My Childhood's Wish

Chapter 3

Being in a classroom full of noise is always a normal thing to happen. I want to join them but my guts tell me that they are wary of my approach. I'm used to this kind of setup. Being alone when everyone doesn't like how you treat people because of my weird shenanigans creeps them out. I know to myself that I don't intend on making them dislike me. Dealing with something that might go around against me is a hassle. I'm sure that this life of mine will be nothing more than full of dullness. At least, that's what I think.

4 years ago, nearing the end of middle school in the 6th grade. I, Eugene, have found myself in a very awkward position. Given the fact that I have zero care in the world when is not exactly zero.

I always see Reina from afar in my class. A transferee student in the same year. She made numerous awards in competitions for being smart, therefore, being the smartest and excelling academically. She's so popular that people call her an ice princess or something for being beautiful and quiet. Boys in my class always go to her to be noticed. We may have the same way on how to act with people but we totally live in different worlds. One where she has many people going to her while. My personality is more of a reckless kind, I tend to be nosy as long as it doesn't hurt people as I think it is. Personally, I have caught feelings for her in that one time. 

One day, I met her outside the school reading something, a book that's all about socializing with people. I knew she has problems communicating with people despite her being around many but I never knew she reads those kinds of books. She suddenly saw me and proceeds to grab my arm to run.

"H-Hey!!!" I immediately said.

We kept running while her hand is still on my arm. We reach a nearby playground when there's no one around.

"You saw it didn't you? You did saw it." She's angered.

"Yes I did, now can you please remove your hand?" I asked.

She lets go of my arm.

"Sigh... How am I going to face everyone now that you know my secret? I can't let anyone find out about this!" She muttered.

"I don't have many friends so I won't tell, trust me on this." I held both my hands as a gesture.

Out of all things right now, I don't her to hate me. Even so, this is the first time I'm having a conversation with her but getting into this mess is already bad as it is.

She turned around walking around the seesaw.

"So you have no friends huh?" She said while sitting on the seesaw.

"Go into that other seat," she added.

"A-are you sure?" I said.

"I wouldn't ask something if I can't do it on my own. Come on let's enjoy ourselves here!" She grinned.

She's so cool.

I went to the other seat of the seesaw and casually played around with her. This is kind of fun especially when I'm with her. 

"Reina, about the thing earlier, do you have problems socializing?" I asked.

"It's not that I have problems with it, I'm just having a hard time communicating. Our classmates just go to me with hidden motives." She answered.

She's very sharp with her observation.

"I didn't like how they go to me to talk about something. They only see me as some idol wanting to get their attention because of my popularity and wanting to use me." She said.

I get her perspective. She's only been praised and worshipped only in image but they don't see her true nature among all. These boys going after her is surely annoying.

"You do have some friends that can help you with that. You may as well ask them." I said.

"Well... about that, I only have a couple and they seem to have no idea what I'm dealing so I'll solve this myself."

"Gosh, I have no idea you were having this problem all by yourself. I hope that you can overcome that challenge of yours." I said with determination.

*She laughs in agreement*

"Thanks! I will!" She said.

"If you were to ask me, I think you should decline how they talk to you in a way that makes you uncomfortable so that it won't continue. You could tell your friends that they should only talk to you when they have something to ask or have a conversation where you truly seem to be interested."

"It ain't easy you know. I have this image to represent the school and-"

"Who cares about that if you feel hurt by doing so?" I stopped her from talking.

"You don't need to hold that image by having many pressures, just live with your life on what you want it to be. Go around and enjoy the things you like before it's too late." I said.

She went silent and began to think while we were in the seesaw. Seeing her like that made me nervous and felt bad about butting into her problems.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said much." I apologized with my head bowing.

"No no, I should thank you for telling me that, I never went to the idea of enjoying things because I ought to be the best in academics. Thank you so much!" She smiles brightly.

She's so pretty that I can't get my eyes off her.

"Well... you can hold your image while having fun so..." I looked the other way.

"Your very observant for someone who has no friends." She teased.

"Don't put it that way, I like being on my own," I said.

"Liar" She refuted.

"Want to become friends then?" She suddenly reaches out to me while in the seesaw.

"WHAT?!?!!" I genuinely got an eye-opener from that statement.

She laughs again. God, she keeps teasing me.

"Out of all the boys in our class, you're very interesting. I keep seeing glances from you despite people going close to me. But you haven't gone near me unlike the rest" She said.

"That's just in my nature," I replied casually.

"They don't like me because of how I act to them. Their reasons are quite dull but maybe because I'm too weird for them or I'm too annoying"

My family is poor. They do give me the best that I could have but not all is luxury. My classmates made fun of me for being poor and having such clothes that doesn't fit their standards. My likes also don't align with them at all. I enjoy watching cartoons and making random origami while they don't. That's why I kept myself busy with my hobbies.

"I never see you as a weird person. You tend to help people outside the school like my grandma."

"Your grandma?"

"Yeah! She told me something about a person that helped her pick up potatoes that fell over. The next thing I know, I saw you raking leaves as early in the morning."

"No way..." I muttered.

My mom taught me that despite being poor. I must help those people in need regardless. By helping other people out, your actions will also go back to you as well. I don't mind helping people out at all. I find myself happy if they are happy as well. That's the way of the Alvarez family.

"That's why I want to be your friend. To know you better as a person." She left the seat of the seesaw and approaches me.

"Nice to meet you, Eugene!" She twinkled in her eyes.

For the very first time, I have a female friend. Not just a female friend, my crush asked me to be her friend! In a such turn of events, I wouldn't expect anything to happen. My joyful side has somehow shown to her by accepting her wishes.

"Nice to meet you too, Reina!" I smiled upon her.

My life is nothing but full of dullness and alone. That's what I thought at first. Come to think of it, maybe this is the time I enjoyed school for quite a very long time. A miracle that happened to be it's one of a kind.