Two consecutive weeks of cancelled school classes took its toll on me, Michelle and Ella. We were both rusty and bored, the numerous days lost instantly became a misadventure.
So when school management promptly announced that makeup classes would take place every Friday and Saturday, the three of us enthusiastically celebrated as if a championship had been won. After all, it meant more time for me, Michelle and Ella to mingle and study simultaneously.
Inside media ethics class, Michelle sat with Taylor for a brief talk. Her right arm still in a sling, she truthfully revealed to Taylor the considerable extent of her injury.
"What?" Taylor reacted harshly with a stunned look on his face. "You got shot by some maniac?"
"Not just any maniac," Michelle replied bitterly. "It was Christine's supposed friend, who for some idiotic reason viciously assaulted a former high school classmate due to personal jealousy and then took her hostage."
"Then why did you intervene?" Taylor eagerly questioned Michelle's heroic effort.
"That bumbling idiot kidnapped not only her ex-classmate, but Christine as well," Michelle responded harshly. "Those were undoubtedly my two beloved friends whose lives were terribly in danger and I had no choice but to step in, regardless of how violent it turned out to be."
Outside the classroom, Ella waited eagerly for my class to finish. She was scheduled to attend media ethics at 1:00 p.m., still with the same professor as mine.
As soon as class drew to a close, Michelle and I shook hands with Ella and sincerely wished her good luck. She also glanced at Taylor and Erin who naturally gave her a wink each.
This was not an ordinary routine for Ella; she would arrive to that classroom herself 10-15 minutes after my class ends. But it was an unusual situation that day considering Michelle's condition.
As Michelle and I walked outside the campus, we recognized a familiar face strolling on the street. She typically wore eyeglasses, a blue polo shirt, beige khaki pants and low-cut sneakers.
"Kyla," Michelle affectionately called her out. "Where are you going?"
"I'm off for lunch," Kyla answered. "Why did you ask?"
"Well, would you be my lunchmate?" Michelle requested. "I even brought along a close friend of mine."
"Well sure," Kyla agreed. "But who's your close friend?"
"You'll find out soon enough," Michelle smilingly assured. "Let's go."
The three of us roamed around the vicinity in search of an ideal restaurant. Then inside a mini-mall within a towering condominium, we found an Italian restaurant.
Upon sitting down, Michelle formally introduced me to Kyla. As she gazed at my face, she could not believe the facial resemblance between us.
"You look just like me," Kyla pointed out. "Michelle, I think Christine could pass as my doppelganger."
While we waited for some pasta and tea, Kyla and I began to talk. Michelle could only watch in awe as two mirror images come to terms with each other.
I learned that Kyla was 20 years old and stood six feet tall. She plays the small forward position for the women's basketball team and is a highly accurate outside shooter.
Kyla also majored in mass communications much like Michelle and myself. She has been a constant dean's lister in campus since her freshman year.
But Kyla's childhood was a rocky one. As pasta was about to serve, Kyla revealed a terrible secret to me.
"Christine, I was a bullying victim too," Kyla tearfully admitted.
Continuing with her story, Kyla told me a few things about her past.
"Back in elementary, my classmates constantly ridiculed me. They thought I was a 'living corpse' because of my thin complexion. At one point, a classmate of mine even smeared some lipstick to humiliate me. They disliked the thought of having a very slender woman going to class."
Kyla removed her glasses and openly sobbed in front of me.
"It was so humiliating and disrespectful I considered quitting school, only for my concerned parents to convince me otherwise," Kyla said, her tears flowing constantly from her eyes. "I even thought about suicide for a while."
As I knelt and gently held her hands, the only feelings my innocent heart experienced were terrible sadness and despair.
"Kyla, you're not alone," I promptly began relating my own experiences. "I also received constant criticism for being so fat. We're undoubtedly in the same boat together."
Kyla and I hugged together knowing how painful our childhoods were. Michelle could not help but shed a tear emotionally looking at the two of us.
As the conversation continued, the topic shifted to a more positive tone. Looking at a fully packed duffel bag, I began to wonder how Kyla ended up playing basketball.
"So how were you able to become a basketball player?" I inquired.
"My older sister Kelly was also a basketball player, and she introduced me to the sport," Kyla disclosed. "She taught me everything about basketball and even provided some advice me in gaining some weight to battle more physical foes."
As Kyla slowly stopped crying, her demeanor became a little more cheerful as our lively conversation continued.
"Over the years, basketball naturally became a secure haven for me," Kyla candidly admitted. "I grew extremely motivated to prove others wrong. Ultimately, the feeling of shame and pain for being mocked at my weight gradually disappeared, and I'm grateful for that."
"Hey Christine and Kyla," Michelle summoned us out. "Your pasta is about to get cold."
"I almost forgot," Kyla answered promptly. "Let's eat, Christine."
After a few bites of pasta, Kyla and I carried on with our conversation.
"So did you follow your dear sister in college?" I politely asked Kyla.
"Regrettably I chose a different school," Kyla revealed. "Kelly chose to attend a premier college in Quezon City where she can live with her boyfriend while I stayed in Manila instead."
As we consumed our pasta, I uttered one final question to Kyla.
"So after all the personal things you told me, how is your current disposition today?"
"I never felt better," Kyla commented favorably. "Having Michelle as a talented teammate was a pleasant thrill to behold, and continuing to grow as a player became a challenge I openly embraced. Notwithstanding the impossible odds, I am absolutely thrilled to be in this ideal situation now and want to push myself further."
"That's the spirit Kyla," Michelle happily nodded. "Like I said before, prepare for any challenge and deal with it."
"Thanks for the motivation Michelle," Kyla satisfactorily concluded. "We'll win this for you."
After lunch, Michelle and I bade farewell to Kyla as she walked leisurely to a different class. A few hours later, Michelle called out her driver to fetch us home.
Another glorious day at school drew to a close. This time, however, no further incidents took place.