That Girl Who’s Always Alone At The Back

chapter i – microwaveable s h o u j o

Her dark hair turns brown whenever sunlight hits it. Her lips were pink. I think she puts lip gloss on. Whenever she is thinking, she twirls her blue pen in a crazy way. Like if pen twirling has a level. She’s probably on God level, or something. And yeah. She always sits on the back. Like every subject. She would talk to the teachers about god-knows-what, and they'd agree. Was she threatening her? I should ask her later before I even forgot about it.

Rianne Gray excels in English, Filipino and MAPEH. She always fails at Math. She participates in recitation except for Math. She probably hates arithmetic and numbers.

She looks prettier in ponytail. I’m not quite sure if it was just my fetish or anything. But her on ponytail is the best thing I have ever seen next to the picture of a dog knife fighting a lobster. Or was it her in her PE uniform? I mean, it kinda reveals her big… heart. Okay, big breasts.

Also, I find it weird. We have to wear our PE uniform every Friday whether we have PE activities or not. And sad to say, it isn’t like those in Japanese cartoons (or anime, whatever) where girls would wear panty like shit. I forgot what it’s called and I am too lazy to google that shit out. Anyways, more about Rianne Gray.

On her free time during recess, she would often buy a large Sarsi and a burger. Sometimes, a hotdog sandwich. Rianne would then sit at the stairs on her earphones. She would occasionally hum and yeah, her voice was pretty nice.

I asked Tomato if she knew any Rianne Gray. But the answer was no. So I asked Rianne if she knew a Mashed Tomato. She said yes. And that’s where shit gets complicated.

“She’s the main admin of Memes from the Land of the Rising Weeabs and a Toilet Seat Cover.” So she says. “Why?”

“I work under her.” I said. “I’m-“ and before I could even finish, she already said my admin name.

“Are you Rice?”

“The one and only.”

And then, that was the first time I saw her smile.

Her teeth were white. And probably her soul too. What I thought to be dark pools turned out to be a brown field drenched in darkness… or something like that. If this was a novel, I am probably a bad narrator and the writer needs to consider a different character to the POV for him. Anyways, it was a sight to behold, to be honest. And somehow, I felt my heart skip a beat or two. But you know, I have to play it cool.

“It’s me! microwaveable s h o u j o! You guys were always stealing my stolen content.” Realizing what she just said, she laughed softly. “I never thought I’d meet you here.” She took my hand and shook it. Her small hands were soft and warm. If you would look at her from the first time she introduced herself a week ago, you’d definitely think that she’s a different person.

“Me neither.” I tried to smile. But failed miserably. I suck at these kinds of things. Probably my depression and shit. Oh well.

She asked me for my Facebook account and so I gave it to her. That night, she posted on the wall of our page as microwaveable s ho u j o saying how we met and all, along with a picture of a microwave and a rice cooker together. The microwave was blushing. And I was like, ‘Did I just triggered a flag?’

I guess she’s not Mashed Tomato.

Saturday, June 18, 2016

I was randomly browsing stuff on Facebook pages to see something to steal or something to meme when Rianne Gray messaged me with a picture of Yazawa Nico drinking bleach.

We chatted for a while. About trivial stuff like, what anime you like, favorite color, music genre. You know, slam book kind of stuff.

That continued the next day.

Until I realized that I haven’t posted a single shit on the page.

I wouldn’t notice it actually if Tomato had messaged me on our group chat. Which is kinda funny. Because it only consists of the two of us.

“You’re haven’t posted a single thing on the page….”

“I’m kinda sick. Sorry.” I lied

“Get well soon then…”

Then I posted the picture Rianne sent me yesterday.

The next day, I saw Rianne at the gate of the school. I looked at her and greeted her with my brows. She walked next to me and smiled.

“Good morning.”

“Morning.”

“Hey, listen to this.” She took the earphone which was plugged to her left ear and placed it on mine. “It’s Frank’s song. You’re a fan of him, right?”

It was ‘you suck charlie’. “It’s Joji’s, though.”

“I know.” She grinned.

Then we walked the school towards at our room like that.

I hate afternoons. I mean, it’s so hot. I’d rather be in front of my desktop or just lie on my bed and sleep. Or atleast, have my classes on mornings. But both first years and fourth years have classes on the afternoons while the second years and third years on the mornings. And yeah. I wish It would just snow.

When we reached the room, Mark greeted me. But when he saw who I was with, his smile faded and he looked like someone just pressed his ‘silent mode’ button.

I removed the earphone and gave it to Rianne.

“What was that last song called? Mind sharing it to me later?” I said.

“Adore by ZHIEND. You haven’t seen Charlotte yet?” She frowned as she placed her bag on her seat.

“Nope.”

“I have the anime and ZHIEND’s album here.” She smiled.

And that was when Ms. Dacocos entered the classroom. So I sat next to Mark. Who looks like a vegetable.

He didn’t speak. So I did the same and listened to the lecture like a student should be.

Until a quiz came.

The silent and angry Mark spoke.

“Can I have some… paper.”

I gave him a 1/4 piece of paper that I just cut.

“You like Rianne?” I asked.

He remained silent.

“I knew it. But don’t you have a girlfriend or something?”

“It was a lie.”

“I know.”

Silence.

After the short quiz, our teacher left.

“I can introduce you to her, if you want.”

He just nodded meekly.

And that day, we ate together. Me, Mark and Rianne. It was awkward. Way too awkward.

But Rianne tried to make simple talk like about the weather, the new anime’s and last, the news. It didn’t shoo away the angels of awkward silence though. So I know, I have to make a move.

“Mark likes you.” I said.

“WHAT?” I was Mark.

“I’m sorry….” Rianne Gray said.

“WHATTTTTTT?!” It was Mark again.

And probably pissed by getting dumped by the girl with spectacles, he didn’t say a word to me the whole day. So I went home alone. That was when I felt a tap on my shoulders. Rianne Gray.

She told me that she forgot to send the album and the anime to me. So we talked for a while at Ms. Donuts which is located at the front of our school. Her treat. I actually wanted to pay for it but she told me to just let her for being her first friend.

Seriously? If this was a galge or a novel, I think this is the cliché thingy where the girl already fell for the main protagonist. What the hell? Why me? But no. I should not assume shit. We just started talking last Friday.

I thought about it. If it would ever happen, I think it’s just too soon. But oh well. I mean, I liked Tomato quickly too. I guess it’s just a normal stuff for kids my age.

When I got home, I grabbed my headphones and plugged it on my phone and listened the whole album. And I don’t know how many times my ears came.