Chapter 2 - All Too Well (Flashback)

The whole class yelled as the bell rings. Time to go home. High school – the best period of the day. I filled all my items back inside my bag swiftly, except for my science textbook. My classmates were a bit stampede on the doorway still cheering on the top of their lungs.

Once I made my exit, I strode down the hallway. Then, a sudden bumped made me groaned – tormenting on the cold begrimed floor.

“I'm sorry!” the guy shrieked. He stands up urgently and runs but he just pulled me with him – I wailed. The straps of our backpack tousled – very funny.

“Shit! I'm late for practice, our coach will make me push up again this time.” I heard him complain as he was trying to shuffle it back.

“Please, bring my bag on the field!” the boy does not sound pleading then he trots out – panting. That's all and he was gone. He left me here with all the weight of his stupid bag just how stupid he was. I didn't see his face, he was wearing a soccer jersey and clasping his science textbook running.

I cursed. What am I now? Servant?

I arranged my disheveled uniform and picked up my once neat textbook. Ambling and sightseeing for that familiar demeanor that had tackled me fatuously. I was in the bleachers then dumped this bag – fussing.

I walked out, there's no reason I'll stay here long, when I heard someone called me, “Hey!”

“Thanks!” the guy on the jersey running and sweating towards my spot, he is on the field and I'm on the bleachers.

“I owe you one.” his chocolatey brown orbs beaming with gratitude and for a split second my heart froze with his natural charm. Sweating, hyperventilating – sizzling hot!

“I'm Romeo.” he introduced,

“My name's Romeo.” I rolled my eyes. He doesn't have to repeat it, I get it, anyways his name wasn't that special it's kinda common, duh!' So people won't forget it.

“Yeah, I know you, you're the kid from the last section!” I blurted out and smiled generously – but that's only for the show.

“It's class E, that's the term.”

“Yeah, the last section!”

“Class E.” he retaliated, from the field I gaze up to the sky and exhaled in exasperation. He really has the gut and I like it. My feet trailed to the exit and I heard him again, “Wait, I didn't get your name."

He was looking up at me with confusion and his puppy eyes, I nailed my straight unwanted face and said, “Play hard and study harder so you might be on my class next year and get the chance to know me.”

Unexpectedly, the life on his expression fades, he clearly understood what my point is, “Thank you by the way, really.” he nodded and runs back to his teammates. Romeo said it with such kindness — it was real.

I didn't mean to be harsh on him, but this is me, this is how our class, – ‘Class A’ mocked the lower section. I didn't mean to – but I grew up competent, egocentric and after all, I didn't feel sorry for him, because that's the truth. And I walked home.

After the dinner, I seized a relaxing bubble bath before doing my homework, I was wearing my cute Doraemon pajamas, snatched my science textbook that was now crumpled by what happened earlier, and placed it on my side table neatly.

I opened it and started screaming as our windows and walls would crash. I could hear mom pleading what happened as I told I am okay.

“This doesn't belong to me!” as I flipped the scrunched poor book, I groaned. I scanned the very first page and saw ‘Personal Property of Romeo Halliday C–E’ as I read further, the athlete guy wrote their landline number on the left bottom part of it. Did he just write it intentionally? That was helpful, great!

Barefoot, I speed into the living room and dialed their home. It wasn't that long when a drunk voice of a man answered it, he was sound pissed and irritable when I cautiously told my intention.

“Good evening sir, may I speak to Romeo Halliday.” of course I said with such a please tone.

“Yeah – of course.. my stupid son..” his father said in a zombie manner, I told you he was stupid, his dad seconded it.

“W – who is – is this?” he asked stuttering – but to me, he was more stupid.

“A friend!” my mouth replied quickly – that was a lie. ‘friend’ is the best answer you can give so that no extra following question would be pursued.

I was right, then he called his son, cursing – whatever term he is yelling. My eyes deepened, what kind of father he was. The device dropped as it made my eardrum sore.

“Hey.” he was panting again as he spoke, was he still practicing inside their house?

“Sorry about – all of that Kris, – my dad's been – drunk again, – always.” and catching every breath deeply.

‘How did he know my name? Ahhh! of course, the textbook was named, and I was worried, why he was out of breath? but that's not why I called.’ I converse myself.

“About my — ”

“Yeah!” he cut me off, “I was trying to answer your homework, you left a note. So yeah, I'm trying..” Romeo gasping for more air – I really hate it every time someone didn't let me finish to talk, but the way he speaks, his tone, his voice – it was an angel – so pure.

“Okay.” that's all I said, the anger blazing inside of me cool down. I don't know why, but I am poisoned by his angelic voice. Now, he was trying to do my homework which a bit awesome – sweet, perhaps.

“And Kris, I'm really sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to give you that favor but you still did, so yeah. Uhm thanks..”

“‘I'm Romeo, My name's Romeo’,” I mocked,

“I am Kris, and nice to meet you.” that's some kind of late, but a formal introduction and we both laughed. I know it's not a joke, but somewhat awkwardly.

“Nice to meet you..”

“See you tomorrow. Bye!” I said sweetly and dropped the call.

I wandered to my room, pressed my blushing face on my pillow, and giggles. Romeo might not know but I knew him very well just clearly as all my subjects in school. But I just can't confess all these butterflies easily to him, he was an apple of everyone's eye – his looks, his charms and all. And I'm just an ordinary kid on the bleachers, cheering on every tournament.

My exaggerating emotions flushed out when the devil behind my head told, ‘Romeo was only trying to do your homework, what if it's all wrong, then you'll be dumped out on the achievers!’ – grabbing his textbook, a pen, and a stationary to do my homework – I groaned.