For His Happiness

Chapter 11: A Rather "Normal" Conversation

Mr. Jones Can't Take His Eyes Off A Honda

The Gang read the headline in unison. It was one of those rare times when these scallywags along with Matthew and Kiku met in the lobby, waiting for someone to pick them up or hang out when they have a free time, which didn't happen too often after they all took different classes and their after school activities diverse based on the clubs they joined in.

Lately, the school newspaper, headed by Mrs. Elizabeta Edelstein, released the latest issues. Almost immediately, most of the students grabbed an article each and proceeded to flip to Page 10 where the Promposals were featured. As far as most everyone (and everything) knows, Mrs. Edelstein was and still had an obvious obsession when it comes to romances, hence there was no doubt why she ended up placing the promposals in the paper, with a notice at the front, advertising teenagers which page to flip. And so, there they were, The Gang, in the school lobby, sitting on a long bench; Gilbert had just been dismissed from his detention (only two weeks left and he's done!).

They scanned the page. So far, as much as there were more than a hundred students who proposed to their respective partners, only five people took the courage to make their own proposals a little bit more... extra, as they were featured there on the school paper. Both Alfred and Kiku kept their copies years later and they let me lend one. Two of these five people used the traditional "poster proposals" with catchy quotes from movies and whatnots. One surprised his girlfriend with a teddy bear, and another one took it to another level where he decorated her locker with metallic confetti. But nothing could compare to Alfred's efforts that marked on that day, which was (no surprise) not on Page 10 where the promposals should be, but on the front cover!!!

"'Mr. Jones Can't Take His Eyes Off A Honda'" Gilbert reread the headline. "Kesesese! Boy, this is false advertisement, but then again it's true!"

Matthias snorted. "Couldn't agree more! You got to admit; whoever wrote this is a god. Not being sarcastic here."

"On Friday, June XX, XXXX," Matthew read, "popular star student, Alfred F. Jones, made a surprise Promposal via Heath Ledger style with the help of his brother, Matthew, well known as a saxophone player, and a "seemingly support" from the School Ratboy, who disrespectfully disrupted the announcer without further notice."

"Give me that!" Gilbert ripped the paper away from his boyfriend's grasp and read that part. "The Fuck! She's trying to wreck me! I didn't even do anything (yet)! And I believe that Ratboy has a name called 'Awesome'. Holy Fucking Maple, they only featured me in sixteen words but this is sacrilegious!!!"

Matthew patted his shoulder, trying to calm him down. "Well, at least they don't say it is you. I mean, look: they didn't even mention your name."

Alfred made a "pfft" sound and said, "Oh Matt, bro, do you actually think people are that stupid to think that this is not Gilbert? Seriously, even a bird knows whom they are referring to. Plus, Mrs. Edelstein runs the school paper and I'll be damned if she doesn't complete her day without giving him an insult, like that one time when he barged into Mr. Edelstein's office and she called him 'Crotch-Face'."

Matthew glared at him after Gilbert twitched an eye. "Alfred Fucking Jones, I'm trying to resurrect his self-esteem but you just back-stabbed him and pulled my nerves with your logorrhea and overstatements!"