That Letter - A Cinderella Story

X.

-Irene-

            “Why did you leave them?” I asked as he sat himself properly on his chair

            “Nothing, I just wanna sit here with you” he answered smiling sweetly at him, my heart flustered as I watched him genuinely smiling. He’s so pure, he just doesn’t know how I feel for him.

             I wonder how would he react if I tell him that I like him so much… “Besides I know no one who loves art so much other than you” he continued

            “I don’t know” I answered and avoided his gaze, gosh… I looked so awkward, I don’t know what to say ehehehe

            “That’s why I like you” he said…what? He likes me? For real?

            “What did you say?” I turned to him and asked him to repeat himself, he smiled again at me

            “I said I like to sit here with you rather than to sit with them, your understanding towards art is broad, and your way of thinking is different” he repeated ad tapped my head lightly

            “Oh thanks, you too” I said shyly. Well, that was a genuine complement… I thought he just said he likes me, I’m wrong. He meant different after all. Is this usual?

             Like when your crush speaks, even if it actually meant nothing, but for you it seems like he’s speaking to the whole world for you… like he’s shouting your name loudly and sincerely referring to you, only you… I don’t know but I felt like that… I’m crazy.

            “And that’s why I wanted your company, I’m sure we’ll do great in this subject” he continued looking away from me as he rested his back in his chair

            “Yea, that’d be amazing…” I uttered as I looked away from him too and waited until our teacher came

            After a few minutes, our art teacher came with a book on his hand. The class went silent as he carefully walked towards the table in front of the class and sat himself down. He looked kind though. He’s the most famous art teacher in our school, everyone knows him.

           He’s very talented especially when it comes to art. He’s been featured in different news, articles, and even reviews for his exceptional art works. Some of his artworks are in our local museum, even some art works here in our school like murals, sculptures, tapestry, mosaics, assemblage and paintings are made by him. And those were all breath taking.

            The most iconic 3d painting near our school park was made by his students. They said their mentor was him, and surely aside from being a great artist is he’s also a great teacher. Everyone who loves art that had been taught by him also become great artist, and that’s why I wanted him to teach me too.

            “Good afternoon, I’m Mr. Henry Blair” he introduced himself smiling to us “But you can just call me Sir Henry” he added “I’m not explaining things to you anymore since you already know what your subject is going to be, plus you already know much about art…” he continued as he chuckled

            He just kept on talking about what our subject would be like, and what kind of teaching method he uses. I find it wonderful that his way of teaching is first hand, that he’ll allow us to do things immediately, instead of talking and talking about things in front of us and will seldom let us work for it.

            First hand learning is important in subjects like this, because we’ll learn quick if we do it ourselves not just by listening to our teacher the whole period. Now, I see why most of our school walls are painted with different paintings. And I understand why our school always win in art competitions.

            Majority of students here in Wellington High are fond of art. When students want to take art courses in college they would enroll here in Wellington for high school to become more efficient. Especially because we have Mr. Blair.

            Mr. Blair talked about his achievements, about how art has become his life, and how he was so blessed of having art in his life. He talked about his past experiences before, during and after pursuing Visual arts.

            He then, talked about his past students, and their whereabouts now, like one of his students is already in London and is a famous visual artist in there. And some also become art teachers in universities. He also talked about some inspirational stories for us to be more inspired with art.

           And he gave us some tips that can help us become more adept in doing arts.

             This is what an ideal first day be like, just some story telling from teachers… some realistic background information, and some advice… unlike those teachers who starts lesson immediately, but all they do is to read every page of the module, duhh…

            Class finished with Mr. Blair just shared stories with us. We were silent the whole class as we all just listened to him, we were all interested though. And for an hour I stopped thinking about Chan. Speaking of, he just sat there silent too. He didn’t speak a word and so as I.

            I stood up to get out of the class to meet Wendy.

            “Hey, see you” Chan poked me as he waved me goodbye

            “Yea, see you too” I responded as I turned to him

            “What’s your next class?” he asked me, I stopped for a while and looked at my schedule at the back of my phone

            “Hmmm… Spanish class…” I answered while reading my schedule, and turned to him and smiled slightly

            “Oh, that’s nice… I have Journalism class” he stated and stood up “I guess we only have two subjects together… so sad” he pouted and gave me some puppy eyes… gosh, he’s so cute! Why does he keep on acting like that, if he just didn’t tell me that he only sees me as a friend, I would have mistaken him liking me…?

            “Yea, but no need to be so sad, it’s not that you won’t see me anymore” I said and struck his arm lightly

            “Right” he said shortly and laughed silently

            “We gotta go” I said as I started walking to get out of our classroom

            I noticed him grabbing his bag and walked outside behind me. I immediately looked for Wendy as I got out of the room. I scanned the whole area for her. I checked the direction of her classroom to see if she’s there.

            “Hey, I’m here” she called me from a corner as she waived

            “Oh Hey” I said and smiled as I walked towards her

            “Was that Chan?” she said looking towards the direction where Chan went

            “Yea, we’re on the same class again” I answered as I looked at the direction too

            “Ohh I see” she shook her head and shifter her glances to me

            “Yea… let’s go” I pulled her and went towards our lockers to prepare for the next subject

            “Did you take Visual arts because Chan took it too?” Wendy nosily asked me as we opened our lockers

            “No, that’s not my reason… You know how much I love arts” I answered her denying her accusations

            “Really? Because I thought we were going to take performing arts for this school year, the next thing I knew you already took Visual arts, and you didn’t even tell me” she recalled that made me look at her and smiled awkwardly while she smiled playfully “I should’ve took Visual arts with you...” she added

            “Look, I’m sorry…” I said and laughed myself out ahahahaha she looked so hilarious pouting looking like a wet chick

            “So why did you suddenly changed your mind?” she asked me that made me stop laughing

            “Nothing, I just thought how I love arts… plus Mr. Blair is the teacher… so…” I answered her as I avoided looking right through her eyes. I noticed the edge of her lips gone up, she’s smiling crazily “what?” I asked

            “Never mind, I just don’t believe you” she said frankly ahahaha that’s why I love her, she’s so honest and direct but sometimes it’s taking her too far… like this one… well, best friends are… at least she’s not plastic though

            She gave me some playful, disbelieving, and suspicious look of hers.

            “Why don’t you believe me?” I asked her laughing

            “Nothing, I just knew that you changed your choice because you knew Chan took that class too, you followed him” she said directly and continuously without breaking her sentence…. Gosh! So frank

            “Shut up, I didn’t” I defended myself as I signaled her to shut her mouth

            “Of course you did, you’re so obvious” she repeated but with a lower voice

            “How did you know anyway?” I asked as I grabbed my notebook from my locker and put it in my bag quickly

            “I just knew, like duhh, I know you… you’re so obvious” she said as she rolled her eyes “I saw Chan in that room, knowing you, I realized why you changed your decision in an instant” she continued… I’m happy that she really knows me, but sometimes it’s not, I’ve nothing to hide anymore… she knows so much

            “Shut up” I said and closed my locker and started walking towards my last subject.