Miss Becca Gulliver was a Math teacher back in my middle school whom everybody had hated for a reasonable cause. She taught in my class once and during the summer lectured the big kids about the basics of the Marian Dogmas.

But contrary to her religious ethics, she was a very difficult person. Miss Gulliver, aka Madam Becky, would rather laugh at a demise of a student rather than help him.

Though that was not the main reason I resented her. She used to pass on cruel punishments to her class for petty  acts. One particular occurrence held me to the ground so much I faked a flu to my parents for a week just so I wouldn't see Miss Becky's face. She caught me chewing a gum in between lectures and made me eat a whole chalk in front of the class.

The news spread like fire and the only people who hadn't heard about my little stunt were probably the faculty. Though nobody laughed or even bullied me about it, some of the kids even encouraged me to tell on the older folks since Miss Becky had gone way to far. It was a rare occasion, the whole batch uniting to fend on a common enemy.

But I never did tell, nor I even thought about it. It was not a characteristic of mine to snitch and besides, once I had vomited half of the chalk I was almost okay, even convinced I deserved the punishment. I was just a student, she was a teacher, I had deserved that.

Maybe I had bought a bit of that mindset even when he mistreated me back then. Whenever he directed foul words at me or made me doubt of what I'm capable, I would just cry myself and would still go crawling back to him. And of course I never realised how stupid that was even when everybody can see the wrong in the situation. I had chosen to be blind.

And for what reason some had asked.

For the same reason you let your parents disrespect a precious dream, the same reason we let our bosses yell at us even though we ain't done no wrong, the same reason I had let my Math teacher of a punishment I don't deserve.

Some tend to just accept they had been in the wrong even though they weren't, because they want no trouble,  even when it will hunt them in the long run. Such feeble characteristic is dangerous for society. It will let the corrupt get away from prison and the bully roaming free.

As for the evil croon, she continued on bullying us until the near end of the last year in middle school when she died, hit by the school bus. The driver was a former student of hers, sound fishy to be honest. The accident caused a ripple of shock to the whole community and the funny thing was, no one seems to be genuinely sad about it.

Stand for what's right.

I never did appreciate that little phrase until now.

♣♣♣

A mini cup ice cream was dropped lightly on my desk.

I was writing my initial pointers for the day when your shadow loomed on my notebook yet I never did look up.

What?

I asked plainly while continuing on my work but truth I was wondering on what you were thinking at that time.

I'm sorry Rosa.

I halted for a second before idly moving on to the next page, still hadn't looked up.

For what?

You sighed at my question and I wondered even more on what that had meant.

You know, for the incident back in my mom's shop.

It was my turn to sigh. This time, I looked up and was bounded yet again by those eyes of yours it was mystery how I had held back on instantly looking at them a moment ago. I discarded the thought before speaking.

I was actually glad seeing you there, you know. And then, you did the thing. Like you don't know me or something. It was rude, okay?

After my cute little speech, you actually had the nerve to laugh. It infuriated me in an instant and I started scribbling aggressively on my notebook again.

You know what, nevermind what I said, just go sit somewhere where I can't see your face.

I never thought you were glad in seeing me back in the shop Rosa. I feel honored.

My cheeks almost burned on your choice of words. A few days ago you had been nothing but an unnoticed classmate in the room. Yet at that current time, I felt like a little girl confessing her feelings.

I said nevermind so go away now.

I ain't going nowhere Rosa. I had to run back to the store just to buy my sacrificial ice cream for your forgiveness.

That bought me back and realized that the ice cream was cold and some of it's droplets had sipped on the side of my notebook so pushed it back. It was actually vanilla. How thoughtful.

You saw me do it and thought of the wrong thing. Suddenly there was a noticeable hint of hurt in your eyes I felt guilty.

I mean jokes aside, I'm truly sorry Rosa, that was shitty of me.

It was okay, really. I just thought something else.

What something else?

I tore at the plastic sheet holding the spoon in place beside the cup and opened the lid. You sat at the seat beside me.

I just thought we're friends you know. And then you hadn't even glanced at me so yeah, that was shitty.

There was amusement in your expression and again I felt embarrassed so I tried to save myself.

I mean, acquaintances, uhhh whatever we are—

Friends sounds good to me. Just feels funny hearing it from you.

I laughed because it really was funny.

I was lightheaded the whole time, laughing at your jokes, vanilla ice cream on my mouth, and the carefree atmosphere that surrounded the both of us.

It felt surreal because more than what it had looked like on the surface, I felt a hurricane slowly rumbling in me.

For a moment or two, I was actually scared.

Since I was falling already though I'm not sure on what really.

♠♠♠

Boomerang

I threw my boomerang
I threw a boomerang at you
Thinking you'll catch it effortlessly
Until you let it fall to the ground
Stomped on it
Picked it up
Then threw it back
Hitting me on the face, I fell down
And that seemed to amuse you
You like me getting hurt, don't you?

•••

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