Locker Love Letters

Letter 2

Another week. Another letter. It read:

Cathy,

When you smile I would nearly melt

When you’re near me I’m mesmerized

My stomach is filled with butterflies

I really like you, haven’t you realized?

I like you for you; I don’t even know why I do

You’ll know me soon …

-Wild Kitten

“Oooh … another love letter from wild-coward-kitten, eh? I guess your smile killed him, Cathy. I bet he’s in a coffin now,” Keith said behind me as I folded the letter. I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Killed? He’s dead? Why?”

“Because he said so there in that note. When you would smile, you would nearly cause his ‘liquefaction’. His stomach is even filled with butterflies! What a pitiful man!”

I chuckled. “Shut up, you idiot. That’s only a hyperbole. You know what? I’m starting to like him already —“

“WhaaAAAT?! You like him already even though he hides and keeps his identity?!”

I nodded in response. He slammed his palm into his face mumbling “oh gawd why?!”

“Because he admires me too … isn’t that great? Hey. What’s that?” I asked him, seeing a piece of envelope that fell form one of his books. He immediately picked it up and smiled sheepishly at me.

“Nothing. Probably a letter from one of my fans,” he said, amused at the word “fans”.

            He’s not really lying about his fans. In fact, he has a fans club that has ¾ girls and ¼ homosexual men. I just couldn’t say the “g” word.

He’s really very handsome (according to his fans) and he never had a girlfriend. Sometimes I am doubtful of his gender. Kidding. He never had a girlfriend because he’s afraid that his fans might kill her. He’s also an honor student and a basketball varsity player. Who would not like that kind of person? There are so many girls out there who are jealous of me because we’re really close. We’re friends since kindergarten. And the reason why we became friends? Well, back in my kindergarten days, we were having an art class. While I was coloring my butterfly, someone suddenly tugged one of my pigtails and I shouted because it was tugged abruptly and painfully. I turned around to see who it was and saw that it was a boy with a mischievous smile. Mischievous but cute.

“What do you want?!” I asked angrily.

The boy grinned and said, “Hi I’m Keith and I want to give you something.”

“Uh, hello I am Cathy. Are you really going to give me something?” He nodded and I squealed and clapped my hands in delight.

“Here!” he said as he gave me a brown stick.

“What’s this? It looks like a brown crayon!”

“Nah, it’s a chocolate! Just crayon in shape.”

“Thank you! I really like chocolates!”

“Always and forever welcome”

Before I took a bite, I licked it first. It tastes weird. I heard him chuckle and then it hit me –

“EEEEEW!! YUUUUUCKS! AGGGGHHHHHRR!” I shouted as I the “chocolate” at him.

It was not really a chocolate but a crayon! I almost poisoned myself … no, he almost poisoned me. crayons are toxic! What if I bit it?

“WOOOOH! I GOTCHA!”” he exclaimed while laughing his signature hyena laugh. And from that time on, we started to be “close friends”. Sigh.

February came in so quick and it has been one week that I did not receive notes from Wild Kitten. Did he give up on me already? I hope not. I hope he reveals himself on February 14. Wouldn’t that be romantic?!

“Sad, sulky and sullen because he’s not giving you notes?” Keith asked while we were getting out stuff form our lockers.

“Shut up.”

“Oooooh cuh-ree-pee …”

“Maybe he’s writing a VERY long letter for me! I wish he’ll be revealing himself this Valentines! And that he’ll be giving me chocolates —“

Keith laughed when I said the word ‘chocolates’; he just couldn’t forget that crayon incident back in our kindergarten days.

“— and all the things I want!” I exclaimed.

“Well you’re treating him like a convenience store that is open 24/7. And hey, what If he’ll not give you that stuff you want?” Keith asked with a surprisingly serious face.

“I’ll … I’ll … I don’t know. Why do you ask?”

“Oh nothing. Just having a survey. You see, I’m going to court to a girl I loved since forever and I want to know how would a girl react if she’s not given such gifts.”

“Oh … I see,” I asked. I noticed my voice seemed sadder than before.

“And guess what?”

“uh, what?”

“I’m going to court her this Valentine’s day. Wouldn’t that be romantic?!” he exclaimed. I did not reply. Honestly, even though I liked that Wild Kitten, whoever he or even a she is, there’s someone in my heart that kept my heart beating since forever. Who is he? Well, he’s always with me.

My closest friend as well as my best enemy —

Keith.

            I nodded and got my stuff from my locker. After closing the locker door, I faked a cheery smile and asked with a gleeful smile:

“Who is that lucky as well as unlucky girl?! Huh? Huh? Since when are you keeping things from me you moron?” Unlucky because a lot of fans will go and grab her by her hair and make her suffer. His smile wavered and he frowned.

“Well you know her so well, but I won’t tell you because … alright. I’m changing my mind. I won’t court her.” Okay … I just felt relieved and I want to go straight to the girl and say “In your face!” But that’s stupid because I don’t even know her.

“But why?” I asked, trying not to appear unconcerned and delighted about his decision.

“I guess she won’t like me anyway, I mean …” he paused and grabbed me by my shoulders, “ … look at me!”

“Well …in my opinion Kee-Kee, I guess she’ll not hesitate saying a big yes to you. I mean … look at you. You’re almost perfect except that you are annoying and mischievous. Honestly, if I’m in her shoes I’d say yes. But in my case since I know you sooo well it might take a long time but I’ll say yes in the end.”

Keith grinned his signature mischievous smile.

“Why are you grinning like that?”

“Hmmm just thought of something,” he said as he released me from his strong grip. We started walking towards our room.

“Uhhh .. Don’t take seriously about what I said. It’s just that I’ve known you for so long. Uh, does she know you very well too?”

“Oh … she just told me,” he said. I couldn’t understand what he said.

We sat down as soon as we arrived at our classroom and I said something that stopped me from swallowing my pride.

“Well if you really love her, then why hesitate from confessing your feelings for her?”

There, I let go of it. I let go of him. Yes we’re young and we’ll have longer time to meet and new people. But there’s something between us that assures me that he’ll never reciprocate my feelings for him. And that’s friendship.

“Thank you for all that encouraging words, Cat-Cat. I’m set. I’m going to confess to her next week, February 14, Wednesday.”