Chapter 8

Napaubo sina Seth at Gian sa sinabi ni Kenna.

"Just kidding!" Kenna said and smiled widely. "Seth Lawrence said MacKenzie is crazy for requesting a piece like third movement of moonlight sonata to play in here. You did amazing though." Kenna replied to Naya.

"Yeah, your fingers moved insanely fast." Gian added, saving his friend's ass. 

"Hmm," Naya nodded. "I like him too though." Naya said seriously.

Parang nagpause and lahat ng nasa mesa ng marinig ang sagot ni Naya. Isa-isang tumingin sa kanya ang mga ito.

Natawa si Naya. "Just kidding!" She said mimicking Kenna's voice.

"Y'all are lame." MacKenzie blurted out.

"You are lame." Kenna replied annoyingly at her cousin. "And stupid and dump and do you want me to tell your secret?"

MacKenzie somehow felt nervous. "What secret?"

Kenna leaned and whispered. "I'll tell the person you like that you actually like him?"

"I have a person I like?" MacKenzie whispered back.

"Nevermind, you dumbhead." Kenna replied nonchalantly.

Napapansin ni Naya ang ilang beses na pagsulyap sa kanya ni Seth. Hinuli niya ito at nang tumama ang paningin nila sa isa't isa ay tinaasan ito ni Naya ng kilay. Seth cleared his throat and looked away. Naya smiled secretly seeing the Seth's uneasy expression.

They just watched the performance in silence and sometimes the two cousins would naturally just annoy each other.

Pagkatapos ng caf show ay hinatid ng mga lalaki sina Naya at Kenna sa dormitory nila. 

"Thank you and have a good night." Naya said to the boys.

"Good night. Make sure the door and windows are locked." Yanique replied.

"Okay." Naya said smiling. She looked at Seth and saw that the latter is looking at her. She smiled at him and mouthed a good night. Seth smiled back and mouth a good night too. Hinintay ng mga ito na makapasok sila sa building bago tuluyang umalis.

-

THE SCHOOL classes had commenced, but it's not yet regular classes because they still have a whole long week of orientation. 

Early in the morning of the first day of orientation. The freshmen were told to come out of their dorms. When Naya and Kenna came out of the elevator, they saw some higher years students filing in each sides of the entrance of the dormitory. They were wearing a Duveen t-shirts and holding a lot of balloons. They made way to let the freshmen walked in the middle, the higher years cheered as the first years walked in the middle. All of them are all smiles and welcoming. They handed the balloons to the freshmen. The balloon actually have welcoming phrases written on it and is meant to be given to them.

Later that day, Naya and Kenna was not together because they were regrouped by the staff as it was part of the orientation. To meet new people, socialize and to make a wide connection to one another. Meeting new people is also a way to look for a possible bandmates or a future business partners.

Naya was randomly grouped to a group consists of eight students. Five girls and three boys. 

Eight of them can randomly choose where they want to talk. When they settled, they introduced themselves to each other. Then shared any information they want to tell on each other. Like what kind of music they want to listen, what instruments they play, their favorite artist or their favorite songs. And share about how they got into music.

The good thing about this socializing is that everyone naturally have the same thing in common, music. Music brought them all together, so they can actually talk anything about it.

During the sharing, a girl named Saddy suddenly exclaimed at her.

"Hey it's you!"

The rest of them was confused.

"Y'all know about a sub forum of DCM called 'FRESH'?" She asked the group.

Four people nodded and asked 'why' and 'what about it'.

"Open it now! Dali, may tatlong hot topic dun ngayon." 

The two people were confused. Naya naturally know about it but also acted confused. Saddy explained to them about 'FRESH'.

"FRESH is a sub forum of DCM where only the students of the school can have an access by using the student card number. You can log in now if you want. It's called 'FRESH' because all topics being discussed are related to all freshmen of the school. I'm telling you this because Naya, is one of the hot topic in there. I've been thinking where I have seen your face and remember the forum."

"You really played Beethoven's third movement in the cafeteria?" The girl named Irene said and chuckled. She saw the hot topic and watched the video.

Napailing si Naya at natawa. "A friend requested it and I can't say no." She took out her phone and searched the forum. She found the link of the forum in the school website. She logged in and saw a three thread with a hot topic sign. She clicked the first thread titled 'Beethoven's descendant is actually a freshman of DCM.' It was a video of her playing in the cafeteria. Someone had actually took a video of her playing that night. The thread was already viewed a thousand times and had hundreds of comment. She read the comments.

Comment 1: Damn she's actually good and so into playing the piece. Look at her face.

Comment 2: Hahaha she's brave playing classic in a caf show. Wish I was there when it happened.

Comment 3: Freshman lang yan. Kabahan kayo mga itlog hahahah.

Comment 4: Inang yan bilis tumipa, anong pangalan niya? Someone please drop the name gawan ko ng kanta lol

Comment 5: That's perfection. Love the interpretation. Pero pamilyar siya.

Comment 6: She's Nayasha Lopez. Isang Lopez, back out people. She's untouchable.

Comment 7: Hoyy kilala ko yan nakasama ko sa interview, ganda sa personal. Nag champion sa isang international piano competition years ago.

Comment 8: Nisearch ko yung name niya. She was a victim of kidnapping pala and it's something tragic. I hope she's okay now.

Comment 9: Comment above, yes something terrible happened to her, so everyone please refrain from commenting irrelevant and inappropriate words. This forum is accessible to all student of DCM afterall and Nayasha Lopez could see this herself.

Comment 10: I'm here because someone talk about this a while ago. 

Comment 11: Just wow, that's superhuman speed and sound super cool

Comment 12: She had shown herself after so many years of not appearing on public. That's a great progress girl. Keep it up!

Comment 13: I was there! damn it sounds so much better in live. I swear she's very explosive.

Comment 14: That's how you should play piano, take note y'all.

Marami pa siyang comment na nabasa. Karamihan mga papuri at yung iba ay tungkol sa nangyari sa kanya maraming taon na ang nakakaraan.

This hadn't happen in her past life. Hindi nangyari yung nagperform siya sa cafeteria dahil di niya naman ka close noon si Kenna pati ang pinsan nito. In the past she was in different dorm room with different roommate. And during the orientation she was indifferent to everyone so no one really is brave enough to approach her or even make an eye contact with her. 

Yung isang hot topic na thread ay ang video nila MacKenzie at Yanique na di nila alam na nirecord din ng isa sa crowd. Binasa din ni Naya ang iilang comments dun.

Comment 1: Omg he's so fine and the voice sounds so sexy!!!

Comment 2: Seriously this year's freshmen are on fire.

Comment 3: Kainis naiiyak ako, bakit ang sakit ng way ng pagkanta niya? Sinong nanakit sa kanya?

Comment 4: His voice is soothing but painful at the same time, how can he do that?

Comment 5: Nasa caf ako nang nagperform sila, may iba pang naiyak hahaha 

Comment 6: No one's commenting about the guy beside him, the guitarist is so fckng handsome. And they are freshmen?

Comment 7: Add to heart!!! 

Comment 8: Yung lalaking kumakanta nakapikit lang pero yung boses niya punong puno ng emosyon. Apakagaling. 

Napangiti si Naya sa nabasang magagandang papuri sa mga kaibigan niya. Yung pang tatlong post na may hot topic ang huli niyang binuksan. Pictures nila iyun kasama sina Seth at Gian sa iisang lamesa. May pictures na nagtatawanan sila, may picture na nagbabangayan ang magpinsan at isang picture na seryoso silang nakikinig sa nagpiperform.

Comment 1: Seth Lawrence Duveen had watched a caf show? Well that's rare.

Comment 2: Lopez and Duveen in one frame look so powerful. 

Comment 3: Look at the last picture. Is it just me or Seth Lawrence is really looking at Nayasha hmmm

Comment 4: There are two people who look like fighting. Did something happened?

Comment 5: So the two freshmen in another hot topic are friends of Nayasha? Who's the other girl?

Comment 6: Gian and Seth Lawrence made friends with freshmen? 

Naya felt someone nudged at her. It was Saddy and the others are also looking at her. They were smiling warmly. Naya didn't see any pity on there eyes and it eases her heart. At first she didn't care what they would feel towards her but after talking to the them and share something important part of each other, Naya just felt like she didn't want the group to feel indifferent or feel pity at her after knowing her past.

"Don't mind the irrelevant comments in the forum." Saddy said.

"I'm fine. Di ako apektado sa komento ng mga taong di ko kilala. Mas may pakialam ako sa kung anong mararamdaman niyo sakin." Tugon ni Naya kay Saddy at tumingin sa iba.

"I think you're strong and amazing." The boy in the group named Sam said and smiled at her.

"But you know? You are really a baddie in piano, maybe you're not a Lopez but a descendant of Beethoven." They all laughed by the comment. It lighten the mood around them.

They continued talking about anything they want to share. Before lunch, they exchanged contact numbers before separating on their own ways. Naya looked around and silently observing people around her. Everyone is having fun, there were a lot of activities going on. Some people gathering and singing, sidewalk performances, student grouping and showing off talents, there were people dancing and of course the instrumentalists everywhere settling themselves anywhere and play freely. The whole place is loud and just full of colorful music. 

Naya fished out her phone and captured photos randomly. It is heart warming to see people laughing and just doing whatever they want and play, dance or sing to their hearts content. 

Biglang may nagsigawan sa isang banda at karamihan sa mga yun ay mga babae. Kunot noong nilapitan ni Naya ang biglang kumpulan ng maraming estudyante. Hindi siya nakipagsiksikan sa maraming tao, pumunta lang siya sa gilid kung saan makikita niya kung ano ang pinagkakaguluhan at pinagsisigawan ng mga tao.

Nakita ni Naya si Gian at ang tatlo pang lalaki na nag aarrange ng kanilang music equipment sa isang malaking space na naroon. Di niya ito nakita noong nakaraang buhay niya kaya nagtaka siya. Pero nang makita si Gian ay alam na niyang magpiperform ang banda nito. Miyembro ng sikat na banda si Gian at ito mismo ang main vocalist at guitarist. Marami na silang fans sa school lalo na ang gwapo't misteryosong drummer nila na si Lavi na isa ding singer. May isa pa silang guitarist na nagvovocal at ang isa ay bassist.

Nang maayos na nila ang lahat ay nagsimulang magpatugtog pagkatapos ng maikling introduction. Matunog ang hiyawan ng mga babaeng naroon kaya nag attract pa ng maraming audience. Nagsimulang dumami ang crowd at nadagdagan ang ingay. Original na kanta ng banda ang pinapatugtog nila at sinasabayan ng mga fans ang banda sa pagkanta.

Si Naya na tahimik na nanunuod mula sa gilid ay naramdamang may tumabi sa kanya. Tinignan niya ito at nakita si Seth Lawrence na nakatingin at nanunuod din sa banda nila Gian. Tahimik lang ito at parang di siya napansin. Natapos ang isang kanta pero walang imik pa din ang nasa tabi niya.

"Are you pretending not to see or are you pretending?" Naya asked. She even heard his low laughs.

Seth looked at her and dumbly pretended to be shocked seeing her. "Naya! You're here?"

Naya rolled her eyes. "Yeah whatever."

The man chuckled. "Why are you alone? You're supposed to be in a group right?"

"We separated a while ago. How about you, why are you alone?"

"Oh, I was hanging out with Gian's band when Gian said he wants some attention." Seth laughed. "Apparently, he saw your friends performance posted on FRESH and branded as a hot topic, the moron got jealous."

Naya chuckled. "He and his band have a lot of fans already and he's still jealous?"

"I don't really know how his mind works. Anyway, there's a bbq in the field. You want to grab some?" Seth asked.

"You're asking me to go in the field to eat with you?" Naya emphasized her last two words.

"Yeah, is it not okay? Did you already had your lunch? Or you don't want bbq?"

Naya laughed. "It's okay. But you don't want to watch your friends?" She asked pointing the band.

"Nah, I watched them play a lot of times. C'mon let's eat, I'm hungry."

"A'right. Is it far?"

"No, just three or four minutes walk. You won't mind walking?"

"No, not at all, it's okay. It's quite fun to look at people having fun and hear random music around." Naya said and smiled.

"I'm glad you're having fun. You saw the forum?" May pag alinlangang tanong ni Seth. Nakita ni Seth ang post sa forum at may mga comments doon patungkol sa nakaraan ng dalaga kaya nag aalala siya na baka nakita yun ng dalaga at maapektuhan ito sa mga sinasabi ng ibang tao. Saka nakita niyang nag-iisa lang ito kaya nilapitan niya.

"Yeah, when I was with the group, a girl told me about the forum. I got curious so I logged in. I saw the video and read some comments. That's all." 

"You alright? You know you don't have to mind what other people say."

"Is that why you asked me to eat with you?" Naya asked in a low voice. 

"What?"

"Nothing. I said I'm okay. In fact the comments I read are mostly good compliments." 

"Well you deserve it, you are really amazing and so good in playing piano." Seth said proudly.

Naya chuckled. "Flaterer."

Seth also chuckled. "I'm not flattering you, I'm saying the truth."

"Yeah...okay. Thank you."

"So, how were you today? It's the first day of orientation and there's a lot of activities happening around."

"It was okay. We talked about music and anything we want to share to the group." Naya had to stopped talking because they reached the bbq place, Seth just asked what she wants and said that he will get it for them so she just find a place for them to settle and eat. 

Di naman nagtagal ay bumalik si Seth dala dala ang kanilang pagkain. Nilagay nito sa harapan niya ang platong may roasted beef, maraming fries saka burger. Pagkatapos ay binigay sa kanya ang utensils at cutlery.

"Thank you." Naya said after Seth settled himself in front of her.

"You're welcome. You want me to cut the meat on your plate?" Seth asked.

"No, it's okay. Don't bother, I can do it." Naya replied and smiled at him. Seth smiled back. "This place have a good ambience, is this only open for orientation?" 

"No, when the school have big celebrations like festivals, concerts and other big shows, this bbq is open and even busier if their are big celebrations." Naya nodded her head. "You'll love the food here, it's delicious. The cafeteria does not offer this kind of food, so some students come here to eat." Seth added.

"I can see that. There are also some professors around." Naya said and started eating.

Seth was looking at her when she's eating the meat. "Good?" He asked.

"Yeah, it's good." Naya said while nodding her head.

The two of them ate and talked from time to time. Napansin ni Naya ang iilang estudyante na tumitingin sa kanila.

Naya leaned a little and whispered. "I think some students are wondering why you are eating with some girl."

Seth chuckled. "You're not just some girl. You're Nayasha Lopez."

"Hmm, I have a feeling." Naya hummed and said.

"What is it?" 

"That if someone took a picture right now and post it on the forum, it might blow up. Given that you're a Duveen, it's not impossible." Naya replied.

"Or because you're a Lopez and I'm a Duveen it is not really impossible." Seth added. 

Natawa si Naya. "You're getting comfortable with me aren't you?"

"I am." Seth replied honestly. "Kanina nang lumapit ako sayo, akala ko mang iisnob ka. Tapos nung nag usap na tayo, chill ka lang pala at ang dali mong makisama. Kahit malamig yung mga mata mo sa unang tingin, kahit na medyo natatakot akong lapitan ka kanina." Natawa si Seth sa sinabi. "Di ko din alam biglang komportable na ako na kausapin ka. Ako? Am I making you uncomfortable?"

"Di ako sasama sayo kung di ka komportable na kasama at kausap. Okay ka din naman. Keep it up." Naya replied.

Seth chuckled. "So it's okay if we got posted on the forum? I know the admin. I can take it down if you don't want?"

Natawa si Naya. "Iba talaga pag Duveen. Di na, di naman big deal. Kumakain lang naman tayo. We are not doing anything wrong." 

"Oh. Okay, you're the boss." 

"Shut up Lawrence." Naya replied.

Napatawa si Seth. "You know what? When my friends call me Lawrence, it's like they're summoning my ancestor. I thought it'll sound different coming from you but it sounded like you're just bossing around my ancestor."

"Geezz let him rest in peace." Natatawang tugon ni Naya. Tapos napaseryoso siya at tumingin sa gilid ng labi ng binata.

"What? Is there something on my face?" Seth asked when he realized Naya was looking at him seriously.

Tinuro ni Naya ang sariling gilid ng labi. "Ang kalat mo, may sauce sa gilid ng labi mo." 

"Ah, you're not going to wipe it clean?" Seth asked teasingly.

Naya chuckled. "Wipe it yourself. Bakit ko naman gagawin yun?"

"Di ba yun yung madalas mangyari kapag nagdidate ang dalawang tao?" Seth asked wiping the corner of his lips and not minding the words coming out of his mouth. 

"Why? Are we dating?" Naya asked smirking.

Seth was caught off guard, he almost chocked the food he is chewing. Naya laughed and stood up to get him a bottle of water.

"Ayan, di kasi nag iingat." Naya said handling the water. 

Seth frowned and look at her. "It's not my fault."

"Are you blaming me?" Naya asked arking her brow.

"I said it's my fault." Seth said and cleared his throat. 

"Aren't you two getting comfortable?" A familiar voice interrupted the two.

It was Kenna holding a tray of food. She sat beside Naya. "Kelan pa kayo naging close?" Tanong ulit nito na may bahid ng pagbibiro.

"He just invited me to eat here. I didn't had lunch yet so I agreed." Naya said. "How are you with the group?" Naya asked.

"Interesting, some of them are asking about you."

"Why would they asked about me? Because of the forum?"

"You saw it?" Kenna was a little startled. "You didn't read the comments didn't you?" Kenna asked.

"I did."

"Don't mind what they say."

Naya chuckled. She looked at Seth who was also looking at her. "Do you want me to asked the admin to take it down?" Seth asked her.

"It's okay. I'm fine." Naya replied.

"Did you two know that there are many photos of you eating here are circling around? FRESH had updated and you two trended. Some says you two are already dating." Kenna said.

Naya chuckled. "Don't stress yourself, it's nothing serious."

"Seth Lawrence, you better not let anyone say bad things to Naya. I don't want any of your fans to attack her when she's not doing anything wrong." Kenna said seriously to Seth.

"Dont worry, I won't let it happen. The school doesn't tolerate violence and verbal abuse." Seth replied.

Naya chuckled. "You two are overreacting. Do you think I will let anyone hurt me? I'm not that weak anymore."

Kenna and Seth went silent like calculating Naya's mood. After a while Kenna seems to remember something.

"So you two are not dating?" Kenna asked innocently.

Seth and Naya laughed. "Oh no, this kid. We are getting to know each other." Naya replied.

"We are?" Seth was a little startled. 

"Aren't we?" Naya asked back.

"Yeah, we are." Seth answered smiling.

"Stop flirting. I'm calling MacKenzie and yanyan. I don't like third partying you two." Kenna said while taking out her phone. Seth and Naya laughed at her.

"Who told you to come here?" Naya teased.

"I saw you two on FRESH, of course I'll come to you." Kenna replied and called MacKenzie and Yanique. 

The two came, MacKenzie was carrying his guitar.

"Where were you two? I hadn't seen you anywhere." Kenna asked.

"Oh we went to an open mic. Lots of people are having fun in there. Then we watched Gian's band, didn't know he had a band. They're good." MacKenzie replied.

"Oh, did you two ate already?"

"We did." Yanique said and they sitted. "So why did you call us here?" He asked Kenna.

"To watch me eat." Kenna said.

"This kid." MacKenzie tsked.

Seth and Naya laughed. "Is Gian and his band still performing?" Seth asked the two.

"Yes, a lot of students are there and they're loud. Parang nagko concert lang sila." MacKenzie replied. 

"What's the name of their band anyway? The drummer is pretty cool, he drums like an animal." Yanique asked Seth.

Seth chuckled. "They're called Lovers. Corny right?"

"I think it was chosen randomly because they don't want to think much." MacKenzie said laughing.

"Balik nalang kaya tayo dun? Let's watch?" Naya asked.

"Yeah, good idea. Let's leave this little brat eating here by herself." MacKenzie said smirking at Kenna.

Kenna frowned. "Duh, I'm done, I'm just finishing the fries." Kenna said then drunk a water in a bottle. "C'mon, I wanna see Gian play. What's his role in the band anyway?" She asked Seth.

"He's the main vocal and the guitarist." Said replied.

"Really? Then let's go!" She said and the first to stood up and exit the place.

The rest of them just shook there heads and followed. When they came back to the place where Gian's band is playing, it was more wild and more loud than earlier.

The band is playing youngblood by five seconds of summer. Gian is sweating but looked very sexy in his black long sleeve buttoned shirt, which shows his chest a little, a black pants and a black shoes.

"Gian looks different here!" Kenna exclaimed.

"He looks so fine." Naya seconded.

"You like that look?" Seth asked.

"You jealous?" Kenna interrupted the two.

"No, just asking." Seth defended.

Naya just chuckled. "You look fine too. I like looking at your eyes. It's unique." Naya said looking intently at Seth's eyes.

Seth smiled. "Really?" He asked and Naya just nodded.

"Rupok. Landi. Sana all." Kenna said.

They laughed and then just enjoyed watching Gian's band. The drummer is really playing like there's no tomorrow. He was so into the song and focused his eyes to the drums only.

"Oh boy, the drummer is so freaking hot. Who is he?" Kenna said and asked loudly to Seth.

"His name is Lavi." Seth replied.

"Lavi omg!" Kenna shouted and cheered with the crowd.

Seth and Naya looked at each other and laughed.