The Worth of Taking a Risk

The Start In Recent Time

CATALINA’S POINT OF VIEW

So, I will be busy starting from now for the student council election. Yes! After a week, I need to leave my beloved position as student council president. I am happy but also sad is more dominant because I have this position for 6 years, so it’s been a part of my life as a student.

“Cat-Cat!” I know who’s this person is because he is the only one that calls me Cat-Cat. I looked behind me and saw that it was Stetson running towards where I am.

“Good morning Cat-Cat.” He said while smiling. I smiled back at him and we started walking again.

“Good morning Stets! By the way, you’re so early today.” I said while looking at my wristwatch. 

“Well, this will be our last week as a student council so I want to enjoy it with you guys. Since we will be busy preparing the election, I want it to be the last bonding we will have as a student council inside our room.” He said that made me emotional suddenly. Ah! I hate it, every time I hear about leaving the student council I can’t help but get so emotional. I am trying my best to hold back my tears when Stetson handed me his handkerchief.

“Stop crying Cat-Cat, we still a week to enjoy our role as student council officers. I am also sad even though I’ve only been with you for more than 3 months.” He said while smiling at me. I accepted his handkerchief and wipe my tears.

“I will wash it first before giving it back to you. Thank you.” I said and he just nods at me. Unusual stuff, because while we are heading towards the student council room we are so quiet unlike before even though we are talking the same thing over again, we still talk about it while on our way. Maybe, he is also reminiscing and enjoying all the moments we have in this area.

“Cat-Cat, do you remember our intramurals?” He suddenly asked out of nowhere while looking at the volleyball field.

“Are you referring to that time when you play at the tournament for me? Because you want to tell you fangirls that it’s not my fault that you are in the student council and not able to play? Are you referring to that time?” I asked teasing him. HAHAHA, he gets so embarrassed every time we mention that time. He will always tell us, “I only done that for the sake of Ms. Cat” while his ears are so red and looking at the floor! That was so, so cute of his!

“NO! HAHAHA, I am not referring to that! I am referring to that time when you are waking me up and I unconsciously pulled you towards me.” He said while laughing so hard. Oh! I remember that! After that day, he even didn’t show up in the student council room for 2 weeks straight! So when there’s an upcoming event and we need to hold a meeting that’s when he shows up and he is so uncomfortable all thru out the meeting, and after the meeting ended he immediately blast off outside the room! Up to now, it’s still a mystery for me how did he overcome the embarrassment up to the point that he is making fun of it now!

“Oh, yes! How could I forget about that! You were so embarrassed at that time, and you didn’t show up in the student council room for about 2 weeks! And whenever we have a meeting I can see your uncomfortable actions! Geez! That is so ridiculous!” I said then laughed! We are having our momentum when someone covers my eyes from behind. 

“Hey, who are you?!” I said while holding this person’s hand. Geez! Who’s this?

“Okay, remove your hands already, you are about to kill my eyes,” I said, and thank goodness that person removes his hands. I looked behind me, but since my vision is still blurry I can’t see this guy’s face. After a few seconds, my vision starts to get better, and saw that it was Liam. The heck is wrong with this guy? And why the hell is here?

“LIAM? YOU LITTLE s**t!” I said to him then slapped his shoulder but it’s not a mean slap, so yeah!

“Ah, ah, where did you get that word. By the way, I need to tell you something.” He said and he suddenly became serious. I waited for him to talk because it seems to be a serious one, which is so rare for him.

“Ah, I just want to tell you that you truly resemble Jerry.” He said then started running away. I was about to chase him but he runs so fast. Geez! He just wasted his time taking walking in this area only for teasing me! Unbelievable!

“Who’s that?” Stetson asked referring to Liam. I laughed first before answering him and we started walking again.

“Ah, that’s Liam Kwon a good friend of mine,” I said while smiling.

“So he’s a literature student? How nice!” He said that made me laughed so hard! 

“Oh my goodness what are you saying? He’s not a literature student! Didn’t you see his uniform it’s the same one as mine, which means he is also from the Economics department!” I said while laughing. I looked at him and he seems bothered over something.

“What’s wrong?” I asked

“If he’s also from the Economics Department then he is a miles away from here.” He said sounded as if he can’t believe how ridiculous Liam is.

“I know right! He just went here to tease me, what an imbecile!” I said and walk ahead of him and he started following me. As we reached the student council room, I was so surprised because they are here already and they are cleaning the whole room.

“Oh, what’s happening here?” I asked as I enter the room. They stop working and looked at me.

“Ah, we just want to clean this whole room. Since this will be our last week, we just want to show that we love this room and our position as student council officers. Also, we want to decrease your work here, we all know that before and after you start your paper works you are cleaning the whole room first.” Mary said that touched my heart so much. I smiled at them and commanded them to sit down first.

“Okay, haha. Wow! Time flies so fast, who would have known that it’s already been 6 years! We are all graduating students now!” I paused for a while because I can feel that I am starting to get emotional.

“First of all, I am so thankful because within these past 6 years you are the officers that stay with me until the end. Even though in the first year of our term, we didn’t jive well and we always argue here, especially Mary and Jun.” I said that made them laughed. I can’t stop myself anymore from getting emotional so I let my tears flow.

“But, even though we argue a lot before, even though we didn’t so well before look at us right now treating each other like we are real siblings! Oh my god, I’m sorry for being a cry baby.” I said then wiped my tears. I looked at them and saw that they are also getting emotional.

“Geez! HAHAHA, even though my duties here in student council are endless, even though I spend most of my time sitting here on my chair doing all the paper works, and you tell me that I didn’t enjoy my time as a high school student? Oh, fools you are all wrong about that!” I said while my tears are still flowing. I am smiling in front of them but my tears are flowing like a river, it’s kinda’ weird.

“I am the happiest person there is every time I am here sitting with you guys here while you are so noisy and loud! I am so happy every time I hear Mary pestering Jun and vice versa! I am so happy every time I hear the loud music of our representatives! The English pop songs from Rose, the anime soundtracks from Haruto, the k-pop songs from Liana, and the mix of all genres from Rick! I love them all and it’s making me genuinely happy. Thank you so much guys for giving me this happiness and unforgettable moment in my life, thank you!” I said and bowed in front of them. They also stand from their seat and bow at me. That day was so emotional and I know that in the last week in that room our hearts became more closer. 

Days have passed after that day, the day of the election has arrived. I was so nervous right now because after a few minutes I will officially announce the newest member of the student council. This will also be the last time that I will lead an event in this school. Ah! I am getting emotional, s**t!

“Cat, the result is ready,” Jun told me and handed over a piece of paper that contains the newest members of the student council. After I announced this, and give my last speech for this school I will become an ordinary economic student. 

“Cat, the teacher told me that it’s time for the announcement,” Mary said so I just nod at her and started heading towards the stage. While getting nearer and nearer to the center of this stage I can feel that every step I am taking is getting heavier.

“Alright settle down everyone,” I said and I can hear that my voice is trembling. I looked beside me to see my officers and they are all encouraging me, except Mary she is starting to get emotional while looking at me taking my last stand. I let out a heavy sigh first before speaking again.

“Hi everyone! Thank you for participating in the election for the student council this year. I am your student council president Catalina Cruzes from the economic department. Well, after I announced this it will be my last time saying that.” I said then smiled at them.

“Well, I don’t want to get emotional here so let’s proceed on announcing our representatives first. Okay, for the 7th-grade representative she is from 7A, please welcome your newest 7th-grade representative, Ms. Deborah Yuu.” I said and everyone welcomed her with a round of applause.

“Moving forward.” The ceremony continues until I announced the newest student council president. After giving her the stage, I immediately leave and run towards my members. 

“Shhh, stop crying Cat,” Mary said but she is also crying. Everyone hugged me so tight, even though the hug was so tight I didn’t suffocate but instead, I can feel the warmth more.

“Job well done Ms. Cruzes. Job well done!” Jun said and hugged me. I never thought that our bonding is as deep as this. I love them all like my real siblings.

“Job well done Ms. Catalina.” A familiar voice greeted me from behind us so I immediately check who is it and saw that it was the president of this school.

“Thank you, sir,” I said and bowed at him. I thought he will just pass us by but he patted our heads that made us emotional more.

“This will be the very last day that you will call yourself as a student council officers, but this past 6 years this school is so well-organized because of your efforts my dear student council officers, especially because of you, the former president. Job well done, honestly speaking here you guys are one of the greatest team of the student council we ever had.” He said then he patted our heads once again before leaving. After that, we decided to head back to the student council room to get the things we leave there because by tomorrow the new student council members will start to reside here. As we reached the student council room, no one is speaking and that is quite rare if this is just a normal day for each of us but this is not a normal day for us because this is the very last day we will step in this room. While getting all my things I can’t help but get emotional again. I was busy fixing my things when I heard a loud sniffing from my back.

“WAAAH! I don’t want to leave this room!” Mary said while crying so hard. I immediately head towards her to help her calm. While comforting her, I, myself is getting more emotional than earlier.

“You know guys since this will be the last day we can call ourselves as student council officers, I want to tell you that even though I feel like I am not any use here, I just want to tell you guys that I love you all and I am giving all the best thing I can do to contribute something here,” Haruto said while crying. I can’t stop myself from crying anymore so I let go of the tears that I am holding back.

“Oh my god! Haruto, I will miss your anime songs.” I said while sniffing. 

“Hey, there’s no need to get emotional right? We can still see each other again.” Jun said but he is also crying. After that crying session, we head back to get our things, a few minutes later I am done with my things so as they.

“So, I guess this will be goodbye for this room?” I said while smiling at them. I saw them are starting to get emotional again. I clear my throat to stop myself from getting emotional again and started the farewell ceremony as a student council. Each year ever since I started my secondary schooling here, I witnessed this farewell party of my former colleagues here in the student council. I never thought that I will lead this ceremony for the last time while saying goodbye to my sisters and brothers here in the student council.

“Hands-on your heart!” I shouted and they immediately oblige.

“After 6 years of my service here in student council, the time of saying goodbye has arrived,” I said and looked in front of the student council’s flag.

“We hope we became efficient and good officers, we are also hoping for the upcoming generations of student council will give their best and all their efforts to serve this school!” We said in chorus and bow in front of the flag. After that ceremony, I locked the door and we head towards the president’s room. It may be our goodbyes in terms of the student council, but I know that our friendship will remain for eternity.