The Only Face I Can't See

My name is Angela Martin. I am 16 years of age, and I am in sophomore year in a high school near my home. I am not some popular girl, but I could say my name has been on the lips of the popular kids, the Populars. I have never been bullied but I am quite not liked among the Populars. Why is that? I am not sure either.

I usually go about my day in peace starting with the first lesson wondering when I will be able to go home, and binge watch my favorite shows. Do I have friends? No. With my name being said every corner I go, and rumors tied on a string around my name, no one wants to be involved. And physically speaking, my appearance doesn't ease the situation. I believe comfort comes first but not everyone thinks the same. I used to care but nowadays I don't. Sometimes I dress badly just to get on the nerves of people. And I even started an Instagram account where I post the worst outfit combinations ever. The number of followers might be the reason the popular kids don't talk to me.

My grades are not the best neither the worst, so I was stereotyped The Weirdo. That's a name for me only in the whole school. I thank God for all those followers I have, they prevent the Populars from touching me. Who would want to mess with the girl who helps humanity not make embarrassing outfit mistakes? I am not a fashion person by the way, it was something I did to annoy the cheerleaders.

Ever since I was young, my vision was always clear and my eyes had no problem. But a week ago something strange happened. A guy named Tran Chen returned to school after two years of being away. I do remember him clearly since I had a crush on him before he left. We had never got a chance to interact in any way possible. 

When Tran entered class, I couldn't see his face clearly. I blinked multiple times, but I still couldn't see his face clearly. I looked at everyone else, but their faces were clear. I couldn't believe what was going on. I let it slide and hoped for a better vision the next day. I wasn't eager to see his face, FYI.

Sleeping didn't change much as I still couldn't see his face. Knowing that I was never going to interact with him anyway, I let that slide and focused on my studies. But fate had forgotten to wake up with me that day, I was assigned to be Tran's study buddy for the term to help him catch up on everything we had studied that he didn't know. I couldn't believe that the teacher did something like that. I wasn't among the top students yet I got to be paired with him.

How am I to teach someone I seem not see his face?

I tried my best to avoid Tran in hope that he asks for another tutor but that all went in vain two days later when I ran into him on my way to the cafeteria. 

Tran: You've been avoiding me. <I smiled like a goof.>

Me: I have been busy. It is best you find someone else who is free and smarter. I can't seem to educate myself. How am I supposed to help you?

Tran: Excuses, I see. You are the one I was assigned so I expect you to do your job.

I didn't know how to get out of the situation. I wasn't seeing his face clearly. I could recognize that he had Asian features, but I couldn't see the color of his eyes perfectly. I saw his hair, however.

Tran: If you're done staring, I would love to get your number so we can set the time for our study sessions.

I gave him my number and walked away from him as fast as I could. How could he meet me in such a public place? How could he want me to teach him? How could he care about studying in the first place? I had so many questions going on in my mind that I didn't notice when the cafeteria emptied. For the first time I was late and I got detention for that. 

The first few lessons went by smoothly than I thought. I couldn't believe what a good student Tran was. I ended up being the student and him teaching me. Wherever he had gone changed him completely. Tran used to be a bully, he never cared about school at all but now something had changed and I was curious.

A month into the tutoring and Tran and I were becoming friends. He greeted me whenever he saw me and sometimes he commented on my outfits positively. I was shocked to find out the he followed my IG account and he took his time to like more than 100 pictures. I started wondering whether there was something about to bloom between us. I still couldn't see his face not even on his social media and he didn't know.

As things were going normal, I walked by the parking lot as I was going home and I heard voices. I wasn't going to eavesdrop but I heard my name being mentioned by a voice that was starting to become familiar in my ears. 

Tran: What makes you think I could ever have someone like Angela as a friend. All I have to do is get her agree to go to prom with me like we agreed. You want to see what she will wear for prom, right? I will make that happen..

I couldn't listen anymore. I used another exit so that they couldn't see me. The next few weeks went by in a blur and soon it was prom week. Couples were forming here and there, everyone had a date aside from me. I came to find out that the popular team wasn't the only one waiting for me to humiliate myself by wearing the worst outfit ever. 

Tran and I had gotten distant and I appreciated the space. Today, I ran into him more than I wanted but somehow it felt like he was appearing wherever I was on purpose. Sucks for him I knew his plan. Our sessions were over but he still came to my house.

Tran: Are you going to prom? <He didn't even wait to be let in, he just asked without greeting.>

Me: I am not going. <I looked at him a blank face trying to act so tough>

Tran: Why not?

Me: Why should I go?

Tran: It's prom and everyone has to come. <he shrugged>

Me: I don't have a date and I don't intend to go with a liar.

Tran: Are you calling me a liar?

Me: I am not about to humiliate myself like everyone anticipates. I have better things to do.

Tran: We were becoming friends just fine. What happened to us? You've been avoiding me for quite a long time.

Me: Our study sessions are over. You don't have to come back here. 

Tran: What happened Angela? <his soft voice almost got me.>

Me: I heard you saying that you can never become friends with me and you can't wait to see me humiliate myself at prom. Your plan failed.

Tran: ...

Me: I don't have time to waste on you. Don't come back here. I am even glad your face is the only face I can't see. I don't want to look at a face of a jerk.

I closed the door like a badass I was. Prom came and went by too fast. I didn't attend it but on that day I posted a picture of me in a pretty outfit with a caption, "What you missed 😊😇". Many people were shocked but I cared less. 

Tran didn't come near me for the rest of the time. I could see hurt on his face but I wasn't falling for that. I heard he didn't attend prom but I cared less. Everything about Tran irritated me.

In the last week of sophomore year, a piece of paper fell as I opened the locker. It said: 

I didn't mean to hurt you. I am sorry. I am glad you didn't get to see the face of a jerk but I hope you can see the face of a real gentle man I am about to become. I will change for you, Angela. All you have to do is look at your left. -Tranie

 

He used the nickname I used to annoy him with. For the first time I saw Tran's face. He was indeed handsome more than I thought. He smiled at me and I smiled back. 

THE END.