Chapter 1

I woke up because of the sunlight hitting my face, signaling that it was morning. With the speed of time, I can't quite imagine that this will be my first day at school. I'm nervous and scared because I'm just a transferee, I don't know what will happen to me today.

I got up and fixed my bed before going to the bathroom and taking a shower. After that, got dressed for more than an hour when I came out of the bathroom. I dried my hair first then put on a hairpin. I also applied a little powder and lip gloss to make my face more presentable. I went out of the room with my bag and went downstairs to eat breakfast with my family.

"Good morning mom, uncle, and brother," I greeted them as I reached the dining area.

"Good morning honey, how's your sleep? Your brother said you're still playing piano and guitar last night." I suddenly looked at my brother when mom said that but he didn't even react. How did he know? my room is soundproof.

"It's fine, I just recorded a song last night. My manager asked for it, I finished it so I can focus on class today," I replied.

"You're just covering a song but you are still in a hidden identity," my brother interrupted. I didn't answer, I just looked at him and ate some bread. He never supports me.

"Vince stop it, just support her. At least your sister gets millions of views even though everyone didn't know who she is," Uncle replied.

"I'm done mom, I'm leaving." And I got up with my bag and left the house. I went to my car and got in. Turned it on and left.

I choose to hide my identity for some personal reasons, I don't want to receive special treatments from other people. There are a lot of things that changed in this world, including how someone treats you.

I'm Vienna Malvar, 19 years old, a 2nd-year college student in the Political Science course at a prestigious university here in Manila. I'm just a transferee, I took my midterm class and exams in the U.S and I only transferred because of mom and brother.

Mom and dad have been separated since I was 11 years old and my brother was 13 years old. Dad has his own family and mom has a new partner, uncle Lucas, dad's stepbrother. Yes, STEP BROTHER. He was kind and caring, I treated him like my real father but I couldn't help but hate him.

Dad influenced me to love music, he taught me various instruments when I was 7 years old. I am much closer to dad than my mom. After their annulment, I decided to go with dad then every 1st day of the month I will go home to Manila to visit my mom and my brother. That is the agreement between the two of them. Sadly, my dad passed away last month because of colon cancer. I can't imagine that it will happen. He's the only one I sympathize with within everything, I can run away at times when I have a problem but he left me.

After 45 minutes, I arrived at the university where I was going to attend. My brother and I were in the same school. I heard that he was popular in this university because of his sport which is soccer. He's a varsity player and team captain. I admit that he is handsome, cute, and has a beautiful voice but he never chooses to sing.

I already know where my room is, I have my schedules as well.

They inevitably look at me, I know why because I'm new here and in their eyes but I just ignore it.

I was about to go upstairs going to my room when I saw my professor in one of my subjects walking in my direction. I've known her last week when I submitted my requirements.

"Good morning, professor," I greeted. She looked at me and she was so shocked when she saw me.

"Ms. Malvar, good morning too. How are you? later I'll introduce you to the class," she replied smiling.

This is the case when you are a transferee, it is inevitable to introduce yourself to the class.

The two of us got to the room but she told me to stay outside first and I would only come in when she called me. I saw the students standing inside when she entered the room. 

This is what I'm waiting for ...

“Darling, come in,” she said then I went inside.

Almost all their eyes were on me, I stopped walking when I reached the middle. Half of the class smiled at me but the others looked unhappy. But the two men in the back were shocked as they looked at me and the one in the middle, his gaze was too cold.

"Good morning everyone, I'm Vienna Malvar nice to meet you all," I briefly introduced myself.

"Be nice to her since she's a transferee, darling you can sit next to Perez." I looked at the empty seat and Perez smiled at me. I smile in return then sat down next to her but they were all still looking at me.

"Hi, Vienna right? I'm Therese Eunice Perez you can call me Therese for short, nice to meet you," she said smiling then offer a hand. I accepted it and smiled at her. I think she was kind, it's obvious the way she speak and act.

"Nice to meet you too, Therese." Professor started to discuss, I was just listening. I don't want to miss out on this lesson since I didn't get it when I was still in the U.S.

I also took down some notes while listening but I couldn't focus because some of my classmates in the other row were still looking at me. But they stopped when the professor's phone rang, she answered it and excused herself to come out. Suddenly someone touched my back, and I looked back. The two men who were shocked when they saw me a while ago and the one who didn't even react.

"Vienna right?" asked the one on the left side. I just nodded in response.

"You look familiar-" He stopped what he was going to say when the person next to him nudged him. I looked at him in astonishment.

"By the way, I'm Britt and this is Enzo," he said and pointed to the man on the right side.

"And this is.." He couldn't continue what he was going to say when the professor returned to the room.

"Sorry to inform you class, the Faculty of Engineering had an urgent meeting and they need my presence there. We will continue our discussion next meeting, goodbye students." 

And the professor hurriedly came out of the room and everyone was shouting because of happiness. It's my first day but this is what happened.

They all approached me to introduce themselves except for the three women who were sitting and looked at me badly. I could do nothing but shake hands with them all. After that, they gradually left in front of me and left the room.

"Are you alright?" Therese asked, I shook my head in response.

The treatment of other students to transferees in the U.S is very different. They are ignored, bullied, and do some kind of nonsense stuff. It's very different here in the Philippines.

"Everyone here in the room is kind except to those three." And she looked at the three who were busy putting on lipstick.

"Bye Vienna, see you around," Britt said. Enzo waved his hand while their cold as ice friend is just kept coming out of the room.

Is he mad at the world or me?

SEBASTIAN'S POV

About an hour later, I left the Music Department and I didn't expect to be able to go to the room with Britt and Enzo.

"We've been busy carrying these foods from your wives." I looked at Britt and saw what he was holding. Two plastic bags with different kinds of food.

"Throw it away," I replied shortly.

They just wasting their money and time to buy that stuff but I don't accept it.

"I heard there's a transferee in our class," Britt said.

"Yes, that's also what I heard from the professors. They say she's famous, who is she?" Enzo replied.

I wasn't interested in who they were referring to, I just kept walking until we reached the room. I just went straight to my seat and so did Britt and Enzo.

"Good morning Sebastian."

"Did you sleep well?"

"Are you hungry?"

They didn’t receive a single answer from me and I just stared ahead. They all returned to their seats when our professor arrived. 

"Good morning everyone," she greeted with a smile. We also greeted her after that we sat down. 

"I know most of you know already that there is a transferee from the U.S here in your class. Anyway, she's here, darling comes in."

We're also looking at the door and a woman entered. I can't see her face but I feel nervous. When she reached the center, she immediately turned around.

It was as if time suddenly stopped and I was just staring at her face.

"Seb. Seb.. she's," Enzo stammered while nudging me.

I knew who he was referring to and he also knew the woman in front especially Britt.

"Good morning everyone, I'm Vienna Malvar nice to meet you all."

I'm not mistaken, she is. She looked in my direction but I saw no surprise in her eyes. As if this was just the first time she had seen me.

I used to show a fake expression so she wouldn't notice that I was surprised at her. 

She sat down next to Perez and I can't stop myself looking at her. Why doesn't she seem to know me? even Enzo. What happened 3 years ago? what happened to her?

"Vienna right?" Britt immediately asked her when the professor came out to answer the call. I know this is exactly what he will ask right away.

"You look familiar-" I immediately nudge him. Vienna looked at me, but I abruptly turned away.

"By the way I'm Britt, this is Enzo and he is ..." He cut off when the professor got back inside the room. Everyone happily shouted after she said that the Faculty of Engineering had a meeting.

Everyone approached Vienna with a smile, I was just watching. I got up and took my bag. I went out earlier, I even heard Britt say goodbye to Vienna.

"Is that Vienna?" Enzo asked but I didn't answer him because I was also wondering.

"Maybe they're just alike, aren't there are such instances? If it's Vienna, she should know the three of us but she doesn't," Britt replied. 

"Are you okay? maybe it's not her," Enzo worriedly said.

For the past three years, it has once again been a familiar pain from the past. Why didn't she know us? why does everything seem new to her? Is that her or not? because if so, I will ignore her as much as I can.