MY NAME IS DALE

My Name is Dale: Chapter 24

I was a Senior High when I met Dale. I was doing my morning jog when I saw
her standing by the lane near the bridge as if planning to commit a suicide. I
didn‟t know why I walked to her instead of continuing my jog. I asked her what
she is doing. But to my surprised, she freaked out and told me to leave. Instead
of obeying her, I climb at the lane and stand beside her, facing the vast and deep
bridge. She got even more annoyed and upset to what I did. But, still, I didn‟t
bother to go down unless she does at that time.
That moment, I was honestly nervous to see a suicidal scene. More of that, I was
terrified after climbing the lane and saw how deep is the bridge in case we
missed our balance. But still, I managed to calm down because I was more
worried of her.
From then on, I began eyeing her secretly at school. I don‟t know why? The only
reason I have insisted in my mind is that perhaps she would try it again when
nobody saw her there. She was always surrounded by her friends and some
dudes that act like some cool prince at school. Who wouldn‟t? She is both pretty
and smart.
Seeing her every day with those guys made me looked so down to myself. I was
literally shy to approach her. But as days went by, she became more interesting
for me as I always see her at the bridge. Why is she always standing there
crying? Does she have that heavy burden to bear?
After some thorough investigation, I happened to know that her friend was
bumped by a car and fell off from that bridge almost a year ago. She felt guilty
that she chose to stay at their house and not go to the party thus escaped from
that accident. That day I saw her was actually her friend‟s death anniversary.
She‟s not into suicidal but mourning of her lost friend. Perhaps, that explains
why she‟s always wearing that cold face at school even though she‟s surrounded
by her friends. Since then, I got interested in her. I wanted to get involved in her story.

That night, I was invited by a friend in the basketball team for a birthday party.
But, I decided not to come. Instead, I ran towards the same lane and bridge
where I last saw her. I didn‟t saw her but I saw dried flowers in that same spot.
Perhaps she came again yesterday or about an hour ago. When I was about to
leave the place, I saw her sitting in the corner, crying. I don‟t know how to
comfort her. As I moved some steps closer towards her, she narrowed her
eyebrows again. So I stopped and just watched her silently crying.
The next day at Mr. Emmett‟s class, we were given a class project in random
pairs. I was very happy that entire day after I drawn her name in the box. I
approached her after class but she didn‟t talk to me about our project. I don‟t
know if she‟s happy to be my partner in that project. I don‟t know is she‟s willing
to cooperate with me.
Since she‟s still not approaching me about our project, I tagged her in a post
with her name and my phone number in her timeline. She got annoyed, I‟m sure
of that. Few minutes after that post, she began calling me in my mobile phone.
She called to erase my post in her timeline.
She‟s literally a private type of person. I always saw her with a book. She‟s not a
typical class geek but she‟s indeed smart. Yes, she has lots of friends but I always
see her sad. But there‟s only one moment that I saw her genuinely smiled. It‟s
when we have our school trip in Bella Amore- my grandparents‟ resort. I didn‟t
know that she loves the ocean, sea shells and sand. I didn‟t know she can swim
well until I saw her in that trip. Above all, I didn‟t know she‟s also a fan of Robert
Frost and Virginia Wolf.
It was only two weeks before we needed to submit our school project. That night,
I went to her house and there I met her parents for the first time. She has two
younger siblings. I told to them why I visited her. I felt bad after her dad scolded
her of not taking seriously her school project. I felt guilty and blamed myself.
The next day, she approached me. I don‟t know is she‟s only doing that because
of her dad. She‟s cold and straightforward. That‟s the thing I felt intimidated
talking to her. But, for the sake of the school project, I tried to talk to her as nice
as I can.
“Aren‟t you tired convincing me for this project?” That‟s what she asked me. I
just nodded to say “No.” But to my surprised, she yelled at me telling that she‟s
sick of people. She ranted all the words she could grasp at her own accord. I
diverted her attention by talking about our project. There, she became cold
again. There, she started treating me silently. But, I still brought her to Bella
Amore- a place where I first saw her smile.
“Go ahead. We can do our project after an hour. You can stroll the beach for a
while.” That‟s what I said to her after I saw her eyes. She runs towards the beach
while I stayed with the resort staff in the restaurant. I asked them to prepare a
lunch for us.
From there, we finished our project in two days. But, honestly, I don‟t want to
finish it soon. She might return to her original self. I‟m happy that somehow, she
began to loosen up with me. She began to draw smiles on her cheeks. She began
to laugh and giggle every time we play at the shore. But I know it would end
soon.
I wanted her to be my friend or the least not a stranger. But it‟s impossible. Until
I found out that she came back to Bella Amore after our school project. She is
not crying. She is not even happy. I walked towards her. I sat beside her. I
watched the sunset with her. I played the sand with her.
“Do you really want me to be your friend?” Out of nowhere she asked me. I felt
surprised after hearing that from her. This is it! So, I just nodded with my eyes
still surprised. “Then, don‟t leave me.” She said again. I just nodded again.
Since then, we became very close to each other. We always spend our time
swimming, cycling or else, sand collecting. I even asked our driver to bring us to
some nice beaches around our place. She began to smile always since then. She
began to share what she hid inside. She began sharing about her lost friend. I
became a part of her family. She also became a part of ours.
Unfortunately, it was before school graduation when my family needed to go
back to States. It was so sudden that I haven‟t told her about it. I decided not to
tell her actually. I thought, it would just be for few months. I thought, she would
understand. I thought, I could still communicate with her in the same account.
But I was wrong.
It was after twelve years, capable enough for my own life that I decided to live
permanently in the Philippines far from my family. It‟s not about family
business why I chose to go back. It was for her.
Soon enough after I came back, I began searching for her. Unfortunately, I was
piled up with lots of documents and business meetings that I don‟t have such
time to find her. Until, I met her in the park. But, I was sad after seeing her
again. She didn‟t recognize me. She‟s not her old self. She‟s jolly. She‟s more
communicative. She‟s lively this time. I missed her old self. I missed her cold
face. I missed her sad face. The only thing that didn‟t change her is that she‟s
still allergic to flowers.
“Dale, are you still there?” I turned towards her as she was staring blankly at the
waves splashing over the shore. As I stared at her, I was surprised to see her
silently crying. I just bowed my head feeling sorry for whatever she is feeling
right now.
“Shall we go now? I want to rest in my place. Thank you for today.” She said
simply.
I just nodded in response. I‟m not sure if she‟s really thankful after everything I
revealed to her. Deep inside, I feel disappointed.