章 27: Michelle Lends a Helping Hand

"What class are you going to attend right now, Michelle?"

"I'm going to photography class," Michelle responded to me. "How about you?"

"I'm on my way to photography too," I joyfully exclaimed to Michelle.

"Great. We'll be classmates again," Michelle enthusiastically approved.

We gave each other hugs and high fives before arriving inside the classroom. Michelle and I sat together, as it has been the case for most of our lives.

Having Michelle as a classmate had never been this fun. But in this final year in college, it was clear that we needed to savor every last moment because separation is inevitable.

"What's wrong Christine?" Michelle remarked as I looked nervously up the ceiling. "Why the serious and pensive look?"

"Michelle, don't you realize?" I spoke bitterly. "This is our final year together, and I feel terrible about it. Sooner or later, you, Ella, Carson and I have to go our separate ways and move on to a new life. After graduation, we might never see each other again."

As I talked to Michelle, tears flowed from my eyes. The uncomfortable feeling of moving on must have made me sad.

"What are you talking about Christine?" Michelle assured me. "We'll still be best pals even after graduation. However, if you want to survive these perils, you need to be strong and confident. I don't want to see a Christine that was so cowardly that she would always depend on me for support. I look towards a toughie who can stand up to anyone. You get that?"

Reluctantly, I accepted Michelle's advice. At this point in my life, it was clear that I needed to stop being a baby and grow up with different people in order to survive adulthood.

Just then, the photography professor arrived. Much like my professor on philosophy, she began class with a roll call and a distribution of the syllabus.

But as the lecture in photography was about to wrap up, she revealed to us the first assignment. The assignment was to shoot images of city life and describe each shot in the next class.

Being inexperienced in handling the camera I was hesitant at first to do such a project. But Michelle, an avid photographer since high school, willingly stepped in to help me.

"I do have an SLR camera back home. Do you want to share?" Michelle politely asked.

"Sure thing buddy," I heartily approved of Michelle's proposal. "I absolutely need your help."

"No problem Christine," Michelle said gently. "That's what best friends do."

After finishing the first day of photography class, Michelle and I headed for a hearty lunch at a nearby restaurant. There, while we waited for our meal, I started to talk about my first day commuting to school.

"Does commuting to school a terrible thing or not?" I sought Michelle.

"It naturally depends on you," Michelle answered thoughtfully. "Why did you ask?"

"You see, I traveled to school on my own this morning and it was horrendous," my brittle voice explaining to her. "First, the train broke down, then the bus I rode in arrived at a wrong location because I overslept with all the heavy traffic, and I ended up boarding two more coaches to get here. It was hell from the start."

"What about Charissa?" Michelle questioned me.

"Unfortunately, she decided not to drive me here and back anymore because Charissa thought my mind was prepared for such a grind," I told Michelle. "Turns out commuting was not my forte because there might be bad guys who could strike at me anytime."

"Well, you should not worry about commuting anymore," Michelle made a suggestion. "Tell you what, from now on I'll graciously allow you to ride with me from here to home and vice versa. Is that okay with you?"

"It's fine with me," I nodded in assurance over Michelle's proposal. "Just text me if you're outside the condominium and when classes are completed."

Michelle and I held our hands just as our lunch arrived. After finishing a plate of cordon bleu and tuna salad, we were off to another class.

Just then, another familiar face brought our attention. It was Sarah, now in her fourth year majoring in political science.

"Sarah, it's been awhile," I happily greeted her who responded with a kiss on my cheek.

After introducing Michelle to Sarah, the two of them had a brief chat. There, Sarah revealed to Michelle that she was once a classmate of Cynthia who brought some painful memories to Michelle.

As Sarah left us to go to a different classroom, she began to cry after Sarah mentioned Cynthia's name.

"Christine, I still remembered what happened to her," Michelle tearfully recalled to me. "She was a great person that was taken away by her own demons, and I still never forget what happened."

"Don't worry Michelle. Cynthia was still in my thoughts every time," I glumly looked back. "We can visit her grave if there is free time for us. Are you with me?"

"I haven't been to Cynthia's grave since her funeral, so it was only appropriate to go back," Michelle approved. "But better inform me when through text so that I can drive you to the cemetery."

"Deal," my head approvingly nodding to Michelle whose tears stopped flowing from her innocent eyes.

Michelle and I could not wait to attend the next class. But when we looked at our schedules, our upcoming class would not start until 2:40 p.m.

So for the next hour, we dozed off inside the library. Michelle and I slept like an attractive couple in a profound relationship, our two hands locked together while my head rested on her lap.

Just before 2:30 p.m., Michelle's smartphone alarm vibrated, and she aroused me up. We gradually made our way to the next classroom which was a few walks away from the library.

The subsequent class was about film production, and our professor was a remarkably accomplished director. As we arrived inside the classroom, another familiar face welcomed us.

It was Ella. She was also taking the same class as ours.

"Greetings fellow classmates," Ella happily joined us as we sat down together.

We eagerly waited 30 minutes for the professor to show up. But when he failed to arrive punctually, the film production class became a free cut and all of us promptly left the classroom.

Michelle, Ella and I consumed the rest of the afternoon bonding at the university park. With no other classes coming up, we officially ended school for the day.