What if?

Chapter 56: Eraser

Nick

The classes are finished and we are now preparing ourselves to go to our clubs. The others went outside already while I am still here inside the classroom erasing the notes on the board. “Nick, are you good? Can you go to your club by yourself?” Michael asked as he tapped my shoulder. “I think so, I know the way already.” I answered Nick’s question. It is right, I really think that I know where to go already, besides it is not that hard to remember though. Jake did not even have a hard time looking for the club’s place yesterday. “Wait, how he got in the club and was able to go there by himself.” I asked myself while doing a flashback in my mind. “Maybe he asked questions to the guard and teachers. He is not the kind of person who gets shy when needed.” I answered my own question. 

“Nick! So, what now?” Michael said a bit louder. I guess he has been talking and asking me while I was having my own world. “What was it again?”I asked Michael while holding the board erase. I stopped for a minute so I can pay attention to Michael. “I asked if you are sure because if you are we will be going first. We need to help our president and so we will not be late to go to you and we can go home on time.” Michael said to me. I think he is really worried about me and also if I get mad over being late because of waiting a long time. “Yeah, I am. You go already.” I answered Michael’s question. “Okay, see you after the club ends. Stay where you were and don’t go anywhere okay?” Michael said to me. “What the hell? Does he think I am a baby?” I said to myself after hearing what he said. “Yes sir. I understand.” I replied to Michael. “Hmm…” Michael replied and nodded at the same time. “Bye for now.” John said and waved goodbye to me. 

They are no longer inside the classroom so I continued to erase the notes on the board. “Ugh! Why are there so many!?” I complained while erasing it. This is even taking me a long time because the eraser is so small and it cannot erase the words completely in one take. “You need some help?” Somebody said so I turned to look at the person who said it. “Jake…” I said as soon as I saw him. I didn’t know he was still inside the classroom. “Whatever, I will help you.” Jake said and got another eraser and started to do what I was doing. I roamed my eyes around the inside of the classroom to see if anybody was still around and there was no one except the both of us. 

“I thought you left already?” I asked Jake and then continued to erase. “I was and I came back.” Jake answered my question. What? So I was right, why does he even have to come back? “Did he come back because of me? Ugh! Dream on.” I said to myself. “Why did you come back? I wonder.” I asked Jake while looking closely at him. I want to see his face and hear his answer. “I came back because I think I forgot my earphones again but it was here in my pocket but I was already outside right in front of the classroom. I was about to go but I saw that you are still erasing the board so I came in and helped you. Other than that, it is wrong so don’t get the wrong idea.” Michael said then he turned to look at me at the last words. “Ugh! This is frustrating! He knows I was thinking that he was worried about me and that is why he came back.” I said to myself. “Well, I just asked. So don’t get the idea too.” I said to Jake and wiped faster than I used to. 

I am not sure if I will be happy that he is here to help me at all. “Finished!” I said after seeing that all the notes on the board are erased. “Good, let’s go so we can practice.” Jake said with his cold voice again. Why does he like doing it? “Hmm… I will get my guitar and bag then let us go together?” I asked Jake. Well, he is here though so we can go to the club together. Besides, I want to ask him a question. “Okay.” Jake replied shortly and then I immediately took my things. “Let’s go.” I said to Jake as soon as I finished getting all my things. 

We started to walk outside the classroom. We don’t have to worry about the classroom being locked because they are being locked by the guards of this school. “Jake, I have a question. Hmm… how were you able to go to the club? I mean, it was our first time going there.” I asked Jake. I actually feel a bit ashamed to ask but I am more curious than being shy about asking. “I asked Moira the time that I write my name to the club to know where it is.” Jake answered my question without looking at me. “I see. I get it now.” I said to Jake. So he asked Moira the day that he wrote his name at that stall the same day I wrote. He must have a sense of direction. I am not good when people just say it to me because I am the kind of person who needs to see it so I can remember the place. I don’t know why I am like this, well, people are just different from each other. 

We were near the club place but suddenly Jake stopped. “Is there something wrong?” I asked Jake. “Nah! I just need to get this rock out of the way.” Jake said and he got rid of the rock that was on the way. “I see.” I replied to Jake. “Guess he doesn’t want anyone to slip because of the rock. Besides, it is really dangerous.” I said to myself. We continued to walk and finally reached the inside of the club. “Good afternoon.” I said as a greeting to the people inside the club. They are our seniors in this club so we need to be polite. “Good afternoon.” Jake said without even smiling. He doesn’t look like he was not in the mood but he just looks so emotionless.

“Good afternoon.” The club members replied with big smiles. They really look and sound so friendly. I am happy that they did not say anything about Jake’s attitude. “Hi! Oh, you have a guitar now?” Moira, the president said as soon as she saw me holding my guitar. “Yeah, dad and mom bought it for me by surprise.” I replied to Moira. “You must be a very good kid then.” Moira said while smiling. “Not as good as Michael.” I said to Moira. “Hmmm… I am not sure, I am not your parents.” Moira said and then giggled. “Yeah.” I replied to Janice and smiled. “Okay, go ahead and start your practice.” Moira said to the both of us while tapping both our shoulders. 

“Let’s practice?” I asked Jake as soon as Moira left the both of us. “Yeah, but we can’t do it here while standing. Let’s go to our area first.” Michael said to me. “Yeah, of course.” I replied while awkwardly smiling. We walked until we reached our area and then we immediately sat on the floor. “Get your guitar.” Jake said while he got the guitar beside him. He really is serious about teaching me how to play it. I like that he is serious about this thing. He is also not that strict when he is teaching me to play it so I kinda like it. 

“Okay so before we start with the new chords let us do some warm ups first to our fingers, hand, and shoulders and then try to practice the chords that you learnt yesterday.” Jake said to me. Warm ups are really important before doing something. It is good that he is applying it to me. I like that he is like this. It makes me think that he has a really good heart. The time when he got rid of the rock, I was really touched by his actions. I mean, he may look and sound mean but he actually cares about people. He just doesn't show it directly, which is so different from other people. Some are just showing up though, which is really shameful of them.

If Michael and Jake will have the time that they get to talk to each other, I think they will be good friends and turn out liking each other because their inner characteristics are so the same. People should be like them.