2 P A R T 1
[P R O L O G U E]
“I said ‘Let’s stay as friends’” He mentioned it again. How many times have I heard this?
“And I said ‘I like you’” having a conversation like this to an old friend here in Batanes is not really something to be happy about.
“should we compromise our friendship for that kind of ‘like’ you’re saying?” ‘Yes’. I’ve always wanted to say ‘Yes’ even after rejecting me twice.
“Let’s not see each other. Not as friends. Not even as someone we once used to know.”
“You think it’s easy to let our 15 years of friendship go?” he asked like I didn’t even think of the consequences of what I just said.
“and you think it wouldn’t be hard to have you as a friend knowing that I like you?”
“Charlie! –”
“Charisse Lee. Call me by my name. and Good bye Warren Gage” And here we are again. The two of us facing each other. Not letting our gaze go of each other’s eyes. Waiting for someone to leave and give up. But not me. Not this time. I’ve always been the one to walk away after this kind of conversation, and taking one step away from him is like taking two steps back to his arms again. So, I waited, because I know that if he’s the one to decide, then there’s no taking back.
Why are we even in this situation? How did we end up like this? It was never my intention to be close to him. But he’s the one who insisted of being friends. I remember now! It was all thanks to Mrs. Cortez. Our English Literature teacher and class adviser.
15 Years ago
“Please introduce yourself in front of the class” The teacher said with all smiles as if I’m someone she knew before. I just ignored it and started walking to the platform and face the people I’ll be with for I have no idea how long. This has been my 5th school now all thanks to my father whose job requires hopping from one place to another. And being the only daughter of a single father family, I really have no choice but to follow him. He’s my dad after all.
“Hi, I’m Charisse Lee, Nice to meet you all” – ‘I guess?’ I wanted to add but I just shrugged and looked at everyone’s faces. It’s not like I’ll remember them anyways. I’m sure that we’ll just have to transfer again after a year here in Palawan, Philippines.
“Ms. Lee here is the daughter of a famous calligrapher in South Korea. We’ve discussed some of his works before if you can still remember him--” Calligrapher? Technically, my father is a graphic artist. He’s not into letters and words. He’s more of a colorful shade kind of guy. Until he met my mom who is a novelist. Since then, he started –
“Mrs. Cortez, the new student is about to doze off because of your long introduction of her autobiography” Someone interrupted our teacher’s monologue and my daydreaming, and everyone in the class started to laugh. I searched for the owner of that voice and I saw a guy with a sly smile on his face, sitting at the corner of the room next to the window and he doesn’t have any seatmate. Please tell me that I will not seat beside --.
“Mr. Warren Gage Richards, thank you for interrupting my monologue again.” The teacher told the guy like it’s a repetitive kind of situation in the class. Then, she faced me “you can sit next to him. He’s looks sly but he’s nice after all.” She says as she moves her hand pointing at the guy’s location. I have no choice but to go where she wants me to.
As I sat down to my chair, the guy was looking at me like he’s waiting for something, so I looked at him back with a what-do-you-want? Look while raising an eyebrow.
“Really? No ‘thank you’?” of course I know what he’s talking about. He’s actually the first one to cut off a teacher while having this long monologue of my parents, well, mostly my dad since he’s really great in the field of graphic arts but my mom is –
“And your back from daydreaming. Am I boring you?” He asked as he interrupts me once again from my daydreaming. I should really thank him this time. He’s keeping my senses as active as possible.
“No. and thanks” I said as I try my best to listen to Mrs. Cortez’s discussion of literature.
“you looked like you’re uncomfortable while she’s talking about your parents” I looked at him because of what he says. “am I wrong?” he asked, “If I am, I’m sorry” and he smiled at me.
Is his deduction wrong about me being uncomfortable with other people introducing me as my parent’s daughter and not as myself? When did I became like this? I was never uncomfortable with other people not knowing me as Charisse Lee, but as Felice and Charles Lee’s daughter. The daughter of a famous novelist and graphic designer. I don’t like it, but I also don’t hate it. I just don’t mind what other people say about me because, basically, they are right.
“I’m really boring you, am I? Usually, I’m the one who gets bored for a short period of time. But you’re different.” He says as I stared back at him.
“You’re wrong” I said, and he looks confused.
“me? About what?” he asked, still, with a questioning look
“About me being uncomfortable. She’s not the first one who has done that. Every time I change school, teachers would always introduce me as my parent’s daughter. But not as Charisse Lee. And I don’t mind it at all” I said as I turn my gaze to look at the white board in front. I can still see him in my peripheral vision and he’s still looking at me.
“But you’re the first one” I said. Still not looking at him
“First one to do what?” He asked and I faced him.
“First one to interrupt an introduction about me. At least now, I hope, our classmates will know my name and not Mr. Lee’s daughter.” And there’s hi smile again. Doesn’t his cheeks cramps with all the smiling all day?
The school bell rang while we are still looking at each other and he is still smiling like an idiot.
“We’ll discuss more of this in our next meeting. Have your lunch. Charisse Lee, come with me to the faculty room. I need to discuss something” That’s where our staring competition end as I stood up and follow Mrs. Cortez
After a few walks down the hall, we’ve reached the faculty room and she stop on one of the tables for teachers.
“Charisse, can you please teach Warren about English Lit.? He’s grades are really dropping in that subject. Can you please be his tutor? You can sign up for this ‘Helping Hand Club’ here at school. This club is a tutoring club. Members also receives their scholarship while being a part of this.” She said as she hands me a flyer from the said club
“why me?” I asked. I just literally enrolled yesterday and now she wants me to be a tutor? Is she for real?
“Well, I think that you will really excel in my subject since your mom is a novelist and your dad works in a publishing house as well.” She said while having this pleasing look in her face like I’m some sort of her last resort to make a miracle. I was about to answer ‘no’ when someone calls me.
“Charisse!” We both turn our heads and look at who’s calling me.
“What are you doing here Warren?” Mrs. Cortez asked
“Ma’am, we need to get our lunch too. It’s Charisse’s first day today, please give her a break and let me tour her around the campus” He said with a sly smile plastered in his face.
“But we’re still –” She didn’t finish her sentence as Warren came in the faculty room and drag me out while saying; “it’s a yes ma’am says Charisse!”
Now we’re walking down the hall and a lot of students are looking at us and is really shocked of what’s happening. But wait, what is really happening? I didn’t even agree on being his tutor. And I have no idea where he’s taking me.
I tried pulling my arms back and that made him stop. “why?” he asked.
“where are you taking me?” I asked and he just smiled. What with him and smiles?
“cafeteria. It’s your treat, right?” He said as he started dragging me again.
After a few more walks, we are now in a very crowded cafeteria, surrounded by noisy students. But as we walk towards the cashier, everyone stops and stares at us.
“I’ll have pizza bread and aglio olio. You?” He asked and I just stared at him. His question caught me off guard that I didn’t have the time to look at the menu.
“Any allergies?” He asked again and I answered him this time but still in dazed. “Chicken”
He faced the cashier again “please add spaghetti and pizza bread as well” then he showed his hands like he’s waiting to get something from me. Payment. He says it’s my treat. Why am I even with this guy?
“Here” I handed him a five-hundred-peso bill. He gave me the change and got our orders. Now, people are whispering as we go to one of the tables in the cafeteria.
“Let’s eat” He says, not minding the people around us. I did the same.
Once were done eating, he bought me a yogurt milk drink as we go back to our classroom.
“Where’s yours?” I asked.
“I’m allergic to milk” he said. That made me confused, so I faced him and asked, “you ate pizza bread earlier”.
“I’m allergic to milk drink, other than that, I’m all good.” He says. “I know it’s late but” he stretched out his hand, “I’m Warren Gage Richards, nice meeting you Charisse Lee” He smiled. I really have no idea why, but I grab his hand and shook it and then smiled. One, two, three. Our shake hands lasted for three seconds only. But no one knew that it’ll last for more than what we expected.
