Jaime and Jaime (Part 1: Bulbasaur)

 

Finally! A new Pokemon game is released and I must wait outside the store to get it first. I thought I was early since I came in at 6am but some people have been camping for days. New releases tend to have limited stocks so the line is really long.  Disappointed, I went home and just returned later that day hoping that there’s something left.

And there was one! It was in pristine condition and is sitting on the shelf. Quickly, I ran to it and grabbed it immediately. But I can’t seem to pick it up as some force is stopping me. There was another hand grabbing it. It was a girl with short hair, petite frame, sharp nose and puppy eyes.

Trying to grab it by force, she immediately fought back and struggled against me.

“I waited in line! I deserve it!” She said

“I was here at 6 am I deserve it!”

“Oh yeah?! I was here camping yesterday but no one bothered to wake me up!”

I laughed

“That’s not my fault! You should set an alarm!”

But in the struggle of pulling it against her, I thought that she deserve it maybe so I let her go; which is a bad idea because she went flying to the other end of the room. Everyone looked at our direction so I ran to her  and checked her.

“hey are you okay?”

Beneath the rubble of cereals her hand emerged with the copy of the game.

“Haha! You lost but you did put up a good fight so I respect you”

“Yeah right I- nevermind”

The underpaid and overworked clerk gave us a mean look so we stacked the cereal boxes back to the shelves and I left the store as she was paying.

Outside the store I heard heavy panting behind me and it was her.

“Is there a problem?”

She shook her head, and as I was about to set on my way again I saw a guy not too far from us, looking at her.

After typing down on my phone I gave it to her

“Is that guy bothering you?”

She typed “yes”

“Clutch to my arm and I’ll help you ride a jeepney home, let’s see if we can lose him” I typed

She did and by the time she clutched to my arm the guy went away. A jeepney was nearby so I let her rode it after a few paces of walking.

“Thank you!” she exclaimed before riding the jeepney

“Here take this” showing a bulbasaur keychain to me.

“Take it as my thanks!” she said as she hastily rode the jeepney

I took it and smiled.

“And that’s how I got this keychain!” I exclaimed to my sister.

She refuses to believe me and simply scolded me for going out without saying.

“Your first day in college is tomorrow, keep your act together. You can’t keep playing games forever you know”

Sulking, I went to my room heavy stomping my foot.

The next day, I was playing my Nintendo switch just outside my supposedly first classroom. My first room is just close to my sister’s. Introducing me to Andre, Matthew and Luna she tells them that were siblings to which they remark that they see the resemblance. Flicking my forehead, she told me to pay attention as I was focused on my gaming, I apologized and get to know them. Someone came in named Emily and she kissed Luna on the cheeks must to the distaste of my sister and her friends.

We were called in the room and my sister also so we settled in. There was a short girl in front of me who was oddly familiar but I could not point it out as the professor comes in and immediately, the room was silent.

Wearing well fitted jeans and shirt while standing firm and tall, he came in to the room with authority. He is not someone to be dealt with or joke around.

“I will be doing roll calls so say present and stand up when you hear your name.” He said with a deep manly voice that echoed the room. Only the whirring of the fans dared to cross his voice.

It was the usual roll call with a few names not present in the room. Every time someone would stand up, they introduce themselves and say what are their likes, dislikes, hobbies and favorite subject.

By the time it was my turn.

“Jaime Flores”

Immediately I stood up and standing up with is another girl in front row of the class. I recognized the violet streak in her short hair along with the petite frame. She met my eyes with excitement with her hand waving and a sudden jolt of smile at me. I would return the gesture but I’m still nervous about the professor so I subtly nodded.

“Well this is interesting, are you twins or something?” the professor remarked

“No sir” we said in unison

The rest of the class wants to laugh but was too afraid to do so.

“The boy will introduce himself first and then the girl”

“I am Jaime Flores, eighteen years old and I live in Batangas City my entire life. I like videogames, photography and painting also I hate coffee”

I get the feeling that the class wants to boo me because of the last part but they simply scoffed

She was next

“I am Jaime Flores. Eighteen years old of age, I lived in Rizal, I like video games , photography and playing the piano and also I hate coffee”

“How are we supposed to call you apart?”

“You can call me Jay sir, she can stay as Jaime”

“Do you agree with that?”

“Yes sir!” she said loudly and by the time she realized it she looked down in embarrassment.

After the roll call the professor introduced himself as Professor Castro. He likes poetry, literature and videogames also and hates carbonated drinks.

“Loosen up” he said while laughing

The entire class sighed relief as he said that

“I get that students tend to be afraid of me but calm down, as long as we draw the line between professor and student we’re fine”

After that the class was livelier and they started to ask questions such as classroom policies and grading.

The class dismissed and we all went outside. My next class is the building on the other side of the road so I rushed to it. Upon touching the door I saw another hand. It was Jaime’s.

“I guess we’ll be seeing each other a lot huh”

“Yeah we will” she said while looking at the Bulbasaur keychain at my bag