What it's like to be a Cherry Blossom

Chapter 5: Lunch

Classes seemed to go on forever. Every class started the same. Introduction, explanation of what we'll do this year, roll call and a tiny assignment. It happened over and over and over again. By 1:05 pm, we were released for lunch.

Maiko and I entered the cafeteria at left our things at the booth we used for breakfast. We waited in line for lunch, and returned to the booth. Luna was already there, but another girl was with her.

"Took you long enough," Luna said, smiling. "That's why I bring my own food."

"If I brought my own food, everyone would be curious to see what I eat." Mai replied, laughing.

Maiko and I proceeded to sit down, and I couldn't help wonder who was that girl next to Luna.

"Guys, I'm sorry! This is Valentina Rosales, she's my dorm mate." Luna said quickly, noticing my curiosity. Valentina smiled, tilting her head a little. This girl was absolutely beautiful. Her curly dark brown hair was held in a fishtail braid, and her bangs swept aside. She had a naturally tanned skin, clearly not fake like most of girls in our generation, who were trying to achieve that tan. But the most striking feature were her eyes. Magnificent green eyes that I could stare at all day.

She must have noticed me staring at her, because she quickly looked down. If I could pin point where she's from, I would say Mexico or something. Some place exotic.

"...She came in this morning after English, that's why you couldn't meet her. I still don't understand why until today though." Luna continued, apparently she was talking while I was staring.

"Well, you see, my family and I arrived yesterday night. We flew from my home country, ósea Venezuela, to El Salvador, and finally here, the US. Then we drove from the airport to the hotel closest to HCSA." Valentina said. I guess not every Latino that comes to the US is from Mexico.

"So Vale, what's your thing?" Mai asked, clearly comfortable with our Venezuelan friend.

"I sing and I would love to practice acting," She replied. "And I'm super excited to go to singing and acting class. I really want to make a career out of it! Pregunta, do you guys think I can do more than one activity? Or do I have to choose?"

"What I understood from last night's meeting, because it is our first high school year, we can only do one. Next year we can either choose another activity or stay with just one." I said.

This girl was clearly not shy. She talked to us easily, as if we have known each other our whole life. We exchanged phone numbers, and we left the cafeteria. Mai and Luna had Math, and Valentina and I had Physics. As we walked (and talked), I could see boys staring at her, completely awestruck by her beauty. I would also catch glimpses of jealousy of other girls, but one thing was for sure, everyone thought she was beautiful. I felt lucky to have met her,
be-friend her, and gotten her number!

***

Physics was boring. We haven't even started the year, and I didn't want to be in that class. Luckily, I had Vale next to me, so we would chat secretly. She had told me her life story. Her family had always been from Venezuela. Since she was a little girl, she would sing for he family, and along with her cousins, do plays for the adults.

As she got older, her family started to realize that Vale had an incredible voice. They immediately enrolled her to a music academy, and she would go every day for the past 7 years. While auditioning for a talent show at her school, a teacher told her about HCSA, but she didn't pay much attention to it. When she mentioned it to her music teacher from the academy, he told her that if she wanted to grow as a singer and make a career out of it, she should join immediately.

Apparently, the teacher at her school was trying to make her students enroll so they could have a better chance at life, due to all the corruption and danger that Venezuela has been facing for the last couple of years. When Valentina told her she was interested, she helped her enroll, and when she passed, the teacher was incredibly happy.

Class finished, and we had our activity class. Vale left for singing, Luna for instruments, and Mai and I ballet.