The Promise We Couldn't Keep

3

TPWCK:
THREE

............

Now

THE research teacher walked into the room, and the noise finally learned to shut up. Students act like they'd die if they couldn't open their mouth between subjects or during vacants. Their collective noise deafened without care the ears of those who enjoyed the silence.

"Last year on your 11th Grade, we went through everything you need to know for this subject," she started, and it was like an angel had appeared inside the room and everyone was left frozen in their spot.

"This year as you're about to graduate from high school we'll be focusing on applying everything that were taught to you in conducting a research and writing the paper."

But maybe angel was a stupid comparison. It could be that everyone saw the devil and was left speechless. Who even among us here liked research?

She eyed the whole room but no one said a word. No one was foolish enough to dare to. This teacher was known for her petty comebacks, and anyone who'd talk back would probably have to solo research; no one was brave enough for that.

"Then that's all for today. I want you to use the available time to group yourselves into three so that on our next meeting we can begin straight ahead."

As she exited the room carrying the thick book she carried around with her, everyone stood from their seats and started grouping themselves. The noise made its unwelcomed appearance again. There were 30 students in the class, three of whom were exempted from this because they were the school's research contenders against other science schools.

Only a few of the students remained seated, and one of them was Rinia. I got to my acquaintances standing behind her, careful to avoid catching her gaze. Everyone had grouped themselves already so I looked around, trying to search for any ungrouped students from other circles, student who didn't go by the name Rinia or the other one. For a fleeting moment I held the gaze of a familiar face and my heart raced as much as it ached, but I willed myself to not mind it. He didn't deserve any reaction from me. Some people just didn't deserve our attention anymore, and he happened to be one of those people now.

I walked over toward two of my classmates sitting at the back of the room close to a corner. I was signing myself for an early death for going to converse with known homophobes in the school, but either them or Rinia and him. I'd rather die than talk with the latter two.

"Hey," I started, trying to sound cheery, "are you maybe still looking for one more member?"

"Yes," Lorrieles answered. He crossed his arms and put his ankle on his other leg as he leaned back on his seat.

"Cool." My stomach twisted and flipped from the awkwardness but I fought it off. Now was not the time to be uncomfortable facing two problematic students. "Then can-"

"No."

The interruption and the firmness in his voice caught me off guard. I stared at him for a few seconds before I could compose myself enough to ask, "Can I know why? There's no one left that can group with you."

"We don't really want to group with a gay person. We're both men so who knows if you're gonna hit on us and rub your gayness on us?"

My eyebrows rose as I reasoned with myself and dowse my boiling blood. I tried giving him the benefit of the doubt. He might have a reason for his homophobic remark. Some people could be smart at specific fields but ignorant and unaware and just needed a little education in some other.