“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.”
Tina stared at the words that their English Literature professor, Mr Marvin San Jose, had written on the board, wondering what sort of activity it would be this time.
“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have,” the professor read, passion oozing from every word. He smiled to the class. “Does anyone know who—”
“Bob Marley,” Katie said out loud, to everyone’s amazement. Her eyes sparkling, right hand raised in the air. She didn’t even wait for Sir Marvin to recognize her.
“How on earth did you know that?!”Ella hissed at Katie.
Katie just smiled sweetly at her friend. Ella never tolerated someone beating her in any subject, even if it was just a simple recitation.
“It’s all over Facebook. Like duh? I just shared it this morning. Get out of your cave of books sometimes,” Katie said tauntingly, making the whole class snicker. Ella turned beet-red.
The professor cleared his throat and the whole class turned their attention back to him.
“That’s correct Ms Rivera,” said the professor, nodding at Ella. “Looks like Facebook finally proved itself useful to your education, instead of just being a haven for youngsters with selfitis.”
The professor scanned the class with a meaningful look on his face. Tina noticed that several girls had turned scarlet.
“So Robert Marley, popularly known as Bob Marley, was a Jamaican singer and songwriter,” Sir Marvin continued. “To aid your memory, he is the first person you should think about when you hear reggae music. Now I want you to interview someone about his/her experience that can reflect the words of Bob Marley. Then make a short story out of it in third person, minimum of 1000 words to be handed in on Monday. So you have the entire week to do it.”
There was a collective groan from the class but the professor just played deaf. He was used to it.
Typical Sir Marvin. Tina thought. He was the youngest of their teachers and thus, the most passionate and creative of them all. He never seemed to run out of ideas.
“Please listen up as I dictate the pairings.”
Tina was kind of thankful that this activity would not cost her a single penny. But it sure did remind me of my horrible situation. She thought bitterly.
Despite the good news, however, Tina felt like she would be in for another disaster. Those quoted words were practically her whole life summed up in 16 words. She surely wasn’t ready to crack open her heart for this. She would have to cook up a tragic story of her own in order to cover up the even darker reality of her life.
Likewise, she didn’t care who would be her pair as long as it wasn’t Troy Albert Martinez.
Never. Ever.
Tina still couldn’t recover from the traumatic incident that had happened to her the previous week. She couldn’t believe she had lied to him and was practically caught red-handed the very next second.
That was the most embarrassing moment of her life, so far. It even beat the one wherein she tripped over someone’s shoe and found herself drenched in chicken curry for all the customers’ entertainment.
That, at least, wasn’t entirely her fault. She was quite sure that someone tripped her on purpose. Everyone who witnessed still made fun of her whenever they see her.
Now back to Troy, she had no idea why she lied to him in the first place. Almost everyone knew that she was working in that diner. She was used to being laughed at. So why did she lie to a total stranger?
Why do I want to look good for him? Why is he making me self-conscious and ashamed of what I am? Who is he to me, anyway? We’re not even friends.
Tina never failed to see Troy in the library, either. Ever since their first conversation, the guy seemed to have made the library his hang out place every afternoon. His presence had irritated Tina big time but she could not do anything about it. The terror librarian had such a soft spot for him, which was something close to a miracle.
Tina was lost in her own bubble of thoughts that she didn’t even hear Sir Marvin calling her name.
Someone poked her arm and Tina’s bubble burst.
“What?!” she snapped, turning to the person sitting behind her.
Fudge! She’d forgotten! How could she have forgotten who was sitting behind her?!
“Uh, sorry?” Troy said; his expression apologetic. “I just wanna ask you when you wanna do it,” said Troy.
“Do what?” Tina frowned. What is he talking about?
“The interview,” he answered, “We’re partners.”
Oh crap.
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
I dedicate this chapter to btchwriter for being my first ever follower! Thanks for your support and for reading my story!
Another chapter’s up. How is it? Share your thoughts guys! :)
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-SpeckyPrince
11302014
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The Notebook
RomanceSYNOPSIS: A refined man met an ordinary High School student in a mission so valuable he could not dare to fail. The task was easy: hand her over to his master. But the mission he was bestowed with, which he accepted with pride and honor, would be th...
