Stay Still

*Dedicated po ito sa lahat ng friends ko nitong second sem 1st year nanag-encourage sa akin na ipasa ko ito.. THANKS SO MUCH.. Flabbergast!

*Pinasa ko po ito sa official publication ng aming college sa univeristy na pinapasukan ko iyon nga lang hindi ko alam kung mapapublish... contributor lang ako eh... :D

Being the perfect, popular girl in school seems a very appealing thought to Rea when she started high school but then she never expected that it would soon change herself not for the better but for the worse.

                In her elementary days she had these two bestfriend, Claudine and Sean. They were inseparable and do not belong to any peers until each of them step on the doorway of the big red building which bears the name “Bluesea High”.

                For the first time the inseparable trio broke apart. The reason seems so silly later when they look back; it is because of their class schedule. They tried to catch up in the fast flowing current of high school life and struggle against the flow which prevents them from being together. But the current is too strong and too dangerous to object; soon they just go with the flow. It was the start, then the next without them knowing, they have drifted too far away from each other having their own peers.

                Rea with her good looks, undeniable good sense of humor, and light weight found a spot on the cheer squad as their flyer. Everyone knows it is consists mainly of the populars and the plastic. Claudine on the other hand being the smart one was shunted to the nerd by the popular group without Rea’s knowledge. Sean being the awesome dancer becomes so much involve of the dance crew without noticing the change.

                Days, weeks and months passed but only Claudine seems to be trying to sew them back together but to no avail each thread was cut by the manipulating, lying populars and the trio was absolutely no more.

                Rea was planted bad ideas about Claudine and Sean by her peers whom she undoubtedly believe. One day they just saw each other face to face after so many weeks not speaking with each other and immediately Rea’s stare becomes accusatory.

                “Move it, lying nerd.” Claudine’s mind gone blank and stared with her mouth hanging open to her friend, fear was bubbling inside her that her friend might have drown in the lies.

                “What are you talking about?”

                “Oh so you are not the one that spreading the rumor that I am some stuck up girl that only wants my friends for their money” Claudine could not speak. She doesn’t understand one bit of it. “Look forget it and don’t ever talk to me again” Rea’s voice was filled with so much venom that it licks her heart so much that for one second she taught it might stop because of its poison.  Next thing she knew she was shove to the wall and was being confronted with the populars and no one is around to help her. Then suddenly she heard footsteps and there her friend Sean dragging her saves her from the girls.

                From that day two friends are sewed back together. Claudine was still desperate to help Rea open her eyes to the never ending lies that she now lives but soon she faced her worst nightmares. Rea would not accept anything she said and believes too much to the so many altered truths.

                Rea refused to believe anything Claudine says, it is after all damage to her image if suddenly she was friends of the nerd again and the weirdo dancer but deep inside her she knew she missed them.

                Yes it breaks her heart to think her friend all along is like that but what hurts more is that her boyfriend, the most popular guy in school cheated on her. Or maybe not as much as when she overheard the girls on her way to the comfort room, the whispers of lies being passed on one another and much more is when her cool friends believe it even though it sounded ridiculous.

Suddenly Claudine cannot take it anymore she burst into the door and just stared at the two girls who looked shock but quickly masked their expression with one of concern. She suddenly felt sick and then she run off without uttering a single word.

                The very next day, she strips off her gorgeous dresses, washes off her make-up and drops her acts. The bullying starts and no one dare to help the liar, the one who betrayed her friends, they are all afraid that she would contaminate them with her sudden change of status.

                Claudine wants to help her friend but Rea still shoves her away. Rea was too afraid to see the blame in the eyes of her remaining friend or the glare she would receive from her Sean. After two failed attempts, Sean interrupts to prevent his love one getting hurt again. There’s no greater wound than coming from your own friend he thought.

                Walking in a daze for days, she thought to herself, Claudine was right she live in a crowd full of lies, and along the way she losses the real her. She therefore never dares to go back to her known true friends, Claudine and Sean, knowing that they have managed to hate her or to her cool crowd where she after all is not one.

                One drizzling, cold evening Sean finally got the guts to ask Claudine out for a dinner. They were walking hand in hand and smiling at each other when they came across the park where the three of them usually hung out. In their favorite tree a lone figure without any protection from the harsh wind that is blowing and the tiny prickle like droplets sat with her head on her knees and arms hugging herself. Without another thought, Claudine runs to the girl dragging Sean along. Even with the lack of light and the surrounding darkness, wherever and whatever condition they might be she would know the form of her friend.

                Claudine gently touched the shoulder of Rea and the latter raises its head, red, puffy eyes meets the brown ones and the girl stands up and would have run way if Claudine didn’t caught her wrist and firmly but not enough to chock her, gave her a hug. Rea lets her walls crumbled and all the pent up emotions that was left bottled let out. She clung to her friend as if her life depends on it. Sean shrugged his jacket and put it on her crying friend and hugs the two girls.

                “I’m so sorry… sorry… sorry.” That word was repeated so many times and each time Claudine and Sean would assure her it was not her fault. They can clearly see the regret and remorse their friend feels.

                They stood there for a few more minutes and they could feel Rea sliding from their grasp, exhaustion must have gotten their friend because the breathing becomes steady as her eyes close. Claudine began to panic but with the assurance from her boyfriend that Rea was only asleep, she helps him to put her on his back to be carried home. They walk the little way to Rea’s house only to found it was empty as usual.

                Rea woke up with the slight tap of rain falling on a window. Two sets of arms with intertwined fingers wrap to her tightly as if afraid that they she would run away or she would have vanished right there and there. On either side of her was her two bestfriends who somehow manage to become a couple. Right there she knew when they would open their eyes there wouldn’t be any blame or accusation only forgiveness and acceptance.

                She may be the subject of the gossip mill or the target of the bullies but she knew she would be okay with her friends there at her side. She may be left out when they would go out but at least they would stay still as her friends and with that thought she closed her eyes and let her mind wonder at the beautiful days that stretch out once her open her eyes again. She got herself back and the most important fact was she got her true friends forgive her.

*Maraming salamat po sa lahat ng bumasa