"See the stone set in your eyes
See the thorn twist in your side
I'll wait for you
Sleight of hand and twist of fate
On a bed of nails, she makes me wait
And I wait without you
With or without you
With or without you." – With or without you, U2
In school
Chairmaine: Kuya (older brother) you know someone said that I'm acting like I'm cute but I'm not.
Lawrence: Who said that? You don't need to act cute coz you are cute!
Chairmaine: Really?
Lawrence: Yeah for sure!
Chairmaine: Thanks! Hey, what do you think about that band competition on TV? I want to form a band and join!
Lawrence: Why not? I can be lead vocalist you can be my co-vocalist and then Noah and Jameson can be on guitars...
Chairmaine: We don't have drummer yet.
Lawrence: We'll find one.
Chairmaine: What kind of music will we play?
Lawrence: Well for starters, I'll lend you this rock CD. It has one of my favourite songs from one of my favourite bands.
Chairmaine: What's the song's title?
Lawrence: With or Without You.
Chairmaine: Ok, thanks! #
On the phone...
Noah: Hey Chairmaine! Do you have Lawrence's CD?
Chairmaine: Yes it's with me. Why?
Noah: I want to borrow it too to listen to it. Can you bring it tomorrow?
Chairmaine: Sure!
Noah: I think you and Lawrence will be a good match! (Teasing)
Chairmaine: What? What made you think so?
Noah: Well you like similar things... By the way, Lawrence, Jameson and I formed a rock band and we have a song called Madman...do you want to listen to it?
Chairmaine: Ok, Cool!
(song plays)
Chairmaine: Cool song! I want to watch you play some time.
Noah: Tell Lawrence.
Chairmaine: Ok. Have to say good night now it's getting late. #
In school
Chairmaine: Noah, here's Lawrence's CD.
Noah: Actually it's mine.
Chairmaine: Awwwww. Sorry I didn't know. Kuya didn't tell me.
Noah: He doesn't tell you a lot of things...
Chairmaine: What?
Noah: Never mind!
Chairmaine: Kuya, you know one of your neighbors who goes to an exclusive boys school is my crush!
Lawrence: Really who?
Chairmaine: Joel
Lawrence: Really why?
Chairmaine: Well he's cool and really popular with girls.
Lawrence: Do you really like him?
Chairmaine: Well it's just a crush...
Lawrence: Do you want me to get his number for you?
Chairmaine: Well, ok. But no I'm too shy.
Lawrence: Let me know if you want I can get it for you.
Chairmaine: Thanks Kuya, you're always the best. #
At their rock band rehearsals
Noah: Hey Law! Let me ask you something
Lawrence: Sure what is it?
Noah: Don't you like Chairmaine?
Lawrence: What? (caught off guard)
Noah: Well she's smart, cute and you guys seem to hit it off.
Lawrence: I think she only likes me as an older brother and likes that Joel guy.
Jameson: Chairmaine is a bit naive Law. And I heard her parents are strict. She's a bit of a nerd too.
Lawrence: She's very innocent in a way but she's nice once you get to know her. Actually she's cool. She knows so many music genres.
Noah: Well, Law if you don't like her – may I make a move on her?
Lawrence: Come on man, she's like a sister to me. Not her. Anybody but her.
Noah: Ohhhh getting possessive aren't we?
(That night before going to bed Lawrence thought to himself. Sometimes he looks at her when she's not looking. She's juxtaposition. She's fierce yet fragile. She's strong-willed yet shy. She's smart but naive. She doesn't know she's beautiful because she's so unassuming. So many nice qualities she has it's so easy to describe her. Lawrence thought to himself would I ever deserve someone like her? I mean she really likes that Joel guy.)
YOU ARE READING
What if? (2020 version)
ChickLitWho can forget one's high school love? I haven't. Almost two decades after maybe because of the pandemic he has been in my dreams. This is the continuation of the short story I wrote while I was working for a newspaper a decade ago (can't print the...
