CHAPTER TWO

“You owe me a story,” Cath whispered as I take a seat beside her after Ken waved at me signalling that he’ll sit with his friend, David.

“I know!” I can’t contain my emotions right now but I forced myself to stay calm because Ken might see how happy I was because of that ride.

It was just a simple ride and simple story telling but it felt as if the world blessed me today. For four years, I never had that chance to at least talk to him. The closest encounter that I had was when we were on our school’s cafeteria where he sat next to our table and that already made me so happy. What more now that he already talked to me, drove me to school like any fan’s dream, and finally, he already knew my name..... or wait. I haven’t introduced my name! I can’t help but to feel disappointed with myself because of all the things that I can forget, it was my name that I failed to inform him.

An instructor came in our room and started orienting us about what will happen in our stay here in the academy. She already told us that it will never be an easy task but no matter how unready I am, I’ll always be motivated since I am in a room together with my inspiration.

After class, Cath and I decided to eat at McDonald’s since it is located near our building. We were surprised to see that the store is almost full already so instead of ordering, we decided to find a table first. It was almost a hopeless case until four people left one of the tables and I immediately walked fast towards that direction to secure the table but upon sitting, my eyes landed on Ken with a devastated look on his face also eyeing on the table that I've just secured right now.

“Let’s just go somewhere else.” I heard David said so I stopped the two of them from going out.

“Ken!” I shouted and even Cath was surprised about what I just did. “You can share the table with us if you want,” I informed him and upon recognizing that it was me, his face lit up.

“Sure! Finally,” he said as if a heavy load was taken away from him. “Thanks.”

“Sorry to join you, guys. The place is just too crowded,” David apologized and the two of them sat in front of us.

“No biggies, Dave,” Cath answered which made David widen his eyes because of surprise.

“You know me?” He asked which made Cath realized what she just did and I swear, I can feel her embarrassment from that moment.

“They came from St. Louis, bro,” Ken explained and David just nodded because of that. “Which reminds me... you haven’t introduced yourself yet,” he added talking to me.

“Wait! You are the salutatorian of our batch, right?” David asked upon remembering me and that made me so happy because at least, I was remembered. “Kyle Ramos?”

“Yup,” I shyly confirmed.

“I knew it! How come you didn’t remember him, Ken? His farewell message said, ‘Someday, you will know my name.’” David jokingly reminded Ken of my farewell speech which I tried to sound that it is for all but in reality, it was just for Ken because I really wanted him to acknowledge my existence.

“You are that person?” Ken was shocked to know that it was me – their salutatorian. “Sorry for not recognizing you.”

“It’s okay! I was a wallflower so it’s just normal not to recognize me,” I answered because that is the truth. You won’t see me in any event because I don’t associate myself that much. My only organization is the Math Club where my biggest contribution is to be a ghost for our horror booth for four consecutive years since it is where we are assigned in.

“I promise, from this day on, I won’t forget you,” he seriously said and I felt it. My heart melted with the thought of him meaning those words because finally, this is the moment I’ve been waiting for.

“And you are?” David changed the topic and asked Cath about her name.

“I am Catherine but you can call me Cath,” she introduced herself and David reached out for her hands to shake it and I knew from that moment how those butterflies started to fly in her stomach.

“Anyways, we can’t leave this table because people might go for our spot so maybe you just tell us your orders and Ken and I will buy for you,” David presented so we told them our orders and when they already left, Cath and I looked at each other and released our emotions by squeaking silently - hoping that they didn't hear us.

“What happened a while ago?” She then asked what happened a while ago.

I started narrating the story of how a very stressful situation suddenly turned into a moment that I will never forget. I also told her how I was almost caught because I wasn’t able to stop my mouth from talking so she shrugged her head because she already expected it since I am so impulsive with what I do and what I say.

I’m glad that I was able to finish the story before they came back. A crew also cleansed our table before they came so we are already ready to eat when they arrived.

“So, what did you guys do during our high school days?” David asked us to have something to talk about while eating.

“Well, I was a member of our choir and also student council’s secretary during our last year,” Cath answered which impressed the two of them.

“Woah! So, you were busy organizing events for our school?” Ken asked.

“Yup! Kyle and I were so busy since Kyle is the president during my term,” she added which made me a little bit shy because she included me in her story.

“Salutatorian president! Wow!” Ken gave me a slow clap for pulling off that year.

“I won’t make it without my colleagues. They worked real hard to make every event successful,” I proudly told them. When I already don’t know what to do since the events are piling up, Cath and my other colleagues were there to catch me and initiated to do some things to lessen my burdens.

“How I wish I met the high school version of you,” Ken said which, again, melt my heart because that is what I was dreaming of. I wish we had the chance to, Ken.

I wish.