Rosalyn entered the lavatory and quickly began to take off her uniform. It was a moment of vulnerability, feeling the cool air against her skin as she cleaned off the mud, determined to regain her dignity. After scrubbing herself clean, she stood there wearing only her underwear, feeling a shiver run down her spine.
"You won't be able to go into the classroom with just your underwear on, so here," Luis said, as he took off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. She pulled it on gratefully, finding comfort in its enveloping warmth.
"I still can't go in this way," she told him, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
"I know, and that's why you will stay in the lobby until classes end," he suggested, showing her a way out of the awkward situation.
"That should be alright," Rosalyn agreed, relieved to have someone like Luis helping her up.
They made their way to the lobby, an area bustling with students, but both found a small corner where we could sit quietly away from the chaos.
** * * * *
"Hold on!" Rosalyn said, her voice cutting through the noise as she stopped him from leaving.
Luis turned to her, surprised, as she leaned in and gave him a warm hug, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "Thank you for standing up for me. I'm Rosalyn, but you can call me Rosie," she introduced herself, stretching out her right hand for a handshake.
"I'm Luis, and you can call me Luis," he replied, taking her hand, a spark of connection igniting between them as he cracked a little joke to make her smile again. Just as he began to leave, he suddenly turned back and said with a grin, "That hug? It was quite warming."
Rosie blushed slightly and said, "You have no idea how much I needed that today."
They shared a laugh, and for a moment, the weight of the world seemed to lift. As the laughter faded, a more serious atmosphere hung between them.
"Are you sure you are okay? I mean, with everything that happened?" Luis asked, genuinely concerned.
"Yeah, I just wish people would be a bit kinder. It's like they forget we all have feelings," she replied contemplatively, her deep brown eyes meeting his.
Luis nodded, feeling a sense of camaraderie with her, "I get that. People can be cruel, and it's unfair how they target the innocent. But don't let them define who you are. You're strong."
Rosie's expression shifted slightly, awe evident in her gaze. "Thank you, Luis. It really means a lot coming from you. Some days, I need a reminder that I'm not weak."
"Trust me, you are far from weak. You faced them, that's not something everyone can do," he encouraged her, feeling an urge to be her support system.
Rosie smiled, somewhat shyly, as she absorbed his words. "I'm trying, really. I just moved here, and I want to fit in, but it's tough."
"I can help with that. If you ever need someone to show you around or just hang out with, I'm here," Luis offered, his sincerity evident.
"Really? I would love that!" Rosie exclaimed, her eyes sparkling at the prospect of developing a friendship.
"Let's not rush it. We'll take it slow, one step at a time," he said, offering a warm smile.
"Sounds good to me. Just promise you won't let the others drag you down. It's easy to get wrapped up in their drama," she warned.
Luis chuckled lightly, "Don't worry, I know how to avoid that mess. Besides, I have my own challenges to worry about."
With that, they sat in companionable silence, sharing small stories and laughter. When it was time to head to class, Rosie stood up and offered him a radiant smile. "Luis, you've made my day a lot better. Thank you for being such a good person."
Luis found himself smiling back, realizing how nice it felt to have someone genuinely appreciate him. "Anytime, Rosie. Just don't be a stranger," he replied warmly, feeling a budding connection between them.
As he returned to the classroom, Luis entered with a renewed sense of purpose, a stark contrast to the uncertainty that often accompanied his school days. Rosie had reminded him how important it was to stand up for others and to be someone who could encourage and uplift.
** * * *
Still smiling, Rosie brought out a novel she wanted to read while Luis was away. She read it and that kept her company.
* * * *
"Hey", Luis woke Rosalyn from the consciousness of the book she was reading. "Oh my!", she got frightened.
"I'm really sorry if I got you frightened", he got apologetic.
" Not a big deal. I was so engrossed in the book and that was why", she explained.
"By the way, what's the novel about that you got so mad for it", he wondered
"This novel is so unique and different from the ones I have read before but I can't just figure out what's so special about it.", Rosie handed the book over to Luis.
"This book!", He said with familiarity towards the book.
"How wonderful. Two love birds having a discussion. Hmm, he was even so loving to give his jacket to her which he would have never done for anyone else", Mercedes suddenly came in and started her usual blabber.
With Luis getting angry, he stood up, picked his and Rosie's stuffs, held her hand and left for the exit gate of the school abandoning Mercedes behind getting furious, disgraced and embarrassed.
* * * *
"I'm really sorry about that awful encounter yet again", Rosie apologised freeing her hand from his. "Come on girl. I told you already that all that really isn't a big deal at all. we just have to ignore and treat such people as the fools they are, don't we?", he teasingly asked her. She smiled and respondedly, "You sure are right". Both smiled off the incident.
" I have to take my leave now, Luis", Rosie said after spotting the car that came for her. She gave Luis a hug and bid him a goodbye.
Not too long after her departure, his car arrived for him too and he hopped in.
* * * *