Certain Ways
By : Osiris
“We weren’t in
Geometry class were we?”
The taller girl shook
her head an emphatic ‘no’ “Sir would’ve killed us. Me in particular” she
wrinkled her nose. This girl was one of those few people who, even when making
faces, would still look absolutely gorgeous. She tossed her shoulder length
hair and looked dubious, her light brown eyes twinkling in the harsh
fluorescent light. Her hair settled back
across her shoulders again, as if nothing happened. “I was failing Geometry in
that quarter”. Long, pale limbs were casually tossed around the shorter girl’s
shoulders. Her fingers were tapping on the other girl’s shoulder. Tap-tap-tap.
Her
companion nodded after a while, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. This one was a
contrast to her. She was shorter, whereas her friend was tall, willowy and
could’ve passed for a model; she, on the other hand, was built a little more
compact. “Then it must’ve been in History” she shrugged, stopping the tapping
for a while, “We never really cared about World History” Her half brown half
black hair was tied back, with her bangs springing up on her forehead in
rebellion. She constantly pushed them back, only to have them fall back down,
messier than ever. If she wasn’t brushing her bangs back, she was pushing her
eyeglasses up her nose, or fiddling with the last button on her make shift
slate blue windbreaker that was nothing more than a polo three sizes too big
for her.
“I
beg to differ” her friend smiled and edged closer. “I rather enjoyed the French
Revolution”
“You
would,
Miel soon joined in
“How
come your laugh,” asked
“We are the hollow men, we are the stuffed
men” was Miel’s response.
“Miel,
I want an answer, not a quote from T.S. Elliot.” Came
“This is the way the world ends” Miel
looked away,”Not with a bang, but with a
whimper.”
“Miel…”
“I
think it was in Grammar class.” She suddenly said. “Yeah, and it was a blackout
so Miss didn’t see us clearly”
“But
do you agree with me?”
“…
I think so…yeah…Miel, stop picking on that button. It’ll fall out.”
“It’s
an old polo.”
“A polo that you mentioned in your write-up.”
“I
was supposed to say something that would make everyone remember me.” A
sarcastic grin “Is there any other geek in our batch that totes around an old
polo as a windbreaker all year long?”
“And
you expect they’d remember you like that, as a geek?”
“I
don’t expect them to remember me period. I’m a forgettable person anyway”
“Stop
saying that”
“I
won’t because it’s true. Besides, I’m banking on it. If everyone will forget
me, no one will cry”
“…That
isn’t true and you know it.”
“Well,
everyone has to. I mean, I have to leave”
“I
know that. Don’t you think I know that?” an exasperated tossing up of arms.
“Would I even be here if I didn’t?”
“Chill
“…Do
you really want everyone to forget you?”
“If
it’ll stop anyone from crying…yeah”
“You
can’t have that”
“I
can wish.”
“You
told me you had no more wishes”
“I
told you I had no more dreams, that’s different”
“You
also have no more hope”
“…that’s
what dreams give you
“…”
“Don’t
give me that look”
“What
look?”
“That look.”
“What
look?”
“That…argh, never mind”
“…”
“…”
“There’s
Mama.”
“I
know. She’s waving you over.”
“The
plane is there already I guess, we’ve got to board
now.”
“Do
you really have to?”
Soft,
dry laughter, “You say the same thing whenever I say that I have to go home,
you say that when we’re at the table”
“I
meant it then and I mean it now.”
“You
know what I want. I’d love nothing more than stay here.”
“Is
that why you asked me not to tell anyone else when you’re leaving?”
“I
can’t face them. If I see them, I won’t be able to go”
“And
me…?”
“I
can’t leave the country without saying goodbye to you.”
“How about them?”
“…I
just can’t… I can’t explain it but I can’t”
“…I
remember Kenshin…”
“Yeah,
he said goodbye only to Kaoru. I
know”
“Don’t
get ideas.”
Laughter, with little or no joy in them.
“Miel…”
“Please
don’t ask me again
“Then
I won’t”
“…Take
care of them for me”
“Haven’t
I always?”
“Sorry,
I didn’t mean to imply…”
“No,
it’s alright. I know what you’re talking about”
“Take
care of the list while I’m gone. Kristine will help you”
“Email
us once you get internet?”
“The minute.”
“Swear”
“Every
damn day”
“It
sounded cuter when Brendan Fraser said it.”
“I
know”
“…”
“They’re
calling out your flight already.”
“I
was hoping it was wrong.”
“Baka”
“Not
that, an idjot, remember?”
“A beautiful moron more likely.”
“…I
need to leave now.”
“Good…”
“Don’t.
This is enough. There are certain ways to say that. You’ve said it.”
“You
don’t want to hear it?”
“I’ve
heard enough of it when I told the barkada. I don’t want to hear it…or say it”
“This
is it then.”
“Yes,
this is it.”
“…”
“Ja.”
The End