Chapter 2: ROOFTOP

The next day, I was still bothered by how Lolo and Lola reacted last night. I asked them last night, why their reaction was like that, they said that they were just angry by the fact that my parents died that way. They said that it angers them that it was an accident, they blame the truck driver for what happened to my parents. They are angry that I was left alone at a young age. I accepted their explanation but somehow, I was not fully convinced, the emotion that was visible to their eyes was… different. I feel like they know something that I don’t and that they are not planning to tell it to me any time soon.

I woke up early, today, since I have class. Most of the time, my grandparents wake up before me but today, I woke up earlier than them. I woke up at five in the morning, my class starts at seven. I went to the kitchen to cook rice and prepare breakfast. I prepared a grilled meat, put onions and garlic then make and I shoveled it to a scrambled egg. I also fried hotdogs to go with our breakfast menu. Since my grandparents haven’t woken up yet, I decided to just let them sleep and not wake them up. I ate alone, well not really, Minchin was eating her food beside me. After eating, I fixed the table and went to my room to do my morning routine.

After preparing for school, I bid goodbye to my Lolo and Lola, they woke up while I was taking a shower. I saw them eating breakfast, I blessed and kissed their cheeks before going out. My Lolo talked to one of the tricycle drivers he knew, the driver will fetch me from our house and drive me to school. I pay the tricycle driver, 200 pesos, so I spend a total of 200 pesos for my transportation fees. That’s a bit expensive but I don’t think my grandparents have troubles financially. Back when my parents were still alive, I never saw them struggle financially, too.

I arrived at school, ten minutes before the class starts. I don’t like going to school really early, I would just be wasting time since I have nothing to do here that early.

“Hi, Ellis!”

“Hi Miss Ellis!”

“Hey, beautiful!”

“Attention-seeker!”

“She thinks she’s beautiful, she’s just a flirt!”

‘That’s just some of the words I hear people talking about me. Why are they still in the corridors anyway? Don’t they have anything to do in the morning, other than gossiping and talking about me? This happens every day, I’m getting tired of this. I really can’t wait to graduate. Our graduation is in April, its already January, just a few more months.

“Ellis! Look at this!” As I enter the classroom, I haven’t even sat down to my chair, one of classmates blocked my way. He looks familiar because he’s my classmate but… I don’t really know him. I was forced to look at his phone, he’s trying to show me something. He looks like he won’t stop until I look at it so I just played along.

“3C Hot Issue?” I asked. AS far as I know, this is the page of Central Community College made by a student. Never have I ever been interested on any social media sites, I don’t even have a F******k account. I read the post he’s trying to show me.

Ellis is a witch. The reason why she does not interact with anyone is because she’s a witch. Let’s drown her on garlic.

I almost laughed on what’s written on the post. My classmate was surprised to my reaction. I moved him away from my way and sat down to my chair. He wanted to show me the comments but, in the end, he left, after seeing that I have no interest.

People always say something bad to those who are different from them. One of the reason why I don’t want to make friends with them is because of their attitude. Before, I had friends but I found out that they say bad things about me behind my back.

They’ve said a lot of mean comments about me, acting like they were my real friends but in reality, they actually hate me a lot. Since that happened, I became more reserved. Because I don’t.t know who I should trust. That’s why instead of tiring my self out, thinking if my friends are true to me or not, its better to not have friends at all. I become quiet after the accident, it was hard for me to open up to other people and when I did, they betrayed me. Its better to not rely on anyone, that way I wouldn’t be hurt.

Not long after, our class started. Our professor discussed a lesson that I already studied in advance. I have already studied this lesson last night. One of the reasons why I always study in advance is because I get bored in class, easily. Sometimes, I get bored and not listen to the professor. Since I know and understand the lesson already, I can NOT listen but still know what to answer if ever that I will be asked to recite.

After class, instead of going straight home, I have decided to stay for a little while. I slowly made my way towards the stairway that led me to the rooftop. Every afternoon, when class ends, the students are scattered on the corridors and outside the gate, no one goes up to the rooftop because its too tiring to climb the stairs. Our school is a community college, there are no elevators here. I opened the entrance to the rooftop and it created a loud noise. I circled the entrance and went to the back, you can see the front of school when you enter the rooftop but I rather look at the back where I can see trees, mountains and rice fields. The wall on the rooftop is thick and the height is up to my chest. I stepped on the chairs scattered and leaning against the wall, so I can sit down on the wall. In four years of my stay here in school, I have done this a lot and I never felt scared even though my fit is literally hanging down and I can fall with one wrong move. I put my trust into destiny that I will never fall. The building is six story, the rooftop is somehow the seventh floor. Its high but I trust that I won’t fall.

Almost three hours have passed, I was just staring at the scenic view in front of me. I love how peaceful it is, up here. But I did not expect that the silence will be broken.

“You’re not planning to jump, are you?” I was surprised when I heard someone talked. I felt nervous, I thought I was going to fall out of shock. This was my first time feeling that I will fall. I quickly looked to where the voice came from. He was sitting in the middle of the chairs that was improperly layered on top of one another. He was sitting on the space between the chairs.

Who is this person? He looks foreign but I see a hint of Filipino on his features. Maybe his half-Filipino and half foreign? I haven’t heard a news about a foreign transferee here in our school. Or maybe I just didn’t know that our school offers exchange-student program? I laughed at myself, who am I kidding? When did I ever involve myself to school news? How would I know what’s happening to our school when I never even involve myself to these things?

The man stood up and went near to where I am sitting. The man is tall, the wall was up to my chest but to this man, it only reached the bottom of his chest. I looked in front to avoid eye contact. He is standing on my right side but he is not on the wall, he was just leaning on it, while I am sitting on the wall. His arms are crossed on his chest and resting on the wall.

“I was asking a question. You’re not thinking of jumping from here, right?”

“No” I simply answered. I don’t know him so I don’t intend to prolong this conversation. I hope he leaves already, I really want to stay for a little longer but I would be uncomfortable knowing that I’m not alone here.

“You seem like a person who hates socializing, don’t you?” why is he talking to me anyways? Can’t he tell that I don’t want to talk to him? Do I need to answer his question?

“Yeah” in the end, I still answered his question.

“I’m Quenly, you are?” I forced myself not to heave a sigh, I don’t want him to think that I am too snobbish. I’m afraid that he would push me off of the rooftop’s wall if I snob him.

“Christiana Ellis” I looked at him for a second and saw him looking intently at me. I felt embarrassed and more uncomfortable so I returned my gaze in front.

“Christiana Ellis? Just like you, your name is also beautiful. My face heated up and I prayed that he did not see that.

“Aren't you scared? The wind might blow hard on you and you'll fall flat to the ground” I know that he’s only trying to make a casual conversation between us but I’m just really uncomfortable. I wanted to get out of this place, so bad. But I don’t want to look rude. He couldn’t even talk to me properly, what more if I leave?

“Not really” its true that I am not afraid to fall. If I fall, then I’ll fall. But I really have a strong gut feeling that I will not fall from here.

“Am I making you uncomfortable? You sound so distant” I was not surprised when he said that, I am more surprised to the fact that he just noticed it now.

“It’s just that... I'm not use to talking to other people” if my friends did not betray me before, I’m most probably not as distant to other people as I am now. Why are there people who act like that? They will pretend to be your friend when in front of you but say something bad about you when you are not looking. Because of their selfish acts, I act the way I am acting now. If it weren’t because of them, making friends won’t be hard for me.

“I’m sorry”

“Not a big deal” there have been a few people who tried to approach me and make friends, but its just not that easy. Although it makes me uncomfortable when people approach me, I never made a big deal about it.

Silence surrounded us. I don’t know if I have to leave or if he will leave first. Just as I was thinking what to do, his phone rang. He gestured that he will answer his phone, he was asking permission from me even though it wasn’t necessary. He started walking away but not too far, I can even hear what he was saying but I chose to give him the privacy. I focused my mind to the view instead.

“Hey!’ He called for my attention. I looked back at him, I think he’s call is done.

“Uh... I have a situation... that... I need to attend to. I need to go. I'm sorry. It was nice meeting you!” I smiled at him and did not say anything anymore. He waved goodbye before running off of the rooftop.

I stayed for almost half an hour before I’ve decided to go home. This is not the first time that I’m going home at this hour, that’s why my Lolo and Lola did not ask when I arrived at home. This is probably one of the reason why they think I have friends.

The nest day, when we had our lunch break, I thought I would be eating alone like I used to. No one to share my foods to, no one to talk to. But not today, not, starting today.

My attention was drawn to the hands of someone who put a tray full of foods on the table I am in. Whoever this person is, he is probably thinking of sharing a table with me. Basing from the hand, I think that the owner of the hand is a he. I looked up to see who it was and I was surprised to see Quenly. Since the day I learned that my friends are talking behind my back, I never shared the table with anyone. No one dared to eat on the same table as me, not even those guys who told me, they like me. This is the first time that someone went near where I eat. Maybe because he’s a transferee? He doesn’t really know how people act towards me.

“I hope you don't mind me seating here with you” he gave me a genuine smile as he sat down.

“No, its fine” his smile grew bigger, I can’t help but to smile too.

“OHMYGOSH! Why is Quenly smiling at that witch? I would really kill those who try to flirt with him! Stop me, ‘cause I would really pull that witch’s hair!” I looked at Sabrina and her group, her friend Cleo was shouting, I couldn’t help but feel embarrass for her. They were all looking at me, I’m sure that they are talking about me, not just because they are looking my way but also because she mentioned Quenly, whose sitting in front of me.

“Girl! GO on! We won’t stop you! We’ll even help you pull her hair” Sabrina was pushing her to do it. I am just looking at them, the hate and anger are visible from their eyes. Is Quenly, Cleo’s boyfriend? Probably not, because if he is Cleo’s boyfriend, she won’t be saying anything anymore, she would head to me straight and pull my hair. I guess she likes Quenly.

“Don't mind them. I don't even know them but they talk like they own me” he’s now looking at them too. Like he said, I did not mind them.

Days passed, Quenly and I are often together. During break times and after school. We usually stay on the rooftop for a few hours after the class ends. The girls who look like they are stabbing me, multiplied. I found out that Quenly is popular in Central Community College. That’s why when the news about Quenly having a friend, broke out, my name became a hot topic especially on 3C Hot Issue F* page. A lot of people had called me a flirt, some are commenting that they wished that I would die. I just laugh at how shallow they act. I did not mind their comments, they have never harmed me physically because Quenly is always with me.

My days are fine, when my grandparents find out about my friendship with Quenly, they were so happy. Quenly also insisted to fetch me from our house every morning and drive me home after school. If we’re not spending our time on the rooftop, after school, Quenly is teaching me how to drive. I got the hang of it, and hopefully, I get my license soon.

I never asked my grandparents about my parents, I did not want to see them angry again. But I promised to visit their grave after I graduate from college.