The Sun, The Moon, and Their Stars

34 : March

Kimberly

"How can you say that you love Rivers Cuomo, but not like Weezer?"

Darlynne rolls her eyes at me. "I didn't say that I don't like Weezer," she says. "I just said that I like their earlier songs better."

"Why? Why do you hate the new ones?"

"Again, Kim." And she sounds impatient. "I didn't say I hate the new ones. I just like the old ones better. Are we even having the same conversation?"

We're at the gym this lunch hour, talking about our favorite bands since we got here from the canteen. We're sitting Indian-style on the concrete bleachers, with our backs at the bottom of the next step. We're on the left side nearest to the doors, on the third level from the floor.

Lawrence is reaching for the switch of the fan attached to the metal pillar nearest to us. This Monday is as hot as the peak of summer.

"Lawrence, help," she says when he sits back next to me.

"I don't think I can," he says. "She's been that way since she started growing a heart."

"Of course, she does," Darlynne says to me with a teasing smile.

"Whatever. They have a new album coming out this year," I say while fanning myself.

Darlynne takes out a hair scrunchy from her pocket and starts tying her hair. Lawrence turns the radio on his cellphone, and we quietly listen to what's playing.

For the last two weeks before graduation, Grade Ten students are just practicing for the ceremony this coming Saturday, so we gather around inside the gym every day. Last week, we practiced the mass and learned the songs. This week, we're rehearsing for the whole program. We're now allowed to enter the school a little later in the morning since practice starts at nine. And for this afternoon, we're supposed to resume at two. But it's scorching hot outside, so my friends and I decided to just stay inside the school. A few of our other batchmates are scattered in here as well.

"So, what's he like?" Darlynne asks me after the song ends.

"He's nice."

"Please elaborate."

I let out a breath first. "He's the kind of guy you'd bring home to your overprotective big brother." Then I face her. "He's not just some guy. He's the guy."

"Then you're a lucky girl," she says with a nod.

"And they're not really airheads," I add.

"Speaking of," Lawrence says.

We turn our heads toward the doors and see the A4 entering the gym. Steve is leading them to the bleachers on our opposite side. Daryl is a few steps after him. Joseph and Benjie are talking to each other, following them.

"Why do they always appear out of nowhere whenever we're talking about them?" Lawrence asks me.

"How should I know?" I shrug.

Joseph reaches for the fan switch as the other three sit down. Steve takes out a chessboard from his bag and hands it to Daryl. Then he throws a Rubik's cube to Benjie, who's sitting one level up from him.

"So, you're leaving the band?" Lawrence asks Darlynne. "What's going to happen to them after?"

"The founding members will be going here," she points outside, to the school's college department building. "So, they'll continue with it. And I'll always be an honorary member."

"They have the potential," I say.

She nods and smiles.

I turn my attention back to the other side of the gym. Steve and Daryl are concentrating on chess. Benjie is fidgeting with the cube and occasionally glancing at the game of his friends. And Joseph is sitting nearer to the fan, reading some paperback.