edited by Ian Agoncillo
written for Grammar III, March 2002
This is a story I wrote for Grammar III way back in 3rd year high school - long time ago. Thanks to Ian for editing my story, she made it so much better to read. (I do still have that blue diskette with all the other stories, and it still works. So, if you'd like it back, just tell me where to send it :) )
If anything was inspired from any true event in my life, it was the last part, it was how I met Pam. Everything else is a mix of things as much as I had to spice up the story to boost up my grade. :P
It was a bright Wednesday morning outside the campus of the
A sharp left turn and she was at her destination, room two hundred five, on the second floor. The sign on the door read 2-L. Se carefully tapped on the door, giving the door smooth brushes as no tot smudge any -if ever- still wet paint.
The door opened and a tall lady greeted her, about a few inches taller than herself. She wore a teacher’s “Wednesday” uniform: an olive green skirt, and a white blouse. “You’re late.” She said. “Luckily it’s the first day.” He tone may have been strict, but she had a smile on her face, thank God she wasn’t all that serious. “I’m Ms. Sutherland. You must be Reilyn. We’ve been waiting for you.” Ms. Sutherland looked young, probably in her late twenties. Her short brown hair, slim figure and fair features hid the fact that she was actually 35.
“Yes ma’am.” Reilyn Mendoza politely answered as she showed her adviser her admission slip. It had taken her a meeting with the assistant principal to get to class – another reason to delay her presence in class. St. Agatha’s College had a block system. Reilyn’s request to be transferred to another section was denied on grounds that she had high grades and no problems regarding conduct. Behaved, she was, but socially, she didn’t get along quite well.
Ms. Sutherland admitted her into class and closed the door behind her. Reilyn stood at the corner as she observed the classroom inside. The room itself was square in shape. Beside the door were glass paned windows that were closed to prevent the noise form outside from entering. The room was basically plain white with dabs of brown paint going exactly halfway. Two corkboards were distanced evenly on both sides of the white surface. Opposite the windows beside the door stood another set of windows overlooking the quadrangle below. Adjacent to the door, a long wooden blackboard was mounted to the wall. The corner opposite that of Reilyn’s, a teacher’s table was set. Ms. Sutherland’s things were neatly placed on top of the newly painted pane. The seats were arranged in ten columns of five rows each. A center aisle divided the class into two.
No one noticed her. The class was still noisy. There were about forty-six of them seated, although the ratio between the girls and the boys were evidently won over by the boys. Apparently there was no assigned seating arrangement. Friends sat together talking among themselves. The popular were seated amongst the popular, and the nerds were seated amongst the nerds like a division of an Egyptian social class system, these; these people cared less for others who were not a part of their cliché.
Reilyn was different. She may have cared none at all for anyone. Considered and “outcast” maybe “different”, it didn’t matter. Though once upon a time it meant more than anything… As she stood where she did, the memory of a dim afternoon came to her.
“You’re not just… it.” Bernadette’s cold word shot through Reilyn. The fair skinned, Goldilock girl stood in front of her, arms folded across her chest. They were in the boundaries of the noisy cafeteria, an afternoon after their last class. “Why don’t you go fix yourself up, then maybe…” “So that means, I… can… come…” Reilyn’s voice trailed off, “with you guys?” Bernadette changed her stance. “Maybe.” She repeated. “You have to prove yourself you know.” Reilyn gave a nod, and a silent “Ok.” as Bernadette went off to join her friends.
It was pathetic! Reilyn said to herself as she thought about it. She was once actually desperate to join the “elite group”. At a time, she had lost her closest friend to a popular desire. She wanted to prove to everyone that she could be big.
Ms. Sutherland walked to her desk and placed Reilyn’s admission slip on the table. “She’s back.” She said. It took Reilyn a while to process what she said. Apparently, Ms. Sutherland had told the class of Reilyn’s request to transfer so they didn’t expect her to return. “You can sit anywhere it is available for you to sit on.” She quietly moved to an isolated place in the back of the classroom. Perfect, no one would bother her. She didn’t mind being alone. It was actually better for everyone else not to get a piece of her mind every time she would accidentally utter a sardonic remark. She lazily dropped her knapsack on the floor, and sat down. She finally heard whispers from the class. The noise suddenly subsided.
“Ok.” Ms. Sutherland began with her morning session. It was five minutes after eight, yet it seemed longer that it took her to get to the back of the classroom. Two more hours before the recess bell rings. Reilyn slouched in her chair, and took out a notebook and a pen. She was about to doodle, but Ms. Sutherland wrote the word SCHEDULE on the board. She changed her mind.
A dark haired girl suddenly took the seat beside her. “Hi, Reilyn,” she greeted with a smirk on her face. Narissa, the girl’s name came to Reilyn’t mind. “Hey.” Reilyn replied without looking at her. A few minutes ago, Reilyn noticed Narissa with one of the other groups in the class and before that, with another. Now, Reilyn thought, she’s here. “How are you?” She happily asked. She pretended to examine herself, “I look healthy enough, why?” “Nothing,” Narissa shrugged with a sly grin. “Hey, did you know…” “NO!” Reilyn cut her off, but Narissa continued to spread word. “That Bernadette has a boyfriend… and… um… Winston hates you.” Winston was a popular guy, and was once Reilyn’s friend. Reilyn shook her head. “Will that lead to another peace congress, and change the world for the better? I think not. Everybody hates me, so what’s so special about him?” Narissa’s jaw dropped; she failed to create the roll of scandal she was used to creating. It just didn’t work anymore. “You know, there are some new people in the class.” She began. “I have the whole year, Narissa.” She went away.
Reilyn watched her as she sneaked back to her seat. Narissa was seated a few seats away from her. It took some time for her to realize that Narissa sat among the “popular people”. She looked like them; hair styled in the latest fashion, things branded with names, and the like, but she hardly belonged. It was evident she was a social climber. She created a world war through intrigue and gossip. She was everyone’s best friend, and everyone’s worst enemy.
She looked up to the blackboard to continue copying the things being written about Biology. It was her first subject of the first week of her second year. The information gave her a scope of the first quarter: osmosis and frogs - “wonderful”- she sarcastically thought.
In less than thirty minutes, the whole curriculum of her second year was laid out on the first clean page of her newly bought notebook. Reilyn glanced at her own handwriting. She hated her script, though most people viewed it as neat. Her black strokes seemed like waves on the brown lines of the page.
“I guess you’re done.” Ms. Sutherland assumed as she stood in her place in front of the whole class. Most students complained and asked her for a few more minutes, unfortunately, their wish wasn’t granted. “You have the whole year to memorize the schedule.” Ms. Sutherland said. “What you should know better is each other.” She continued. ‘Sure, the block system could really do a lot to make us more enigmatic to each other.’ Reilyn thought. “But we’ll be classmates the whole four years of our high school!” Someone blurted out. It was Vince, the team captain of the soccer team. “Well then, let’s share what we did during the summer vacation.” The thought was quite elementary, but at least they had something to do for the next hour and a half. “Let’s start with you Mr. Umali.” She referred to Vince.
Vince stood up. He was a tall guy, about five feet nine. He had a big build behind his uniform. As he spoke, he brushed back the dark strands of his hair. He began to narrate his training-filled summer. Other guys went after him.
The bell rang; it was recess. The loud clamping of the bell echoed through the halls of the campus. Students poured into the hallways leading towards the cafeteria. The cafeteria was a large hall facing the field and the basketball court. Inside the strong aroma of food filled the air. From the entrance, Reilyn could see the large hall filled with students. Food stalls leaned on the wall across her. They served Pizza, rice meals, snacks, beverages, hamburgers and a lot more. Filling the rest of the place were sixteen-seater tables arranged in rows of six and columns of eleven. The cafeteria was filled with high school students.
Reilyn walked across the filled floor towards the stall of her choice. She didn’t notice someone walking to the same like. They bumped into each other as they reached the line. “Sorry.” Vince apologized. “Sorry.” She said in return. “You go first.” He offered. She took the offer. He was fidgeting, “So…” he began, “how are you?” He asked.
“Fine… I guess. Why are you asking?”
“I only wanted to know.”
“And you?”
“I’ve been sore from all of the training I’ve gone through last summer.”
“It sure looks like it.”
“Do you know about the rumors they spread about you?”
“No, anyway I don’t care. But it’s a consolation to know some people still know what the word respect means.”
“You’re not as bad as they described you.”
“Are you trying to get to the point where you ask a favor, and then promise me to pay back with interest?”
“N-no! I’m just trying to tell you that…you’re great.” He held his breath.
“…Thanks.” Then she took the meal the cook served her, and carefully brought her tray.
She ate alone. It was only ten o’clock, but her stomach was growling. She stared at the food on her tray: a slab of Carbonara, a cup of rice, a stick of barbeque, a small tart, and a glass of water. She began to eat. In the middle of her quiet session, Narissa came to bother her again. “Hey Reilyn.”
“What now? Where are your friends? Did they leave you?”
“Everyone knows you’re my friend.”
“Yeah, I sure am.” She sarcastically answered.
“What are you eating?”
“Nothing, I’m on a diet.”
“You know it’s quite awkward seeing you alone.”
“You know it’s quite awkward seeing you gawking at me.”
“Everyone thinks you’re an outcast! Do you know that? You’re nobody, you hear me? Nobody!”
“Since when did I not know that?”
She finished her meal, and stood up to dispose of her leftover. “Y-yeah! Sure, you know that, but nobody would want to be with you now!” Reilyn just shrugged, and went her way. She was passing by the empty hallway when the last sentence Narissa released brought her to deep contemplation. ‘She had a point.’ She thought. She’d made herself into the outcast she never wanted to be. The empty hallway reminder her of herself – empty, her past memories – alone…
The afternoon sky was tangerine as the sun slowly sets. The soccer field was almost deserted. In a corner, Reilyn stood among the crowd of Bernadette. She began to dress like the popular people. She began to hang out with them She began to be a part of them. But now was different. It was a confrontation. “So Reilyn… Do you really think you can be us?” Melody, one of them said.” Let’s decide now if we want Reilyn to be part of our club. ‘Thumbs up, thumbs down’ style.” She continued without allowing Reilyn to speak for herself. As Reilyn stood in the middle of them, she glanced at Bernadette. It was Bernadette who allowed Reilyn to be her friend and gain access to everything that included it. She knew Bernadette was on her side. “Why don’t you go over to the open basketball court, there on the bleachers while we decide.” Bernadette told her. She obediently followed. As she sat down on the bleachers she took a look. They were already voting on it. She saw everyone give her a ‘thumbs down’ sign. Bernadette held two thumbs down, while Melody held a thumb up and a thumb down.
It was then that she realized she could never be one of them. She lost Melody to them, and Bernadette was never her friend. She took it from there. She made her way out of the basketball court alone. Tears started to fall down her cheeks. She wiped them away. She noticed Vince walking across to get to the field, calling out to her. She didn’t look at him. It was the last time anyone saw her like that. She became the ‘sarcastic bitch’ she was up to now. She found herself independent. Others saw her as strong. others took time to laugh at her. She forgot to care about anything or anyone anymore. Everyone knew she would be alone forever.
Reilyn reached the classroom door and went in. Including herself, there were only four people inside. Two of them were busy doing something, but one of them she didn’t remember. She guessed that the girl was new in St. Agatha’s. She wore her uniform well: White blouse all buttoned up, checkered read and green skirt sewn with at the right length – mid calf. She was well groomed, her hair in a ponytail. Her nails were clipped. Her socks were straight. Her shoes were clean. It was evident that she didn’t belong to any group. She quietly sat, and intently looked at the floor. She noticed Reilyn, but she returned to her floor again.
The bell rang. Reilyn went to her seat. As her other classmates filled the room, Ms. Sutherland came in and waited for them to settle. She stood in the middle of the classroom. Her arms folded across her chest. Her eyes looked at everyone. “Let’s change the seating arrangement. I’m not quite comfortable with the way you are seated.” The class burst into complaints. “SHUT UP!” She ordered. A smile was plastered on Reilyn’s face. Ms. Sutherland began to rearrange the students. Reilyn didn’t mind, but she was already comfortable with her seat.
There was an empty seat right nest to the new student. “Reilyn,” Ms. Sutherland called. “Will you sit beside her?” She pointed at the empty chair. Reilyn grabbed her things, and went to the seat she was assigned to. She began to fix the stuff she dumped on the desk she now sat in. She hung her knapsack on the chair in front of her leaving a small notebook on her desk. It didn’t make a difference. She would still be with a bunch of snobs for two years and ten months. The girl beside her, on the other hand, had no complaint. Usually, others would. She remained seated, and looked at Reilyn.
“Hi.” Reilyn greeted her. “I’m Reilyn, Reilyn Mendoza.” She extended a hand. The girl was surprised. The girl was obviously given an orientation of Reilyn. But that didn’t stop her. She returned the gesture properly, and then said “Hi. I’m Mayumi de Castaneda.” Reilyn had met a new friend. She proved to everyone that Narissa, and everyone else was wrong.
