The Chief And The Captain - Chapter 22 Twenty Two

Rick was waiting by the gate when I arrived. The walk to school did good to settle my nerves. The pounding in my chest slowed but it left a heavy burden in my heart. Rick noticed my discomfort so he put an arm around my shoulders and gave me a light kiss.

“What’s the matter?” He asked.

“We’re at school.” I whispered.

He let go of me and he looked dejected. He put his hands inside his pockets and walked beside me. Since he no longer attend club activities, Rick had more time to follow me around, and that includes walking me to class, spend lunchtime with me and go to PubRoom for my club activities.

“Mom wants to meet you.” I said.

I heard him gasp.

“That’s a good thing right?”

I shrugged. How should I know, I hardly know my parents so I don’t know how they’d react. Especially father. I haven’t seen him smile to me or acknowledge me despite all my efforts. I could feel my chest pacing again.

Rick wrapped my hands in his. “It’s going to be okay.”

We mingled with the other students going to class, not bothering who would see our linked hands. Now that I would have to face my parents, I don’t care anymore.

At four pm, when class has ended, I went straight to the PubRoom. I had tons to do as the EIC before I leave. I sat queitly and looked at the four walls that contained most of my memories of my senior year. The comfort and the security it has provided me was incomparable. I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes, offered a silent thanks to my safe haven.

I felt a hand on top of me head. When I opened my eyes, Jessie was looking down and smiling at me.

“Shall we start?”

I nodded in response.

One by one, the staff started coming in and occupied the room. I’d definitely miss this, the faces of these people who became a part of my life in high school.

When everyone was settled, I stood up and started to speak.

“Before I announce the new editors, I’d like to say a few things. First, thank you for being part of the LHigh publication. Thank you for choosing our club. Thank you for sticking up with us, and I mean all of us seniors who have been in a bunch of emotional wreck because of all the pressure. ”

I got an applause from the seniors in the room with Jessie being the loudest. The door also opened and Rick tiptoed and gave me a slight nod.

I continued. “Thank you for handling my moods really well, and for meeting the deadlines I set that were close to impossible. Thank you for for all of your efforts and talents that you guys shared with us. Thanks for all the hard work, I know we don’t get paid but we were able to enjoy ourselves right?”

I noticed a few tears here and there. I clenched my fist trying to calm myself.

“I’m leaving my position as your chief and will be giving it to someone else. I hope that the new editors will be able to continue our tradition, and pass it on to new batch of people. Me, Jessie, Monica, Bea, Erica and Raymond will be graduating that year with confidence that the publication would continue even without us, that you remaining members would continue to perform and do your best, exercise your passion and produce great results. ”

Erica, then placed a copy of the newsletter and the literary book TOC on the table,like. As tradition, we seniors would sign the last school paper we worked on. Each of us signed our names on the editorials page. My hands were shaking as I looked at the paper I worked really hard on. This would be the last…