You're My Type : Chapter 8

8: HE is Mithra!

I wonder if I really look okay with the hairpin I’m using, but I’m more curious about Grey’s reaction if he sees me. But it’s been a week now and I didn’t get to see him even once.

DAYLE:         We’re very busy these days, especially him. He has to prepare a lot of things for the upcoming school festival. (THAT EXPLAINS HIS NONAPPEARANCE TO ANNOY ME) We can’t even help him decide on which theme to use because all other council members are already a regular associate of a club. His decision shouldn’t be altered or by any chance affected by one club member because that might cause a stir from the other clubs.

KATEY:         What do you mean? So Grey isn’t a member of any club in our school? (I THOUGHT THAT ISN’T ALLOWED ANYMORE!)

DAYLE:         Well he doesn’t have to be. He already handles all the clubs.

KATEY:         Ow… is that so. (SO TO SIMPLY PUT THIS, GREY IS THE LEADER OF ALL LEADERS OF THE SCHOOL CLUBS. ONE WORD — WOW!) I never thought that he have that huge responsibility. (I SAID AND FOUND MYSELF LOOKING BLANKLY OUTSIDE THE WINDOW) And to think that despite his busy schedule, he is still helping me.

For some reason, I felt really lonesome again. Though my being “Unknown” is deliberately fading since some people are now recognizing me, there’s this feeling of eagerness to do something surprising and inspiring like that Grey’s challenges.

I’m inside our school’s quiet library. Everyone has their own business, busy reading books and busy writing something on their notebooks and papers.

I’m also discreet in my own way, and I have nothing else to do but to write again in my journal of remote adventures. I didn’t look happier than I had during the past when I was writing all my solitude in this journal. I used to like that stuff since it’s something I do best, but now, this is shockingly makes me feel more gloomy.

KATEY:         (I LEANED BACK AND FORTH IN THE CHAIR) I better do something else.

That moment I decided to make myself busy with anything but as I stood up, a newspaper clip fell off from my journal.

SHAYNE:      Hey… (BUT A GIRL WHO’S STANDING NOT TOO FAR AWAY EXTENDED A HAND) This is a clip from the last year’s school newspaper, right?

KATEY:         (IS SHE ACTUALLY TALKING TO ME?) Yeah... (I JUST MUMBLED BECAUSE I WAS HOLDING MY BREATH WHEN THAT GIRL TALKED TO ME)

I got my clip back and put it on the space where it belongs, totally exposing my other newspaper clip collection.

SHAYNE:      Wow! You only got Mithra’s featured articles. Are you a fan?

KATEY:         Most likely, yes! (IS SHE MITHRA’S FAN TOO?) Um… I’m Katey Lewis. (MY HEART POUNDED AS THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I INTRODUCED MYSELF TO SOMEONE WITHOUT GREY’S ATTENTION) May I know your name?

SHAYNE:      I’m Shayne, the editor-in-chief of our school newspaper and the president of the Writing Club.

KATEY:         (SCHOOL NEWSPAPER?) So you know Mithra? The real Mithra?

SHAYNE:      Yeah! But I’m afraid I can’t share you his real identity. (THEN SHE DISPLAYED A BITTER SMILE) He doesn’t want to be known.

KATEY:         He!!! (MY VOICE IN HIGH-PITCH) So he is a HE! Mithra is a guy.

SHAYNE:      What? (SHE COVERED HER QUICK MOUTH IN CONFUSION AND EMBARRASSMENT) You never heard that from me.

KATEY:         I love him!!! (I UTTERED WITH TOO MUCH ENTHUSIASM) I love all his writings! And I want to know why he stopped writing for the school newspaper. Please tell me… (I BEGGED)

I made her my first instant friend! And she’s someone who knows Mithra’s identity. Although she didn’t tell me Mithra's real name, Shayne was able to narrate his reason for leaving the school newspaper.

SHAYNE:      Yes, this is it. (SHE’S REFERRING TO MITHRA’S ARTICLE ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF STUDENTS, WHICH YOU MAY ALL KNOW IS MY FAVORITE AMONG ALL HIS ARTICLE) This was his last article that caused the greatest sensation among the students.

=FLASHBACK=

MITHRA:       I can’t believe I wrote this stupid article! All I want is to unite the students by making them think about their differences and make them realize that they have to accept the person for who he was.

SHAYNE:      Don’t worry… After one or two weeks, they will forget about this and will start talking other things.

MITHRA:       They grouped themselves according to their types! And a lot were left out-casted because of me!

SHAYNE:      Out-casted? So you are talking about the “Unknown Students.” Don’t you think you just did them a favor? At least now, those students will try hard to change and fit in!

MITHRA:       It’s not always about fitting in! It’s about acceptance for who you are! They shouldn’t change into something they don’t just to be recognized by others!

=END OF FLASHBACK=

₪ ¤ ₪ ¤ ₪

KATEY:         So he thought it was his fault. (HE BLAMES HIMSELF FOR WHAT HAPPENED to me… and to other students like me.) He’s sorry for… for the Unknowns.

SHAYNE:      It was a huge misunderstanding. And it’s really rash that they actually thought that being “Unknown” is the worst possible type a student could ever call himself. It was a popular and unkindest practical joke ever. And many students were mocked, criticized and bullied because of that.

KATEY:         I remember those days. (Though I didn’t get MOCKED or bullied from being unknown DURING that time SINCE I WASN’T NOTICED AT ALL)

SHAYNE:      Well just as I anticipated, it wasn’t that long until the students of our school got tired of it. That mean joke was forgotten, but sadly it was too late for Mithra since he never showed up again in our office.

KATEY:         Did you ever tried to convince him to write again for the school newspaper?

SHAYNE:      Mithra is the kind of person who sticks to his decisions. But you don’t have to worry... (SHE SAID WITH A BRIGHT SMILE ON HER FACE THEN WINKED AT ME) He’s doing fine right now, trust me!

But why do I still feel so depressed?

SHAYNE:      You really like him. Do you?

KATEY:         (I NODDED TWICE) His words can reach through other people. He is very powerful when he writes. He thinks differently and it reflects on his works.

SHAYNE:      He will like you for sure. I know his type. (She said and tapped my back, gently consoling me. shayne is one of the nicest person i’ve met) Oh!!! I still have a club meeting to attend. It was nice meeting you, Katey!

KATEY:         It was nice meet ingyou too. Thank you Shayne! (BUT BEFORE SHE LEFT…) Um… see you around the school?

SHAYNE:      But of course! (SHE SAID WAVING HER HAND THEN SHE LEAVE)

In the end, Mithra’s identity was still a mystery. But at least I know he’s still in this school. And he could be anyone else. I have to find him and I won’t stop until I do!

₪ ¤ ₪ ¤ ₪

The following day, I was sitting in my usual seat and stared blankly outside the window. Suddenly, there’s a thud sound from the back and it was Dayle Steep pulling a chair close to my seat.

DAYLE:         You look different again.

KATEY:         But I’ am different. (I REPLIED SCRATCHING THE BACK OF MY HEAD. I’M AN UNKNOWN, REMEMBER?)

DAYLE:         Oh… let me use another term then. You’re unique! (HE gleefully said) And I think you’re coo too!!!

I almost laugh at what he believed about me, and maybe I was a bit flattered. And perhaps I just turned red all over when I felt that my face flushed in embarrassment.

KATEY:        Dayle, which do you think is much important? Fitting in or being yourself? (I TIMIDLY ASKED)

DAYLE:         (HE SLIGHTLY TITLED HIS HEAD AND SMILED) Being yourself is much important than anything else!

KATEY:          Oh… yeah… of course.

I meekly replied, forcing myself to accept his answer. Just as what Mithra believes.

DAYLE:         Is it about Mithra again?

KATEY:         How did you know?

DAYLE:         Huh? Well… I always hear you say things about that certain “types” of students. And as I recall it, there’s one article of Mithra about the same thing. (THEN HE PULLED HIS FACE INTO A GRUMPY EXPRESSION) But you know Katey, I think that was  a non-sense idea.

KATEY:         Do you hate him? (I STRAIGHTENED)

DAYLE:         Hmmm… Not really… I mean all his works are written with love. (I SIGHED IN RELIEF) But the last article that he wrote, the one that you seemed to like the most, I think that’s the worst.

KATEY:         (I GRUMBLED TO WHAT HE JUST SAID) How could you say that?

DAYLE:       I know… I know very well. So if I were you, I will keep those articles, except for that one! (HE GRACIOUSLY SMILED FOR THE LAST TIME AND PATTED MY HAIR) Have to leave now, we have council meeting.

As he turned around and left me alone again, I bent down and stared at my article collection again. I bit my  lower lip and trailed off with a confusion.

KATEY:         Why do I have this feeling that he hates Mithra for some reason?

End of Chapter 8