In high school, I had a big crush on Antonio, one of the scout leaders who was also a jock. He was not particularly handsome but he dressed well and I have always been a sucker for well-dressed men.
One of the girls in my group, Lourdes, had this thing called a 'slam book' - a home-made book which she made us sign and answer personal questions such as favourite colour, favourite movie, secret crush, ambition, etc. It is in a way Lourdes' way of attracting the boys by asking them to sign, but mostly I thought it was just for gossip. Although I never gave any stark indication of my 'secret crush' when I signed her book, somehow someone surmised that it was Antonio, which was no secret to our little group especially that Lourdes readily admitted to a boy she then liked. When Antonio found out, he laughed at me and very arrogantly told me I had some nerve considering I was ugly.
Years later, I was already in law school when I crossed paths with Antonio. He was still taking some make-up electives so he could graduate from his course and their class had to attend and analyze the 'mock trial' taking place at the moot court. I happened to be one of the two students on the 'defense team'. He came up to me after the trial, which we won btw, and asked if I remember him from high school. I was surprised that he actually remembered me but then I had a high profile last two years in high school. He then gushed about how I had changed and that I used to be an ugly duckling. In front of my professor, Antonio reminded me that I used to have a big crush on him to which I commented "Oh, yeah, we were kids then."
Then he so brazenly asked me, in front of everyone, with his cocky attitude, if I would like to go on a date with him. I was still standing on the platform so that my eyes were at the same level as his. I gathered my books and notes, looked at my classmates and professor, smiled at him and I said "No, thank you." He made a girlish pouty face and asked, still cocky, "Why not? You liked me in high school." "High school was crazy," I said. Then as I started to walk away, I told him, "Besides, I only date money and smart. I don't date stupid."
Fast forward to 2008, some alumni of our high school from various years found each other online and formed an informal association and ultimately planned a reunion. Those who live abroad planned their visits on the reunion date. My own visit coincided with the date and the reunion itself was being held at the school. I decided to come early as the school coordinator promised me a tour. I had spoken previously of wanting to give back to the school and had asked about a possible scholarship grant to a poor but capable student. On that basis, the President of the school, Ms. Mendoza, a very young pretty lawyer who is the great grand daughter of the original owners, asked to meet with me to discuss about the concept of the scholarship. She then personally gave me a tour of the school.
As the tour concluded, we stood in the quadrangle and gazed at the old building, I pointed to Ms. Mendoza the library window that I climbed out of in third year high school when I was locked inside the library on the third floor. I was engrossed with reading the new edition of the Britannica at the time. High above the roof of the main building, the pulley that held the rope that I climbed from ground floor to the fourth floor was still attached to the building, the metals rusty, the old rope old and frayed. It was at this time that a man casually strolled towards us and interrupted our conversation. It was Antonio. Ms. Mendoza and I very casually acknowledged his presence as we finished off our conversation.
"Is there any reason you're hovering around like a fruit fly?" I asked when Ms. Mendoza had left.
By this time we were already by the entrance to the auditorium where the reunion was being held, and surrounded by people who knew us. He grinned, looking annoyed, then replied, "I was just going to tell you that you've grown much fatter than the last time I saw you."
Assuming a rather gleeful face, I said, "Why, thank you, nice of you to notice! And I see your brain shrank much more since then! Does it hurt much?"
I could see his face muscles shifting, eyes burning and he slightly raised his hand. I really thought he wanted to hit me. But then, Reggie and Jimmy, the boys I used to hang out with in my class, now big burly looking men in their 50's, very casually greeted me with a kiss and a hug, their wives following suit, and Jimmy whispering, "Great come back! I was going to deck him if he as much as poked you in the arm!"
By the way, you tagged me in your ptivate album which i cant see ... so i hope you are not expecting a reply.