The Night Orchid

by M. G. Hernandez

  When the bell rings, I bolt out of class. It’s lunchtime, and maybe she’ll have her lunch in the library or in Mr. Cunningham’s class. I can’t imagine her wanting to sit with Dee and her friends, even though I heard Dee was the only one who defended her while Bianca incited fear into the hearts of our classmates.

  As I head to the library, I see Jordan heading my way—no doubt making his way to the cafeteria. I give him a nod, which he returns. “Yo, have you seen Jo?”

  He blinks, then looks around him. Finally, he turns to me and speaks. “Uh, yeah. An hour ago, before fourth period.”

  I nod. This is promising. “How is she? Is she ok?”

  His eyes dart again, but respond. “Yeah, she’s cool.”

  “And?”

  “And what?” he asks, looking at me irritated.

  “What did you guys talk about?”

  “Nothing,” he said with a shrug.

  I look at him in shock. “For real, dude? You know what happened to her this morning, right?”

  He snaps his head at me, his brown eyes flashing. “What the fuck do you want me to say?”

  My own blues turn to him. “Well, for one, I hope you asked her if she was ok, and told her she’s gonna be alright. Two, I also hope you told her you’ve been telling everyone who talked shit about her to fuck off.”

  He laughs. “Bro, you can’t expect me to do that. We barely know each other.”

  “Are you kidding me?” I said. “Aren’t you guys dating?”

  “We’ve only been on one date. Most of the time we just text.”

  I shake my head. “You’re fucking unbelievable. You don’t have to date her to be nice. That’s just being a decent person. Period.”

  He looks away from me. “Look, bro. This is too much for me. I just want to chill. Plus, I got a rep to protect. You know what I mean?”

  I look at him straight in the eye. “You’re a waste of time, man. You don’t deserve her.”

  I have a random lightbulb moment brought by the urge to provide a much-needed education. I turn and run to the cafeteria because everyone’s going to be there, including my poor excuse for an ex-girlfriend. It’s time to settle this.

  ***

  The crowded cafeteria suits me fine, just how I want it. I look towards our usual table and see Bianca, her friends and the rest of our crew. Perfect. I see a table in the front and find an empty chair. I stand on it to make sure everyone sees me, including Bianca, who is scowling at me. Everyone shushes each other as I tower above them.

  Well, here goes nothing.

  “Yo, can everyone hear me?” I bellow.

  “Yeah!” someone shouts. “You gonna sing for us, Taylor?” Everyone snickers.

  “No, but I got something to say.” I raise the flyer for everyone to see. “You motherfuckers have been enjoying yourself on this piece of literature, so I’m going to join the conversation.” I pause for a minute to make sure I have everyone’s attention. Then I continue. “Josephine Ligaya is not crazy, nor is she schizophrenic. This is a misdiagnosis. But even if she is, that still doesn’t make her violent. So here’s my little PSA for you guys.”

  “Oh, c’mon, Taylor, for real? We just want to eat!”

  “Shut the fuck up and listen,” I said. “Mental illness is common in young people, and I’m confident there are a few of us dealing with it as I speak. It’s not fair to assume that every act of aggression is a direct result of it. There are so many factors that lead to a person committing violent acts—one of them is ‘social rejection by peers.’” I pause for a second to let that sink in. “So, boys and girls, by constantly treating someone like shit, you guys could actually drive someone to commit violence in school. Ain’t that somethin’?” I pause and watch them shift in their seats. “And let’s just face it. We’re teenagers, and we have a lot going on in our lives. Many things trigger us, and anyone of us can become violent whether or not we have a diagnosis.”

  “So what’s your point, Taylor?” someone shouts.

  I see Dee stand up and face the crowd. “His point is that we need your support—not your judgements.”

  Everyone breaks out in conversations to discuss what she’s insinuating. I direct my gaze to her direction and I acknowledge her bravery.

  “Yes, class. I have depression—a mental health diagnosis, just so we’re on the same page. And if you think I’ll be plotting on bombing this school on my free time, then you’re crazy. I don’t have time for that nonsense. So y’all need to relax and leave my girl alone. You mess with her, you mess with me.”

  The cafeteria erupts in excited chatter, but I lock eyes with Dee, sending her a subliminal message of admiration and gratitude. She smiles and gives me a wink.

  I continue. “I got one more statement to make. Since we’re so concerned about safety, let me tell you what I think is more dangerous. It’s folks among us who demonize people with mental disorders because they’re too afraid to educate themselves about it.” Then, I turn towards Bianca’s direction. It’s time to drive my point home. “Or in this case,” I said, pointing to the flyer in front of me. “It’s also people who are petty and manipulative, who will stop at nothing to maintain control by inflicting pain on others.”

  I glance at the Jock Table and lock eyes with my target. “And I’m talking to you Bianca.”

  Gasps from the crowd turns her smug look into a shocked one. “I broke up with you. I was the one who hurt you, so target me. Come after me.”

  I watch Bianca’s face turn pale, no doubt not appreciating having our business called out for everyone to hear. But maybe she’ll realize how it feels.

  “What you did was wrong. You incited fear, so everyone will turn against her. But the hate you created was revenge for my decision to leave you. You knew hurting her would hurt me more than directly inflicting pain on me. That’s just plain evil.”

  In the background, I hear cheers and clapping from Dee’s table. Then I turn to my peers. “And as for the rest of you. Support each other. Not divide. Fucking do the right thing. Don’t follow Bianca just because she threatens you with her father’s prestige when you don’t comply with her wishes. Support Dee and your classmates who are going through tough times. And stop treating Jo like she’s got a contagious disease. She doesn’t. She only got dragged under the bus because my ex-girlfriend and I ended our toxic relationship.”

  And on that note, I jump off the chair to the sound of clapping. But Bianca is tomato red and is being comforted by her friends. I know she’s fuming, but I ignore her. I gather my backpack and prepare to leave the cafeteria until one wise ass tries my patience.

  “Yo, Ian! So, is that crazy chick your new girlfriend now?”

  A voice directs my head to a thick-necked JV football player who’s looking at his friends, laughing. Oh, so we have a comedian in the crowd. He has guts. I have to give it to him. We’ll see how he feels when he gets separated from his football friends. He’s short, stocky and well-muscled, but he’s nothing to my 6’2 muscular frame.

  I beeline for him with such speed, his beady eyes bulge out of their eye sockets. I pick him up with ease, light as a gummy bear. Then, I dump him into the large gray cafeteria trash bin where he belongs. The crowd erupts into a raucous laughter while he stares at me in shock.

  “Now, see, I was being nice to you,” I said, patting his cheek like he’s a little kid. “Only because I didn’t mind you calling her my girlfriend. But the next time you call her ‘crazy,’ I may not be so merciful.”

  He nods, his mouth hanging open.

  “Good, boy,” I said, giving him a pat on the head as I exit the cafeteria.

  It’s time to find my girl.

  Chapter 52

  Josephine

  As I unlock my locker, I pick up raucous laughter coming from the cafeteria. “Glad to know someone’s having fun.”

  It’s lunchtime, and I’m putting my books in my backpack before I head over to Mr. Cunningham’s classroom. My kind English teacher allows me to
eat my lunch there, where I can chew my salad without scrutiny.

  Fourth period was a bust. It’s my physics class where we’re forced to sit in lab tables. My tablemates slid their seats away from me in unison as soon as I dropped to my seat. Their synchrony impressed me. After the hundredth time my classmates played musical chairs to avoid me, I told them, “It’s mental illness guys, not Hep A. It’s not contagious.” The girl who sat across from me rolled her eyes, then asked the teacher if she could move her, stating that her space had foul air. I sniggered. Good one.

  I slam my locker and get ready to head over to the classroom. I’m not hungry though, but I have nowhere else to go.

  “Where you off to?”

  A familiar voice reaches my ears. The sound surprises me, but without pivoting, I already recognize who’s standing there. My eyes sting because I can’t gauge his reaction to me. They’ve rejected me so many times today, but none will hurt as much as when he dismisses me too. “Julian, what are you doing here?”

  “I’m here for you.”

  “Don’t. Your reputation will take a hit. Walk away before they find you with me.”

  “Joy, look at me.”

  “Jules, just go. They’ll be here in a few minutes. I don’t want to be responsible for your popularity taking a nosedive.”

  He doesn’t respond as he strolls towards me. His energy is heady and intoxicating. It makes me lightheaded every inch that he nears me. My heart beats against my chest until he stops.

  “Joy, ask me if I care.”

  “What?”

  “Ask me if I care about what people think.”

  I sigh. “Jules, I don’t want to play games, ok? I had a rough start this morning.”

  “I know,” he said. His hands land on my arms and I bite my lip as he turns me to face him. He lifts my chin up with his finger, so I can’t run from the pull of his eyes. I hear people trickle in and I panic. But he shakes his head. “Ignore them. Fuck ‘em, Jo.”

  “Jules…Why are you still here? This will cost you.”

  He leans closer and cups my cheeks. “Ask me.”

  And so I study him, his persistence making me curious about where his loyalty stands. If he plans on abandoning ship, I’d prefer to know now than later.

  “Do you care, Jules? Because in a matter of seconds, your social status is about to plummet.”

  His expression changes, and he looks hungry, as if he hasn’t eaten in days. And with no warning, his mouth lands on mine, hands cradling my face. My eyes widen in surprise, but within moments, they close as his soft lips awaken the butterflies in my stomach.

  The intimacy of our locked lips takes me on an emotional journey. This is his blatant message to me, and to everyone watching, that he’s on my team. In a time where they reduced me to something worse than the scuff on my shoe, his loyalty means more to me than gold. And so I sigh as I melt in his arms and enjoy being kissed by my best friend.

  Abandoning decorum, he presses his body against mine and pushes me until my back is against the locker. I part my lips, allowing him complete access. He accepts the invitation by sweeping my bottom lip with his tongue before deepening the kiss. Alone in the dim hallway, this intimacy transports us into another world. Faraway from scrutiny and judgements, we are once again fourteen, testing the limits of our friendship. Except that this world is much bolder as Julian kisses me with abandon and full exploration. He teases me with his mouth and the gentle strokes of his hands, and I stop myself from moaning with pleasure. This is a far cry from the chaste peck he gave me four years ago.

  Then the sound of cameras snapping and the glare of flashing lights, break our moment. My eyes flutter open as Julian releases his lips from mine. I hear chatter, flushing my cheeks as I catapult back to reality. But he remains unfazed as he leans his forehead on mine and wraps his arms around my waist.

  “Did that answer your question?” he asks.

  I say nothing for a moment as I’m still reeling from that experience. When I get it together, I peer at him and bite my lip. “So, uh, I guess you like me, huh?”

  He laughs. “I had planned on kissing you like that when I returned from swim camp, but you had other plans.” He rolls his eyes.

  “Sorry about that.” Then, I cringe at the sound of whispering from our peers gossiping about us. “So, you sure about this? We’re gonna be all over social media, in case you didn’t notice the cameras flashing.”

  “Didn’t I just make myself clear I don’t give a shit? Let them,” he said. Then he pulls his head away, looking at me with a worried glance. “You want this, right? Us?”

  I laugh. “I would’ve slapped you already if I didn’t.”

  He smiles. Then it fades, making me worry. “Uh, about Jordan…”

  “Not an issue,” I interrupt. Jordan is a thing of the past, and I harbor no feelings for him.

  He sighs in relief. “Ok, I just needed to make sure.” Then he takes my hand in his. “I mean it, Jo. I don’t care about my popularity. If your parents never separated us, I would’ve been with you this whole time, anyway.”

  I nod and as our hands intertwine, I marvel at this interesting turn of events. Though still in a fishbowl with everyone gawking from behind the glass, I now have an ally.

  ***

  Like a protective blanket, Julian’s arm rests on the back of my chair during English class.He convinced Mr. Cunningham to switch with a classmate, so he can sit next to me. My teacher didn’t fight it. In fact, he looked relieved at Julian’s suggestion.

  Dee sits close as well, hanging around me and snarling at everyone who dares to breathe near me. In the meantime, I’m touched by this group of unlikely allies. The stares have died ever since these two have flanked me between them. Between Dee’s growls and Julian’s clenched fist, they got the message not to mess with me.

  Mr. Cunningham gives us a brief break from the lecture as he prepares the class for a film on the literature we’re covering. As he tinkers with the DVD player and the TV, I turn to my friend. “Dee, Julian told me what you did, and I just want to thank you sincerely.”

  “Girl, that was nothing.” She dismisses me with a wave of her hand.

  “No,” I said, shaking my head. “That was not nothing. You disclosed your mental illness to the entire school for me. I don’t know how I could ever repay you.”

  “I’m not expecting you to.” She pats my palm. “What Bianca did to you and how everyone treated you afterwards were shitty. They were basically targeting me too because I have a diagnosis.”

  I reach out to clasp her hand. “Well, for what it’s worth.” I squeeze her palm.”Thank you.”

  She smiles at me. “I got your back.”

  I beam, as I’ve never had a girl friend before and none so kind as Dee. But my happiness is short-lived when the speaker blares with an announcement for me.

  “Will Ms. Josephine Ligaya come to the office, please?”

  I hear whispers around the room, and I turn to Julian, who curses under his breath. He wears a look of concern. “You want me to come with you, Jo?”

  Shaking my head, I place my hand on his arm. “I know my parents are here. I need you to lie low.”