Chapter 4: Overwrite

After his conversation with Nathan, Dash spoke to his teachers that he will be joining the school club’s activity. As the one leading Overwrite (this is the name of their club), he wanted to be hands-on with the registration of the possible members of the club.

Overwrite is a writer’s club. Nowadays, most youths keep themselves busy by playing games. This results in poor communication with their friends and especially with their family. With Overwrite, he believes that he can encourage the youth to express what they feel using the writings. He exactly knows how challenging it is to say what you feel so why not turn them into stories and poems.

 As he walks inside the gym, he can easily see their club’s tent as the members printed out a very large tarpaulin with OVERWRITE written on it.

His existing members really show dedication, and he wants to ensure that he gives out enough fire to ignite the passion.

“Hi, Dash,” Mikaela said with a smile on her face. She is his assistant in the club since no election held yet for this year. Once they got enough members, they will be having an election to formally appoint individuals in a particular position. This girl obviously likes him but he just ignores her and acts normal.

“ Hi, Mika. How’s everything?” he responded with a smile as well on his face. That showed his perfectly white teeth.

“We are doing great. There are lots of responses in our survey last week but since we also encourage them to show one of their works to us, we only got a couple of people to register today.” Mika said and showed her sweetest smile to Dash.

They need members; however, they also need to make sure that they filter out students to ensure that all members will be productive. As a student, it’s not beyond his knowledge wherein student only joins a club to get a reason to skip classes when there are club activities.

“Can you hand over to me some of their works? Do you have them at hand?” he asked Mika.

“Yes, let me get them for you.” Mika went inside the tent and get the hard copies submitted by the applicants.

“Here.” Mika said handing over the hard copies of the applicants.” By the way, please don’t be a surprise but I have to tell you something.” She added. He can see fear in her eyes.

“Spill it.” He said to her.

“Cassy submitted a work and she wanted to join the club,” Mika said to her.

“What?” Dash said. He isn’t prepared for this. Why on earth is Cassy joining the club? And, hold on, so everyone on the campus seems to know about their relationship. Seriously?

“Actually, she is just roaming around the gym earlier and saw our tent. I think she isn’t aware yet that you are the one leading the club.” Mika said to him based on her speculation when she saw Cassy earlier.

Dash skimmed each writing. One poem caught his attention:

Is it too much to ask?

For me to see those black coal eyes.

Can't wait for the time for us to be together..

To share a life until the end of what they called "FOREVER".

Those lines are full of the emotion of love. Dash thinks the writer of the poem is good at expressing feelings through words.

I think they are getting good results from what they advertise last week.

“ Dash, did you hear what I said? Will we accept her in the club?” Mika asked trying to get his attention.

He ignores what Mika said and asked, “This poem looks good. Who submitted it?” he said.

“Let me check.” Mika saw it and she bites her tongue before saying.” That’s Cassy’s.”

Dash is in awe. That girl is really something. Too bad he isn’t ready yet for a relationship she wanted.

“You know what Dash, Cassy is very talented when it comes to writing.” Mika said honestly.” I think we have to accept her in our club if we are looking for talented individuals but again, it is still up to you.” She added.

“I know. It just that..” he stopped even before he can say anything else.

“Okay, her work is good. Let’s accept her.” He said to Mika.

Dash thinks that Cassy will quit once she learned that he is the one leading the club. He knows Cassy hates him by now. The way they departed ways isn’t the ideal one. Every time he remembers it, he cannot explain but it brings strange emotions inside of him. Is this really how Cassy affects him? Why does she need to submit her work to his Club? He cannot reject her application just because of their issues. He might get complaints, especially that Mika mentioned that Cassy is a talented student. He cannot reject anyone without any basis. He should learn by now how to manage his personal issues and school stuff. Cassy, why do you have this effect on me? Dash continues to get questions in his mind. He needs to control my heart. His mind above his heart. If Cassy will be joining the club, he should remain professional and set aside the emotions and issues they have. Anyway, he should stop thinking, Cassy will surely quit when she learns that he is the club president.

He stared again at the poem. The words she uses in her poem are very powerful. This only gave Dash enough reason to stay away with Cassy and made him feel that he made the right decision to broke up with her as early as he could.

Cassy is a very sweet girl but he must admit, he doesn’t know how far and what are the things he can do for her that’s why as early as now, he needed to cut whatever relationship they have.

==

“Cassy!” Leon shouted as he runs towards her.

“Yes?” Cassy asked Leon. She doesn’t throw any tantrums at him anymore since he brought her to his rose garden. Her best friend deserves the good side of her.

“Did you already find a club?” he asks.

“Yes, I applied at Overwrite.” She answered.

“Oh, I see. That’s good for you. You can enjoy your passion again. I think I will try to join that club too so we can always be together.” Leon said.

She just shrugged her shoulders leaving all the decisions to him.

She wanted to join a club to see if it will make any difference to her. She needs a diversion. Cassy chose Overwrite because of the club’s advocacy. For someone who always wanted to be alone, writing is the best way to express what she feels.

The organizer asked one of her works to evaluate her skill and if she can pass their screening.

Luckily, she has a copy of a poem she wrote years ago on her phone and submitted it. She is really hoping to be a member so that she can start to write again especially now that she has a lot of emotions inside her. She thinks that writing can be her outlet. She can write whenever she remembers the pain the way Dash broke up with her.

It’s been a long time since the last time she was able to complete a story. I think she has a writer’s block.

With Overwrite, speaking with people with the same interest as hers, it will be easy to get back on track.

“If you wanted to join the club, you need to pass at least one work.” She smiled at Leon. She doesn’t know if Leon writes, or he only wanted to be with her that’s why he is applying.

“Oh, I might be giving them a copy tomorrow. I had written a story a long time ago, but I didn’t know they need that.” Leon said which surprised her. This guy can really find his way.

“I think you don’t have any problem then. Would you like to go to the tent’s club to fill out the registration and advise to pass your work tomorrow?” she recommends. “So, they can just communicate to you via email if you pass their screening.” She added.

Leon took her hands, and they walk towards the gym.

“Do you need to do that?” she said.

“We are best friends!” Leon said laughing.

“I know.” She just answered to end the conversation as she knows this will not be ending.

Leon is very tall for his age. She looks up and looks at his face. She can see a very beautiful nose as if it was drawn by a very good artist because of its perfect shape that is combined with a perfect set of eyes with long, dark eyelashes. His lips are so red as if he applied lipstick.

Her best friend grown up so handsome. 

The girls at the gym obviously follow him with their eyes.

“Hey, I might get dissolve with the way you look at me”. Leon said smiling which made her quickly turn away her eyes from his face with her face turning red.

“I know I am handsome so don’t stare too much on my face.” He added laughing at her.

She shook her head and said,” I just thought that you aren’t no longer the pale and thin boy, I met 13 years ago.”

Leon also shook his head while still laughing. He can’t believe that those memories are still very clear to Cassy. She is really something.