The Perfect Mix

Seventeen. The Perfect Mix of Boons and Upward Staircases

It was nice for Claire to pick us up in the hospital. Tam wasn’t feeling well; I guess she didn’t get much sleep since I was hogging the bed. It was just the three of us and we even decided to take a taxi this time since I’m feeling rich. At home, we celebrated my release from the hospital but my mom was very hesitant about it. She argued that I did get my butt kicked badly and this wasn’t something we should all celebrate about. Nonetheless, I was happy because I didn’t have to look at a plain white room and look outside the same window all day.

We opened a can of soda and we started drinking. It was like champagne for us. Though it didn’t take long before Tam called it quits and said she needed some sleep. So it was just Claire and I. Finally, Claire said she was also tired and she asked if she could sleep on my bed beside her sister, which I agreed to. After a while it was me, alone again. This scenario would only mean that I will think about things… again.

But before I did, I checked on the sisters sleeping on my bed. They were fast asleep and I could even hear Claire snoring. It was kind of hot in my room so I turned on the air-conditioner for them. Then I let them sleep and went back to the living room. Mom was busy doing some chores and I guess, I didn’t have anything left to do but to think.

I remembered high school again. It was so simple back then. I remembered that it was actually Tam who introduced Robbie’s Arcade to me. She said it’s where her boyfriend used to take her. And then I realize…

“Fuck… that guy’s style didn’t change” I said to myself. I was referring to Tam’s ex.

I remember being dumped by one of the girls I tried to court on high school and it was during the school dance. Tam pulled me aside and told me…

“You are not gonna cry you idiot! You are going to dance with me and were going to make her jealous!”

And I didn’t cry, in fact I didn’t care if the girl saw me dance around Tam and be jealous about it, I was happy because I to dance with a girl… A girl I look up to.

There was also the time when a guy from class was using the mirror to peek under her skirt. That was the first time I hit a guy and got detained and interrogated at the disciplinarian’s office. Once I was out, however, I saw Tam waiting for me outside. She gave me a tight hug then she kissed my cheek.

We were always there for each other and I really regret not contacting her after high school. I could have changed the course of time and could have prevented this for ever happening to her. From now on, I’ll keep her safe and I will raise her baby as though it were mine. What is left now is for me to state the obvious, to tell that I love her.

The following day, I went to school and I was immediately summoned by the dean of college. Well, apparently he was concerned about how I was. Looks like the news spread very quickly while I was at the hospital. I told him that I was okay and everything was settled.

“No, we’ll make this right. The school is to going to take drastic measures about this and we need you to give your testimony in front of our lawyer.”

“Uhm, okay, I guess my mom will be happy about it.” I said. “But I did sucker punch him before, isn’t that going to be a problem?”

“I guess, but it wouldn’t help to talk to our school lawyer about it so we can see the risks involved.”

“Okay, so where’s the lawyer?”

“Yeah, his office is two blocks away from our school, I’ll let you ride with me, so please be in the front gate after your class” He said. “what time is your last class?”

“4:30”

“Okay great, I’ll see you then.”

“Thank you”. I replied and take my leave.

                Once I was out in the hallway, other students started whispering about what had happened to me. I could hear a few phrases like “metal pipe”, “hardcore legend”, even “Jane”. Finally, I saw Lucas which made me ignore them.

                Later that day, I waited on the school’s front gate. The guards asked me why I was waiting there and I said the dean made me. I guess they weren’t use to people waiting in that area. Soon, cars started to pass by… Some cars would stop by the guardhouse to get their license back. It’s a process for guests so they could keep track of who enters the school or not, pretty standard. And since it was dismissal for most students, there were many cars passing by. There were black cars, red cars, blue cars, white cars and then it was the mythical or was it the legendary? It was the yellow dodge viper. The car stopped in front of me, the windows rolled from the passenger side, and there it was, the dean of college. So he was the one who owned the yellow dodge viper. I won the bet! If only I could remember who I made that bet with.

                The dean was kind of cool, his music was in loud but as soon as I sat down, he toned it down a bit. Once we reached the lawyers’ office, however, I got really bored. I was basically asked to write a statement and afterwards, he then he started asking me questions. I therefore conclude that lawyers are boring. Anyway, there’s nothing much to say about it. The dean did bring me home however, in his yellow dodge viper. My mom saw it and she was really surprised, Tam too. They were also happy that the school decided to see if they could press charges using my testimony. Well, anyway, it was a weird day that day. I looked at my mom and Tam who looked so happy, and I guess it made me happy too. Also, I was happy because I finally discovered one of the mysteries that surrounded my college life; and that was the yellow dodge viper. I know it wasn’t supposed to be so excited about it. But I won a bet and that made me happy. I was happy until I remembered; I could never win the bet because I made that bet with Jane.