A few weeks had passed since Olivia confirmed her departure from America's Got Talent . At first, she seemed completely devastated, but now it looked like she had found a new obsession: creating her own club at the university. The problem was that she didn't even know what kind of club she wanted to form. The only thing clear to her was that she needed more interested students and, above all, a professor willing to sponsor it.
"A club?" I asked as we walked toward the library. "What exactly?"
Olivia made a vague gesture with her hands, as if trying to capture an invisible idea in the air.
"That's what I'm trying to decide. It could be something innovative, like a futuristic medical technology club or… I don't know, maybe something related to electronic music. Or even an extravagant fashion club! The point is, it has to be epic."
Lindsay raised an eyebrow, visibly skeptical.
"Olivia, you only have a week left before classes end. Plus, we're in the middle of final exams. I don't think you'll have enough time to recruit members and find a professor."
Olivia huffed, crossing her arms.
"I know, I know. But that doesn't mean I can't plan it for next term. By then, we'll officially be second-year students. And who knows, maybe I can convince some new students to join." She smiled mischievously, as if she already had some secret plan in mind.
Lindsay and I exchanged an amused glance. We knew that when Olivia put on that expression, it meant trouble… or at least something unexpected.
We spent several hours in the library reviewing notes and solving practice problems. At one point, while we were going over a complicated clinical case about a patient with multiple autoimmune diseases, Olivia leaned toward us with a mischievous smile.
"Did you know there's a study suggesting that patients with autoimmune diseases can benefit from therapies based on meditation and anti-inflammatory diets?" she said, as if she had just discovered the cure for all diseases.
Lindsay arched an eyebrow.
"Olivia, this isn't yoga or a nutrition class. We're talking about a real clinical case."
"Exactly," Olivia replied, not losing her enthusiasm. "But why not combine both? Imagine: a holistic approach where traditional medicine blends with alternative practices. It would be revolutionary."
I shook my head, though I couldn't help but smile.
"Only you could turn a lupus case into a discussion about mindfulness."
"Details, details," Olivia retorted, brushing it off. "I'm just saying you should consider it. Maybe it's the future of medicine."
I rolled my eyes but kept reading my notes. Despite her eccentricity, Olivia always managed to make us laugh, even in the most serious moments.
As the afternoon began to fade, we decided to take a break and head to a nearby café. It was one of those cozy places where they always served excellent coffee and delicious pastries. As we walked, Lindsay brought up the topic of summer vacation.
"What are we going to do during the summer?" she asked, adjusting her scarf around her neck.
Olivia responded immediately, as if she had been waiting for this question.
"Well, obviously I need to work on my club idea. But I also want to travel a bit. Maybe I'll visit Europe. Or perhaps I'll stay here and organize themed parties. How about a costume party inspired by classic movies?"
Lindsay laughed.
"You know we always end up getting dragged into your crazy plans, right?"
"Exactly," Olivia said, winking at us. "That's why you two are my best friends."
I looked at Lindsay, who seemed thoughtful.
"I still haven't decided," she admitted. "I guess it depends on how things go after exams. But I definitely want to spend time with my family before returning to campus."
"And let's not forget birthdays," Olivia added enthusiastically. "Lindsay's is in July, and mine is in August. So we'll have to celebrate in style."
Lindsay smiled.
"I hope you're not planning anything too extravagant, Olivia."
"Too extravagant, huh?" Olivia pretended to look horrified. "Just something modest and memorable. Maybe a party at my family's private beach, with string lights, live music, and a cake inspired by the cosmos. Something that reflects our unique personalities."
"Please tell me you're joking," I muttered, though I knew she probably wasn't.
Olivia shrugged, smiling innocently.
"We'll see. The important thing is that we celebrate together. After all, we're a team."
After a few seconds of silence, Lindsay proposed something unexpected.
"What if this summer we do something together? You know, the three of us. Maybe we could visit Olivia's family. We've never met her parents."
Olivia's eyes widened in surprise.
"Visit my parents? Well, that would certainly be an experience. My parents are… let's just say they have a lot of charisma. My mom is the creative mind behind the interior design of all our hotels; she's always looking for new ways to make each place unique. And my dad is passionate about business, especially when it comes to expanding the chain. He's always closing deals or testing new ideas to improve the guest experience. But I'm sure they'll love you."
I nodded thoughtfully.
"Sounds good. It would be a great opportunity to meet them and spend time together before the next term starts."
Olivia grinned widely.
"Perfect. I promise it'll be epic. My mom will cook amazing dishes, and my dad will probably take us for a ride in one of the sports cars from his personal collection. Plus, we can stay at one of our most exclusive hotels. It'll be like a mini luxury vacation."
Lindsay and I exchanged an amused glance.
As we sipped our coffee at the café, I reflected on how much we had changed since starting university. We had faced challenges together, learned valuable lessons, and despite everything, remained inseparable. Even with external pressures, like the arranged engagement between Lindsay and me, we had managed to keep our friendship intact.
Olivia, as always, was the glue that held us together. Her boundless energy and constant creativity were contagious, and although her ideas were sometimes over-the-top, she always managed to make us laugh and remind us how important we were to each other.
"Well," Olivia said, raising her coffee cup. "I propose a toast. To surviving this term, to upcoming birthdays, and to all the adventures that await us."
We clinked our cups, sharing a knowing smile.