2 Chapter 2

SUMMER OF THE YEAR 3021 AT SAN FRANDALE

7 YEARS AGO

When you meet new people in a strange new wide place, in a foreign country, what'd you usually do? Me? I locked myself in this quiet room, my new room to be exact being in a new foreign place doesn't feel right to me – it's completely a new and it's not like the soft warm breeze at Saõ Carzeiro the one and only place I consider home – Papa told me before 'Elena there's so much to explore in the world especially when you will become a musician one day you'll meet new people, go to strange destinations, fall in love with the place, with the music and it'll be like that forever.'

I aspire to be Papa, a great known musician dedicated and passionate – I grew up with only him by my side, I never met Mama, and Papa doesn't even bother mentioning her which is fine, my Papa's love is all I want in this world – his song, his melody and his music. After his world tours and music videos shoots he would always tag me along with him we dine in different restaurants and go to arcades even visit his famous friends, sometimes when his work was done, he returns home and we would make music – go wild and live, a father and daughter moment just the two of us at Saõ Carzeiro.

I aspire to be him but I do not wish to become like him for all the thoughts I have said were only a glimpse of I wish and hope to be real – he was dedicated but he was never home, he was passionate but he was never there. Sure, he gave me everything but his love and affection – he had his songs, he has his melody but where was mine?

—

I stared at the window of my room – clutching the guitar that Papa had given me on my 6th Birthday, I stared and watched the kids play outside the summer heat, they were laughing – they were happy. . . I wonder if my eleven years old self would also feel the happiness within this foreign place like the kids feeling happiness and playing in the warm heat of summer.

"Elena. . ." someone knocked and I quickly sat at my bed, guitar placed in my lap – and my fingers pressed the strings as if I was playing the instrument that I was yet to master. The door opened and I saw my Aunt Rosa standing there with a smile on her features "Is there something you want Aunt Rosa?" I asked, glancing to meet her gaze. Aunt Rosa was the only ever person I considered familia (family) she was there when my father failed to do his responsibility as. . . . well being a father.

She took a deep breath as she walked towards my bed, making herself comfortable and sat just a distance from where I was. "Elena – stuck in here huh?" she tickled the side of my frame and I giggled almost letting go of my guitar.

"I want to stay here Aunt Rosa it's scary outside." San Frandale was to intimidating for me – I was not use to so many Technological Advancement it surrounded the place like crazy, everywhere you go and see it was filled with high-tech and any things you could possibly imagine. It was a good thing that Aunt Rosa chose a place far from those things in the city, it was cozy but still horrifying. It was a subdivision in San Frandale City, a street called Hazelnut Row.

She pulled me closer into her, hugging me close by and I would rest my head at the her shoulder still holding onto the guitar.

"Elena mija- you are eleven children like you would highly go out and do some exploring, make new friends." she said as I was in silence – did I ever had friends back at Saõ Carzeiro? All I remember was school and then back home of course I was eight at that time. I shook my head and nestled myself in the warm of her embrace. "No, gracias Aunt Rosa. . . I'm going to keep practicing my guitar, I'm finally getting the hang of it? I guess?" I showed her something that I have learned from school at SC Musical Academy, I heard her laugh – as she kissed the side of my head. . .

"Wow! You really are getting the hang of it! Well if you don't want to go out and explore San Frandale then – I guess we can do exploring in this house instead? How's that sound just you and me?"

I nodded – this house wasn't really that huge and it was even only just the two of us who was living under this roof, the idea of moving here in this city was much less I actually have no idea it's either Papa wanted us too, because a celebrity's reputation might be as important as ones child, the world was clueless that the famous Spanish celebrity musician and singer Maverick Rivera had an affair with an unknown woman, had a child – and was left in the doorsteps of his home. Took his kid to his hometown and was raised by my Aunt Rosa who was a music teacher that majored in Violin.

And here I am in the new neighborhood of San Frandale – she settled me back in bed as she made her way out but before she did, she turned to me with that enthusiastic smile. "I'll be right back going to make a few snacks and then! WE can go exploring. . ." she winked and then closed the door and I was left alone again, I walked towards the window and saw the kids still laughing and playing along, my gaze was so focused outside that someone saw me staring and our eyes met – quickly I ducked – I had hope that kid never saw me because I have never planned on meeting them or any of them for that matter.

I looked once again – but I saw them still continued with their games, here I remained sitting on the floor, waiting to be called by Aunt Rosa.

—

We were done with our exploring – and we were done having snacks, it even had a small music room which was my favorite part, growing up with a family full of musicians they all have different kinds of melody to play and I can't wait to make mine – if I even have one: what makes a musician, a musician anyway? I want that answered not now maybe soon.

I sat at the patio – practicing my guitar as I heard the gate beep – beeping again and again and again, I looked to see if Aunt Rosa would open up the gate, seconds pass by but still she wasn't there she must still be busy, I don't want to go there and open it up but I was to scared what if they were new people? It kept beeping again and I had no choice but to stand up and slowly, slowly walked towards the gate holding my guitar tight just in case they would try to kidnap me or something I was only eleven!

Slowly I reached out my hand to grab the handle – and steadily, slowly opened the gate it creek like a haunting scene. When it opened wide there was no one at front – until "HELLO!" a boy came peek his head with that wide grin, I was startled at that enthusiasm it made me hit his head with my guitar. "OW!!!" he stumbled and fall. All of the other kids laughed and came walking towards us at the gate of our home and here I was still clutching my guitar preparing for battle?

"Tekeshi got hit by a guitar!" said the blonde boy, pointing at the one named Tekeshi, while laughing at him and his downfall. . . "Get up Tekeshi you are embarrassing yourself!" said the black hair girl with a streaks of fake violet hanging from its side, – kicking him by his back as he slowly stood up still rubbing his head painfully the impact must have hit so hard.

"SHE HIT ME!" pointing at me and I couldn't help but to feel annoyed.

" ¡ME ASUSTASTE! YOU STARTLED ME!" I exclaimed in annoyance – eyebrows knit, just watching him stood up.

"¡NO QUIERO HACERLO! I didn't mean to!" he replied, and I wasn't expecting he would understand.

"Sorry about that. . ." said another girl with black hair, helping Tekeshi onto his feet as another blonde girl peek his head behind those walls grinning also like what Tekeshi did early. "Hello! New neighbor!" I could think that they were probably my age or older but nevertheless they mean no harm whatsoever. Slowly I put my guitar down taking a deep breath and settled it by my side.

"Uh Hóla?" looking away to wave at them – shyly.

They were all so new to me – Maybe they felt the same way towards me new? And afresh? And weird? What would they even say? "I'm Harmony Takahashi Hamada!" said the girl who helped Tekeshi and she slowly started to introduce everyone else. "This is Freya. . ." pointing at the bubbly blonde from earlier as she waved excitingly still with that exquisite smile "Her twin brother Finnick!" – pointing at the other blonde who laughed at Tekeshi – "Just call me Finnick the GREAT!" he was pointing to himself striking a pose and I manage to laugh he was funny but I would never call him that. "Uhhh No Thank you. . ." I replied. As the introduction went on and on Kagami Tanaka the one who kicked Tekeshi earlier and his older Brother Hyun.

"You met my Brother – Tekeshi. . ." she chuckled and I saw her cheeks heating up out of embarrassment, was he embarrassed of his brother?

"Pleasure to meet ya! Newbie!" he reached out his hand as I flinched – he saw me do that and quickly he puts his hand by his side, chuckling – cupping the name of his neck sheepish as he was.

They were small group of friends and here I thought there were many kids that were playing just recently in this street, turns out it was just only them. "I'm Elena – Elena Rivera. . . ." I said in a much softer voice – trying to hide the fact that I was nervous but they could tell I was, my stomach churning and my heartbeat was fast even my hands were sweating. . .What will they think of me? I thought again.

"Hello Elena!" Tekeshi greeted, he must be the first person I know who was enthusiastic as ever second to the blonde girl Freya?

"Elena our Flying Disc is inside your yard." Said Finnick the great.

"Tekeshi here threw it to far and it landed inside your yard!" said Kagami.

"Can we have it please?" pleaded Harmony.

I turned my gaze at the yard – searching for their Disc and it was indeed at our yard? How did it manage to fly inside without me noticing? Right, I was bust with my guitar practice. I picked up their Disc and hand it to them as they all bowed and I surprise at that sudden gesture which was OH SO NEW to me.

"Do you want to play with us Elena?" the blonde girl Freya asked – I looked back at our house and I saw Aunt Rosa just coming out from the door, when she saw me, I saw that smile of hers came into view as if she was telling me to go forth. I looked back at them they were all waiting for my response.

"You can bring your guitar!" said Tekeshi – Right, my guitar the air was to tense that I forgot that I was holding it tightly – make friends and do adventures that was what my Aunt Rosa had said just recently with seconds of thinking and from just from yesterday's moving in I smiled. "Yeah SURE!" and they were all in the burst of cheering. I waved at my Aunt Rosa and she waved back – I went out the neighborhood with this small circle of friends and we went out to play in the warm heat of summer.

—

We played, we laughed and I made friends? Well at least I think they are? I learned that their parents were great friends, the twins lived at the other street same goes for the Tanaka siblings – and the Hamada siblings were just four houses away from my new home. They taught me this new game that they said it was cultural when someone new comes in the neighborhood, we played badminton and I figure out I was no good at this game – I even got the chance to climb their hidden tree house though it was not that stable and good but it was something, they even said that Freya thought of the interiors and Tekeshi made the façade and its structures so that was something.

They spared some short stories, stories of how they were so many of them every summer there were friends from different countries to visit them here to spend time at Freya and Finnick's mansion or should I say the Frederick Manor but they all have stopped visiting when lives were getting busy or so they say? What was an nine? Ten? or Eleven years old were busy about anyway?

I enjoyed listening to their stories but what could I even share to them? Nothing – listening to their stories was more than enough especially that boy who startled me, he had a way to tell a tale and I enjoyed every bits and pieces of it. "What about you Elena? What's your story?" Hyun asked his deep Asian eyes stared at me and everybody else did as well they were silent waiting for my response but nothing – like I said there was no story and there was nothing to tell.

"I- I have nothing." I replied, looking away hugging my legs close to my chest, pressing my lips trying to smile again, what is to share anyway? "Well that's okay – it may take sometime. . ." said Harmony grinning after. All of them nodded and I was silent again not bothering to talk, Kagami must have felt the awkward atmosphere since immediately she broke the silence.

"Looks like it's getting pretty late – our parents must be looking for us! Well see ya! Come on Hyun!" his brother followed him and then the Frederick twins. "We'll see you tomorrow Elena! Let's play again!" said Harmony, the only one left was his older brother Tekeshi sitting right in front me, and she was staring I avert my eyes trying to avoid his stare – I focused my eyes at the ceiling with Christmas lights that lit up the tree house luminously.

"I don't believe you have no story Elena." he spoke and I glance to met his monolid eyes. "You have your guitar!" the tone of his voice raised – his hand extended to point at my guitar, I took a quick glance at the guitar before returning my gaze back to him an eyebrow raised. "What does a story got to do with a guitar?"

"WELL do musicians or guitarist usually write their stories through music?" he asked and I left that question hanging because I didn't know how to respond – I didn't even find my melody yet much more a story through song. I just shook my head at his response "I have no story – nor I even have melody to spare. I can't even call myself as a musician, I an eleven years old girl with aspirations but no inspirations." I grabbed my guitar just when I was about to leave, he gently grip my arms and I stared at his hues once again his face glinted at the aesthetic lights that surrounded the tree house.

"It's okay Elena – Well since you're new here! Let us create your melody! Your story rather!" he gave a toothy grin with that Asian eyes of his closing syncing with his smile, a light feeling came into my sense – his smile made me feel like there was hope for something up ahead. He let go of my arms as he stood up, chest out, his other hand behind his back and his index finger pointing way up high. "Starting here on out – I'm going to help you find a melody for your story!" he said it like he was pledging it with his life and we just met.

"I pledge that in my Tekeshi book of pledges!"

OH – he was pledging.

"Why are you doing this? We just met?" I asked, he was just to optimistic.

"Because you're my friend. . ." he replied and I was silent once again.

"I don't want anyone else to help me look for my melody or story. . ." I looked away, the thought of someone else helping me is something I couldn't imagine – I don't want anyone likely involve at this point not when I lack of something in me like a jigsaw puzzle missing a single piece. I held my guitar tightly in my grasp, turning my heels towards the exit of the tree house.

"Hmm. . ." he started speaking again and I thought he was done I paused and stood there not wanting to look at him but I was eager to listen to what he had to stay. "It doesn't have to be Your story it let us remove the Y and we have Our Story. Like a sequel of a book or a Season 2 out of a movie!"

I was a newbie in the neighborhood – I was accepted. . . I was overthinking in the first place, yet my senses were wrong – they were my friends now.

Our Story that's what he said – those words caught me off guard my eyes met his hues – and he was smiling, that smile again, that smile so promising and so true.

7 years ago we moved into a new country, a new place.

7 years he made that promise – but I left him hanging with my unsaid words, with my countless of thoughts like an unsaid lyrics and a messy song. I left him with no reply but he that didn't stop him from creating Our Story.