Chapter 1: That Trouble

𝅘𝅥𝅮“I see the shadows long beneath the mountain top

I'm not afraid when the rain won't stop

‘Cause you light the way, you light the way

You light the way”𝅘𝅥𝅮

I want to sing. I'm more than a hundred percent sure about it. I can play almost all the musical instruments and won every singing contest that I fought in.

Since I was a kid, that's already been my life. Learning how to play the piano, how to strum the guitar, the perfect notes, melodies and everything. I should perform well because losing is not part of my vocabulary.

They all clapped after I finished my song. Well, that's one of my favorite songs sung by Jessie J. Of course I'll make sure that I can sing it flawlessly during my audition.

“You're really a perfect member. No doubt, everyone's admire you. Kakasimula pa lang ng academic year, ang dami mo na agad mga fans dito sa university. So, ano pang reason namin to not accept you?” the club president said with that proud smile.

“Yeah, right. I don't even know why you still insisted on auditioning. You know, you can join us anytime you want to,” the club vice-president commented.

Well, I think that's quite unfair. If everyone goes through this, of course, I should, too.

Of course, they accepted me to the club and they already have many plans for me this academic year.

Tinapos ko ang panonood sa audition. Halos lahat naman sila magaling, pero may iba lang na kahit magaling naman sila pero may kulang lang sa performance nila.

“Zenia,” someone called me so I tried to find her, and I found her approaching me. “Is it okay to even call you Zenia?

Ngumiti ako sa tanong niya. “Of course, why would you think that you can't?”

She awkwardly smile and walk with me. “We're blockmates, you know. Zhen Aria Vega.” Napaisip ako dahil sa sinabi niya.

Oh, yeah, I think I saw her, but I just didn't care who I encountered. My attention is fixed with my business.

I still don't have a friend here, but it's not a big deal anymore because I think I wouldn't have time to make one. Masyado na ‘kong maraming ginagawa.

But the next day, I'm too shocked that all of the club members are acting as if we're friends. They are so open to me and it's as if we already knew each other a long time ago. The bond was just so fast to be built.

I'm happy because my singing will be smoothly fine because I'm good with them. Maganda rin na we're sharing the same interest kaya't ang dami naming napag-uusapan sa free time namin. Lalo na kapag kumakain kami.

“Kilala niyo ba ‘yong crush ni Zhen?” natatawang tanong ni Sinfonia kaya't binato siya ni Zhen ng bottled water na walang laman. “Si Xairon Kai Harrison!”

When I look at Zhen she's already red as a tomato.

According to Zhen, Xairon Kai is a cold but hot guy. He's a painter, a freshman architecture student. He's that typical quiet but smart student. But he's somehow a jerk. He'll just go to his classes if he wants to.

He's tall, chinito, and white as an anemic but he's handsome. Well, that's how she describes him.

“Ba't ka nahihiya? Heartthrob naman siya ah. Ay, heart-troub pala—trouble in disguise.” They laughed and I didn't like it. They're making fun of that guy. Maybe he's bad or what, but he's still a human. They must respect everyone.

“Let’s just go to our next subject, Zhen,” I said and pulled her with me. Before we go I face them first. “Make jokes if you want, but know the difference between joking and disrespecting.”

Nakayuko lang naman si Zhen habang naglalakad kami papunta sa classroom namin. I feel bad, because of it. They are so immature compared to their age.

“Baka magalit sila sa ‘yo,” mahina niyang saad. She's really that shy little girl that can set you free even after you humiliate her. And I hate that kind of attitude of hers.

“We're friends, right? Besides, they are the ones who committed a mistake, so why should I be scared of it? Kung aalisin nila ‘ko sa club because of it, well, I'll be more than willing to go. I don't want to stay in a group that is full of toxicity.”

Hindi naman kami tinanggal sa grupo pero karamihan sa kanila ay parang awkward na everytime they are with me. They are being intimidated by presence. I don't want it, but if that's the only way to have peace here, then I wouldn't comment about it anymore.

Madaldal si Zhen, madalas ay kaming dalawa lang sa music room kapag vacant namin. She's so cute and innocent. So soft for this rough world. Hindi lang naman si Xairon Kai ang crush niya, pero nasa top daw si Xairon Kai.

She already showed some of his photos, and honestly speaking, he got the look. He has curly brown hair, pointed nose, perfect jaw, pinkish lips and round specs on his grey chinito eyes. But I don't really care. Maybe I'm some kind of aromantic girl.

Oh, nevermind.

“Ahm, Zenia, can you do me a favor?” she asked while trying to smile.

“Sure, what's it?”

She pouted and got a pink card from her bag. She handed it to me and smiled shyly. “Can you give this to Xairon?”

“Huh?” I confusedly asked.

“Zenia, you're confident and I know you can just casually approach him.”

Wala akong nagawa kundi kunin ang card at pumunta sa College of Architecture and Fine Arts after our class.

Nalibot ko na ang five floor building ng department nila ay hindi ko siya natagpuan, kaya nagtanong na lang ako sa mga architecture student na nakita ko.

And there, he's in the garden, talking to those plants while sitting on the wooden bench.

I'm kind, yeah, but seriously, I'm not interested in those emo people.

At kung minamalas ka nga naman, nadapa pa ‘ko nang hindi ko napansin ang isang bato sa harapan ko at matalisod roon.

Agad akong tumayo, pero nakita niya na ‘kong nasa lupa. Kunot ang noo niyang tumingin sa ‘kin kaya't napairap ako.

“You're catching something there?” he asked in his cold baritone voice. Tumayo ako at iinabot sa kanya ang card. He raised his brow when she looked at it.

“My friend told me to give you this card,” I said and put that card on his lap. Aalis na sana ako pero bigla siyang tumayo at binuhat ako. Gulat na gulat akong napatingin sa kanya. “Hey, what are you doing?”

“Your knees are bleeding, I'll bring you to the clinic. I hate how foolish some are.”

Below-the-knee skirt kasi ang uniform namin kaya't nasugatan ang tuhod ko nang madapa ako kanina.

Nagkukusay ako at pinaghahampas ang dibdib niya. He's embarrassing me. What would be the students will think about me?

They are full of issues, baka isipin pa nilang I'm with this man.

“Hey, put me down. The hell of you. I can walk, I can still move, it's just a simple bruises!” inis kong sigaw sa kanya pero parang bingi siya at nagpatuloy lang sa paglalakad. Marami na ang napapatingin sa ‘min at may ilan pang teachers ang nakakita sa ‘min. “ You jerk, put me down!”

But to my surprise he paused and darkly look at me. “Just shut up, dumbass.” Sa sobrang lapit ng mukha namin ay damang-dama ko sa mukha ko ang hininga niya at amoy na amoy ko ito. Mukha namang nag-mouthwash siya ng three times this afternoon dahil ang bango ng hininga niya.

Pero napairap pa rin ako. Nagkukusay ulit ako, pero humigpit lang ang kapit niya sa ‘kin.

“Ano ba? You're so annoying! You know that this is harrassment, righ—” But to my shock, he suddenly kissed me. It's so quick. And that kiss made my heart beat so fast.

“Then, it's not anymore, because you're already mine,” he manly said with a smirk before walking again.