After the event, Arjay couldn’t reach Diana. She kept on rejecting his call. She never opened his chats on her SNS. Was she mad at him for what he did during the dance? She could have just said she doesn’t want it, then he could have stopped. Not this silent treatment. He can’t bear this.
He tried to call her. No answer. He tried another call. Still no answer.
“Last call.” He said and dialed her number again.
“The number you have dialed is either unattended or out of coverage area. Please try again---“
He cut the call and put his phone down on the bedside table. There’s no point in calling her again and again. Maybe she doesn’t want to talk to him right now. He should give her the space she needs. Maybe she really felt awkward during the dance. His at fault. He couldn’t fight the urge to hug her during that time. That’s on him.
He sighed and went out on his balcony to get some air. He needs to clear his head because Diana’s silent treatment is taking his sanity. How could she reach her? He thought of Janwill but he shrugged the thought. He shouldn’t involve Janwill with his affairs even though Janwill and Diana are siblings.
He went back inside his room and lie down on his bed. He just stared at his room’s ceiling until he fell asleep. He woke up the next day because of his alarm. His shoulders were heavy but he needs to go to work. He needs to be responsible because there are a lot of students who are looking forward to learn something new every day.
He went out of his bed and went straight to the bathroom. When he was done, he fixed himself and went downstairs to eat some breakfast.
“Good morning son!” his mom greeted him cheerfully.
He went to her and kissed her on the cheek but he didn’t greet her back.
“You look so gloomy today. Are you okay? Is there something wrong? Are you sick?” she asked insistently. Arjay could here in his mother’s voice that she is worried so he smiled at her.
“I’m fine, ma. Just woke up on the wrong side of the bed, I supposed.” He said.
She nodded.
“Alright, I understand. Eat some breakfast then, son. I’ll just call your father. Just help yourself, okay?” she said and went out of the kitchen.
He served some rice and egg on his plate. He made himself some coffee. After a short while, his parents entered the kitchen.
“You’re early, son. You’re going to do something at school?” his father asked.
“I’ll just prepare my lesson, dad. That’s all.” He simply replied.
His father nodded and went to seat on his chair at the table. His mother made some coffee before taking her seat. They ate silently. After breakfast, they went to school.
He was busy preparing for his lesson when one of his co-teachers went to him and showed him an envelope. He looked up to see who the person is.
“What’s this, ma’am?” he asked.
“I don’t actually know, sir. It’s sealed and addressed to you so I didn’t bother to open it.” She said and left him.
Arjay opened the envelope just to see a letter inside it. He read the letter.
From: Isabella Mayo, MAEd
Principal, Soliven National High School
To: Mr. Ferdinand “Arjay” Altamira, Jr.
Greetings of Peace!
We would like to invite you to become one of the guest speakers this upcoming Junior and Senior Promenade, to be held at Soliven National High School on February 27, 7 o’clock in the evening. Your presence is highly appreciated.
Thank you and may God bless you more.
He folded back the envelope. He frowned. ‘Why would they invite me to become their guest speaker? Maybe they’ve mistaken.’ He said to himself. He stood up and went to his father’s office.
When he got there, his father was busy writing something and didn’t notice him. He knocked. His father immediately looked up and as soon as he saw him, he stopped whatever he was doing and gestured for him to come in.
“What brings you here, son?” his father asked.
“I just received a letter coming from SNHS. I was wondering if they mistook me for you.” he said more of a statement.
His father smiled.
“That’s really for you son because Ma’am Isabel asked me about you.”
“But why me? I didn’t even finish theology. I’m not even a license holder yet.”
“Well, maybe you’re an inspiration. But the only thing I know and I can assure you is that, that letter is for you and not mine. You can go there now if you really wanted to validate the credibility of the letter. Just asked permission to the principal before going out.”
“Okay dad, thanks! I should go now. I think I interrupted you on something.” He said.
“Not really. You should really go now.”
He went out of the office and went straight to the Principal’s office. As soon as he got there, he knocked.
“Come in.” the principal said. When she looked up, she immediately smiled at him. “Yes, sir Arjay? Do you need anything?” she asked.
“I just want to ask permission ma’am. There is an urgent thing that came up, and I really need to go. I will just leave an activity for my class ma’am. I will return as soon as I am done.” He said.
“What’s should be your class at this time?” she asked.
“My advisory class, ma’am.” He said.
“After that, what will be your next?” she asked again.
“It’s my vacant time, ma’am.” He said.
“Okay. Since your scheduled class at this time is the most behaved class and you don’t have a next period class, I will allow you to go. But next time, you should ask ahead of time, okay?”
“Yes ma’am. Thank you.” he said and excused himself.
He immediately went to his advisory class.
“Good morning class, sorry but there is an urgent thing that came up so I will just leave you some activity to do. Kindly collect it later Janwill.”
“Yes sir.” Janwill replied.
He instructed them the activity before leaving. He went to his father to borrow the car keys and when he got it, he went on his way. After 15 minutes of travel, he safely arrived at his destination: Soliven National High School. He went out of the car and went inside the school.
“Good morning, sir.” The guard caught his attention. He went back to the guard post.
“Good morning sir. I am here to talk to the principal, Mrs. Isabella Mayo.” He said.
“Kindly just log your name here sir, your purpose, and the date today.”
He signed on the log book. After signing, the guard gestured for him to proceed.
“Thank you. By the way, where is the principal’s office?” he asked.
“It’s the first room on the left side of the building, sir.”
“Thank you.” he said and went on.
He was only a few steps on the office’s door when a teacher came out from the inside. Arjay literally stopped walking and when the teacher raised her gaze, she froze. They both froze. When Arjay recovered from the sudden shock, he smiled at the teacher.
“Hi!” he greeted Diana and smiled.
She was taken back to her senses too.
“H-Hi! Sorry, I’m in a hurry, I still have my class.” She said and continued to walk but Arjay grabbed her hand.
She stopped and looked at him. He sighed and let go of her hand. She turned her back to him and went on. Arjay followed her with his gaze but she didn’t turn around to look at him. He sighed and turned to face the office. He continued on his way. He knocked when he reached the door. The principal raised her gaze and smiled when she saw him.
“Sir Arjay, what a surprise! Come in.” the principal called him in.
Arjay went in.
“Please take your seat. What would you like to have?”
“Water is fine, ma’am. Thank you for asking.” He said and smiled.
She gave him a bottled water and three different biscuits.
“So I presumed you have read my letter.” She stated.
“Yes ma’am. And I just want to ask if that’s really for me or not.”
“That’s really for you.”
He nodded.
“I actually asked my father about it ma’am because I thought there is a little bit of confusion. He actually said it was really intended for me but he said I could personally asked you.”
“Oh, that’s why you came. That’s for you my dear.”
“I just wanted to clarify ma’am. Thank you for thinking of me. You’re so kind ma’am.”
“Can I hope for your presence then, Sir Arjay?”
He nodded and smiled.
“Yes ma’am.”
“Thank you. So, will that be all?” she asked.
“Yes ma’am. I should get going now ma’am. I still have my class.” He excused himself.
“Okay, son. Take care on the road.”
He smiled and went on. He will attend not only because he was invited, but because he needed to talk to Diana. If she ignores him, then he should find a way to make her talk to him.