Parallel Lines

False Hope

A week passed after the break up and it seem normal for me. Same old routine but I like it. I'm still the boy adoring the same girl since day one. It's kinda weird that we're on the same class and everyone made it more awkward because news are just too fast nowadays but I don't care. We gotta live on the present, and the present time is today.

"Excuse me Ma'am, may you please excuse Mr. Grahams." I jolted as I heard my name from our door. It was the school's Guidance Counselor.

"Mike Grahams, please proceed to the Guidance Office, now." I glanced at Paulo and he just shrugged his shoulders. I swallowed the lump on my throat and followed the Guidance Counselor.

My hands are trembling again and I don't know the reason why I am called.

As we got inside the office she instructed me to sit down on a sofa.

"Your class adviser referred you, don't worry this will only lasts for about fifteen to twenty minutes." she said gently and look directly at my eyes. My hands kept on shaking.

"So, what does your friends call you? Mike? Or do you have another name?" she asked, a grin plastered on her face.

"J-just.. M-Mike " I stutter and she nod, then look on the folder she is holding

"How's your studies? Do you have a subject that you seem having a hard time understanding?"

"None, Miss."

"Does anyone bully you?"

"No one, Miss."

"Do you have problems with your subject teachers or the school's environment?"

"None, Miss."

"Do you have a family problem that somehow affects your studies?"

"None, Miss."

"Hmm. That's great, Mike. You see, as I look on to your records, Mike, you have accumulated 9 absences within a month and that is last month, to be exact. Some of your reasons are sicknesses, or being unable to get up from bed, etcetera, etcetera. Are you tired of school, dear?" she asked and I stare back at her.

Am I tired of school? Well, as far as I can remember, what I did was to flirt with the classroom's hoe, hang out with some friends, lie to my parents about the projects that aren't even done yet. All I did was to slack off, to be honest.

"S-Sometimes."

I know to myself that I'm not the class' bad boy or whatever they describe someone who is so reckless. I'm just, not feeling well.

"In that case, I suggest that... In order to decrease the number of your absences, or at least, avoid being suspended is that, try to bring your interests in school. Do you like books? Then you read books, anything you want to do just to let the time pass by, and when you're bored, you could do something beneficial to you, okay?"

-

After that quick counselling, or a warning, I decided to walk around the campus to think or reflect. It's weird how I turned myself into someone so careless about almost everything. How fucking great.

"Hey."

I stopped and saw Olivia approaching, carrying two milkshakes on her flawless hands. She stopped, a good distance to talk.

"H-Hi." I stuttered, these hands are shaking wildly again. I shove both of them in my pocket and look at her. She's smiling sweetly at me, as if the awkwardness I was about to radiate fades away.

"Uh. Hey. What's up?" I asked and smiled awkwardly back to her.

"Here. I bought you this. I don't know your favorite flavor, sorry. So how's the counselling?" She asked, and I can sense that she's interested. I grab the milkshake and started walking slowly as she also joins me.

Am I dreaming?

"O-Oh, uhm... I-It's fine. It somehow went well for me. They'll call me again next week for another evaluation." I answered briefly and let out a huge sigh. A relieved that I didn't stutter in front of her.

"That's great! I hope you dont miss another day at class." she said, very worried about me.

"Y-Yeah, don't worry. It won't happen again." I said and she slightly smiled.

I suddenly felt the awkwardness as the silence embrace our atmosphere.

"So how's you and Janine?" she dropped the question like a bomb.

I cleared my thoat and took a glance to her. She's looking at me, waiting to answer.

"We're fine. Nothing bad happened and I know she's alright about it." I said and she nodded her head. "How about you with Greyson? How's.. How's life?" I asked and she smiled, and I can clearly see that she's blushing.

Wait.

"We're dating again."