A Letter Away From You

Chapter 8

When you wake up, take note of every scene and setting you see in your dream.

A line Dad always says. I then turn every scene into sentences, sentences into paragraphs, which eventually shaped the stories people r******w. 

Never in my life had I thought that this would be my passion. I loved to indulge myself in the lives of each character I read in books and novels. My world rotated around what I thought I could see through their eyes. Their lives sculpted me as if they were real. 

Everything I had done led me to this. A moment out of a thousand I have already experienced. 

Although my heart longed for something, someone different from this very situation. Just when I thought it was you, but it could never be you.

"I waited so long for this, Faye." 

My ears grew out of shape first, astounded by the context of the question yelled at me. Rather than wondering why the gym's as empty as daylight, I was yearning as to whose unfamiliar voice called my name. I stole a glance at the composed lady beside me, Jasmine. She looked baffled herself.

"Hey, don't just stand there." Jasmine grabbed the top of my arm, waving it. "Someone is calling you."

Chairs evened out with almost 30 people sitting on them. Students? Professors? I couldn't discern whether of the two. My blurry vision could only perceive what seems to be a class inside the gym. 

"Faye!"A peculiar face from afar shrieked my name once again as if talking to someone from another island. 

"Did we follow the wrong schedule?" Jasmine asked me while hushing towards the crowd.

"Of course." I replied. "We've been having PE classes for the whole semester on Thursdays."

Reaching for my bag, I clawed my mobile phone out of the grasps of my school papers and books. 

"I's definitely a Thursday." I showed Jasmine the date through my phone.

Closing in the vicinity of the miniature classroom, I quickly noticed a whiteboard with lines drawn in it. Shapes as well? Is this a chemistry class?

Who in their right mind would hold a science lecture in the middle of  Thursdays wherein the school gym is mostly occupied? Too young to be a professor. I scrutinized the figure of the gents before me.

The women can be quickly identified through the differences in their costumes, as I like to say. Every day can be a wash day for the students, wearing every apparel available from denim jeans, skirts to dresses, and even gowns if you feel like it. On the other hand, the professors have it really really hard. The same collared polo with black pencil skirts and closed shoes every single day. Do they even wash their clothes? I'm sure some of them just recycle and wear them the next day. That's what I'd do if I were to be in their situation.

The ladies in front of me were very free on their clothing, thus telling me we're just schoolmates.

"Uhm excuse me, did you call for me?" I lowered my head slightly down, as all faces were leaned towards me.

"Oh yes, I did." The young lad retorted me with kind words. "By the way, I'm Dean." He extended his hands, expecting a handshake.

My hand did the same, and so did Jasmine's. "You can call me professor if you want to, but I disapprove using formalities outside of class." Dean guaranteed me.

Did he say a professor? I was ashamed of myself to describe him as someone my peer. Appearances do a lot these days, it can lead you to dead ends. That is why I like to talk with people's attitudes, rather than what they register through their impressions. It makes a difference.

"If you're wondering why we're here, and if who we are," Dean went back to his original position in front, pointing to the very top of the whiteboard. Written there was "Campus Theater Club Weekly Meeting".

"We are the ones handling the theater plays of the school." He continued.

I just nodded, confused as to what my presence serves here. Just right then I noticed some recognizable words and names encircled on the board. At first, what I thought was DNA strands or chemical equations, turned out to be concept maps based on something. It only led me to one conclusion, listed there were scenes from one of my books.

Bewildered, I asked the group, "Is that my--" 

"Yes, I understand you might be quite surprised by what you see here, especially after reading some stuff from the whiteboard." Dean added a counterstatement to my question, predicting what I'd ask. Of course, I'm surprised.

"We're a big fan of your works, Faye." A young boy from the crowd stood with flattery. Lower level students to college students were gathered here. This club truly is hard-working when it comes to scouting its actors.

"We hope we can use your work for this year's film festival." A senior raised her own concern from a few rows behind the lad before. How can I turn down your proposal after already seeing your preparation?

Props are scattered everywhere, and the planning seems to have already wrapped up. The only missing piece to this is my "Yes." What if I'd say "No"? 

Nah, I'm not that kind of a person.

I hoped to ask for Jasmine's take on this situation, but she was nowhere to be found. 

Oh, typical Jasmine. Inclining her head on the table, with a comfortable sleeping position, Jasmine dozed off how a sloth would take their day-offs. 

"Before anything else, why's the school gym empty?" I almost forgot, we were here for the class we rushed so fast for. 

"About your PE coach, don't worry." Dean winked at me. "I took care of him, bribed him." Am I supposed to feel worried? Because now I'm relieved I won't receive that failing grade.

"The whiteboard really adds to the aesthetics." Giving a compliment might increase their morale.

"Let's cut to the chase, Miss Faye." Dean's tone became a tad severe. "Do you accept our request to use your book for our play?"

I write books and stories so that people can read them. But I don't just write to please the readers' hunger for content; it also becomes a way to vent out my inner thoughts. Having people bring my stories to life is a new one for me. I'm not sure how to respond to this. I might regret it later. 

"I accept your proposal, but only under one condition."