Matters of the Heart

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

I can't believe we're staying inside our classrooms for the rest of the day. I really imagined something different, something that would boost my energy, and something that would make a change. As I boringly looked at the newly-furnished wooden white board that was placed at the very front of us (obviously) for like the hundredth time already this morning, how I wish I could just stay home right now. It was the most boring day ever, something I can't even explain how boring it was.

"Hey." Howard spoke in his very gentle and soft voice, not to mention the huskiness in it, as he poked me. I looked at him with no energy at all, keeping my brows so low I hardly doubt it would even reach the floor. I felt my eyes went weak as I blink once in 5 seconds, using every force and energy I have left to look like I was paying attention to Mrs. Rodriguez, our advisor.

"Sleepy, huh?" he said as he gritted through his teeth.

"Aren't you—" I wasn't able to finish my sentence when Mrs. Rodriguez called our attention.

"Ms. Bernal and Mr. Santos, mind sharing the class what you were just talking about?" Great. I can feel my hands shaking but looking at Howard... he looks perfectly fine. It was like his name was not even called by a teacher on the very first day of school.

"I'm so sorry for the inconvenience ma'am but I would like you to know that I was just asking Madison-"

"Madison?"

"Uh, right. Madison, Ms. Bernal. Well I was just asking her how her summer went." Wow. Thanks Howard. Thanks for making the situation worst. I just have the most brilliant excuse and he just ruined it.

"Well, you're aware it's not the proper time and place to chit-chat right?"

"Yes ma'am, and I deeply apologize for this. I assure you this will never happen again." He said and let out a smile. Damn it.

"I'll count on that. And oh, Ms. Bernal? Is there anything you would like to say?" I was shocked she even called my attention.

"Uhm, we're truly sorry for this ma'am. It won't happen again." I said and she fixed her glasses as she read the paperworks in her hands, reading our rules and regulations one by one. Gising na nga yata ako eh. Thank you, Mrs. Rodriguez.

I wasn't sure how the time went by so fast, but I was glad it was lunch time already. It was not all that different from a circus, and it came to our school cafeteria in much the same way. Only instead of elephants and giraffes, there were food stalls and white tables. Instead of clowns and cages and tightropes, there were students and faculties and a little bit of noise everywhere. It came to me like there was a sense of magic in the way it appeared so quickly from nowhere, filling the empty spaces in the cafeteria so quickly even those who had been expecting it were taken by surprise. And when Howard and I entered the cafeteria, we knew it was not the perfect place to talk about the things we haven't talked about.