Lectures can be a boring experience. Almost a hundred percent of the time I find myself falling asleep in class. It’s not that the professor giving the lecture was boring. It’s just that I’m terrible at paying attention to a lecture itself. And don’t think that I’m a bad listener. Lectures are the problem. You got to believe me!

This was a calculus class. Math wasn’t any kind of a specialty of mine, so this was the second time I’ve taken this class. It’s not that I’m stupid. I just happen to be too lazy for my own good. I don’t bother to put in the extra work to understand the topics at all.

The professor went on with the lesson. He was talking about limits or something. I remember it from the last time I took the class, but I still didn’t understand it. Great. If I’m going to pass this class, I’m going to need to put the extra effort to learn this stuff. Maybe I could get Raphie to help me out.

My hand wrote notes down as I follow along with the lesson. My eyes are on the professor and I continue to write without looking down. If I had any special skills, it would be this one. Quite boring isn’t it?

I rested my face with my left hand and continued writing with my right. My eyes started drooping. Damn it. I need to pay attention. I lifted my face off my hand and tried to sit up straight. I ended up slouching in my chair.

Now all my attention was shifted to trying to stay awake. All of it was taken away from the lesson itself. There was no way I’m going to last this long listening. After a handful of minutes, I fell asleep. I made sure it was in a way that it wasn’t noticeable. My face was placed back on my hand with my elbow on the desk. My right hand was still holding the pencil as if it was writing. At least I was sitting in the back so I wasn’t in clear view of the professor.

I may be a smart guy, but I was a dumb student. Now I’ll have to ask someone else what the lesson was about. Human interaction. Great.

What I didn’t look forward the most wasn’t talking to someone. I’m not that anti-social. It was just that the only person I knew in the class was Jasmine. If I were to rank the annoying people in my life, I’d rank Jasmine right at the top. Yes, even more so than Lucy.

I didn’t see Jasmine at all during the summer, except that one time when she caught me working at the grocery store. Before that, we’d see each other often since we shared some of the same classes. I could tolerate her since she was cool and all. But it was bothersome whenever she decided to tease me. And she’ll take advantage of me not understanding what was going on.

When I heard everyone in the classroom started getting up from their desks, it was the signal that the class was over. As I woke up, I looked around for someone else to talk to for help. But I woke up too late. Almost everyone else had left the room. Except for Jasmine who approached me.

“Hey, David!”

“Hi… Jasmine…”

“Why the long face?”

“Uh, I was too tired.”

“Did ya stay late playing that stupid MMO again?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“What a loser.”

Jasmine laughed. It was a friendly laugh. I’ve known Jasmine enough to tell if she was laughing to make fun of you, or was just joking around.

“Did ya understand what went on in class? I didn’t.”

“Well…”

“Considering how you are, you probably fell asleep.”

Her eyes widened and went closer to my face.

“You fell asleep, didn’t ya?”

“Yeah, I did.”

I sighed. I was ready to ask.

“What did the professor teach about?”

“No idea.”

“Come on Jasmine. I don’t know anyone else in the class yet.”

“Something about a limit. I wish I was paying attention,” She said sarcastically.

“Knock it off.”

Jasmine and I walked together out of the classroom.

“You got a class after this?” I asked.

“Nope.”

“Want to get a bite to eat?”

“Sure.”

We walked towards the cafeteria.

The cafeteria at Paramount College was probably what made coming to school every day worth it. It was a large building with multiple floors filled with tables and chairs. The first floor had all the different types of foods. From a sandwich shop to a pizza place. There was seafood and even a dessert store. It was heaven to me.

The second  third floor was filled with long tables that you can sit at. In the middle of the floor, there were glass hand railings where you can see the floors below. It made the whole building feel larger than it is.

Hm… I wonder what I should get this time.

I think I could go for a pizza. Maybe just a plain slice.

Jasmine went for a sandwich.

After meeting up, we decided to sit on the second floor in the corner.

“So about that class…”

“I’ll tell you about it tomorrow. I don’t want to talk about classes during lunch.”

“Fine.

I took a bite of my pizza.

“So I heard you know about the princess.”

“Who?”

“The Princess. Raphie Angelo.”

That was her last name? Lame.

“I’ve heard of a princess but this was the first time ever hearing her name.”

“You’re so slow David. So how’d you meet her?” Jasmine said teasingly.

“She’s just a neighbor of mine. She’s always lived across the hall from me apparently.”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Oh.”

Jasmine was surprised. She’s only ever been to my place two times so she didn’t know too much about my neighbors.

“There are rumors that the princess was seeing somebody. Since I heard that it was some nobody, I came to the conclusion that it was you.”

“I’m just some nobody.”

“A nobody who worked with Raphie at that grocery store.”

“Wow, what a great guess detective.”

I said sarcastically.

“Just a coincidence I found you there.”

I took a sip of my soda while jasmine took a quick bite of her sandwich.

“So how far did ya go?”

“Excuse me?!”

After almost choking on my soda, I recovered quickly.

“Aren’t you going out?”

Jasmine can be a tease but sometimes her words hurt deeply…

“We’re just friends. In fact, we’re just neighbors. Rumors are just rumors.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

It could be false rumors or rumors about some other nobody dating Raphie. She’s her own person. Then again, this was the first time the idea of an angel falling for someone came to mind.

Raphie didn’t seem to be the kind of person to be interested in other people like that. Or so I thought. There was probably more to Raphie than what I know of her.

“Well, there’s also their group.”

“What group?”

“The usual group the princess sticks with.”

“Ah, those guys.”

I knew they existed. I just never knew their names.

“There’s Alex. You’ve probably met him. He’s pretty much involved in many clubs. Everyone has met him at least once.”

Alex was pretty cool. He likes to be involved with many people. If they let him that is. I heard he helps around the college with various clubs. Alex was a very resourceful guy.

“Judith is Alex’s girlfriend. She’s the one with all makeup and the expensive looking clothes.”

Jasmine’s description was an understatement. Judith was a complete showoff. She was considered the fashion queen around the campus. She kind of looks down on others, unless you’re someone who looks at her like a normal human being. She was kind of strange that way.

“Then there’s Lucas. He’s the smartest guy around. Everyone goes to him for help. Even Alex. I’d say Lucas is a more resourceful guy that way.”

I’ve never heard of Lucas. Judging by what Jasmine said, he’d probably be a cool guy to converse with.

“And finally, Raphie. The princess. She’s not royalty or anything. She’s well known for her participation in community service. And the fact that she has many admirers. The idea of her getting a boyfriend would cause rumors to circulate.”

That’s an angel for you. Not that anyone else knew about that fact.

“What an interesting group.”

I said before taking a sip of my soda.

“Yeah. If you were close with Raphie, I’d watch out for her fanatic followers.”

“There’s such a thing?”

“Yeah, I didn’t believe it at first, but then I talked with Raphie one day and there were some stalkerish peeps following us. It was creepy.”

Who knew there were weirder people than Jasmine and me.

“Speaking of creepers, there’s another rumor that’s been floating around.”

Jasmine got my attention.

“They say there’s this cult around campus. No one knows who they are or what they’re all about. I think it’s some stupid frat thing.”

“A cult?”

“Yeah. I’ve been trying to get in to see if it was really true but I made no progress so far.”

“Why would you want to bother with that?”

“I’m curious.”

“Well, I understand that.”

It’s true. Sometimes curiosity could get to me too.

“Whatever they are, I hope it isn’t too dangerous.”

“Aww David, are you worried about me?”

“Shut up Jasmine.”

“You’re blushing.”

Jasmine said teasingly. She laughed while pointing towards my face with her elbow on the table. I tried to cover my face by taking a bite of my pizza.

“This semester started weirdly ever since this cult thing started.”

“How so?”

“I found out about this cult because my friends would bail out on plans. I didn’t think of it much at first. But then they all would do this thing without me on the same day. I couldn’t tell what it was.”

“You have friends?”

“I have you dumbass.”

“Fair enough.”

I finished my pizza and soda. I noticed Jasmine had already been finished with her food. We both walked out of the cafeteria together.

“So David, how was your summer?”

“Same old me. Doing nothing at all.”

“Playing that stupid game.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you have class?”

“Not for another thirty minutes.”

“Same.”

We both walked aimlessly across campus until we bumped into a familiar face.

“Hey, Raphie.”

While Jasmine and I were talking a walk after lunch, we met the girl nicknamed as the princess. Or at least that was what Jasmine called her.

“Hey, David.”

After greeting me, Raphie looked at Jasmine as if she was wondering who she was.

“And you are?”

“Oh. This is Jasmine. Jasmine, this is Raphie.”

“I know who you are.”

Jasmine said with observing facial expression. She scanned Raphie from head to toe.

Following Jasmine, I tried to look at Raphie inconspicuously. She wore a tight white t-shirt and a skirt. Her medium length hair was tied up into a ponytail. She held a purse on her right shoulder. She had no makeup but she still looked great. I guess she didn’t want to sweat with it on.

“Hm…”

“Don’t do that Jasmine. You’re going to freak her out,” I said even though I did the same. I just didn’t make it obvious.

“She looks good. I can see why you’re interested in her.”

“It’s not like that.”

Raphie seemed confused. She just had that look on her face. Her head tilted to the side while shifting weight on one side with a hand on her waist.

“What are you talking about?”

Apparently, she didn’t hear us clearly.

Good.

“So this is what the princess is like.”

“Don’t call her that!”

“Princess?”

That’s right. Before I knew Raphie, people indirectly called her the princess. But that’s not a name you just say in front of them. Jasmine’s blunt manner of speaking just made Raphie even more confused.

“Well. It’s nice to meet you, Jasmine.”

“So. Are you dating David?”

“Dating? I don’t think so.”

Strike one!

“You sure? You’ve been together pretty often.”

“No. We’re just friends.”

Strike two!

“Wow. Is that so?”

“Yeah, I just see him as a friend. I don’t see him any more than that.”

Strike three! You’re out!

I felt myself slouching a little bit as each remark stung a bit. It’s not like I was interested in Raphie like that. It’s just that hearing that in person kind of hurt a bit. That’s not tears, I just got something stuck in my eyes!

“So Raphie, you just came from class?”

I tried to steer the conversation to a more positive topic.

“Yeah. I just came from biology class.”

“We just came from calculus. David here wasn’t paying attention. I think he fell asleep again.”

“Hey, not cool!”

“What do you mean? It’s true.”

All Raphie did was laugh.

“That sounds like something that David would do.”

“I know right! What a lazy ass.”

“I agree.”

“You’re pretty cool Raphie.”

“You too.”

Oh great. A combination I never thought that would occur.

Jasmine continued to tease me in front of Raphie. And Raphie joined in too. It wasn’t a pleasant time for me. Not at all. I tried to switch topics to something that wasn’t joking around about me. We all ended up talking about what we did for the summer.

I obviously did nothing with my summer. Other than dying of course. These two knew that already so they understand what kind of person I am.

Raphie spent her summer doing community service. I think there was a community center nearby the college. Raphie talked about how she spent time with kids for the most part. It had nothing to do with the medical field that she was studying. But it was a nice thing to do regardless.

Jasmine. worked as a bartender part-time. She was able to save up some pocket money for the rest of the year. Plus she was able to go on a late vacation because of it. I think she went somewhere down south where it was nice and warm at some beautiful beach.

I wish I could go. Maybe not.