Silhouette of Yesterday

KEEP DISTANCE

A week of suspension was finally over. Dylan had prepared his things because he would be going to school tomorrow. He was behind from the lessons but he could easily catch up for sure.He just finished reading his lessons for tomorrow when a message popped up on his phone. It was a short message from Vince's mom telling him not to get close with his son. She was pleading to keep his distance from his son. His husband had eyes on the campus.He would sure be totally upset with Vince if that happened. Her message was intended as caution to protect her son.

Dylan's father drove him early to school. It was twenty minutes away from their house. While driving, he got a call from the hospital executive assistant, Ms. Tina, for an emergency meeting with the management. As Dylan unfastened his seat belt, he looked at his father.Without a word and eyes. Worry flashed across her face.

" Son, are you sure you want to go?" His father gently asked with concern. To people like him, the world was cruel that it might hit him so hard. He was certain that some kids in the school would be absurd. They would surely bully his son. But he knew his son was strong. "Focus on your study. Be good, my son.I got you. I love you so much." His father tapped his shoulder.

Dylan thanked him and smiled as he got out of the car. He paused for a minute at the main gate of the school, then took a deep breath.

"This is it!" he told to his self, sighed for relief.

The school was not strange but the people would be different. As he walked straight to the corridor, he steadily looked down. He heard murmurs as expected. He knew that all eyes were in him.

"Hey!" someone yelled at him but Dylan didn't seem to bother.

"I like you Vince." another one sarcastically imitated his voice that made the group of boys standing by the corridor laugh out loud. He looked around and it was Mark, one of Vince's friends, who led the group. Dylan knew that these boys wanted his attention but he didn't want to mess with them. They just wanted to step on his toes. He was searching for a familiar face but none of them was who he was looking for.

" Oh. I think someone is looking for Vince But sorry boy, he is not around the corner." Mark added with the intention to ridicule Dylan. The group chorused a loud and annoying laughter. But Dylan evaded his eyes from them and kept on heading towards his classroom.He was slightly offended. Despite the rudeness and mockery of the boys, he just responded with a smile at them. The world was not yet ready as his father said. Days would pass by and soon everyone would move forward.Hopefully. All he could do now was to follow his father's piece of advice- to be good to others even if others would seem so cruel.

Dylan continued making pace until he reached the classroom.He walked straight and sat on his chair near the window where he often saw Vince outside playing basketball in the court. Beautiful memories came rolling before his eyes. His face brightened up. But even inside the classroom, he heard whispers from his classmates talking about the undying issue he got involved in. He just closed his eyes and put his earphones on. Suddenly one of his classmates ,Eddie, son of a Pastor of the local church, gently tapped his back.

"My father said that you are a sinner. I am so sure you will be punished. Your spirit shall taste the wrath of heaven and you will be thrown to hell. That's why I am praying for you." he exclaimed with a matter of fact, such a condemnation of Dylan's coming out. Dylan shrugged off and bit his lips. His silence could be his best response. He held his peace.

Mr. Fred Asuncion, English teacher of the class, suddenly walked in. He had a medium height and good looking teacher wearing thick glasses that made him look nerd and innocent. Aside from his good physique, he had a brilliant mind . The students were always amazed with his teaching skills. He had finished his masters in a prestigious university in the metropolitan.He was Dylan and Vince's mentor during their debate competition. He was Vince's uncle, the sibling of Vince' s mother. Then Dylan realized that he might be the eyes of his brother in the school. The students stood and greeted their teacher with good morning.

The discussion was about the life and works of William Shakespeare,a renowned English play right ,actor and poet who composed around thirty seven plays for the theatre and over one hundred fifty poems.Dylan was suddenly asked by his teacher what lessons he can give from the one of the works of Shakespeare. He seemed surprised. He could hardly make a response because he was thinking about Vince. His mind was sailing outside. He was waiting to see a face at the basketball court that he used to stare at. But none of the boys playing outside was Vince. As he began to speak, the bell suddenly rang. Atlas, he was saved by the bell. The one hour class was over.

The time hastily moved. The students just finished the last class for the day. It was time to go home.

While Dylan was waiting for a ride, he saw Vince from his uncle's car, steadily sitting in the passenger seat. He remembered Vince often asked him to ride with him in his uncle's car going home. They were in the back seat of the car. But everything had changed. Things were different now. He noticed a bruise on Vince's cheek. The message he received from Vince's mom sunk in. Was that bruise caused by his dad when he hit the roof.He wished it was not. He was really sorry for Vince. He may not be able to speak to him personally but he whispered his apology and wished the wind would take that to him. If it was not because of his coming out, they were still friends. He held back his tears.