Aisle Thirteen

Chapter 2

My fifth grade year passed like a wind. So was my sixth grade. I made friends, but I'm not close to anyone. Micaela's only my trusted friend. She's all I ever want to be with besides my mom.

I'm now in my seventh grade. My mom went back to her old shape. She's not as hard as a rock like how she was before when my father left. She became lighter. And I'm happy for her.

I guess, I'm the only one who's still living in the past. I can't put it behind me.

My mother and I were both in pain when my father left us, but we dealt with different levels of pain.

A wife left by her husband is so much different with a child left by her father.

For me, the latter was worse.

"Okay class, can you all go to your respective chairs?" The teacher in front ordered.

All my classmates sat down and our teacher began to discuss the lesson.

My mind wandered. I'm sitting next to the classroom's big window. I love the view here. I can see the green grass from the soccer field below.

It was different today, though. It's not as green as it normally is. Maybe because it's raining and the mud from the ground adds colors to the greens.

I love and hate the rain. I love it because it's relaxing. I hate it because it's not peaceful.

I don't know. I find it relaxing and disturbing at the same time. It calms my soul, but not my mind.

I left the classroom when the bell rang.

"Cal! Wait for me!" Micaela shouted from the inside of the classroom.

I stopped walking and waited for her.

"You always does that!" She rolled her eyes.

I chuckled. "What?"

"That! You always leaves me behind!" She crossed her arms.

"I don't." I shrugged.

"Oh yeah? You almost did!" She shouted in front of my face.

As much as I want to leave her because of her loud mouth, I just let her words pass through my ears. She'll stop once she gets tired.

Her rant lasted for a solid fifteen minutes. I didn't talked back. I didn't said a word. Because if I do, that fifteen minutes can turn into an hour. It's better if I just shut my mouth and let her do her thing.

We ate at the cafeteria. I got my usual, pasta and orange juice. She got a burger and a milkshake.

Our "friends" are just around. I speak to them from time to time, but not as frequent as I speak to Micaela. Like I said, she's the only one I want to be with besides my mother.

I'm scared of gaining friends and losing them someday.

"Are you going to pass your short stories later?" Micaela asked. She's talking about the short story contest that's happening in our school. We need to pass at least two short stories as an entry.

"No." I quickly replied. I don't want to join.

"Oh c'mon! You're so good at that!"

"I don't like the idea of having too many people around. You know that."

A lot of students will be passing their entries later and I don't want to be with a lot of people.

"But-"

"Shh! Stop. I don't want to talk about it." I said and continued eating my pasta.

"Alright." She continued eating her burger, too.

I feel bad, to be honest. I know that she just wants to support me and my craft but I just can't do it. I can't stand the crowd.

"Sorry." I said.

"It's okay. I know how you feel. It should be me who's sorry. I'm sorry for forcing you. I just want to support you and your works. I didn't mean any harm."

"I know." I smiled at her.

I should change a bit. At least for Micaela. I can't lose her, too.