Meeting With You

I woke up early even though I am not in the mood to go to school. This is the first day of my last year at Maullier High School. I don't want my father to get a headache from me for being tardy to my first schooling day.

I went to the kitchen to get my breakfast.

"Oh, Elaida. You are early always at your school, huh! That is good." My father greets me. I just nod and did not say anything. I stuff my mouth with my breakfast. My father glanced at me.

"Do you have a problem?" My father asked.

"None, dad," I replied and drink my coffee with cream.

"Well, if you have any problem, daughter, just approach me, okay?" My father said.

"Yeah, sure," I said and my dad opened the newspaper as part of his daily early routine. I finished my breakfast and go back to my bedroom to take shower.

The school bus is on time to fetch me. I went to the back of the bus to sit where it is available. I take my seat near the window side that I can take a look outside.

I was sad because I was separated from my previous classmates. I was the only one who've been going to the higher section. Almost half of my classmates were my friends. Now, another new chapter of my life; new classmates and new teachers. I was the only one who was transferred to the higher section. I envy my former classmates, they were still in the same section.

The school bus stop in the school's yard. The students get out of the bus. I took a peek at my first schedule today before I stand up and get out of the bus last.

I go to my Math subject which is my first schedule. This subject is one of my weaknesses. I saw a few students. I saw the end corner of the chair at the back, I walked in its direction and take my seat there. After a few minutes, the room was slowly filling up with students. A girl with a round face, long hair who is ponytailed walks in the aisle gazing at the seat available beside me. She has a strict face.

"Is this available?" She asked me. I nod.

"Yes," I replied and keep quiet. I look at my Math book and open it to kill the time. I am bored. The girl keeps quiet, too. She pulls out her math notebook and pen from her bag and quietly waited for the teacher to arrive.

Our Math teacher arrives two minutes before eight o'clock. Of course, this is the start of the anxiousness of the students, the introduction of ourselves.

After the teacher gets out of the classroom, the students start to befriend each other while waiting for the next teacher to arrive. The one next to me elbowed my arm.

"Hey, are you good in Math?" She asked me. She's wearing glasses. She has long beautiful eyebrows with Spanish eyes. Beautiful pointed nose.

"No. I am not good at Math it is one of my weakest subjects." I told her.

"Oh, I thought you know this Math subject." She sighed.

"Why ask me?" I inquired.

"Alas! I don't like Math. I am not good at it." She told me. I stared at her.

"Oh, okay," I replied and keep quiet because the next teacher in English came in. Like in Math, it's more introduction of ourselves and assignment.

After our second subject, it was our lunchtime.

"Hey, do you have someone with you at lunch?" Mylene asks me. I did know her name when she introduced herself to our class.

"None. I don't have someone with me." I answered.

"If you like we can be together for lunch. Do you like my idea?" She said. I was surprised by her invitation.

"Oh, sure!" I said happily and smiling. We went to the canteen ta take our lunch.

"I'm Mylene." She said. Formally introduce herself to me.

"I'm Elaida," I replied.

"Are you new here?" She asked starting her lunch.

"No and yes. No, because I took my 3rd year here, and yes because I was transferred here from another school. So I have no Alma Mater in the future." I answered her and start eating my food.

"Oh, so that is why I didn't notice you." She said. I look at her.

"Are you a student here from your first year?" I asked.

"Of course, yes! Since first-year high school, I've been studying here." She said.

"Are you always in higher section? Did you know our classmates?" I asked.

"Yes. They were my classmate last year, too." She replied.

"Oh, I see," I answered and keep eating my lunch.

The rest of the subjects, as usual, is for introductions and assignments. I went house early. I go straight to my bedroom to take a minute of rest then start to make my assignments

I woke up with a knock at my door. Oh! I fell slept as I looked at the books and notebooks in my bed. I stood up and open the door. It's my stepmother.

"Your father is looking for you." She said with a poker face.

"Tell him, I'm gonna go down," I replied and closed the door not waiting for her response. I admit we are not on good terms. My Stepmother is wicked and I don't trust her.

I comb my hair and ponytailed it. I washed my face, towel dry it, and put a baby powder on my neck. I left my room and go down to the kitchen to dine. Our dining table and the kitchen area is in the same area.

My father and my half-siblings are seating for our dinner.

"Oh, come on, Elaida. Sit beside me." My father said. He's from work. My father has a photo studio business. I have three half-sisters and one half-brother. I seat at the left side of my father. On the right side is my stepmother.

"How is your school day, daughter?" My father asked me.

"Good, not much. As usual lots of assignments." I replied and stuffed the food into my mouth.

"Oh, how about it? Did you do your assignments?" My father asked.

"Yes, dad. I did it but I am not yet finished answering all of them." I replied.

"Oh, that is good." My father was happy to hear my answer.

"Do you like juice, Ray?" Violeta, my stepmother asked.

"Ok, yes, Violeta." My father responded. Violeta is always like that. She loves to interrupt my bonding moment with my father. I hate her. Who will be happy with her wicked attitude?

The next day, I enjoyed my school because Mylene is always with me. We became friends. I thought she is so strict that I will have trouble making friends with her. She is easy and fun to be with.

Until the day that I meet Mylene's parents and that was the day that we did not attend our last subject because our teacher was absent. We've been close and been best friends.

"Hi, dad." I greeted my father Sunday morning.

"Hi, dear. Why do you dress well? Where are you going?" My father said. He stops reading the newspaper and looks at me.

"I will join Mylene to go to the church, father," I said.

"Oh, that is good. Just pray for our business. to grow, dear." My father said.

"Sure, Dad," I said. I took the bread and bite it.

"Ray, Elaida is always not going home early. Yesterday she is not here the whole day at this house. Are you not talking to your daughter's behavior?" Violeta said.

"Even so, dad. You know that I am always at Mylene's house and there is nothing bad I am doing there." I said in a flat tone, sipping my coffee, and didn't look at my stepmother.

"Oh, I know you're telling the truth, daughter. Violeta let her be." My father said. Violeta smirked but did not say anything. I hid my smile.

"Hmp! You are always kind to your daughter, Ray. But why do you scold my son or daughters when they go back home late at night?" Violeta said.

"Violeta, your son, and daughters have no discipline. They always asked for trouble. Remember last time that your son goes home late, his bathing blood on his head? Why? Because he was troubled with the fraternity. Do you think I could trust your son and daughter to go home late at night with a peaceful sleep?" My father asked her a rhetorical question. Violeta did not answer. I hid my laugh and almost choke. I clear my throat.

"Okay, father. I am going to Mylene." I said to my father and kissed his cheek.

"Okay, Elaida. Keep safe." My father said.

Violeta glanced at me with anger. I smile at her and turned my back.

Mylene's house is just a few blocks away from us.

"Mylene?" I knocked at the door and call my BFF. Her mother opens the door.

"Come inside, Elaida. You go to Mylene. She is in her bedroom." Dorothy said.

"Okay, Mrs. Juanito, thanks. I go to her bedroom." I said. I go upstairs to go to Mylene's bedroom. I knock and open the bedroom door of Mylene.

"Hey, Mylene, let's go!" I said to her.

"Oh, yes! Wait a minute. Do I look pretty in this dress?" Mylene asks me. I look at her from head to feet. I nod.

"Yes. It looks good to you. Come on, hurry." I said.

"Wait. I will put baby powder on my face." And she gets a little amount of baby powder on her palm and puts it on her face, rubbing gently on her face and taking a look into the mirror. Then she brushed her long hair. Mylene's hair is not that good to look at. She's like a bald person on top and the tip of her hair is thin.

"You know, you almost perfect but, your hair looks like it needed a coffin, they look all dead," I said. She put on her eyeglasses. And take a look at herself into the mirror again.

"Oh, yes. What you said is true. But don't worry when we have finished our studies in college and we have jobs, I will go for rebonding to make my hair pretty and these glasses, I will use contact lenses." She said.

"Are there contact lenses good for your eyes?" I asked. She nods.

"Yes. It is clear in color and has graded." She said.

"Oh, that is good to hear," I said. One thing I don't like is that Mylene took a long time to dress well while I took only a couple of minutes to dress. So every time we have outside activities, I am the one to finish early and wait for her to finish from the shower to dress up. Makeup? No, not yet. We just put baby powder because our skin is young and we don't want to put makeup to avoid the harsh ingredients of it.

"Okay, I am done!" Mylene said.

"Okay, let's go so that we can't be late," I said. Like me, she just bring her wallet and handkerchief.

"Is the church you said is far away from here?" I asked as we go downstairs.

"No. It only takes 10 minutes to travel. We will take a cab." She said.

"Okay," I replied.

"Mom, we are going," Mylene said to her mom.

"Yes, Aunt Dorothy, we are going now," I said.

"Okay, hurry or you might be late." Aunt Dorothy said.

We go outside the cab and hail a taxi. A taxi cab stop in front of us.

"We will go to Sergovia Church," Mylene said to the driver.

"Is that church in Sergovia St., Miss.?" Asked the driver.

"Yes," Mylene replied.

"Okay, Miss." The driver said. And we go inside his cab. He drove us to Sergovia St., where the church is located.

The taxi cab stop at the gate of Sergovia Church.

"Here is our payment, sir," Mylene said and give the payment to the driver.

"Come on." She said and open the cab to get out. I followed her.

"Wow! This church structure is awesome!" I exclaimed.

"Yes. Did you know that almost half of the member in this church is rich?" She whispered.

"Oh," I snapped my head and my eyes blink at her, couldn't believe her.

"Yes, believe me." She said smiling. Then I look at the gate and enter.

"Just keep quiet." She whispered to me. I nod.

"You see, it's too early. Come to the restroom first." She said.

"Okay," I said.

We walked our way to the restroom.

Mylene led me to the restroom when she collided with someone.

"Oops, I'm sorry!" She said.

"Oh, sorry, too. Oh, hello, Mylene!" The girl with almost the same age as we exclaimed. Mylene looked at her.

"Maritess! It's you!" Mylene cheerfully said.

"How are you? What section are you?" Maritess said. I watch them silently.

"I'm still in section three. How about you?" Mylene asked.

"I'm section four now," Maritess said.

"Still higher section, not bad," Mylene said.

"Hmp, my father scolded me why I go down to four." Maritess lips protruding.

"Ha! Ha! Ha! What did you say to him?" Mylene asked.

"I told him that it's part of growing up. It's high school's life." Marites said. Mylene and I laughed.

"Oh, by the way, this is Elaida. My classmate and best friend." Mylene said.

"Oh, hello. How are you?" Marites greeted me with warmth.

"I'm good. Nice meeting you." I said.

"Oh, I'm going inside now. I want to be in front, there's a lot of handsome choir members there. I told you before right?" Maritess told Mylene.

"Yes, okay. Hurry then." Mylene said. She still laughing. Maritess left us to go inside the church. Mylene and I went to the restroom. She brushed her hair with her fingers.

"Next time we should bring a brush. I forgot to bring it. Remind me next time, please." She said.

"Sure," I replied. My hair can manage alone. So I did not bring my brush or comb. My hair is pretty, black, and straight hair without any flaws. Even I did not comb it after showering when it dries it looks like I comb my hair.

"You know, Maritess told me that this church aside from many rich members here, many handsome are here as a choir member." She whispered. I raise my right brow.

"Oh, really?" I said.

"Yes, she told me that. She invited me to go here before but I don't want to go here alone that is why I invited you here and let's check it out, okay?" She said with her very low voice so that other girls will not hear us.

"Okay, that is cool! Let's check it out if what she said is true." I said.

We go inside the church. The church was beautiful because of its interior designs.

After a while, the choir members lined up going upstairs to take their seats. In the middle was an organ. When the choir members take their seats, we simply looked at the boys. Oh, gosh! It's true! The choir members are handsome especially, the organist. The organist started to play the organ.

"What do you think of what Maritess said?" Mylene whispered.

"Gosh! It's true, especially for the organist. Are they all singles?" I whispered.

"I don't know," Mylene replied still in a very low voice.

"Let's investigate then," I said. Mylene nods.

"Okay, let's talk after the worship," Mylene replied.

After the worship, we quietly went to the restroom and since there are lots of girls in the restroom we never talked about the men's choir members.

"Did you see Lian? He is really handsome." The girl said.

"Yes, of course. He is more getting handsome. He is the most handsome among the men's choir." The other girl said.

"Oh, I love her mesmerizing eyes." One of the girls said.

Mylene and I look at each other than at the girls. Mylene went to the cubicle after the old woman out from the cubicle then the next cubicle opened and I went inside after the middle-aged woman out from it. Still, we heard the chattering of the girls. After we did our business inside the cubicle we washed our hands and see to it that our hair are in good appearance. While doing this we wait for the girls to get out of the restroom. When they did, the restroom is quiet now.

"Wow! They have lots of die-hard fans, did you know that?" Mylene said.

"Yeah, and I think all the girls here want to be their wives," I said raising my right brow while putting baby powder which I keep inside my handkerchief. After I've done, I went to the door and lean on its left side, crossing my arms, observing those single women that have a crush on the choir members.

"You know, I bet, girls here are going gaga to them," I said.

"You bet. They are falling to them head over heels. Ha! Ha! Ha!" Mylene laughed. I joined her laughing aloud not changing my position leaning at the left side of the door.

Suddenly I look up and accidentally saw the choir members even the organist with their leader. The men's choir members are looking at me. I look at the right side instantly. Oh, God. Why they are looking at me? I simply go back inside the restroom to tell Mylene what happened.

"Hey, Mylene, they are having a meeting I think on the second floor. And that second-floor window is facing in this restroom. When I look up to see the sky, I saw them looking at me." I told her.

"The choir members are looking at you?" Mylene said with a smile. I nod.

"Where?" She asked.

"There," I pointed out. You can stand there and simply lookup. But don't look up in an obvious way." I said.

"Sure! Sure!" She said. Then she did what I did and come back to me in a few seconds.

"So, how is it?" I asked.

"It's true. Let us go outside and talked." She said.

"Okay," I said and follow her.

We went out of the church. We decided to walk towards the highway so that we can talk.

"Did you see that while the pastor is preaching, it seems they are looking to our seats?" Mylene asked me.

"Yes, I noticed that. Maybe we attract their attention because we are new in the place." I said.

"Yes. Maybe you are right. Who amongst them are the most handsome?" Mylene asked me.

"For me, the most handsome is the organist," I said.

"Ows? The organist?" She asked.

"Yes. For you, who is the most handsome amongst them?"

"You see the man in 2nd row? 3rd from the left" She said. I tried to recall all the choir members.

" Are you talking about the man with straight hair? And his bangs are level on his eyebrows?" I asked her.

"Yes," she said with glee.

"Oh, yeah he is cute. But I like more the organist." I said.

"That is what you call 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'," Mylene said. She hailed the taxi. The taxi stop and we get in to go home.