james philippe paris

                       You Need To Calm Down

                    By: James Philippe B. Paris 

It was late Saturday night before New Year’s Eve at Mooredale in Graceland when the world of Olivia and Joshua crossed again in slow motion. But, before I continue, let me give you a long quick recap of what happened between the two of them before they met for the second time without realizing they knew each other alongside Conan.  

The story begins with the young man named Conan, a homophile teen that only wants to be accepted by society. However, he felt sadness every time someone teased and laughed at him. Conan always remembers every time he went to market and saw a bad guy. When he went to the grocery store a man grabbed him in the cashier lane to overtake in line for paying the goods brought because of his gender. 

He is an introvert, which makes him a shy type of person. Olivia has been his childhood friend for almost seventeen years. The girl next door who is currently studying at the University of Graceland at Evermore City, the same university Conan attended as a senior high school student. Now, they are nineteen years old. 

When they step in college, Conan decides to go to another university to study his degree in entrepreneurship. Which makes Olivia feel lonely because they will not go into the same university. 

“Hey sis, I will be moving to another university named Connecticut University. In fact, I got a 100% scholarship that will support my studies as a future businessman,” Conan says to her best friend. 

Olivia snubbed while tearing. 

 “I will be back sis don't you worry we can meet during Fridays. Don’t cry, I will miss you so much. It is just five kilometers away from you,” Conan added.

The day has come Conan needs to say goodbye to Olivia before going to the university. Afterwards, he took a bus and sat left next to the driver while waving to the friend of his life.

“Hey Alexa, play You Need To Calm Down by Taylor Swift,” said Olivia when she reached her room. 

After the departure of Conan knowing it was their theme song as sissy friend. 

When Conan reached his destination college he called Olivia to tell that he arrived safe and sound. 

“Ok sis,” replied Olivia. 

 Then he suddenly went straightforward with excitement and joy while Conan was on the phone. 

“Hey sis we are college now”, upon going inside of his dormitory said to Olivia. 

“I'm so happy this should be the most challenging stage of our life,”replied Olivia.

“RING! RING!,” the Connecticut University bell rangs. 

“I have to say goodbye and see you soon,” Conan said to Olivia. 

“Goodbye sissy and goodluck to both of us,” Olivia to Conan. 

And then they continued.

“Yay, it’s officially the first day of my college life,” Conan said to himself.   

 But, the world stops for Conan when he strikes the same freshman which is the varsity of Connecticut when going outside his room named Joshua. And then they fell on the floor while Conan was blushing. 

“Are you ok? Do you have an injury?,” asked Joshua. 

“I’m good. Thanks for asking. I have to go.” replied by Conan. 

Joshua is half Italian where he loves sports games like basketball. He has been with a lot of girls since the first day of high school that resulted in many break-ups. The strong aura and appealing  looks that he possesses made everyone fall in love.  Not knowing he is the seatmate of Conan and Olivia in kindergarten days. 

The family of Joshua moves to Connecticut after kindergarten because this is the closest school from their house in Connecticut City where his dad worked. Suddenly, they become friends with Conan because he is helping Joshua to make his projects and assignments every Friday night. 

The performance of Olivia and Conan makes them stand out to all the students of their respective universities that makes the professors amaze. This is their main goal to reach since they were a child to have better achievement. While in the middle of the semester, the two BFF’s were gradually did not have time for each other. The reason behind is that there are requirements that need to be complied on time. 

Until one day this event happened that changed the life of Conan and Olivia. Olivia meets up with Conan at the Starbucks Café . 

“How’s the schooling?,” Conan asked Olivia.

 “It’s good but there's a lot of requirements but I still can manage,” said by Olivia, 

Minutes of chit chatting. four guys come inside the café. The new customers  noticed that there was no vacant space at that time. 

“It looks like there is no place for us,” said one of the guys.

But, they saw the table where Olivia and Conan were. The guys go where the two best friends are. 

“Hey, can we sit here?,” the guy told the two with exaggeration .

“No sir, we got here first,” Olivia replied. 

“Hey you, are you gay? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You should leave here because there's no place for you and for all the LGBTQIA+ here in this restaurant and in this world,” said the leader. 

One of the guys slowly harassed Olivia that made Conan fight back. After the long argument with Olivia and Conan the four bad boys leave the café with disturbing happenings. 

Later, four boys in a covered face were forcibly holdap the sixty-six years old man where they were trying to get the groceries and the cash the old man had.  Conan noticed it when he quickly went outside of the café. He protected the man at any cost. Without realizing one of them has a gun. And then shooted it to the left thigh of Conan, Olivia saw it. 

While crying “Uhm, hello can you please send an ambulance right now because my friend got shot and he is losing blood. Please hurry. Thank you,” Olivia called the 911 hotline. 

“Conan, hold on, I already called for some help and their own way here to bring you to the hospital,” Olivia to Conan while near the café. 

Minutes later the ambulance arrived alongside with the police. After their arrival Conan was put in a bed. Then upon arriving at the hospital a doctor operated on him. And the bullets were successfully brought out from the thigh. After an hour of operation. The doctor went outside and gave the news to Olivia that Conan is safe now and ready for release fourteen days from now. 

Suddenly,  “Yes, my sissy is safe now,” Olivia cried out loud. 

After Conan was discharged, he stayed at home for a week to recover from the bullet wound. Months pass, Conan returns to school and Olivia continues with her studies where they never see each other for years to avoid the incident from happening again. 

Five year later

It's Saturday night, Olivia received a message that Conan, her sissy, passed away last month because of cancer in the blood, battling for five years without telling anyone, even to his best friend. After receiving the news, she takes a ride back to Mooredale, Conan and Olivia’s favorite place. Olivia teared until she cried while mesmerizing her memories with Conan. That time Joshua is there too to inhale some fresh air after his another break-up. He notices that a woman is crying beneath the fountain and gives his handkerchief to her. Joshua figures that the woman is Olivia, his seatmate during the kinder time. The world stops through their stares where they fall in love at second sight with each other

What Conan did was reported on CNN as a commemoration of his death and sacrifice where he served as a hero five years ago. People have realized that there is nothing wrong with being gay. Even so, they still have a golden heart to help or save people in need. So we should never discriminate against someone based on his or her appearance, especially gender and break these barriers within the human race. We always look at the inner self of someone.

One day, I woke up in a place Where no one recognizes me.

A community with sufferings, challenges, and struggles

During the quarantine things.

The event in existence that changes everything especially myself

That occurred a hundred years ago. For a long time, history repeats itself In a place where no one is innocent.

While in the middle of great isolation Countless criticisms were raised between human race: Not equal right to Black people, corrupt government officials,

No press freedom that brings the inequality of the world. 

But it does not end here, For this was just the beginning. Our planet is facing catalyst, Brought by men and women.

Man cutting the trees, continuous factory, & pollutions creations,

Produce the increase in changing patterns of climate: Earth’s catastrophic phenomenon, altering climate patterns, And liquefying the Arctic are some of the remarkable effects of the man made creations. 

The last minutes I am asleep Realizing that it was just a nightmare. The meaningful dream I ever had in my entire life.