A Letter Away From You

Chapter 4

“You’re being aloof all of a sudden.” Jasmine places her hand over mine. And whose fault is that, huh?

Four years' worth of heartbreak, sorrow, and even a little bit of joy bombarded me in a matter of only a few minutes. Remembering the things in the past is one thing; reminiscing them is another.

The stillness in the room poked a hole up in my head, reminding me there are doors in my mind I don’t want to open. Especially those doors that lead to you.

“Yeah, he’s still somewhere in my mind.” I finally replied, putting an end to Jasmine’s worry. “I’ve done everything I could.”

“Every single little thing I could possibly do.” Something was pulsating on my chest. No, it was from inside. A throbbing sensation that tells me my heart was aching. It still does, until now. Although my eyes were dry as a desert. Only to think back of the days I would lose my voice, wet the bedsheets in my room just because I vented it all out.

I thought I shed myself for being a crybaby because now I could fight my own battles and move on. However, it was just simply because there were no tears left to cry.

The depressed look I had acted as a magnet, pulling Jasmine beside me. Although I wasn’t really depressed.

“I’m always here for you.” Playing with my hair, her words were enough to cloud all the thoughts I had been keeping inside me. “Even at the times when I’m not beside you, even at the times when I can’t talk to you, when it gets tough—”

Her arms enveloped around me, the warmth felt like home. “Do know that I will still be there for you, I’ll still reach out to you.”

“Because that’s what friends do, right?” She muttered, with dazzle on her face. From my left ear, her words altered the unusual beating of my heart.  

A friend. At first, I never thought that we would be friends Jas. You perfectly fitted the description of the mean, sexy, and antagonistic girls I would watch in movies. Button up long sleeves with knotted ends, paired with above the knee bright skirts, and white socks. Your shoes even yelled in the same tone. Like who wears high heels in school?

But as what they say, don’t judge the book by its cover. That’s exactly what I did, yet you proved me wrong. Behind my depiction of a malevolent lady, was someone pure at heart. I’m fortunate to have you Jas.

“Yes.” I nodded at her.

”Come on, we’ve got class.” I shook off my barren look, shifting to a merry one. Grabbing my stuff, I took a glance at the electronic wall clock with the numbers one and twenty-five in it. 1:25 P.M.

I took a deep breath, not in relief because of the five-minute interval before my next period. But to put myself together for the long stretch we’re about to marathon.

“Let’s go Jas!” My adrenaline rush propelled Jasmine out of her seat.

“Like right now?” She replied in disbelief. I pointed my index finger to the same wall clock which knocked me out of my extended leisure. My eyes could notice the horror in Jasmine’s eyes, as what a child’s face would make out when seeing a ghost.

There are many things in college spookier than ghosts and zombies: deadlines, stern principals, totally complex exams which look pretty impossible to pass, and many more. But the scariest of them all? PE Class.

We marched to the exit, looking like soldiers in a war, with the exception of guns. Running wasn’t an option, since neither of us wanted to startle the library like before.

“Pssst.” A call from behind alerted us. “Have a good day, young folks.” It turned out to be Miss Hudgens, the same librarian who scolded our buttocks just a little while ago.

“Don’t cause trouble again.” She winked at us.

We stomped our brakes, as if we were not in a hurry.

“You think we’re troub---” Jasmine, please don’t make this any harder. I lowered Jasmine’s head and also bowed mine in silence. The puny librarian then lifted her eyebrows at Jasmine. “Did you say something dear?”

“She was talking to me miss, sorry for the misunderstanding.” I bulged my eyes at the librarian, hoping my silly excuse would pass.

“Oh okay, you can now go.” She replied peacefully. My body took a 180-degree turn, as well as  Jasmine’s, and hurried to the doors.

“Let’s not get ourselves expelled, okay?” I sighed at her, with the thought of what I would lose if I were to be expelled. “Sorry, she got on my nerves.” She just giggled.

One twenty-six. Shoot, we wasted so much time on that encounter. Usain Bolt could run at least 6 kilometers in a span of four minutes, so I don’t see the reason why we can’t reach the gymnasium just a mere 500 meters away from us. This was like in those TV shows, horse racing shows. Except we’re the horses, and not the riders.

At this moment, I felt like we were horse #7. The underdogs. The type in races in which would start the race a bit late than the others, but eventually win in the end.

We jogged from hallway to hallway, staircase to staircase, just to avoid getting a “late” in the attendance. This minor class was a terror since the first day. It was our demanding teacher who made it the living hell it wasn’t supposed to be. A simple “late” would mean a failing grade, unless your excuse equates to a life and death situation. I hate that class.

“I really like your latest book.”

“Does Hilt end up with Risbane?”

“Miss Faye, can you sign my book?”

While racing at the cost of our marks, each classroom had their own requests. Even while running, my ears could capture their faint chatter. I’m sorry I can’t attend to all of you now. I’m not that good-looking, but my books fill in the gaps in my reputation in school.

“Finally, we’re at the front entrance.” Jasmine blurted at me. We caught our breaths, with hands pressing on our knees.

“Jas, what now?” I agonized. “We’re just at the entrance of the same building, the gymnasium's still a few meters away.”

Left with no hope, a familiar sound honked at us. It was the yellow school bus.

“What a perfect timing!” Jasmine chuckled at me.

But as the bus was drawing closer, a sight I definitely loathe appeared in front of me. Even worse, inside the school bus.

“Want a ride, four-eyed brainiac?”