CHAPTER THIRTEEN
SCHOOL PARTY AND MICHAEL'S DISAPPOINTMENT
The day of the school party came. The students were looking so beautiful and handsome, ready to whine and dine. Their teachers were also around to control them and to avoid mischievous activities.
The only unhappy person was Michael. Earlier, before the party started, Mr. Johnson called him aside and gave him a gift. Michael was so happy and hugged Mr. Johnson. But stopped when Mr. Johnson handed him an envelope. He took out the letter in it and read through it. Mr. Johnson just stood there watching Michael's facial expressions change.
It was his resignation letter.
"Why...what's this?" Michael asked trying hard to control his emotions.
"I got a better job offer. At Yale University" Mr. Johnson tried to explain.
"I can get you something better" Michael protested.
"It's not like that, Michael"
"Wait! Did you ever meet my dad?" Michael looked at him. Mr. Johnson avoided his gaze but looked back at him.
"Your assumptions are wrong, Michael. I accepted the offer from the University. I've been applying for it since," he tried to explain, but Michael let the gift in his hand fall to the ground. Mr. Johnson didn't even bother to pick it up.
"No, it's fine," Michael said in an unusual call voice. Mr. Johnson wasn't expecting that.
"Are you sure, Michael?" He asked quietly.
"Yeah! It is. I'll just go back to the party. Kelvin and the others would be looking for me now" he said and walked out immediately. Mr. Johnson wanted to hold him back but Michael was out of his grip.
* * * *
At the party hall, everywhere was booming with music. Some students were secretly exchanging alcohol in soda bottles without the knowledge of their teachers. Some others were performing on stage as other students cheered and clapped for them.
Michelle entered and it was as if everything paused. She was glowing. Even when she didn't put on as much makeup as others did. She left her wavy hair down. She was wearing the beautiful white midi gown Kelvin and Sylvester got for her and it hugged her curves perfectly. She matched her dress with a black pair of strapped heels. Everyone stared at her when she entered. Michelle became very shy. Not long, as if every one of them was controlled by a remote, they clustered around her. Both girls and boys. They were all telling her how beautiful she was. The girls even asked her where she bought her dress, she only smiled at that. Some bold guys even asked her out while others took pictures with her.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, she sneaked away from them after she got a text from Sylvester telling her their location. She walks up to them. The three of them sat on high chairs where the bartenders were. Kelvin and Sylvester held wine glasses. Michael was obviously absentminded.
When she saw them, she giggled like a baby and ran towards them. She gave Kelvin and Sylvester couldn't help but place soft kisses on her forehead when she'd hugged them.
When she disengaged from Sylvester, she looked at Michael, he had been staring at her, but his face held no expression.
"Michael" she whispered softly.
He didn't reply. He just climbed down from the high chair he was sitting on and walked out.
"Did...I do something wrong?" Michelle asked looking at his retreating figure.
"Not you, Michelle. Mr. Johnson already told him about his transfer. He's been unhappy since he returned. Man should have waited until the party was over and now Michael's not happy. We're the only ones he's talked to since" Kelvin explained to her.
"Okay," Michelle said, still looking at the direction through which Micheal left. Immediately, they heard the master of the ceremony announce the winner of the dance competition that had just taken place. The students were clapping and shouting.
Michelle turns to Kelvin and whispers, "I'll be back, guys"
Kelvin nodded as they watched her walk out.
* * * *
Outside the party hall, she asked some students if they had seen Michael, but none seemed to know. A girl walked up to her and touched her arm,
"Senior Michelle!" The girl had a very small voice.
"Yes," Michelle turned to the girl wearing a pink dress that had too many shiny crystals on it.
"Are you looking for Michael?" She asked.
"Yes, I am" Michelle nodded.
"Over there" the girl pointed at the place where so many cars were parked.
"Thank you so much" Michelle quickly ran towards the car park. She got so close but paused when she heard Michael's voice. He was talking to someone over the phone.
"Why does Dad keep doing this to me, Miss Hena? It's getting very annoying-" he paused. "It's not very easy to find happiness but then...I'm also trying so hard to stop! I'm trying to..." His voice trailed and he sniffed. He didn't say anything for a while.
Michelle thought the call was over and took a step. Michael heard the sound behind him and turned around. He had a little surprised look on his face when he saw her.
"Michelle..." He called out. "Oh! No! Not you, Miss Hena. Let's talk when I get back home" he paused. "Okay," and he hung up the call and faced Michelle.
"Michael!" She called out and slowly covered the distance between them and stopped in front of him.
"Ain't you supposed to be with Kelvin and Sylvester?" Michael asked her. His voice was very calm now.
"You aren't there with us," Michelle said with her head tilted up to have a good view of his face.
Michael sighs, " You heard the call, right?"
" I've filtered everything I heard out of my mind," Michelle said. She reaches out to hold his left hand praying he does not let go. He didn't. He didn't even remove his gaze from her face.
"Let's pretend I just arrived and I heard nothing." She looks up at him. "The party's boring. Let's ditch it. Call Kelvin and Vester, go out, and have our own kind of fun. What do you think, Michael?" She smiled. Her eyes were watery. She really wanted to hug him, but she wasn't so sure.
Michael stared back at her. After a while, he said,
"I'll call them," he said softly.
Michelle quickly opened her purse, took out a handkerchief, and handed it to him. He collected it and cleaned the tears on his cheeks as he dialed Kelvin's number.
* * * *
As Michelle suggested, they left the party. Michael sent a text to his driver and told him to wait for him until he texted him his location again when he was done having fun.
They went to different places. First, they had a meal at a street food market Sylvester had suggested. They asked Michael if it was okay for him to eat from there, he ate without minding, which made them laugh. The owner was so glad to have such happy teens and he gave them more food for free.
He smiled and laughed so heartily especially when watching Michelle being teased by Kelvin and Sylvester. Or was it her shy expression anytime she noticed he was staring way too much at her. He was grateful for this new friendship. He knew that they knew it was because of Mr. Johnson but none of them said a word about it. Even when he told them his father was the one who made the man transfer, they didn't even ask him the questions he was expecting. At a point, he suspected that the whole out-of-the-school party was for him. He was so happy. Especially when Michelle had placed a kiss on his cheek while they were taking pictures. He didn't know if she did that on purpose or by mistake. But he made sure he gave her a mind-blowing smile that had her covering her face and making Kelvin tease her more.