. The two of them leave, and Cassandra and I are back to being just the two of us training.

While we run, Cassandra asks me, “Sounds fun, right?”

I look at her, spaced out, “Hah, hah. What sounds fun? Hah.”

“Discovering a whole new world. A world different from our own… Experiencing it, absorbing it… I don’t know about you, Belly, but I can’t wait to attend Arpie High and become a full-fledged knight!”

“Hah, hah... Yeah…”

“And, you’ll come experience that world with me, too, right?”

“Hah, Hah. Yeah… Hah… Wait, what?!?!”

I stop in my tracks, and so does she. The sun finally vanishes into the distant ocean, and an entire sea of stars appears above the town of Heavenly, brighter than the lights of the many homes and buildings that reside here. But the scenery doesn’t even come close to compare itself with Cassandra’s beauty under the moonlight.

I look down and smile a broken smile, thinking about how I’m going to obviously fail the entrance exams, and I blindly answer Cassandra’s question, “Yes, of course I will, Cassandra. Just like I promised--I’ll… I’ll always be by your side.”

Cassandra gives me a bright smile, “Good! So that means failing the entrance exams isn’t an option!”

She turns around and starts running again. As if what she said didn’t strike a chord with me.

I chase after her, “Wa-Wait, WHAT?! Cassandra?!”

She tells me as she runs, “I know that’s been bothering you all evening, Belly. Well… I know that it’s been bothering you since the first time you and I started training together, but I will always believe in you, Belly, no matter what. And I don’t have a single bit of doubt in my mind that you’ll pass the entrance exams with flying colors.”

“Hah, hah, Umm, Cassandra, you’re either overestimating me or underestimating Arpie High’s entrance exams. Hah.”

Cassandra smiles, remembering the time I saved her from drowning, “No, trust me, Belly, I’m not. The faith I have for you is honest faith. Believe me.”

“... Cassandra…”

She turns her head towards me, and says, “So let’s you and I become the greatest knights in the kingdom together!”

It’s as if the entire world bloomed into billions of beautiful colors the second she said that.

Whenever I’m with Cassandra, I feel like I can do anything… Failing the entrance exams… failing the entrance exams isn’t an option! There are still two months left, and in those two months I’ll continue working harder and harder until the chances of me failing are negative zero percent!! I got this, I got this!

And unbeknownst to me, I say aloud in front of Cassandra, “I GOT THIS!!” and I begin running faster than her.

She smiles and says, “Oh my, slow down, Belly. You’re not the only one who’s got it!”

Cassandra and I start racing each other across the beach. And again, just like a few months ago, we’re noticed. Except this time, it was only Cely who watched us on her way home late at night, alone. And she thinks to herself.

Those two are really lucky to have each other to motivate one another. I really wished I has someone like that… I really wish that I had the strength to impress others like those two.

Cely begins to tear up as she absorbs the cruel reality of her character.

Arpie High’s entrance exams are two months away… there’s no way someone as weak as me will pass. Somebody please, anybody, save me from being such a failure!

Cely silently weeps to herself, cold and alone. Having no one to turn to but these horrible thoughts of herself that slowly chip away her spirit, little by little, until there’s nothing left but resentment and a bottomless pit of ignominy.