4. FLASHBACK 1 [The First Time We Met]

1st February 2016,

"Alright students, we have a transfer student here, say hi to Joselyn Airam everyone."

No one did as told. Instead, everyone stared at the new girl. She had long brown hairs and light brown eyes. Her skin was the colour of milk and there was apparent blush in her cheeks. Such natural beauty was rare at our school. I and Kate watched her intently too. The lollipop slipped from Kate's mouth and landed on the table with a small thud.

Realizing that she has been gaping at the new kid, she blushed in shame and hid behind her book. I stifled a laugh. The new kid stood at the front awkwardly as no one made a move to urge her to sit. At last, Mrs Conner's, our English teacher asked her to sit. There was no empty seat, except for one. The one seat that was always empty. The seat beside Lara.

No one liked sitting beside her. She barely spoke and they thought her to have some disease or something. So everyone kept their distance. Every new student would first come to sit with her, since they don't have an ultimate choice. But once they find suitable friends they can get along, they leave her side. As Joselyn was asked to sit beside Lara, so she did, as it was usual for new student to not know Lara's identity at school. So Joselyn sat beside Lara. And guess what? She had no trouble at all.

"Hi, am Joslyn."

"Hi, am Lara."

"Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too."

And eventually, they became friends.

Usually, the duration for a person to stay with Lara was just a day or two. They would find suitable friends by then and then leave her. But Joselyn, however, didn't. She stayed by Lara's side as real friends. Lara would gossip and talk with her as she never did with anyone else and that's what made Joselyn fonder of her. It's not like Joslyn didn't get new friends. She did, but she chose to stay next to Lara. I and Katelyn attempted a try too. And this is how it went:

Roselyn: Hey, I am Roselyn.

Katelyn: Hey, I am Katelyn.

Joselyn: Nice to meet you guys! I am Joselyn.

Rose/ Kate: Nice to meet you too!

Awkward silence.

Katelyn: Where are you from?

Joslyn: I come from Brooklyn.

Another awkward silence.

Scratching's at the table.

Roselyn: What's that noise?

Joselyn: Someone's scratching at the table.

Roselyn: Aahh.

Awkward silence.

Roselyn: What's your favourite colour?

Joselyn: Sorry?

Clears the throat.

Roselyn: I said, what's your favourite colour?

Joselyn: Oh. Its pale orange.

Noises made by other students spread.

Roselyn: I'm sorry WHAT?

Joslyn: Pale orange!

Rose/Kate: WHAT ORANGE?

Joslyn: PALE ORANGE!

Still unable to hear anything. Teacher arrives, and we excuse ourselves.

End of story.

                                                 

                                                          ***

                                                 

So that's how it was, a failed attempt. But I know you must be wondering how we came to be friends. Well, read on.

"Kate, did you sign for the debate club?" I asked. Kate looked up from the book she was going through and nodded.

"You?" she asked. I packed my stuffs back inside my bag and flung it over my shoulder. "I'll be going now. Care to join?"

Kate nodded once again and shoved her book inside her bag. Together, we walked out of class. We reached Mr Potters, our Debate councillor's office. He was a thick and burly man, with a thick and tough British accent matching his appearance. I did what I was supposed to. I wrote down my name and filled up a form. Easy process.

We thanked Mr Potters and where just about to excuse ourselves when the door opened swiftly, only to reveal dark brown hairs and a milky white face.

"May I come in?" came Joselyn's voice.

"Yes."

On entering the room, Joslyn found us staring and so she stared back. Anyone might have thought that Joselyn's was staring at us like that because she meant to say, What are you staring at?

But in reality, it only meant this, "Hey! What are you guys doing here? Did you guys just sign up too?"

She was as cheery as can be, as if she wasn't expecting us. But somehow, the fact that it was me and Kate of all people whom she would find was thrilling news to her. "Yeah! Are you signing up too?" We asked, trying to match her enthusiasm. She nodded happily.

Even if we didn't know each other, even if we never talked much, none of that mattered. What mattered was that we managed to become friends after that. The debate club thingy not only brought us together, but it also helped us in getting to know each other better. It didn't seem like we felt awkward among ourselves. Nothing felt shameful. We were open with each other's opinions and we respected each other's ideas. Everywhere we went, we went together. And in time, we were famous all over our school for being the three girls who always stuck together. I wouldn't have been even surprised if anyone told me it made them jealous.

Days passed, and so did our friendship. We got to know a lot about each other. The opposites and similarities in us. I loved drawing, reading, writing, singing, music, debating and all the lecturing stuffs. Kate liked romance, drama, being beautiful and cheery at all times. Whereas Jos was, I don't know how to describe her. She was really beautiful, the most beautiful at our high school. She was most of the time silent in front of others, but near us, she was always the Jos we knew. She was always positive minded and too care free. Actually, excessive positive minded and excessive carefree. But that didn't bring us to dislike her. And eventually, we became the best of friends.