Chapter Twenty - Lance “Everything’s okay, Jayler. Don’t be embarrassed just because we’re not that close and also, I’m not going to judge you. I guess, I’m going to say this is a good space for you tell whatever’s going on.” I felt like I have no other choice but to hear Jayler out. I tried encouraging him not to be shamed about this situation when he came all the way here to ask for some help for whatever shit is going on in his life. “Yeah, I’m just really figuring out how to say this.” Jayler nodded and then paused for a while. He was already turning red but I’m sure that’s coming from the alcohol. “Go on, man.” There’s still a band performing on stage and the music is reverberating throughout the room. Kenneth and I are the only people who could hear him and even then, I still have to heighten my hearing sense to hear him speak. “I’m about to get expelled.” Jayler confessed spitting the words with such conviction like it’s been stuck within him all this time. I can hear the in

Chapter Twenty-Two – Jayler Monday came in a quick snap, even more faster than I would’ve thought and I was feeling more than ready and confident to be freed from the chains of this expulsion bullshit. I was a bit nervous when I woke up but as soon as the water in the shower hit my body, I gained this imperial surge of confidence. Although I had to keep myself calm and cool at the breakfast table right in front of my mom and dad, I know that they don’t have to know about what happened. I have all the right and intentions to keep things that way because from a Christian parents’ standpoint, they won’t understand anything. I’m well aware of the fact that my sister knows about the photos, she made it perfectly clear the last time we had a conversation. However, I am not—in the slightest—worried about that since I’m well certain that she’s not a shady snitch. We have this unspoken sibling understanding that most siblings have. I’m closing my eyes and I’m putting all of my trust in her. I

Chapter 24 – Lance I would’ve never thought I would learn so much from Jayler Mendoza today. Posing as his uncle made that possible and the school head, a nun in her early 60’s, was kind enough to tell me about the good things about Jayler. She’s of course undeniably pissed that Jayler’s actions might bring a bad reputation to the school hence the reason why she was thinking of kicking him out of the school. Thankfully, I told her that the photos were already deleted from the internet and I had to explain to her that no one would recognize Jayler and that he’s not even wearing their school uniform to begin with. We had a strong back and forth and me, immediately understanding Sister Salvador’s concerns right at the moment, I was able to easily appease her. In the end, she confessed to me that Jayler has not been a problem to the school and it was literally his saving grace. He’s always present at every class, he always had excellent grades and he’s very much well-mannered. Sister Salv

Chapter 26 – Lance It was really unexpected in a sense and yet it was greatly nice to have an open conversation about sexuality with Jayler. I had never expected him to be very accepting and cool with it. I had a keen sense that he’d be comfortable and cool with it and dropping my bisexuality in such a casual way was just the right mood. It made me happy that I don’t have to hide this truth from him. I don’t know but it just made me adore him even more. “What do you want for lunch? Pizza? Chicken wings? Chinese? Thai?” I began asking Jayler what are we are having for lunch. We just got here less than an hour ago but I’m already starving as fuck. “Anything.” He replied dryly. Apparently, he was pre-occupied by the paintings and posters hanged on the walls. “I want specifics, kiddo.” I pressed on knowing that I have to get a direct answer from him. I don’t want anything as an answer because what if he has some allergies or he doesn’t like this and that shit. “Pizza and wings, I gues

Chapter 28 – Jayler I sat at the very edge of my bed deeply in thought. I was under the impression that I can finally rest but then I can’t deny the lingering reality that my brain’s still running its gears. Perhaps I feel disappointed because I thought I’d get away with this mess perfectly unscathed. I was dead ass wrong on that. It sucks that I have to be suspended for a whole damn week and that I have to do a month of service for the school when this isn’t entirely my fault. It’s basically a whole month of detention except I have to do some work and I don’t even know kind of work I have to do. Cleaning toilets? Carrying books at the library? Dusting off the windows? I can only imagine. While I do understand why Sister Salvador ended up with this decision, I am still distressed because it felt like it’s way too much. I know it’s basically a way to teach me some sort of lesson and it’s fair from their point of view. It’s quite fair. The only thing that’s making it unfair on my end