Mundelein High School - Voices Magazine - 2020

V o i c e s 2 0 2 0 | 31
Guess What
Monique Dirzo
I stood there speechless while his dark brown eyes kept staring right into mine,
and I thought, did I hear him right?
Unaware of what just happened, I asked, “Wait, can you repeat that?”
“Do you like anyone?” Aldo questioned.
I was still trying to process what he just said, as if those words weren’t used in
everyday social life. His eyes… why were they like that? They were filled with passion,
love, and a huge amount of happiness. Additionally, though, his cheeks were blushing
with a luminous red color.
“I….”
* * *
April 27, 2018. I woke up with a feeling of excitement just gushing through my
bones as I jumped out of bed, and I thought to myself today was gonna be a day where
I should just live the moment. Today, the sun's rays shined through the clouds, and a
cool breeze kissed my cheek as I entered the middle school. From a far distance, you
could see me wearing a bright orange T-shirt with the words “CSMS band” on the front.
It was the brightest shirt I owned in my closet, and it was the only shirt that made me
feel like a traffic cone. I started to report to class with excitement building up in my
chest. An assembly was going to take place in the afternoon, and our band had the
opportunity to play a dramatic song during it. In the meantime, I proceeded with my
day, until I came to math class when I noticed Aldo staring at me from the back of the
class. At that time, I was currently playing a complex game of chess, however, knowing
that his glance was on me, made me feel jittery as if I was in a dark room with a light
shining upon me. Finally, I was at my last class, when all of a sudden my palms started
sweating. The intercom had come on and the principal started talking.
“All National Junior Society students should report to the north gym, as well as all
the 8th-grade band students.”
I sprang up from my seat and left, heading straight towards the band room to
pick up my flute. I then proceeded to the gym to help set everything up. Minutes later,
they announced that the rest of the students should head to the gym. By then, our band
was playing and filling the room with music. Just then, the last person entered the gym,
and out of the corner of my eye, I saw him.
Walking in a steady tempo, Aldo was wearing his blue hoodie, navy blue jeans,
and his white Nike shoes. In that moment, his eyes made contact with mine and a hint
of embarrassment filled my cheeks. I quickly turned my head to get back into the music
I lost track of. Afterward, the announcements came to an end, and I stood up, basically