People say starting a story with 'once upon a time' is boring, boring to the point where no one except those Disney workers use. Even at school, we are expected to create sizzling starts, creative and imaginative plots and whatnot. But what if a story, a real-life story, began with 'once upon a time'? It isn't as though you can control when a story takes place. I'll be honest, I do write with a certain vividity that my teachers, friends, and even my family seem to like, but I? I hate it. Which is why this story will begin this very way. This story is about a stubborn, black-haired, tall girl named Lila Adams.

  ***

  Once upon a time, in the transforming times of 2025, there was a young girl, at the simple yet complicated age of fifteen. She couldn't care less about her career, the way she looked, or even the way life would turn out. She simply wanted to die and enjoy the wonders of Heaven. Death is a touchy topic for most; she tried to believe she hasn't thought of experiencing it. She tried to think treading through her life with fake enthusiasm would be enough, at least until her time came. She was always worried about topics that shouldn't have mattered such as how much she spent on ice cream. Worrisome yet confident, sad yet happy, tired yet energetic, smart yet stupid, humorous yet serious, bored yet... bored?

  That was when she remembered a quote from none other than Jungkook from BTS. A quote her friend told her with a vivid eagerness she thought she would never be close to reaching, which she attempted to face with her usual apathy she showed towards her 'touchy' subjects. "I'd rather die than live without passion.". Wasn't that the very embodiment of how she felt? What a perfect description! Though the quote itself was exaggerated, she understood. She didn't want to accept it, the fear of needing a therapist in the way. She didn't know what she felt, but she knew one thing for sure; disappointed. With her life, herself, everything.

  ***

  "You still have another 20 minutes," grade nines' unbeloved Mrs. Allen's quiet reply to a worried student was heard by Lila, who had nothing better to do other than simply listen to the murmuring and muttering around her. She had finished writing her exam on the blue-gray tables all students had, what seemed, ages ago. The morning had been hot, to the point she convinced her friends to just sit in the library, Lila was extremely grateful to finally being able to sit in an air-conditioned room, even the black, skeleton-like, metal chairs were cold. Somehow, she was already sweating! Though most of it had now dried off. She looked around at the heads still hunched over their respective papers, a minority of them trying to find ways to cause trouble.

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  'At least they have something to do', an unwanted thought ran through her head a few times in that same depressing loop. This is what always happens at the end of every term. Same exam room, same teacher, mostly the same students, and of course, the same endless time awaiting her no matter how slowly she finishes her exam. She used to care about studying, about the amount of time, about what people thought but soon she realized there's no point. If she was smart, funny, confident, as long as she was Lila, everyone thought she was fine, including herself. It has now been a good three weeks since that, what should've been, a life changing discovery. Playing sports as usual or trying to gain a solid interest in becoming a well-known inventor in the world of warcraft. Everyone she knew was told in a rather convincing, not 'passionate', manner that she had found a dream to pursue. She even went as far as asking her teachers what to do to achieve that very dream. Obviously, the surprise at their belief had been evident, but only to her and her mirror. Lila personally believed she was a good actor, but always pretended she wasn't.

  Her thoughts ran around this way, which she normally wouldn't let happen, until the booming voice of Mr. Manori signaled the end of the exam, snapping her out of her thoughts. Surprise etched her face. How had she not heard the ten-, five-, and one-minute warnings? Brown eyes looked down at her paper, then to the teacher who was now coming down to collect the papers. She stretched then looked around for her two friends, Ella and Jackie. Ella was the first to make eye contact, looking back diagonally to find Lila, then smiled, and having one in return. Jackie seemed lost in the world of her pencil and pen, using the pen to color the slanted part of the pencil except for the lead.

  The teacher, who she had forgotten the name of, gave her a disapproving look then took her paper. The noise from the other students finally kicked in, some of them even screaming. The rest of her time was spent making up complaints about their last exam and using her hand to communicate with Ella.

  Just as predicted.