wlw short stories

Love is Political (Part 1)

Meredith Powell was the type to go beyond the conventional. Her fearlessness to wander on the least travelled road was magnificent and rared upon. Her mindlessness would often dictate her actions more than she admits.

Though, quite careless sometimes, she was indeed wise and intellectual especially at times when she wanted to. This little genius of hers was what got through her graduating in secondary school, with an honor of a student who gained the most absences. It wasn’t to be proud of but she couldn’t care less, she herself was even shocked that she was able to pull through, with good grades.

College admission was nearly over, yet she couldn't make up her mind. Taking the choice of a walk-in enrollee to give herself time to think, yet, by the time she walked through the University's gates, without a thought or proper thinking, her feet chose the course with the least enrollments. It was Political Science, which didn't suit her at all, she who was ignorant of politics and doesn't even know what it really meant.

On the other hand, Rachel Graham was the most endearing student whom everyone adored, be it inside or outside of school. Graduated with full attendance, with great moral character and with honors. Marching on the red carpet full of smiles, cheers and applauses. She even got a scholarship as early as anyone could be offered one.

Meredith didn't understand that. The great applause and cheers coming from everyone else when Graham walked to the stage. She knew Graham, she knew her brightness, cheekiness and extraversion plus her high religious profile. But Graham didn't know of her, they weren't in the same class nor was she ever present on joint activities and events that would make herself known to everybody else and to Graham. Even her own classmates were shocked of her existence.
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First week of classes is hectic, it is the time for everything and everyone to be settled so class would rarely be attended and held. Meredith knew that, even as a freshman in college she didn’t comply as to what the school calendar dictated.

During that summer before college was to start, she vowed to start anew, to start on a clean slate and be on the right track for once. Still, on that very first week, she didn't comply on her promise. Then again, she vowed to start on the week after. Determining and outlining self-punishments and maybe, it was time to think of the consequences of her actions. It was college and no longer high school, she's already nearing eighteen and no longer on her sweet sixteen. It was time that she should think and improve.

When the next Monday came, the motivation stemming from her ignorance of what Political Science is prompted her to eventually get up and attend her first class, 'Introduction to Political Science'. The early morning didn't do her good, she was mentally drained and unavailable. Then, when roll-call came, upon her shock, Rachel Graham was in the same class and also, coincidently on the same cluster as hers.

It couldn’t be any worse when the professor (also their Department Chairperson), mentioned that the cluster they were in will probably be the same cluster until the next semester.

Meredith was dumbfounded, she didn't want that. She didn't want to be always seeing Graham on her every subject, everyday. Even if she wished hard, Graham will still be there so she simply sunk on her seat and observed every dot and pattern on her desk. It was more easier than to think of someone whom she shared a common past with.

Days had passed, Rachel was now certain that the shadow of the girl who came in a week late in all of her classes was the same girl she always saw going in and out the library, back during their secondary school days. It made her feel delighted that an old familiar face has appeared to appease the feeling of anxiety brewing within her soul when entering the chaotic atmosphere of college life.

She knew she had to befriend the girl.

The opportunity came when a paired activity was said to be done. An oral report on particular subjects that should be determined through draws. Rachel's feet flew like a bird wrestling away from the people who came to approach her. She knew no one would dare take the lonely quiet girl in but she knew half of the class would be battling to be with her, so before someone could ask her, she was already sat beside the quiet girl, smiling in victory.