STUDENT BODY

Chapter 06

Chapter 06

When Shawn found out later what happened to Richard, he decided to exclude Rich from other activities except for setting up the barbecue and bonfire. We will be staying at River Heights not later than 10 pm with a promise of having to drink beers. Shawn ordered me to look out for Richard the whole afternoon and work together with him as close as possible. I agreed but I made it clearly that I am doing this under protest. Shawn and Jeannie just looked at me and laughed.

Richard on the other hand is somewhat pissed off with his disability. He insisted that he was fine and can do the rest of the activities without doing further harm on him. Shawn didn't want to risk that so he relegated Rich to other activities ... with me obviously. We started by getting fire woods for the bonfire.

As we were gathering woods for the bonfire, Richard started a conversation with me. He thanked me for taking care of him and making him feel better.

"I'm not that big of a prick like you described me to Jeannie, you know," Rich said.

"So we are now having a decent conversation Richard? That's a start. However, to Jeannie, I told her you were a prick but for the rest, it comes with 'arrogant '".

"You hate me that much huh? Where's that even coming from? Was it even before the election?" asked Richard.

"I didn't even recall at all. I guess it started when we were unconsciously competing for grades, academically speaking. And I remember your calling me a faggot behind my back, " I said.

"I never called you that. The only time I called you was when during the campaign period which I regretted after so much pressure from my team. Besides I was kinda pissed off that day I wanted to quit the election," he said.

"Really? I was thinking of quitting too but I thought not giving up that so easy for you. The election and the campaign was stressing me out. I missed doing stuff like this. But hey, I didn't mind losing at all to you. I am just glad the election was over, " I said.

"But you did not exactly answered my question. Why the hate? School and grades are just numbers. It's not like we're always competing with each other or being pitted with each other. We hardly even know each other, " he said.

"Can I just be honestly blunt with you?" as I switched into a more serious tone.

"This isn't the first time you were honestly blunt with me but please go ahead, " he said. And waited for my reply. I just want to be direct as much as possible. So here goes nothing.

"I hate you because you're too damned perfect in everything. You're so popular in school, girls practically throw themselves at you. Even my best friend Cameron has a thing for you even though I told him a thousand times that you are straight. I just hate everything about you because you made it look easy because you're straight and normal. Not like I'm mentally abnormal or something but more like you know, you are conventional while we still struggle for our rights, " I said.

Rich just stared at me and looked like his pondering on what I have just said and replied, "My life is far from being perfect. And speaking of being popular, look at you? You practically dated all the guys in our school. I always saw you go out with different guys every now and then. And for the record, I'm not homophobic," he said.

Now it was my turn to laugh. I laughed so hard that I would put a laughing hyena to tears. I tried to collect myself and stop laughing. Richard looks like being freaked out already. " Me? Dated all the guys in our school? I have no idea. Surely you must have mistaken me for another person, " I said. "I never dated anybody from our school. Not even one. I'm sorry. That didn't come out right. "

"It's just I'm confused. If you weren't dating those guys from our school ,why this sleeping and whoring reputation became a public secret?" he asked.

"I have no idea. I only dated guys outside school but I find them too shallow for my taste and once I get to know that they were even shallower than I am, I never bothered to date them again. "

I was waiting for his response but silence got in the middle of our conversation. I looked down at the firewood that I collected instead, while he picked up another firewood and put it in his arms and started to talk again.

"Were you ever this nice to other guys like what you just did to me this morning?" Richard asked.

"I don't know. I guess. I haven't done that to many guys though. Was it horrible? I mean I know my first aid but I don't practice that often," I replied.

"No not all. You are far from being horrible. You are actually quite nice. Was I that horrible to you? " he said.

"You're not that horrible yourself. I thought I can't stand a minute talking to you but here we are. Ha ha Ha. Anyway, it's getting late. We had enough firewoods for the bonfire tonight. "