Sometime In July (2024 edition)

Chapter Four

"Why are you crying?" a familiar voice asked Yssa. She looked up from her desk inside the faculty room, still holding the book Seth Santiago wrote. She had just finished reading it during the 9 o'clock morning break. Dazed, she wiped off her tears and smiled when she saw him.

Yssa felt embarrassed when Brandon Lee Castillo approached. He was her co-teacher, gay, and the same age as hers. He was a local and had been with the school only a few months before Yssa. 

Brandon was the one who welcomed her when she first arrived at Brightkids and had also been her closest friend in Olongapo. He had been making her feel at home, which had somehow eased Yssa's pain of being away from her family. The two had become so close as friends to the point that Yssa even told him that he could have been her boyfriend if not for his sexual orientation.

"Are you okay? Is something wrong? Are you hurt?" Brandon reached out his hand.

Yssa shook her head. "No, nothing like that. I'm just reading this book and... I don't know, after I read it I couldn't help it."

"Book? What book? Are you sure you're okay, Yssy?" His hand flailed uncontrollably like it always did when he felt worried.

"I'm fine, really."

"You made me worry for a second there, girl. I thought someone hurt you or attacked you, or something." He began to calm down as soon as he realized nothing bad had really happened to her.

Yssa showed him the book and smiled at his concern. "My student, Elisha, loaned me this book. You remember, the cute little third-grader with a nice smile and braided hair..." Brandon was back to his old witty self, nodding sarcastically as she tried to describe Elisha. "It was her uncle's," she said.

Brandon's left eyebrow shot up when he heard that the whole crying thing involved some little girl's uncle. He immediately felt something was going on.

"Really?" He smiled mockingly as she handed him the book. He scanned the pages indifferently and pretended not to care. "Owned this or wrote this?" His eyes were fixed on the book.

"Wrote it," she answered with a little grin on her face that showed her dimple. 

"Hmmm, a writer..." Brandon nodded his head, "Seth Santiago, huh?"

"You know what?" Brandon could not stop himself from asking any longer. "I think something's going on and you ought to tell me what it is?" His smile was wide as he looked at her straight in the eyes.

Yssa giggled as Brandon shook both of her hands. 

"C'mon, tell me. Tell me!" His eyes focused on hers with his jaw clenched.

"Oh, Brandon. I knew you'd ask." She smiled.

***

Yssa and Brandon went to the school's cafeteria early for the lunch break. The two talked about Seth and what had happened two days ago. After only a few minutes, Brandon got up and asked if she wanted another cup of coffee. She said no so he went to the counter to get another one for himself.

Brandon was a handsome fella, strikingly so, with short, curly hair. If only he was straight, Yssa used to tease him, they could have been together by now. But she always stressed that he was the best person she had in her life right now. 

He was knowledgeable in music and arts and liked to sing and write as well. Yssa knew he would be interested instantly in Seth's book and story. 

People always heard his CDs of Eric Clapton and Babyface playing from the school's faculty room and out to the corridors. The school principal had regularly talked to him about the potential disturbance the loud music made for the students and his co-teachers. But he still continued to play them.