C2 CHAPTER 02: A Loner

GABRIEL’s P.O.V.

“Maybe my weirdness.”

That’s Erevell’s answer when I asked her about the disease my classmates are telling me about. She just laughed at me before saying those words.

“Weirdness? You’re not weird. You’re cool.”

“Uhm, yeah. You only say that because you barely even know me. But I’m sure if you found out...”

“Found out what?”

“Nothing. Anyways, please don’t mind that classmates of yours. And whatever they say about me, it’s all a lie so please don’t believe them. They don’t know everything about me, you know.”

“Okay. So, how old are you?”

“Thirteen.”

“Oh. You’re older than me. Why? Do you retained one year of school before?”

“Nope! My Mom took me to school one year latter than the others... So yeah, I should be in high school now.”

“But that’s fine. At least I met you. I don’t know what to do if you didn’t talk to me earlier.”

She smiled at me before taking a bite on her sandwich.

“It’s too early for you to say that. Please don’t get too attached. Who knows? Maybe I’m gone tomorrow.”

“Gone? And what exactly do you mean by that?” I asked curiously.

“Nothing. Please don’t mind me. I told you, I’m weird. Our schoolmates wouldn’t call me like that for nothing.”

I just chuckled at her response. We continue to talk about some random stuffs like we are getting to know each other. After lunch, we both decided to come back to our classes.

I didn’t know that my first day on regular school ended earlier than I expected. I didn’t see Erevell when she leave the school premises. Mom fetch me up stating that she was waiting for me an hour earlier than our class dismissal.

That night, I thought about Erevell, and everything that she told me about herself. I couldn’t believe that I made a friend that easily. It’s just my first day of school yet it feels so nice and free. But of course, I couldn’t forget those people who didn’t want me and my new found friend.

I instantly sat up from laying down on my bed as I heard my Mom calling my name downstairs.

“Gabriel! Someone is looking for you!”

I dashed downstairs hearing those words. This is my first time having a visitor and I hope that whoever it is, it will caused me a joyful surprise.

“Gab, a girl is waiting for you in our front door. I invited her to come in but she didn’t want to. She told me that she will wait for you outside. Who is she?” Mom curiously asked.

I could hear the disapproval in her voice. Though I cannot blame her, for me having a visitor in front of our house right after my first day in a regular school. And another factor, it was a girl.

“She’s Erevell, Mom. I met her earlier at school. She helped me a lot about everything, actually.”

“Well... That’s nice of her. Let her come in and have some food inside.” The disapproval tone on her voice was now gone.

“Sure.” I nodded.

She just smiled at me before patting my head. Then she went to the kitchen to prepare something for us, I guess. As soon as she vanished into my sight, I dashed through the front door and swing it open before seeing Erevell.

“Hi!” she greeted enthusiastically.

“Uhm... Hi? Do you want to come in?”

“No need, Gab. I need to come home early.”

“Oh.” I was merely disappointed.

“I’m sorry.”

“That’s fine. It’s nothing, really.”

“Anyways, I’m here to give this envelope to you...” She handed me a clean, white envelope. I took it before looking at this package curiously.

“What’s this?”

“It’s an excuse letter.”

“For what?”

”For our teachers. You know, when you’re going to be gone and absent for the mean time, this letter will save your attendance.”

“Cool. I like that concept. But... Why are you giving me this?” I asked, partially not wanting to hear her reasons.

“Duh... It’s because I trust you. No one in school would help me except of you.”

“That’s not what I mean. What I mean is... Are you going to be absent from school?”

“Maybe, I don’t know. I’m not sure either. But if ever I did, can I count on you to deliver that message to our teachers?”

“Sure, sure. I will. But, what if you’re still not there the next morning?”

“Then it’s fine. That letter has a long lasting validity.”

I chuckled at her answers. Good thing she chose me to befriend among all of those people in our school. I’m so lucky, I guess.

“Okay, I’ll bring this tomorrow or if you want, everyday in school just to make sure that your attendance would be saved.”

“Thank you so much!” She tiptoed to kiss my cheeks, making me stunned and blushed.

I looked at her for a moment, surprised at what she have done. She just smiled at me in return before waving her hands in front of my face.

“Are you alright?”

“Uhm... Y-yeah.” My knees trembles.

“Come on, that was just a kiss. Anyways, please don’t read the content of that letter. I trust you so much so please don’t ruin that trust of mine.”

“S-sure.”

“Great! I need to go now. Bye!”

I just nodded and she walked away. I couldn’t deny the fact that her kiss gave me an anxious and very uneasy feelings in my stomach.

“Gab, why are you still standing out there, son? Your friend had already left you. What did she say?” My Mom asked while checking me up trying to make sure that everything is alright.

“Yeah, Mom. I’ll just go to my room and take a rest. I’m so tired because of this day. Bye,” I lied.

I didn’t wait her to answer for I already ran as fast as I can into my room upstairs. As I lay down on the bed, my mind keeps on nagging me about that kiss. That was my first, and I didn’t know that I’m going to lose it that way. But it was fine, as long as Erevell is the one who took it.

That night, I keep on thinking and replaying that scene on my brain. Until I finally realized that it was already morning, and I need to stood up and get ready for school again.

As Mom drove me to school for my second day, and my eyes instantly search for one person. And that is Erevell. But I couldn’t see her. That’s why I thought that maybe this what she is asking me a favor for. She wanted to make sure that if ever she’s absent, I got her back. And I did. Because right before our classes started, I gave her excuse letter to our adviser.

I wonder why pity suddenly took over our teacher’s eyes as she read that letter of my friend. I instantly got nervous for I know that maybe there’s something that she’s hiding from me. Maybe that is also the reason why she didn’t want me to read that letter.

“Thank you so much, Mr. Elizar. I’m glad that Erevell finally found someone that she could trust. You’re too good for a new found friend,” our adviser stated.

“Thank you, Ma’am.”

After I thanked her, I came back to my seat while enduring the awful stares of my classmates. I don’t know why, but I felt alone not having Erevell around. But maybe it’s just me. I’m such a loner, and I’ll never talk to someone if they didn’t approached me first.

Days and even weeks had passed. I don’t know what happened to her, but ever since Erevell asked me a favor to bring her excuse letter, I hadn’t seen her inside of the school campus. Our teacher was not saying anything about it either, so I just keep my mouth shout for I know that our classmates will start to hate me again if I said another word.

Staying at one table inside of our school Cafeteria while being isolated from everyone makes me feel really sick. Each passing day without her presence makes me feel so curious about her. But I know that I need wait. For now, I’ll just stay as the campus loner.