The Last Regular Schoolday

It was almost 6 pm. Some of the graduating students were busy filling up forms for academic and extracurricular activities. 

The school’s curfew hour is 5 pm so most of the students were expected to be out already.  I was alone inside the classroom. Due to some other activities, I was delayed in filling my forms. I was the only one left still writing.

He knocked at the door. I looked at him and I smiled. It was obvious in the way he looked that he is prepared to go home already. Nevertheless, I asked him if he could accompany me for awhile. He was apologetic as he said he cannot. 

It was the first time he ever declined a favor of mine.

I kept on filling up my forms. I admit I felt a little pinch of hurt in my heart.

I passed by my locker before I went home. I saw there a blue paper bag with a pink teddy bear and two inspirational books inside.

I told myself it was better that he went ahead of me. I don’t want him to see those stuffs that were given by somebody else.

I was thinking of putting the entire paper bag inside my backpack. He might still be outside. I don’t want him to see me carrying those stuffs. But they were way too big they cannot be contained inside.

I felt really anxious. What if he was still outside? What would he think if he sees me with that teddy bear? It’s no biggie but I don’t want him to think like I am interested to some other guy.


...

It was a long walk from our third floor classroom to the gate. It felt odd walking alone this time.

But I would be the girl who leaves before she is left behind. He changed his priorities, he said. Well I had a change of heart.