Once In A Lifetime

Chapter 7: Being with a Friend

"When being together is more important than what you do, you are with a friend."
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Denise hurriedly went inside the library expecting Caroline to be waiting for her. Once inside, her eyes searched for the familiar countenance of her friend, but Caroline was nowhere inside. Silently, she took a cubicle on the left wing of the Florence Hall, and study Trigonometry for the final exam scheduled early that afternoon. She had a hard time making focus on what she was reading. She's thinking about Caroline. She was supposed to be meeting Denise for an hour tutorial. Caroline was having a hard time in her Trigonometry class while Denise consistently got the highest grade every grading period. That's why Denise offered her friend some help. For the past few weeks, they were seriously making up and Caroline showed considerable progress. This was supposed to be their last day. However, her friend did not show up for reason she was not aware.

After few minutes, Denise got impatient when Caroline did not make it. She got up and rushed herself in the school canteen for lunch break where she saw seemingly unending queue of students. Denise could not take the unbearable line now that she's in a hurry. She decided to skip a decent meal and bought tuna sandwich coupled with orange juice from a nearby store outside the campus, then, headed to a public calling booth and dialed, "Hello, it's Denise, Manang Joy. Just want to know if Caroline is around."

The woman on the other line said, "Oh, Denise, she's not here. But I thought, you are supposed to be together, right?"

There was an evident confusion from her voice as she answered, "Oh, yes Manang. I will just try to look around here, maybe, she's with other friends. Thanks."

The phone went dead. Caroline is not home. Oh gosh! Where are you, pretty face?

Inside the campus, Denise saw Kate, Caroline's cousin, a junior student from Topaz section, approaching her direction with friends and classmates. "Hello Kate, have you seen Caroline around? "

"Yeah. She's with Alvin and some students from the Dreamers Team," she responded gleefully.

"Where did you see them?"

"I saw them in the Woods Park."

"Okay. Thanks a lot." She walked as fast as she could, passing groups of students who smiled at and greeted her. The luxury of time was not with her at this particular moment. Any wasted minutes would definitely work against her and Caroline. The idea of missing Trigonometry class was a great possibility for she had only few minutes left before the scheduled time for the final examination. But she did not want to take it either, without her best buddy. Oh Caroline, where are you?

Woods Park is the school's art gallery. The Dreamers Team is a group of students passionate for painting, and working for a fund raising campaign through their work exhibits. Why on earth Caroline be interested on such things? She could hardly paint.

Denise checked her time again. On her wristwatch, it was 12:35 in the afternoon. Their exam in Trigonometry would be in less than an hour, and Caroline would be looking for answers, maybe up in the ceiling. If that happened, there would be no graduation for pretty face. The thought upset her even more.

Inside the gallery, she saw her dozing off on a couch in one corner of the room while the team was busy on something. Silently, she approached Caroline and gave her a slight shrug on her shoulder, "Hey, pretty face, get up now and let's face Trigo together," still panting. That was quite a walk from the school's gate to the gallery.

Caroline was surprised to see her friend musing in front of her with a tight face. "I'm sorry Denise, but I can explain..." she apologetically said in a soft voice but got lost in the air when Denise cut her off abruptly.

"That explaination can wait, but our exam in few minutes can't. So, let's go," she gripped her hand but Caroline hesitated.

"Sorry, Denise. But I won't take the exam. Please, go now." She said giving her a dismissive wave to send her away.

"No," she snapped back surprisingly and continued, "I won't leave you. Do you know what you're taking about?" She could no longer hold her indignation. "I don't know what's gotten in you, but you're coming with me, right now," she said forcefully.

"No, I won't!" She insisted and walked away from her.

Denise caught her arm, clenching her tightly, and unintentionally piercing her skin with her nails.

"Are you nuts? Our graduation is approaching and you'll just gonna throw all this thing away, and for what?" She said angrily and almost in tears.

"I can't make it, Denise," with a sob of despair she resigned and buried herself on the couch.

Denise softened, took pity on her friend and slowly held Caroline's face between her palm. "Of course, you can. I will help you."

"Everybody's talking about me, that I am just a pretty face but empty head. That I can only make it because you're there," her disdain look penetrated Denise's heart.

"That's not true, pretty face. We both know how you worked hard for this, too."

"Just go ahead, Denise. Let me do it my way this time. Promise, I will take the special exam. So, please go now before you miss it," she said convincing her.

"Fine. We'll take the special exam together."

"What?" Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"You heard me well. If I can't push you into this, then you can't push me either. We are just too hardheaded to give in to each other. Come, let's go somewhere else."

"You don't deserve this Denise. You're the class candidate for valedictorian, and you just can't throw it away for sympathizing with me."

"I can throw anything just for you, pretty face," she flashed her most affectionate smile and walked side by side with Caroline away from the prying eyes of the team.

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Thank you for reading my story. I have been busy for the past days, that's why I was not able to update it.
Please feel free to make any comments. Thank you once again. Hope you enjoy reading this.

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*Manang is an address used to give respect for older woman.

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