What if?

Chapter 40: Lumpia

Michael

We are now on our way to our classroom for the next subject. I also think that Nick had a great time eating the snacks since they are very healthy as well as fresh. Although, not a lot of students actually go and buy the kind of snack that we buy. Too bad that not a lot of students like eating fresh lumpia. If only they tried eating one, it would totally change their perspectives. 

By the way while we were walking I noticed Nick that he is not his normal self. Nowadays, I have been seeing him in this way which I really don’t like about him. I think he is hiding something from me but I am not sure if what I am thinking is correct. I am afraid that he might think that I am so much of his business when in fact I shouldn’t because it is already too much. 

“You okay?” I asked Nick while bumping my body on his. It made him sway. “Yeah!” He turned to look at me and said. He is looking straight at me but I can feel that he is thinking a lot of things. “I see. Good! You liked the snacks we ate just now right?” I asked again. I could not hold myself just seeing him like this. I cannot ask him so I want to change the words by asking him a series of questions. I think that in this way he can stop thinking about his worries. 

“Yeah. I want to go there again tomorrow.” Nick answered my question. He was smiling again. “Of course! Actually, it is the only place where we eat because it is the nearest to our area. The others are far away.” I explained to Nick. “Oh yeah, I forgot. Sorry.” Nick said while giggling.

We continued to walk. I turned on my other side to see what Jake was doing. He is busy looking at the trees inside the campus. Jake likes nature and I know why. He grew up in a family who liked nature and his mom even owns a farm. So I totally understand why he is a nature lover. His favorite color is even green. What a nerd. 

We are now in front of the classroom. Nick and John went inside already and I was about too but I saw Jake beside me who is also about to go inside. “Jake, wait. Uhm… can I talk to you before going in?” I asked Jake because I remembered that I should apologize to him for my bad actions towards him. 

“Yeah we can but we only have 2 minutes left. Make it quick.” Jake replied which made me smile. He is not that a bad person to talk to. I guess he is very open. “I will get straight with you then. I am so sorry about my actions a while ago. I know that your purpose was pure and I let my pride up even knowing that you were right.” I explained to Jake. He is listening closely while I am talking, which makes me think that he is a good person. “No worries. I understand you.” Jake replied and went inside the classroom. 

“That was fast.” I said to myself. “Aren’t you going inside?” Jake turned and asked. “I am. Thanks!” I said and went inside after him. I sat on the seat first since mine is in front while he is at the back. “How did it go?” John asked as soon as I was positioned on my seat. Sometimes I cannot pretend and ask myself if John is really a guy. He likes listening to gossip. Usually girls like listening to such things but since I have John as my friend I am no different to other girls. 

“It was good.” I answered back to him. I don’t want to talk about it anymore. “Hey. Not enough.” John said as if he was telling me to tell him more. See? he really wants the GIRL TALK. “Will talk to you during our lunch. The teacher is about to come so please stop asking for now okay?” I said to John. “Make sure you are going to answer all of them.” John said and acted as if he was preparing himself for the next class. “Was that a threat a while ago? Is he freaking serious?” I said to myself while staring at him badly. 

I changed my attention when the teacher entered the classroom. Now the teacher introduced herself to all of us and immediately started the class. She is quite a good teacher too. Well, I have never encountered a teacher who is not good in teaching in this school for years of schooling here. Which is something that this school should be proud of. They also have a high school but it is located somewhere. 

Unfortunately, they only have until high school because they don’t have college. John and I already decided that if we get to graduate from here we are going to the same name of school since the school is really amazing. Also they promote equality to people of different classes in the society. They think that education should be offered to everyone. Only those who are intelligent and sporty get to enter the school. So even those who are not really intelligent are trying their best to finish school. Their passion to enter this school made them enter this school. An example is Nick. I cannot neglect the fact that he is not as intelligent as me, John and my classmates but because he is passionate about entering this school he was able to attend school here. 

Not just that, during the interview maybe the people who interviewed him saw something to him that is why he was able to get in our section. Which is really hard to get in. Jake on the other hand is quite intelligent. I can sense it from him. I am not judgmental but I think there is really something that is inside him that he is still hiding. I really believe that he is an intelligent person. He has a bad attitude, and I know that the interviewers back then were able to see it already but maybe they can’t turn him down because he is something that they will regret turning down. Besides, even though Jake somehow has this bad attitude, I still think that he is doing this purposely and that all his actions are reasonable too. 

The teacher just continued teaching the lesson. And I am here on my seat listening to the teacher’s discussion as well as thinking about other things. Funny, but I think this is a skill that I have. I don’t know if others are like this too. I hope others are the same as me. 

After 2 straight hours of discussion

“Finally!” John said as soon as the teacher left the classroom. Don’t misunderstand him. He did not say that because he was tired of listening to the teachers. He said that because he wants to know the thing about what happened to me and Jake. He is not the kind of person who gets tired listening to the teacher's discussion. He actually listens really well whenever teachers are teaching. Although I am intelligent like him, I sometimes feel tired listening to the teachers. He is quite different from the people I know so far or maybe it is only that I don’t know a lot of people since I don’t make friends. 

In my case, I don’t need a lot of people beside me. Having a few is enough, at least they are real and true to me. I am not a shy person but I pick those who I want to talk to and befriend. Like what happened to Nick and I, we became friends because I was the one who approached him first. The thing is if I know you deserve my trust, I will befriend you. In Nick’s case, I am not actually really sure why I wanted to help him that day. What is important is that I get to have him close to me and my life becomes lighter because of him.

“Call Nick so we can go to the canteen and eat already.” I said to John. “Yes sir!” He replied as if he was a soldier. “Crazy!” I replied to him. John immediately went to Nick’s direction and called him out. I just waited on my seat. 

“Let's go!” John said cheerfully. Why does he want to know what happened though? We walked outside the classroom and before leaving I saw Jake that is still inside the classroom. I think he wants all of us to go first before he leaves. 

We walked to the same canteen and ordered our food. We all ordered rice because our body needs it. Besides, eating rice is better. As soon as our food arrived we started eating. “So what was it?” John asked while eating. I was not even able to take my first bite when he asked me. “Wait.” I said shortly and ate my first spoon. “Jake was very easy to talk to, when I asked him if I could talk to him he did not refuse or ask any more questions and just accepted my invitation.” I said while chewing my food. I am multitasking now. “And..?” John said as if he was still waiting. “And… I apologized and he answered that he understood and it was okay. After that he went inside the classroom.” I added. 

“So he is not actually the kind of person who holds grudges , right? He might be a good person  though, it is just that he doesn’t like people that much.” John said which made me laugh. “Shut up! At least it was finished and all good, okay?” I said to John. 

“To tell you all. I think there is a reason why he is not that approachable at all. Besides, he has the right to enter into his life.” Nick suddenly said which made John and I look at him. He was not even saying anything when we started and I thought that he was not listening at all. Turns out, he was listening. “Yeah. That is what I think too.” I replied to Nick and continued eating. After I replied, Nick did not reply anything and just ate his lunch.