Forever Together

Where It All Started! (Part 1)

I was enrolled in high school by the orphanage. It was my first day at school. Never saw so many new faces. All the seats were filled and Cathy was right there, sitting on the last bench. More like sleeping. 

"Hey, Can I sit here?"

"Yeah sure. But, you got to wake me up while you answering the roll call or bunking."

"Cool."

I sat next to her and she was sleeping the whole time in school. I never bothered her and she never bothered me. 

One year went by and I was comfortable being her partner everywhere. The best part being, everyone stayed away from us. It was all good. Until; I saw him. 

It was a regular Biology class. Only this time, I could smell the fresh smell of the rain that fell on the dry garden soil and it made me feel a little more anxious and on the edge than usual. I had a bad reputation in my orphanage and the condition that I'd follow all the college rules had got me here. I didn't want to lose it. I'd put up with the petty rules that even the ones that the teachers asked to follow to keep the class quiet. Biology being my favourite class, I made sure I didn't screw it up or I would be sent for detention and straight to the pathetic orphanage.

But, some people are born with a silver spoon and they get away with anything. Moreover, they are encouraged for such behaviour and it obviously threw me off the edge. Cathy wasn't around me during this class as she chose Computers over the marvels of mother nature. I was completely thrown off the edge with the overwhelming atmosphere around me. I raised my hand to answer the question the teacher asked. A formality to the evaluation grades that I had to adhere to. But every time I made sure to raise my hand to answer there was someone who answered out of turn. He did it not once, not twice, but four times and I was done with this. I decided to take a peek on who it was. We answered together and I followed the voice. I bent forward to see his face. No luck. I leaned backwards and then I saw him. 

His brown eyes glistened to the bright light in the room, that ever so slightly lit up right after I saw him. Everything blurred and I remember blinking multiple times to adjust my eyesight only to feel so anxious that my heart started racing and his smile washed on my face.

The college bell rang and jolted me to reality. I didn't hear what happened next. I only remembered his pink lips and his smile.

At this time I knew I was screwed. I knew I needed to be controlled. I needed a friend.

*********

The next day at college, I came and sat next to Cathy. I kept remembering the whole thing that happened yesterday with this guy. It had never happened with me before.

Oh God no! He's here. I try to act normal but my heart kept racing just like it did yesterday.

"Number 65?" I heard the voice getting louder.

I hazed back to reality and snapped,

"Present."

Cathy woke up, rubbing her eyes she realised I had missed her Roll Call and that she'd be marked absent for that lecture.

"What is going on with you? You missed my Roll call? In the Physics Lecture. You know this professor hates me."

I knew I made a mistake but I had this problem with accepting my mistake and I blurted out,

"If this lecture is so important to you, then you should've have stayed up and answered your Roll Call."

I felt something hit me. It was a small chalk that our professor threw to get our attention and we both were asked to leave that class.

What followed after that was even worse.

-----------

After the school ended that day. I and Cathy were both asked to visit the Headmaster's office. Cathy's parents were called and for me the Lady from our orphanage was here to take me home.

We were sitting outside the office but overheard something.

"... Given Kiyara's behaviour, we need to take precautions. She sounded really harsh... It was nothing today but we can't risk it... She needs help."

I knew this was the end for me. I burst into tears. I always thought crying was for the weak. I'd cry almost everyday at the orphanage after the bully's didn't let me eat.

Cathy was right there. She held my hand. She looked at me right in the eyes.

"Don't worry, I won't let anyone take you away."

Well then I thought, she was like all the new people I met who said it wasn't my fault that I had a bad temper and that people would understand. I told myself to give her a smile so that she'd believe I knew she had my back.

Until I saw her get off her seat and go inside the office and tell her parents that it wasn't my fault. That she didn't get enough sleep at night and slept through the lecture and will never make the same mistake.

" ... I'm sorry Sir. I'll do better next time."

This was more of a shock than a surprise to me. She took the blame on herself for me. She really did something for me. She cared about me. More than most people did.

Since then, Cathy was not just a partner I sat next to. She was a friend. A real friend. Who stood by me always. Well, most days. Other days, we had our conflicts only to realise I was wrong and she was right, only before she made a mistake that I couldn't help her out of.