From Afar

"Every Main Character Has a Paper Incident"

Now what do I do with these piles of papers? Burn them, maybe? Just because I'm a student council president doesn't mean I have to overwork my bloody body! I mean, just imagine being a busy student in the past and an overstressed, underpaid worker in the future. What a drag!

"Aiden, boy! Help your master, please." I said as I picked up the papers from Class 3-B's classroom. They were suggesting a new club room. They all passed their ideas to me before but I turned them all down.  

First off, what exactly will you do in a "Love Club"? Flirt? After that, what? You guys get together, go to dinner dates, ride Vikings, and then? Then break up because there's not enough "chemistry." Second, what would you do in "Unlimited Food Club"? Just eat? I thought clubs are formed to enhance the students' mind? Aish.  Third, what is a "Rebel Teens' Club"? It didn't make any sense. I can't allow them to drink, smoke, or even cut class. What's with 3-B? 

My partner who lost in a bet stepped inside and glared at me. As if he even had the right. Well what can I do? He challenged me to a bet of who'd win the race from the Student Council's room to the school's gate. So I took a shortcut. When he arrived, he told me I was a cheater. 

"Stop it. You cheated. Now I have to be one of your lap dogs, you bloody duck." 

"Hey! Whoever said I can't take the shortcut? In life, you have to be wise, not a lame ass like you." I retorted as he carried some of the papers. 

We went outside the room and into the hallway. My eyes roaming to see if students were doing just fine. It sure felt nice to know that...so far, so good. 

"Kaichou, konnichiwa!" A girl greeted me. Don't ask me who she was. I definitely didn't know her. I just smiled and said, "Good afternoon to you, too." 

Aiden looked at me with a wild expression on his face. "Deym, girl. You do be looking good to people. Ain't no way you can trick me." 

I kicked his leg and strolled even faster, leaving him there, carelessly picking up the papers that slipped from his hands. I saw him massaging his leg so I stopped. I was just about to walk up to him when I saw a familiar face reading a book under the tree standing tall amidst the center of the hallway. 

Hey! I know that guy! 

The shade of the tree protected him from the sunlight. His eyes were Mighty Bond-ed on the book that's heavy enough to kill a toe nail. His legs were crossed. He looked relaxed and maybe even...fresh while studying. How the flip?!

He's probably reading Physics. I don't know. Science and the like were never my forte. Math was my strong point.  Maybe there's an upcoming quiz? 

"Heyo, my lame master. You know you can help, right?" I quit my daze and looked at Aiden tiringly. What a poor creature. As if I'd help him. 

" I know I can, but I won't. What am I gonna do with MY papers? You do you. If I lay these on the floor to help you, luck may run out on me and the wind may blow them away." I replied, almost excited to get out into our oh-so-sacred room. 

"Why not ask the lover boy to guard them for you?" Aiden pointed at the mystery guy studying under the tree. 

Of course, a tree! Always trees! Is he the main character that I'd have to be random enough to walk up to him and say, "Hey, this is my tree. It's be cool if you read somewhere else but since I'm kind, I'll pass that up. By the way, what are you reading? I plan to read that later, too, but before that, kindly help my drama queen of friend with picking up papers since I'm handicapped by them too."

"Hello~ Earth to Amira. Yoo-hoo~" Th vice president called my attention, stopping my thoughts. 

"Honestly, I'm pretty sure I daydreamed just enough for you to pick up those papers and stand." I turned my head again to the guy. He's still reading. I can't interrupt him, can I?  

Oh shims. What an idiot! I disagreed just a while ago to help our damsel-in-distress so why bother? I then decided to reject him. Again.

"Sorry, Aiden. I'm gonna put these on my spick-and-span tablezzzz." I gave him a head signal that I'd go and leave. He can just ask others for help, seriously. I'm not the only person alive he can talk to.

My legs continued wandering until I arrived at the Student Council room. I put the papers atop my desk, sunk on my seat, and rested my head on the counter for a while. I heard the door open. I didn't bother to know who it was anyway. It's probably just Aiden. 

"Thanks, dude. OUR president here's a meanie that I had to disturb you. Deeply sorry." Aiden spoke with pure bitterness, that anytime soon he'd claw me and take my insides. 

"Thanks, dude" ? Who's "dude"?  

Out of curiosity, I raised my head and looked up to see who helped Aiden. Somehow, a part of thought it was the same, awkward guy in the canteen. A part of me hoped it was him. 

But he wasn't here. Instead, another person took his supposed place. 

Met with such a letdown, my legs quivered but I still decided to straighten up and thank Chris. I also apologized for Aiden's clumsiness. I walked Aiden's classmate out the room and apologized again. I didn't know why. I just thought it's a common and, ugh,  normal thing. 

"No, it's all right. I just helped." He scratched his neck and my eyes averted to who popped behind him from afar. 

Mystery guy!

I noticed he was holding two more books and wearing glasses.  A small, white envelope was found on the book. He was towards me. Towards the door behind me. Towards us. Okay, maybe not us, but he was towards me. That's the point.

Chris bid his goodbye and I watched as he disappeared from my sight. And just as I was to head back inside the SC room, a face stopped me.  (A/N: Yeah bro, the power of faces shouldn't be underestimated xD) 

"President Owens, this is for you." He handed me the envelope and  waited for my response.

"Oh, o-okay. May I ask what's inside?" I stuttered, didn't I? Holy cows.

He shrugged. He just shrugged. HE JUST SHRUGGED. He shrugged as a flipping answer!

"These are requested by the vice president," he referred to the books and proceeded to pass them to me. 

"Ugh, thanks. By the way, you...are you friends with Aiden?" I asked, silently desperate to know more about him. 

"No. My classmate told me to deliver these- not just the books but also the letter- to you." He looked at me calmly and lowered his head, as if to hint to me that he's going away for his next class. 

Yeah, I guess no. No way Aiden would call you "lover boy" if you guys knew each other.

 I just stared at his moving figure as he walked away. I can't do anything. I didn't have any excuse to make him stay. He wasn't a mutual friend. He wasn't my friend. He's nothing and yet he's a big question I can't seem to answer. 

Just as I was walking back inside, I thought: 

Holy mother of tofu! What was his name?