Rafael A.

Rafael Alxxxdx was a Coral Reef student whom Josh and Jared would see around school from time to time. He was in their grade, and they both had a couple of classes with him in a few different years.

Rafael was awkward, quiet, and walked with a slow, timid gait. He had the spirit of an elderly man. Whenever he spoke, his voice was so soft and high-pitched that nobody could hear or understand him. In many ways, Rafael was unlike anybody the guys had ever met. But what was most notable about him was that he exclusively wore bathing suits to school.

Yes, bathing suits. They weren't shorts, or some kind of hybrid of the two. His top half was sartorially normal, but when it came to bottoms, it was always a different pair of swimming trunks, every single day. It wasn't a fashion choice or an attempt to be unique — it seemed that Rafael either didn't know to, didn't have, or didn't feel comfortable wearing any other kind of clothing on his lower half. It's unknown whether he wore any undergarment, or if the only thing separating us from him was a thin layer of nylon. He never acknowledged his strange style, and seemingly, nobody else did, either.

Actually, it was unusual just how completely unnoticed Rafael's fashion went. You'd think that someone who wore a bathing suit to school every day for no reason would've been teased or bullied, but Rafael wasn't. (At least, not for his outfits.)

Rafael was also a student aide, working a class period in the front office. Occasionally, he'd run an errand into Josh's classroom and ask for a student. He'd always speak so quietly and timidly that the other students would call out, “What's wrong with you? Why are you so sad?” whenever he appeared. (So yes, unfortunately, he was bullied.)

Josh must have done something to win his affection, though, because Rafael once invited him to a family barbecue. Josh politely declined. Rafael didn't seem to have too large of a friend group, so that may have been devastating for him.

Years after graduation, Jared tended to keep tabs on anybody he could, just because. He and Josh still bring up Rafael from time to time, and one day Jared googled his name. Crazily, unbelievably, the mild-mannered, shy, and soft-spoken Rafael was now involved with a startup rock band. They were called Cxxdbxxxd Rxbxtx, and he was listed as, of all things, the singer! Though the members looked like a ragtag bunch of misfits who hadn't met before forming the band, they seemed to be a real band nonetheless. It was, quite emphatically, utterly random.

Regrettably, the band did not have even a single second of music posted anywhere (or any photos, for that matter). But their social media listed their influences as everything from the Beatles to Regina Spektor to They Might Be Giants and Gorillaz, so Josh and Jared were fascinated with what that must have sounded like.

The guys may have legitimately been the first and only fans of the band, and they even talked about making plans to do whatever was necessary to see them – anywhere, anytime. Tragically, Cxxdbxxxd Rxbxtx apparently broke up without having played a single gig or recorded any material.

Years later, Rafael went on to work in security. Apparently.

Indeed, the guys have thought about Rafael more than anyone else in the history of their school ever has, or will.  ❒

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