A Letter Away From You

Chapter 7

Some might say I'm crazy or too lunatic for a sixteen-year-old student, but I'm old enough to know the line between my blood's regular and boiling point. 

Water drops fall from the bottom of my two eyes whenever I reach the highest point. It shows how much of a crybaby I am.

I never thought I'd embrace the concept of rainy weather in my life. 

Each and every blob falling from the foamy cloud above in the heavens produces an orchestra that almost blocks all the sound in our house.

As a kid? I was not too fond of that sound. I hated that noise, that pitter-patter which resonated in the entirety of my earlobes.

But now? The euphoria from the thunderclaps, the pouring of water drops, is what keeps me sane. 

Now, I have a soft spot for rain. 

It covers my loneliness, the nights I cry myself to sleep. The nights I don't ever want to go back to.

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From the window I was leaning on, the breeze still thumped me even with it being closed. 

"Oh, I forgot to bring an umbrella." I tip-toed my voice to Jasmine.

How could I have ignored the forecast this morning? 

"It's okay," Jasmine replied. "I think Mom placed one in my bag pocket before I left." She searched her belongings as if how airport officials would interrogate their customers. 

We've already accepted the fact that we're going to be late, but showing up with wrinkly faces and soggy clothes? That lessens our chances of winning our professor's sympathy. 

My phone rang a mellow ringtone from inside my pocket. Apparently, I configured an alarm for each period I had, ensuring no late attendance.

One thirty. 

We're totally late.

Thirty minutes past one, yet still 300 meters away from our destination. If only I had the power to stop time and move Jasmine's buttocks together with mine to the gymnasium, I already had. 

But fairy tales and powers only stay in fictional books. I wondered maybe life itself is a story, a made-up one, and I'm just a minor character in it. Through the countless times I have read books and watched movies, I began to acknowledge how extra characters are just unwanted and are present for the sole purpose of spicing up the whole story. 

But do minor characters feel pain? Do they get lonely? Do they get betrayed?

Because I do. 

"Hey, are you okay?" Jasmine checked on me. 

I didn't know how or what to answer, for I was unsure myself. 

"I'm holding up fine Jas." I sneaked a smile. It's these type of days that gets me into a mood, a sorrowful one. 

But thank you Jasmine, I feel so much better after what you did.

A few minutes earlier

"Shh! Don't tease her, she might end up telling her long-distanced fiancé." Jill responded to Plebby. "Oh sorry, I forgot. He already ghosted her."

"Hey!" A clamor clapped the insides of the bus. It was Jasmine.

"Do you have nothing interesting going on with your lives that you have to interfere with others?" She schooled the girls in front.

"Watch your mouth, lady." Zeira yapped at our face.

"I wasn't informed that saying the truth now is considered interfering." Plebby butted in. "Is it our fault she let us read her letters?" 

All three of them cracked up. Is it that easy to laugh at the suffering of others?

"Take her place." Breaking the uneasy cackling of the group, Jasmine pounced back. "Try to take her place; she was left by someone she trusted, someone she leaned on for a very long time." I felt a cloud of comfort enfolding around my arms.

The rain began to spew an elated chime, melding well with the emotions being thrown in the bus.

"She lost people, loved ones whom she cherished and loved." 

Jas, sometimes I ponder why you continue to defend and stay with this good-for-nothing whiner. 

"If you haven't experienced what losing someone feels like, then zip your mouths." Jasmine continued. "Because the day that happens to you, it'll hurt like hell."

"Real hell." She emphasized the land of fire and brimstone. 

Plebby sat down while Zeira and Jillian stood in silence. The rain dashed its ripples towards the open pane in the corner. Jillian quickly shut the window with a splash of anger and resentment, as if blaming the weather.

"Still, even though I hate all of you," Jasmine opted to finish her short dialogue. "I still hope you won't ever get to experience that feeling." 

Grabbing my hand, Jasmine rushed to the back seat of the bus.

"I owe you one." I gave Jasmine a pat on the head. Sometimes, she may be a troublemaker, but she's done so much for me.

"You owe me a lot, dear." She chuckled at me.

"What a speech you gave there Jas." 

Life is hard, but God never failed me; he blessed me with an angel. That is, if he exists. 

After a few heated arguments and a mouthful of lectures, we finally arrived at the infamous building that students consider the burden to their college life. One thirty three.

Three minutes have passed since the start of class. 

Our last period finished late? That would be plausible, but our previous period was lunch break. If it weren't for the stupid internet connection back there in the library, I'd be able to finish my chapters much early.

I had an episode going here and stayed at the clinic for a bit? I think using my medical illness as a scapegoat isn't very ethical. Not that they believe in depression anyways. Even if I used that, Coach Goodwin could easily check the school's medical records to confirm. Professor relationships do suck.

"Do we just yolo?" I sighed at Jasmine. I was giving up, with my degree on the line. I bloomed the umbrella Jasmine handed me earlier. It became the shield to the raging weather, and hopefully become the same shield to our PE class.

"No can do." Confidence shone in Jasmine's eyes, assuring me that she had something in mind. "I have a plan Faye." 

"What is it?" I bombarded her with a question as to how we can avoid the failing grade our PE Coach bragged so much about. 

Why is he even proud of that?

"I'll tell you along the way; just follow me." Jasmine slowly walked away. Although not towards the entrance. To the back?

Are you sure about this? I didn't want to ask her though, and I had faith in her. 

Scening behind the building was the large soccer field housing the players our school takes pride in. 

"Oh, Faye Fowler's finally got her eyes on soccer players." Jasmine teased me. As if those mere boys could fill in the gap you left me, Uri. 

Again, you're visiting me in my mind. Where the hell did you go?

"Just keep going Jas." I gave her a stare. 

"Geez." Jasmine opened the door ahead, into what seems the locker room of the gymnasium. Red lockers, wooden stools and rowdy air vents above. Your typical gym lockers. 

"Didn't they bring their gym bags?" I looked at Jasmine, as we both knew this place is always crowded with reeking clothes and sacks every PE class. 

We hurried to the main gym to find out what had changed.

Latching the two enormous doors, I was startled at the sight rendering in front.

"I waited so long for this, Faye."