"Owen, are you okay? You look pale," Eli asked as I return from the washroom. "I'm fine. Just went to freshen up," I replied, keeping it to myself that I saw the engineering students and the rumored guy.
"Let's go. Class is about to start," I said, looking over to Eli. "You head over first. I gotta rush over to the print shop," Eli said as she runs off. "Don't be late!" I shouted only to be replied with an okay hand sign.
"I'll accompany you. I'm heading the same way anyways," Albert said as he grabs his bag and joins me. I felt a small spark of joy having Albert walk with me to class yet it's a weird feeling as well.
Once again, I can feel my heartbeat going faster. Why is it that I feel this way every time I am with Albert?
As I'm questioning myself in my head, a bunch of girls ran up to us. I don't recognize any of them at all and they were all huddling around Albert.
"Albert! Will you be helping out with the Music Society tomorrow?" "Or will you be performing on the actual event day?" The girls asked, constantly shoving each other away to get closer to Albert.
"I'm not entirely sure yet but I'll be sure to update all of you when I've decided," Albert replied with nervous laughter as he dismissed the girls before he grabbed my hand and walked off.
"You're pretty famous among the ladies," I commented while looking at Albert with a smile. "What can I say? I am charming after all," Albert replied by complimenting himself. He was still holding my hand and it didn't hit me to break free from his grasp either.
"See ya around!" I said, waving goodbye to Albert as he leaves.
After that encounter in the washroom, I can't stop myself from thinking about the guy. How scared he must be right now. In times like this, I'm reminded of how cruel society can be. I feel my hands trembling just thinking about it.
"Alright! That's it for today's class! If you have any questions, you can see me after," I've been daydreaming about the rumor that I didn't even pay attention to the entire class.
"Ms. Sharon? I have something to ask you," I walked up to my lecturer. Ms. Sharon is my lecturer who teaches Literature and she's the best help I could go for if I plan on attending the poetry competition.
"You have questions regarding today's lecture?" She responded. "No. I wanted to ask about the poetry competition,"
"The poetry competition..." She paused, probably trying to remember the details of it. "I've emailed you before about it, right? Are you going to enter?" She asked. "That's why I'm here. I wanted to ask if you could help me with that,"
"Of course. I've seen your works in class and they're amazing. If I'm not mistaken, you have around a month left before the deadline. If you need my help proofreading, you have to send it in early. I have papers to grade," Ms. Sharon said with a smile.
"Thank you so much!" I thanked her with a few bows as well. "I'll resend you the email with all the details!" She shouted to me as I left the classroom.
As I left the classroom, I see a familiar person walking my way. It's the guy I met in the washroom.
He still looks down. Should I talk to him? Would that be a good idea?
"Hey!" I called out to him. He raised his head slowly. He hasn't stopped crying since our encounter in the toilet. His eyes are puffy and his hand is holding a crumpled tissue.
"Are you okay? You were crying in the washroom just now," I asked as I slowly walk up to him. He did not answer but hugged me instead. I was shocked but I decided to hug him back.
"It must've been hard,"
Ian was his name. A first-year Faculty of Engineering student and is a closeted gay. I sat down with Ian in an empty classroom, awkwardly watching him ball his eyes out.
"Do you feel better? Do you want me to go buy some snacks for us?" I asked but Ian quickly shook his head. "Do you not hate me?" Ian asked with his head down. "Why would I? Cause you're gay? I don't think it's a reason to hate someone," I answered.
Ian raised his head, looking at me with a surprised look. I smiled in return. "So do you like a guy from our university or something," I asked.
"That's right. He is someone I met through a social event held by the faculty. He is kind, smart, and loved by everyone. I feel so comfortable around him. I'm scared that he'll stop being friends with me if he knows I like him," Ian explained with tears coming again.
"I don't know what to say but I believe that person won't simply throw away that friendship just cause you're different," I comforted Ian while grabbing his hand.
"Thank you, Owen. I appreciate it a lot," Ian said, giving me one final hug before he leaves. As Ian leaves, I feel my hands trembling again.
Why am I trembling? What am I being afraid of?
I ignored the thought of my trembling hands and went home.
Nighttime is here. I'm reading up on the details of the poetry competition. Font size 12, Times New Roman, double spacing, all the standardized format. The theme of the competition this time was Dream.
"Dream? What kind of theme is that?" I questioned while crashing onto my bed right before my phone rang.
"Hello? Owen!" Albert shouted. "Hello.... I can hear you. You don't need to shout," I replied with my head slightly ringing from Albert's shout.
Albert called to ask if I wanted to join him tomorrow for a day out. Apparently, Albert is looking for places to perform his music.
"Sure. I need to head out for inspiration as well," I agreed to go out with Albert. While he is looking for places to perform, I can look for inspiration to start my poem.
I call it a night, with various thoughts running through my head.
How will Ian live his life from now on since some people know about him? Will it change forever? Joining the poetry competition... is it the right decision? Albert...why does he always make me feel different? Could all this be just a dream?
Dreams... Are they dreams because we'll never reach them or are they just illusions to delay reality?
YOU ARE READING
Next Stop, Us
Romantizm"If you have a dream, then you must have the courage to chase it," Owen is a young adult who has always been admiring his dreams from afar, the dream of becoming a successful writer whose work will touch the hearts of others. Owen however is afraid...
