Irene II

Read first part here

"Where have you been?" her friend Tracey asked.

"Just outside," Irene replied as she sat down beside her.

"You've missed the important topics."

"I don't mind. I'll catch up when I bounce back to my old self."

"Silly."

Then their other subject started. It had only been a few minutes but she wanted to go out again. She felt confined in the room. She can feel the pressure that everyone is going through, the burden of having to prove themselves that they can pass the last exam they might ever have in their lives.

She really needed a change of scenery.

Time passed and it was time to go home. She fixed her things quickly and talked a bit with her friends. She needed to go to the restroom so she excused herself.

She did what she had to do and briefly looked at herself in the mirror. She looked tired and sad. She patted her cheeks and forced herself to smile. She can't give up anymore. Only a few months to go and this stressful life will end soon.

Her friends were waiting for her and they were still talking. She didn't join in, though, as she was checking her phone for messages.

Out of nowhere, someone called her name. She looked around and saw Walter. He was even waving at her and grinning. She was about to smile back when her friend Joanne spoke. "Do you know him?" She didn't like her tone.

"N-no," she said as she looked away from Walter.

--

It's Friday and she can't wait for the weekend. She wanted to not attend her classes but her mother has way too high expectations from her. She can't break her heart.

She went to school earlier than usual. She wanted to roam around the premises so she'll know where to stay when she didn't want to be in the classroom.

She thought she'll be the first reviewee to be in school but there was someone already there. He was looking over the bulletin board, checking the names of those who scored the highest in their exams.

She left her things in their room and sat on a couch outside. She took out her phone from her pocket and put on her earphones. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the music.

She was mouthing the words of the song with emotions when somebody tapped her. It was Walter.

"Hi again," he said with his usual grin. He sat beside her. "You looked like you really like the song."

"Yeah, actually," she replied shyly. She felt guilt rushing over her about yesterday so she wanted to make up to him. "Here. Do you want to hear it?" She gave him the other earpiece.

He took it and was silent for a few moments. She took the piece from him, thinking he didn't like the song.

"Hey. I was listening," he complained.

"Yeah, but you didn't like it."

"I did! I was listening to the lyrics."

"Fine." She stopped the music and kept her phone away. She leaned on the wall and gave out a long sigh.

"Hey, Irene. I just want to thank you for talking to me. You know, you were my first friend here," Walter said. "I don't know, I admit I'm weird sometimes. A bit hyper, too. That's why people don't really talk to me."

"You're not that bad. You're easy to talk to. You're always smiling. You got this happy air around you," she said. She tried to focus on the poster in front of her. She wasn't used to this kind of conversation.

"Really?" Walter sounded cheerful. "Can I ask for your number?"

"Okay. One thing, though. I don't usually reply to text messages. I rarely have prepaid credits."

"I'll just call you, then?" Walter was really giddy.

"Then, no number for you. Don't ever call."

"Fine. Can I just have it? I promise I won't call."

"Let me put it in your phone."