Another Way Around

Chapter Two

I walk toward the room, sit down and bend my head over. I’m still sleepy. I stayed up late last night reading about articles and researches about the progress in the discovery of life in Mars. I’m addicted to solar system and I really wanted to go to space. Stupid dream they say, but I know nothing is impossible if we believe.

“Gab!” Matea called.

“Hey.”

“So who’s the lucky guy?” She asked.

“Lucky what?!” I said perplexed.

“The nerve Gab, tomorrow night is prom, you don’t have a date yet?”

A long paused. I forgot about it. I’ve been too preoccupied with the upcoming recital, the essay contest, choir presentation and the pressure Mum is putting on me because my sister Ali is coming home this weekend. She wants my sister to see me at my best so Ali will regret leaving us and failing my Mum’s dream for her- to become a lawyer, she took up Fine Arts instead. She also cut her hair so short to show her rebellion, so Mum burst into frustration, frustration that leads her to make me “Ali”. So in short, she wants me to be great on recital day, win the essay contest, stand out on choir and yes I’m thinking about the possibility of life in Mars or maybe life already exist there.

“Hey!” Jake yelled while waving hand on my face.

“She’s losing her consciousness again”

“What is it again?” I asked as I get lost in the conversation.

“We are asking about your date tomorrow”. Jake answered.

With conviction, I said, “Well, Jake is my date tomorrow.”

Matea and Jake looked at each other in a short paused.

“What? Remember, we agreed you’ll be his date on our junior year, and I’ll be his date on senior year. We made that agreement when we are in grade school and sealed it by shedding mucus of a poor snail. So Jake is my partner tomorrow night,” I said facing Matea.

At that moment, I became excited. Why do I worry so much about things that don’t really matter? Tomorrow might be the sweetest, greatest, most memorable moment in my life. it might even be the greatest turning point wherein Jake might finally see me as a beautiful girl and not just “cute little buddy” which he often called me. This might be the night he will look into my eyes and say the things I always imagined.

“Sorry Gabrielle, we forgot about that arrangement,” Jake said.

“What do you mean?”

“Matea is so excited about the prom so she prepared her dress early”

“So what’s the matter with that?”

“We already paired up. I mean, what are we going to wear, the car we are going to ride and everything. Last Saturday you are too busy to accept her mom’s invitation for lunch. She asked me about this and I said yes, you know her mom. I’m sorry Gab, but I can’t take that “yes” back,” Jake explained.

“I’m so sorry Gab, you know my mom. She even bought suit for Jake and shoes and tie and everything just to make sure we’ll be very perfect match. She is so concerned about special events in my life. Even so, I thought you’re going with Gino because he’s your partner last year.”

“K. Whatever, I’m not going,” I said while rolling my eyes.

“Ohh, don’t be such a baby! Hey Gino! You have a date tomorrow?” Matea said, not noticing I’m already losing my patience.

“None,” Gino answered.

“There you go, Gabrielle is your partner tomorrow.”

We looked at each other, he smiled and said, “I’ll pick you up tomorrow night at 7.”