Kapittel 8

Vanessa

I got my books faster than expected and arrived at my class on time with the cost of my legs shaking and lungs burning. Running from one building to another and taking stairs to the fourth floor was a sport since the building's elevator was only exclusive to instructors and Student Council Officers, per se the student handbook. Luckily, there wasn't much effort for an explanation to Mr. Boro, the math instructor who was already expecting me in his class. When the bell rang for the class to start, he introduced me to everyone so I only stood on the platform, in front of my new classmates while staring at the wall until he told me where to sit. I was assigned to sit at the back, beside a dark-haired ebony girl with the sleeves of her uniform rolled up to her shoulders and face wearing a welcoming smile.

"Hi! I'm Georgia but I prefer being called Georgie," she introduced herself cheerfully as she offered me her hand, her nails adorned with bright colors and cutesy designs. I clandestinely looked at Mr. Boro, who was now facing his back at us while writing the current class objectives on the board. I turned my attention back to her and took her hand for a handshake. I almost gasped when I noticed that her hands were very soft, like a child's hand. It was obvious that she'd never done any hard work using her hands, maybe for writing only.

"Nice to meet you," I whispered with a small smile on my face. This was it, a little start of forming a friendship in this school, I hope I could have one genuine friend in this school and some acquaintances at least. I couldn't count the guy I met earlier—Asher, as an acquaintance as we only met for a bit of time and hadn't asked him to be one. Hopefully, we'd meet again.

"I'm the vice-captain of the cheerleading squad, by the way," she added as we pull our hands away, it made me wonder if she was just sharing it or bragging about it or warning me not to do anything against her as she and her squad will pick on me. Though, I hope it was just sharing it.

"Mhmm-mm, I see." I slowly nodded before grabbing my newly bought mathematics book from my bag and turning my attention to Mr. Boro as he began to discuss the entire lesson.

As moments passed by, the lesson became a bit harder, and the explanation of the equation slowly became more complex to understand, but I managed to keep up with it by listening and looking at how the instructor presented the formula. The notes could be done later after he discussed the entire topic or when I get the entire picture. I was focused on every word coming out of his mouth when I felt a small tap on the sleeve of my uniform. I turned around and looked at my new seatmate, who was staring at me with confused eyes.

"Why aren't you taking notes?" Georgia asked, then turned her head back to the front and watched Mr. Boro scribble new sets of formulas and expressions on the board.

"I'm kind of busy understanding the process," I whispered, not taking my eyes off the board. "Taking notes can be done later."

"Are you sure? I mean, they're complex problems."

"Would I be panicking and taking notes if I don't understand them?" I retorted.

"Oh," I heard her made a small gasp. "Will you help me understand this later then?" she asked. I watched her hand burning as she wrote faster and faster, keeping up to Mr. Boro's pace. "Mr. Boro usually clears the entire board after he finished discussing the topic. I can lend you some notes if you haven't copied all in return," she added.

I almost narrowed my brows in confusion, thinking how she could be so trusting in my words. I mean, if I were her, I wouldn't believe the other person to understand a Math problem easily. Maybe she was not like how I thought of her when she shared that she was the vice-captain of the cheerleading team? Hm, who knew. But at least this situation would make it easier for me having an acquaintance, at least. I didn't want to graduate in this school a loner.

"There's no need to offer a trade you know," I whispered and she made a bewildered expression as if I was telling the truth.

I sighed and ripped a part of my notebook then took my sight off the blackboard for a second to write that it was for real and if she'd like, I could help her understand the lesson during lunchtime. I swiped it in her direction, my eyes back to the front, and took notes when Mr. Boro finished explaining. Much to my irritation, he began erasing the contents on the board. From my peripheral vision, several students groaned, others clenched their jaws and some sighed in disappointment. Georgia was right, he immediately erased what he wrote on the board after discussing. He then discussed having a quiz at the next meeting as the bell rang on time.

"Goodbye, class," Mr. Boro bid goodbye and he dashed out of the classroom in thin air and everyone began packing up and left the classroom, probably heading to the cafeteria for some snacks or to their next class.

I remained in the classroom, taking note of the upcoming quiz happening at the next meeting on my organizer. I tend to be forgetful of reminders and stuff that were about to come, so living without my organizer was another definition of death to me. As I finished making my notes, I noticed that there was a hand holding my shoulder all this time. I looked up and saw Georgia staring down at me with gratified eyes.

"Yes?" I asked and flipped my organizer close.

"About the note that you swiped..." she trailed off, seeming to be shy, and took her hand off my shoulder, like she touched something hot.

I stood up and began packing my things. "Oh, that? I meant it and it's actually no problem."

I heard her gasp audibly while I was in the middle of clearing my table. Was it really that surprising to agree on exchanging notes and studying together? "Really?! Thanks, totes! Can I have your number?" then a scratch paper was handed to me by her two fingers. "Here's my number and please text me which part of the cafeteria do we meet for lunch."

I took the offered scratch and stared at it, pretending that I was reading what was written. "Sure. Thanks." I then stepped away from my spot and put my chair back into place, Georgia then came to my side next, her high-heeled black school shoes creating clicking sounds on the shiny floor. We both simultaneously went out of the classroom and walked down the hall together.

"So..." I heard her trail off. "Where's your next class?" she asked, waving her silky, black hair. It was glistening and satiny even when under a shaded area and its color changed to chocolate brown when it got stricken by the sunrays.

I nonchalantly pulled my phone out from my skirt's pocket and turned it on to see my new wallpaper, which was a photograph of my daily class schedule handed by the registrar from earlier. "Physics in a room just by the floor above," I answered her question.

"Lucky you." She groaned but sounded more like a whine to me. "I got my next class in the other building. See ya!" she then took faster steps ahead of me and bid me goodbye, walking down the staircase.

I gave her a smile in return and a small wave. It seemed that my plan of making friends and going well and smoothly, like my next class schedule. A smooth route of mental torture.

"That's all and don't forget your assignment that should be passed next week. An essay about any small thing you like that you can relate to English Literature, to be passed on Thursday!" Mrs. Beloy, the English instructor reminded all of us as the others packed their bags and went out of the room. Meanwhile, I swiped my organizer from my left to the center then opened it and took notes about the assignment.

While writing, I heard the echoing sound of heels clicking on the ground and I heard Mrs. Beloy's voice that sounded like a 50's Marilyn Monroe-like ask: "Oh, Vanessa, why are you still here, my darling?"

I looked up at her with a small smile. "I'm just taking notes about the assignment, Mrs. Beloy," I answered and proceeded back to scribbling. Physics earlier was pretty much more draining than Math, good thing English was the last subject for this morning and my next stop was lunch at the cafeteria. I could finally regain my energy for the afternoon classes, at least. I thought I was going to die with all the mental exercise I had to do with the lectures earlier.

"A diligent student, I see." I saw her nod approvingly at the reflection of the lustrous table. "Very well, good luck on your first assignment in my class, and please do turn the lights off when you leave." She then went on towards the exit, and the exorbitantly clicking of heels echoed, reverberating to my ears until the door clicked close. She didn't even wait for me to say yes, I thought while writing.

I finished writing a few moments after she left. I packed my stuff like how I usually did and turned the lights out before leaving the classroom, following Mrs. Beloy's instructions. My English class happened in the Marshal building which was approximately beside the cafeteria so it wouldn't be another tiring walk or run like what happened earlier this morning. I pulled out my phone to text Georgia who I promised to meet with at lunch.

To: Georgia

Hey, it's me, Vanessa. Shall we meet at the cafeteria's 1st floor?

A beep then came in a nanosecond with Georgia's reply popping out.

From: Georgia

Hi, Van gurl! Am already here

From: Georgia

Am sitting by the spot near Santino's! See ya! xx

I sent her another text saying okay before heading down the staircase and walking to my next destination.

Though the cafeteria was spacious, it was also crowded. Every space was jam-packed with both students queueing on the counters, talking to the staff about their orders, while the others were sitting on table sets while eating food. I looked around, observing each group at a different table set in the area.

As per usual, I saw groups and cliques that I could easily identify and label. One table had students with greatly built bodies and balls on hand, they were talking, laughing, and having fun with each other, I could bet my money that they were the jock. The nerds were all noisy discussing light being a particle and wave with books on hand, probably for references, while completely forgetting their uneaten lunch, same with the geeks who were busy discussing about games, instead of science while stuffing fatty food in their mouths. There were also the trendy girls who were busy tapping on their phones and taking pictures of their veggie lunch before eating them.

I stopped my observation and went ahead to the Santino's stand to find Georgia but I saw no familiar face, so I fished out my phone in an attempt to call her when I heard a voice calling for my name: "Vanessa!"

I turned on my heels and finally, I found her. She was waving at me at an empty set with only her bag on top. That was unexpected. I initially thought that she'd be with her squad since that was how cheerleaders in my former school do during lunch time, gather at one table, and gossip. But nevermind. I shook my head, erasing my thoughts because looking at her with a small smile in response, and took steps towards her when a red fabric with letters engraved suddenly came into my sight as my nose crashed into a huge wall.

"Oof—" I groaned and touched my aching nose, taking a small step back. I apologized to the person I crashed into without looking at him. "I am so sorry. I wasn't looking at where I was walking." It seemed that I hurled myself into them too much that my nose hurt and my vision was a little swirly.

I heard a small chuckle along with a deep voice that said, "No, it's fine. I wasn't looking at where I was walking too."

Wait, that voice sounded kind of familiar. "Lazarus?" I said the name of my long-time friend in middle school as I slowly look up to see the face of the person I crashed into and much to my anticipation it was indeed Lazarus!

"Oh, you!" I puffed.

He just chuckled loudly and latched an arm around my shoulder in response. Immediately, the loud noise slowly dissipated, and the attention of half of the population in the area we were at was solely on us, much to my embarrassment and disdain. Everyone's eyes were staring at us like we were abominable creatures or aliens. Oh boy, it seemed to me that he was a school celebrity here.

He stopped laughing and turned his head, looking at the people around us who were staring at us with eyes wide, starstruck. "What are y'all looking at?" he asked and they immediately looked away, everything then went back to normal, awkwardly.

"Hey there, my homegirl." He shook me, tapping on my shoulder. I looked at him with a big smile on my face. I missed this guy, his optimistic and playful personality kept me up whenever I was down back in middle school. Just as soon as I'd see this guy, I always visualized there was a shining halo above his head because of how brightly he spoke and interacted with anyone, and I still did now, the only difference was, he was somehow emitting a playboy-like aura.

"It's been a long time," I pat his chest as I observed his features. He sure had changed a lot. His body was now hard and muscular, his face had gotten pretty much mature, and most of all...

"You've gotten taller," I told him what was in mind.

An arrogant smirk formed on his face as he moved his hand from my shoulder to my head and ruffled my hair like I'm so hair dog. "Who's the shorty now, huh?" he teased.

"¡Callate!" I told him to shut up and removed his large hand from my head.

"Oh, and you've got a little naughty too," he said with the same arrogant, amused smirk plastered on his face. I was about to rebuke him when a voice reverberated and echoed.

"Lazarus!" it was a guy wearing the same varsity jacket that Lazarus was wearing. There were other people with him wearing the same jacket too. I assume that this old friend of mine had gotten in a sports club since he played five sports, as far as I could remember. He excelled at soccer best of those five sports.

He looked at the person who called him and nodded. "I gotta go," he said, pulled me by the waist, and leaned down to kiss my cheek before running off to his peers. "See you around, sunshine!" I only watched his figure dissipate as he ran to his friends, shocked by what just happened.

"Oh. My. God!" I turned my head and almost lost my heart when I found Georgia beside me, staring in the direction where Lazarus left. "You know Lazarus Caballero?!" she asked me, facing me with bewilderment in her eyes. "And he kissed your cheek!" she added, pointing at my cheek. I could still feel the texture of his soft lips on my epidermis. He was definitely a playboy, our skinship back then was only limited to high fives. It was the first time he pulled me close and had his lips on my skin.

"Yeah, we used to go to the same middle school together," I nodded and touched the spot on my cheek where he kissed me.

"Don't wipe it off!" she said and grabbed my hand.

"Calm your nerves, I wasn't," I said and began looking around. "Where are we sitting?" I then asked.

"You two go to the same middle school?!" she ignored my question. "I am so jealous." She bit her lower lip and began letting out a muffled shriek, her hands making their way to my shoulder and waist that Lazarus had just recently touched as if she was scared and excited to touch my body parts at the same time.

"Yeah, he's a bit playful back then but he's gotten more playful now," I took a few steps backward and trailed off awkwardly, "I see that you got a big crush on him..."

"Well yeah? Like, he's the..." then she began listing all of Lazarus' achievements that I already had known of since middle school. "Who wouldn't have a crush on him?"

"I would," I smiled at her, "Now let's forget about him and study math okay?"

"You're no fun." Georgia pouted as we walked to the spot where she was sitting and I just laughed, nervously wondering if Lazarus unknowingly ruined my plan for having a genuine friend.

The rest of the day was half a bore and fun. The morning classes were a complete headache because the subjects were mathematics and science, the afternoon classes saved me though, the subjects were geography and history, subjects that I both love because they were partly memorizing and I didn't need to overthink to solve problems and hate because the teachers were pretty much boring— from my experience in my former school but fortunately, the instructors were unlike in the ones in the former school who were all talking and changing slides. They were teaching as if their life depended on it, which I find good.

After the bell rang, I went straight to the library to borrow some books. It had been my habit to borrow books after school and read them during free time or on weekends, especially when I realize I got too immersed in studying and reviewing, I read them as a form of a five-minute break. It was my only fun aside from doing my hobby, playing tennis as I didn't want to ruin my eyes by spending most of my time with my phone. After borrowing two books, I headed towards the parking lot since the gate's that way as well.

"Ooh... mhmm..."

I heard a small moan coming out of nowhere along with deep groans. Gosh, I was having encounters with sexually active students again. But it was kind of weird though, they were doing it in an open parking lot. The students I encountered earlier did it hidden and even had their friends cover for them. Looks like they were the likes of exhibitionists. Maybe they took advantage of the small parking space and decided to do the nasties in hiding. I shook my head and removed my rambling thoughts. Why should I care? People were free to do whatever they want, if they were caught then they were caught. Seeing them receive a penalty and doing community service wouldn't be a surprise. I continued sauntering to the walkway when the moans got louder, my peripheral vision seeing a pair of figures stacked together and humping. One had a familiar face, the other wasn't.

That person with the familiar face... wait—

I immediately covered my mouth when I realized who the other person was, particularly the guy. He had messy dark hair, sharp eyes that had grey irises, a wonderfully sculpted nose, and red, thin lips. That face... I knew it all too well.

It was Friso.

I walked faster and faster. Nothing to think of but just to get out of here, to be far away. Of all people that I could see fucking in an open space, why him?!

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