NEW FRIENDS

As I step out of the car, the surrounding becomes vivid on the way to our building. Our campus is vast, quiet, and organized. I could hear only the sound of the expensive car engine and horn. The buildings are towering, complete with sports and academic facilities for rich kids. For the last four years in high school, the one I had was massive and had the same facilities for students, but it was noisy and overcrowded.

At the back of the buildings is a mini-park or man-made forest. I halt myself and savor the tranquility it brings me just by looking at it. I love nature, I always do. I take a deep breath and close my eyes, imagining I'm inside of the forest. The air is clean and pure. A corner of my lip curls up to the realization, in time that a hand taps on my shoulder.

"Hey," a boy said in a familiar voice.

I shift behind me to confirm that it's Maddox, and I guessed it right. "Hi, good morning," I greet him.

"Thanks, good morning...," he halts himself to the next thing he's about to say. His face told me that he was unsure.

"You can call me Angel." 

"Thanks; I'm hesitant if you'd let me call you by your nickname. My friends call me Mad."

"So, are you allowing me to call you by your nickname?" I asked hesitantly.

"Sure, we're friends now, right?" He asks; his eyes are beautiful as he lays them on mine. But something tells me that his soul is sad. I pity him; I never knew a rich kid like him could be lonely as well. Perhaps it is true that there are things money can't buy.

"Yeah, I should be asking you that. I'm new here; I didn't even expect you'd want to be my friend. We're kinda different."

"Different? What does that even mean? We're students, nothing so different about us both."

"Yes, but..."

"Wait," he chimes in. "If you're talking about you being a scholar, raised by a single mom in a two-room apartment. I don't see anything wrong with that. So, drop it."

"Well, if you say so. Thanks, by the way." It amazes me how he was paying attention yesterday when I stood in front of the class. He's probably the only one who remembers everything I've said.

"Nah, don't mention it. Anyway, why are you stuck in here? What's the matter?"

"Just staring at the park or man-made forest, whatever you call it. I love nature; it's calm and quiet."

"Would you like to go there during our break time this afternoon?"

"Are you inviting me?" I exclaim, unable to hide my enthusiasm.

"Yes, I'm sure we can find a place to stay there for a few minutes. Students don't usually visit the park; they are more on their gadgets so we can have some privacy there."

It's strange that my heartbeat spikes when Maddox mentions privacy. It's not like I don't want people to see us together, or is it just him who doesn't want other students to see us together. "It would be fine if there are students, though. I don't see any problem with it."

"Yeah, we can invite Luke and Sam. The more, the merrier, as they say."

So my guess was wrong. I overthink. Mad is not ashamed to be with me. What am I thinking? "Looking forward to that. Are they from different sections?"

"Nope. Same room, my best friend Luke and his girlfriend Samantha were absent yesterday. Luke had just arrived from vacation and wanted to rest for a day, and Sam decided to skip the first day of school to attend with Luke. Cheesy, right?" Mad said his face in a scowl. I'm guessing he is pretending he is angry or envious of his friends.

We burst into laughter in unison until the atmosphere became awkward. We were silent for a moment. I don't even know what to say; I haven't been in a relationship like most students my age. Mom never forbids me to have a boyfriend; it's just me who forbids me from having one. I always thought it would be a distraction since my goal was to be on top of the class every year. My head is so occupied with silly kinds of stuff when I feel Mad's hand on my shoulder.

"You good?"

"Yeah. We should go."

"Sure, let's go," he agreed. We walk side by side on our way to the building until we reach the hallway to our room. I notice students are eyeing us, which makes me uneasy.

"Never mind about them," Mad said. He must have noticed my reactions seeing those students' eyes on us.

I nod in response. We enter the room with the same atmosphere; students eye us like we're criminals. Cassy's face is in total deformation, her eyebrows squeeze together, her lips pouting like a child, and her arms crossed in her chest. Nevertheless, I didn't give her a piece of my attention nor Maddox as we went to our respective chairs.

My chair is in line with Maddox's chair; we are in the same column. I noticed that there's another chair beside mine which was not present yesterday. I wonder if we have a new transferee. I celebrated in my thoughts, hoping it would be a girl like me.

"Buddy," a tall guy greets Maddox and taps his shoulder. The boy is a few inches taller than Maddox.

"Luke, nice to see you, brother," Maddox answered.

So this must be Maddox's best friend, and the girl beside him must be Samantha. The girl is almost of the same height as me, if I am not mistaken. She looks sweet and calm; she has an innocent face.

"Hi, Sam, Nice to see you as well," Mad greeted the girl, and it confirmed my guess. He gives Sam a side kiss when I glance at them.

"I missed you, buddy," the tall guy said.

"Don't be silly; you just had a few days vacation. We literally saw each other last week."

"Dramatic, right? Sam said, and Mad just shook his head.

I lost track of their conversation when my phone vibrated in my pocket. Seeing my dog's caretaker's name on the screen, my heartbeat spikes, turning my thoughts to my dog, Max. Max wasn't feeling well when I left him.

I had to bring Max to the vet; he's not doing well in the house. He hasn't eaten and is so weak. I didn't wait for your approval and rushed him here to Dr. M's veterinary clinic. I'll keep you posted. Don't worry too much; I got him.

How could I not? After reading her message, my heart constricts thinking of my best buddy, Max. He's been with me since I was in 6th grade as mom's gift for my 11th birthday. Now, all I can do is wait until the lunch break.

My thoughts break when I feel a hand on my shoulder. "Hey." A trace of concern in his voice. "What's the matter?"

I glance up, meeting Maddox's eyes staring at me. "Nothing," I answered.

"I called your name a few times, but you're stuck in your phone."

"Sorry, it's my dog. The caretaker sent me a message that she took Max to the vet just now."

"No, sorry about your dog. Max will be fine," his voice is soft, sending a little bit of assurance that things will turn out fine, eventually.

"Thank you. What is it, by the way?"

"Well, I want you to meet my best friend and his girlfriend. If that's okay with you."

"Of course, I overheard you guys. It's hard not to hear you three; I mean the distance, just a meter away."

Mad chuckles, and it's so hard not to join him laughing, which made me feel a little lively after Susan's text. "I get it, don't have to explain that to me."

Samantha ends up sitting beside me after Maddox introduced her and Luke to me. Luke and Maddox were seatmates on the other row and the same column as we are. We didn't have much time for chatting since the first subject had to start. I find it hard to focus on the class after learning about Max's condition. The half-day class ends without me having a takeaway knowledge from any of the subjects. I only want to be with my buddy, Max.

"Angel, let's have lunch together; Mad and Luke, us four," Sam asks.

It's hard to decline, but I want to see Max immediately. Luke and Maddox came to us with their backpack on, ready for lunch. "I'm sorry, guys, I wanna see my dog now. I can't help but be anxious about him. So I'll have to skip having lunch with you today."

"Oh, sorry, I forgot about Max," Sam apologized as I already told them about Max's condition. "Guys, I think we should let Angel go to the Vet now."

"I'll come with you," Mad said.

It came as a surprise to Luke and Sam; the two exchanges look upon hearing Maddox.