The sun is high up in the clear blue sky. It was a beautiful day. I could feel the crisp autumn winds rushing through me. I watched the autumn leaves fall, slowly drifting away. Fall is my favorite, even if no one would agree with me. I like how the days get shorter, and the nights colder. I was slowly walking my way to school. I could feel my skirt getting blown by the wind, like as if it's purposely teasing me. I did my best to hold it down.
I kept walking, with my hands holding down my skirt. Suddenly I felt conscious and I get butterflies in my stomach the moment I saw the school gate. The first day of school always gets the best of me. But if there's one thing I am glad of, is that I convinced mom to let me go to a new school. We move into a new place, miles away from our old place. What I like best about it, is that our house is just a few blocks away from school.
I'd rather be the new kid in town, and make new friends than to deal with old friends I totally forgot about to whom I can no longer relate to. I don't wanna deal with their annoying comments about me being this and that, or having to listen to how things were, to make me forcefully remember -- I only end up getting headaches.
"Hi there." I heard a girl said greeting me. I lift up my head to look her way. She gave me a warm smile. I just stared at her blankly, and then to the girl next to her, then continued walking past them down the hallway to the room.
As I expected, people were merrily chatting with each other. I walked into the room silently and chose an empty seat in the very last row. I took out my phone and earphones, then played my favorite playlist. I sit comfortably with my eyes close as I enjoyed the songs that were playing randomly. The first day of school can be nerve-wracking but listening to the songs that I like relaxes me, and lifts my mood.
Before I knew it, the day has gone by smoothly. Although I'm not good at doing the first move when it comes to making friends, I still managed to make new friends at the end of the day. As the days passed I am getting used to my everyday routine. In school, I still prefer to hang out alone. With so many questions in my head, I always drift away deep in thoughts -- and I don't want to keep on explaining myself. I would rather be alone than being with anyone.
It was a typical day in school. Like I always do during vacants, break times, or after classes -- I go to my favorite spot. I always lie down under the shade of the only rain tree at school, then listen to my favorite songs with my eyes close. Sometimes, I would fall asleep, at times my mind keeps me awake. But today was not like any other day.
"Mind if I join in?" I opened my eyes and saw a towering guy staring at me with his deep blue eyes. His long black hair fell towards his face as he looked down at me. I didn't say a thing and close my eyes back.
"Andrei's the name," he said introducing himself, but I still didn't reply. The next thing I knew, he took the earphone from my left ear. When I opened my eyes, he was already lying next to me, staring at the bright blue sky.
My heart started beating so fast that I could almost hear it in spite of the song playing. I hate people invading my personal space, but with him so close to me like this, I get this silly sensation. I felt a static feeling crawling through my body, giving me butterflies in my stomach. For the first time since I woke up from that coma, I smiled because of someone. And how strange it is to be feeling this way for someone I never even knew.
We lied there listening to my favorite songs, we never said anything to each other, but I have to say -- it was a good kind of silence. He is the kind of someone I needed right now -- someone who can be silent. Someone who does not need to say something, or ask questions. Just someone who can be there for me, silently.
Weeks have passed since that day, but every day we meet under the rain tree. I always smile, because it used to be 'my' favorite spot, but now it is 'ours'. I am sharing something with someone, and I never knew that I can be this kind to others too. Having Andrei around made me feel good about myself. I felt like a different person than what I know myself for -- bad-tempered hates being around with people and likes to be alone. He proved to me that I can somehow be wrong about myself.
"C'mmon, let's play basketball." He said, as he pulled my hand. It was a Friday morning, the sun was up in the clear blue skies. He led me to the basketball court and threw a ball on me. To my surprise, I caught it by instinct.
"Wow, perfect catch!" He exclaimed looking at me with eyes full of amazement. Having heard that, I felt an excitement rushing through me. I dribbled the ball and tried shooting it.
"Yoohooo!" I shouted with my hands in the air, showing satisfaction after I shoot the ball.
"Not bad for a first-timer! Why are you so good at this? You're so natural, it felt like you've been playing basketball all your life." He exclaimed between breaths.
"Maybe in my past life? Wanna bet?" I said teasingly as I laugh out loud. I winked then started dribbling the ball prompting him that I am challenging him to a one versus one.
We played like two kids enjoying their time in the sun. Honestly, I am surprised with myself. I don't know if I ever played basketball before I fell into a coma, but everything comes to me like instincts. It felt like this isn't my first time playing basketball. The thrill and the joy it gave me is indescribable, that for a moment, I have forgotten that I was a person who is keeping a lot of things to myself. We had a bet -- the first one to get five points wins. The loser gets to treat the winner lunch. I felt elated after winning, and he's still in disbelief that he lose over me.
"Here, take this." Andrei said lending me a towel and a shirt.
"No, you don't have to. Thanks though." I said, pushing it back to him. I got surprised when he grabbed me by the hand and pulled me to the ladies' room.
"Go on and get changed. I'll take you to lunch. I'll wait here." He said as he brushed his long black hair, and tying it into what looked like a messy ponytail.
"I don't wanna embarrass you in the cafeteria, looking like that. You are soaked in sweat." He said as he tucked some strands of my hair behind my ear.
"But what about you?" I asked with concern.
"Don't worry so much about me. I have a few more shirts and towels kept in my locker." He answered.
After hearing that, I happily obliged and quickly changed. I can't help but smile, and even if I don't see myself, I knew I'm blushing. And even if I won't say it, I felt a sense of admiration for the way he makes me feel, and for the way he turns me into a person, I never expected I could become.
When I came out of the ladies' room, I saw Andrei chatting with some guys. Probably friends, or classmates. When he saw me, he left them and started walking towards me. I noticed that he had changed into a fresh shirt. He took my bag, and even if I refused, he still insisted.