My not so Perfect Love

CHAPTER 2: Below that Bridge

The first week in school went on smoothly with of course some little bumps here and there. Not only could I be with my ‘barkada’ (colleague) but I also get to meet some amazing people and some ‘not  so’. And that not-so is just one person; Lance.

                Speaking of Lance, even after ignoring him for just three days, he managed to make me even more irritated. He distracts me when I’m reciting and bumps me IN PURPOSE! What is he? 10? It was so child’s play.

                Anyways, enough about him. It’s a day to relax our school butts. Thank God it’s Saturday!

                “Cuckoo! Wake up! Today is your monthly jog! Cuckoo!” my phone alarmed. I still have to exercise so I decided to have it once at least.

                I went and got my earphones, sweat shirt, pedal shorts and a pair of my rubber shoes and took off. I like the sound of music while passing through the trees and a highway with not so many cars passing by. Just feeling the air and sun with such radiance is good enough for me.

                While jogging, my mom texted me to buy some eggs for breakfast. So, I took a shortcut by the bridge. It’s still 5:20 at that time. I reached the bridge with the eggs safely placed in the plastic bag at exactly 5:45 am and I was heading home when I noticed someone catching up with him.

                “It’s about time you got here.” Lance appeared standing on the edge of the bridge. “Hey! W-w-wait! Don’t do that. It’s dangerous!” I quicly reacted. “What are you talking about? C’mon.” then he jumped.

                I was completely dumb-founded. Only God knew how much I panicked. “Oh God!” I rushed to see if he was okay. As I looked down …

                “ Are you afraid of heights or something? C’mon down! You’re supposed to tutor me, remember?” he shouted from below. I heaved a sigh. “ Are you trying to make me have a heart attack? You scared me to death, you idiot!”

                                “I’m… I’m sorry.”

                Was I hearing right? Did he just say he’s sorry?

                                “I’m sorry for picking on you on your first week. I get it that you’re irritated. Just come down here for a bit.”

                A guy like him apologizing like that. Hm. That’s something precious to keep in mind. I then came down eventually.

                “This isn’t some kind of trick you’re using to pick on me, right?”

                                “Ah, you’re being frank. So this is the real you?” he layed back. “Pfft. What do you mean?”

                “Al, you just called me an idiot a while ago. I never heard yousay it to anyone before. Never.. especially with your friends.” He emphasized. Then it hit me. “You were stalking me?”

                                “You look amused. Oh but I could never do that. I get stuff from observing. It’s creepy isn’t it? Now you know how I felt.” He said with a sarcastic smile. We both chuckled.

                “I’m sorry. I just got curious in your ‘mysteriousness’.”

                                “Yaa, I get that a lot form you guys.” I stifled a laugh. Then I though…

                “Hey.”

                                “Hm?”

                “Mind me asking why Ms. Zumman was that harsh on you during the first day?”

                                “…” I slowly nodded to show that I understood.

                “Surely, you’d say the reason why you want to meet here on a 5:30 morning which I thought was an afternoon?”

                                “Aha.” He smiled. “Well, you’d know if you were here thirty minutes ago.”

                Ting! “Oh no! I almost forgot breakfast. I really have to go. Can we do the tutoring tomorrow?”I panicked.

                “Umm, sure. Whatever.”

                                “Great! Let’s meet up.. uhh here! 10:30 am. Okay, C’ya tomorrow!” I rushed up the small hill, back to the main road.

                “Al!” he called.

                                “Ya?” I panted.

                “I’m a sophomore. Not a freshman.” He got me smiling there. “I’ll remember that.” I ran back to my place.

                I arrived just in time for cooking. I entered and shouted “I’m home!”

                “Perfect! Oh dear, you seem quite sweaty. Did you enjoy running today?” Mom queried.

                                “Uh, yeah. Imma change first then.” I handed the bag of eggs and ran to my room and took a quick shower.

                “Al?” Mom pleaded.

                                “Yeah? I’m taking a shower. Don’t come in.”

                “Well, I just wanted to hand you your crumpled paper. It seems to have a guy’s name written on it. You may want to read it.” I quickly grabbed my towel and opened the door.

                “That’s impossible. I haven’t written any guy’s name in my kind of paper… except for ‘his’.” I just took the paper from her hand and closed the door… then I thanked her as she makes a move to leave.

                I quickly looked for whose name was it that was written. Actually, I still hoped it was from ‘him’, my unrequited first love who left two years ago. I know it won’t be his name on it. Surprisingly it came from “Lance?”

                “ A meteor shower goes high and low abd dandelions are for you to blow.”

                Does he like poetry? I asked myself. “Ali ! breakfast is ready!”

                                “I’m coming!”

                My regular Saturday begun but a year of mysteries was there to elope. What lies beneath the flowery words and personality behind the school walls?

                Below that bridge, I saw a different Lance Fletcher that maybe no one knew of. Below that bridge was real.

                And so was I.