Hey, Are You Okay? Poem by Yvainee Lee

I hate when people pretend to be close to me,
While secretly wishing to win over me.
I hate it when people ask a thousand questions
Before I even sit down and relax.

I hate when they study for hours,
Then act like they didn't,
Pretending they don't know.
Drop the act.
Drop the behavior.
It's killing me.

Why are you all acting like this?
Why are you all killing me?
Why are you all betraying me?
You're so ruthless.
You're so jealous.
You're like monsters.

I know you didn't mean to.
I know you didn't want it this way.
But I also know it's because of this emotion—
Jealousy.

Because of the pressure.
Because of the competition.
Because of the whispers.

All I want is a good life.
All I want is youth to enjoy life.
All I want is happiness—
But jealousy is ruining it.

I imagined a world filled with friendship.
I imagined a world full of joy.
I imagined all the beautiful scenes,
But jealousy has destroyed them all.

Students start betraying each other.
Students start living in hell.
Students start destroying their dreams.

And not a single person bothers to ask—
Are you okay?

Why can't we stop this?
Why is it like this?
Is it meant to be this way?

Please...
Are you okay?
With this