Inside a Nerd's Mind

What Goes Around, Comes Around

Who could be the person that texted me?

Who could be waiting for me at this early in the morning?

Is it a friend? Is it an enemy?

Is it those black-suited guys from the other day?

Were they behind what is happening to me and my mom?

We may never know.

I just ignored the message, returned my phone inside my pocket, and continued thinking whether to ask my mom or go to school.

And then the unknown number called.

I was hesitant to answer it as first but I thought, “What the heck. What could possibly go wrong?”

I put my phone in my ear and heard the voices that would haunt me every night.

“WHERE THE f**k ARE YOU?” the mysterious voice said. “WE’VE BEEN WAITING HERE FOR ALMOST 20 MINUTES!” It spoke.

I realized that it was Zachary who called me.

“I’m… still at home.” I said murmuring in shame.

“WHAT! THEN GET THE HELL OVER HERE! WE’RE GOING TO BE LATE.” He scolded.

I looked at my watch and it read “6:50 AM”.

I didn’t hesitate no more.

With Zachary already yelling at me, I took once last glance at my mom but didn’t even think about waking her up and talking to her.

I went outside the house and locked the door.

And there begins the longest journey of my life.

I only had 10 minutes to get into school and somewhat make it inside the classroom on time.

I wasn’t going to risk it and just walk through the valley of doom.

Oh hell, I ran and ran like there’s no tomorrow.

I ran like I was in the London Marathon.

I ran like a thousand katana-wielding ninjas were chasing me.

I ran like Jack Sparrow with a jar of dirt being chased by a band of pirates.

I ran like I was a deer being chased by a pack of wolves.

I ran like Bilbo Baggins excited for the journey of his lifetime.

I didn’t care how many pedestrians I bumped or how many people I angered on the way.

I just had one goal and that goal is all I ever focused on for the whole ten minutes.

I heard my phone ringing and kept ringing but I didn’t ever thought about answering it.

I cleared my mind, removed all the temptations, removed all my moralities, and equipped my focus.

I locked my mind with one goal and armed it with the instincts that it needed.

I armed my body with the agility and speed that it needed.

I controlled my breathing, slow but heavy, to preserve my endurance.

I chant “I am speed, faster than fast, quicker than quick. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” in my mind while running.

I locked my eyes only unto the road that I needed to go, ignoring all the delicious hotdog stands, creamy coffee shops, and juicy steaks that I can smell.

Oh boy, I was hungry like a wolf that I can eat a whole boar.

But I didn’t let that temptation get the better of me.

I only have one goal and that goal is my only goal.

And before you know it, I can already see my school in the distance.

“YES, I’M FINALLY HERE!” I expressed joyfully to myself.

I saw Zachary, Jeremy, and Kim at the gate both furious and worried about me.

Zachary was at his phone trying to call me repeatedly; Jeremy was looking at his watch every second or so; Kim was nervous as she was tapping her foot repeatedly and biting her nails.

When I got near to them, Zach saw me and was relieved, “FINALLY, YOU’RE HERE!”

Zach gave me a tap on my shoulder, Jeremy gave me a handshake, while Kim hugged me.

“We were worried about you.” She expressed as she was hugging me.

After a while, “Ewww… you smell horrible,” she teased sarcastically.

I didn’t notice it but I just realized that I was sweating so hard that it was like I just came out of the shower. I smelled myself and my armpits staaaaaaaank!

I must’ve had the expression “What am I going to do?” in my face that Kim said “Don’t worry, I got this.” with a smirk on her face. She brought out her tissues and tapped it on my face, neck, and even armpits to dry it out. She even brought out her strawberry perfume.

“What? Strawberry? I’ll be smelling like a girl.” I hesitated.

“It’s better than smelling like a rotten corpse.” She joked.

I shrugged; well, she did have a point.

She sprayed me with her perfume and I smelt like a basket of freshly picked strawberries.

“Are you guys done being a couple?!” Zachary was furious. “We’re going to be late.” He added.

I looked at my watch and it read “6:58 AM.”

OH, HELL NO! We only had two minutes to get to class.

But first I wondered if I really ran that fast that I only spent around 7 minutes running a 10-minute walk? Wow, I should join a marathon. But I didn’t really know if I was that fast since it was the first time I ran to school.

“What room are we in?” Jeremy asked Zachary while we were climbing the stairs.

“We’re... at… Room 303.” He said as he was reading our schedule. “That’s on… the third floor! Let’s go, let’s go!” He cheered.

We were already panting and me and Kim were getting left behind when we reached the second floor.

“Keep up, keep up! Let’s go, let’s go! Double time! We’re already there.” Zachary cheered when he saw us in the back. He sounds like a gym coach, maybe he should drop all his political dreams and just live the rest of his lives as a gym teacher, I reckon he’ll be good at that.

We were nearing the third floor when I bumped into an older gentleman on the stairs.

He was in the corner and I was running so fast that I didn’t see him.

He fell and everything that he was holding, including his books, fell on the floor.

I immediately apologized, “I’m sorry sir, I’m sorry, I didn’t see you.”

“It’s fine, we all make mistakes.” He said in a slow soothing voice.

I was going to crouch to help him pick up his things when Zachary said, “Leave him! He can pick those up himself. We’re already late!” He added as he walked away while staring at me.

I looked at him back strangely. I have done this man wrong and you just want me to leave him? That’s uncool.

Zachary and Jeremy proceeded to walk inside the room. Me and Kim decided to be left behind to help the poor guy.

“Thank you.” The guy smiled.

“You’re welcome, nice stranger!” Kim replied enthusiastically as ever.

“You guys are nice, not unlike your friend there.” He whined.

“Oh, I apologize for him. He’s just like that sometimes.” I joked.

“You know, just because a person has been doing something forever, it doesn’t mean they can’t change it anymore.” He advised.

Wow, that was a deep lesson from him. I was surprised by what he said and nodded.

Because we were already getting late and I was getting shy, “Uhh… we better get going, we’re already late for class.” I said.

“Sure, kiddo.” He responded. “Do you want me to walk with you?” He offered.

“Uhh… no, thank you.” I murmured as I waved my hand to indicate rejection.

He nodded and I nodded back.

We walked past him and searched for the room we needed to be in.

“301, 302, Ah! 303.” I said to myself.

I looked at my watch and it showed that we were already 5 minutes late.

“Ah, f**k!” I said to myself.

I looked at Kim who was also nervous and didn’t know what to do or say to the teacher.

I breathed deep and hard.

“Are you ready?” I asked Kim.

She nodded while she was shaking.

I opened the door and all I saw everyone staring at me. They were all seated neatly and properly on their chairs. I looked around the room and didn’t saw someone standing or any indication that they were the teacher.

“Ethan, here! Hurry!” Zach said at the back of the room while raising his hand.

Zach and Jeremy were already seated at the back with 2 empty chairs beside them.

I walked hastily towards the back but still careful not to bump into any more people.

“We’re lucky.” Zach was relieved. “It looks like we aren’t the only ones running late.” He added.

“Here guys, we saved these seats for you.” Jeremy said.

“Thank you.” I said to Jeremy as we were sitting on the chairs.

“Whew!” He said as he felt relieved. “This morning was crazy and we haven’t even started yet.” He uttered.

“Yeah, it felt like I just ran in a marathon earlier.” I chuckled.

“We’re glad you were able to come.” Kim was pleased.

“Yeah, we almost thought you were going to be absent – on the first day of school.” Jeremy said.

“I kept calling you over and over, you had us all worried.” Zach mentioned.

“Thank you, guys. I appreciated it when you waited for me even though I was late already.” I smiled. “I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me.” I added.

My heart was soft for what they all have said. It was relieving to have friends that cares for you, thinks of you, and waits for you.

I was going to get teary-eyed when the door immediately opened.

It was already 7:07 AM in the clock and the teacher was running 7 minutes late. Since there were no more chairs remaining, we expected that this could be our teacher.

Everyone in the class stood up as a sign of respect and to greet the teacher even though they haven’t even entered the room.

The door was wide opened and there was no glimpse of who opened it.

We were just waiting while standing.

Everyone had their eyes locked on the door.

And behold, a man entered.

I first looked on the ground then I took notice of his shoes.

I noticed that he was wearing black leather shoes and black socks.

He was also wearing brown trousers buckled with a black belt. His shirt was a navy button-up polo.

His clothes were well-ironed and properly worn.

“Wow! This guy must have neat as his personality.” Jeremy chuckled as we all did afterwards.

“Wait a minute.” I thought to myself.

His clothes were familiar. Where have I seen him before?

And I looked at his face.

I realized… he was the gentleman that I bumped into on the stairs.

“Oh, I’m definitely f****d up!” Zachary exclaimed worriedly.