3 Chapter 3

P R E S E N T  D A Y   3 0 2 8

"And that ends our lesson for today don't forget to work on your assignments – I'll see you tomorrow." I packed my notebooks and books and exited the room, The day ended productively as always. School had never been so insignificant, this University proves it otherwise: Ravenwood University to be exact one of the most prestigious school in San Frandale City. Ever since we move here Ravenwood has also been part of my adventures in San Frandale – it is where I spend my grade school with my friends, my senior years and now college with him and them.

One thing I like about Ravenwood is how each colleges is divided into careers you want to pursue, they make sure that no students get left behind – I'm sure that there are other schools in San Frandale who highly thinks of that Philosophy but Ravenwood just hits different.

They have various of Colleges for a path you want to take, with different massive huge buildings assigned like the: College of Engineering where Kagami and Hyun are taking up – well formally just last month they moved into another country in Kea – because that's where there parents were designated to, they must have felt what I felt during those times when we moved into another country well at least this time they weren't little kids but adults that can handle the world?

The world – how scary it is to mention I highly doubt they were alone they had each other and they had there family with them maybe they weren't scared as I thought they would be – Why am I even thinking this? The sad part was just that they left without saying Goodbye, without any of us knowing that must have been hard for them nonetheless I expected nothing from the Tanaka Siblings they weren't the types to say word of farewell.

Right after they left, Freya had been silent for quite a week she was more close with the Tanaka siblings especially with Hyun. 'Hyun!' I remember she would squeal out his name every time everyone of us would meet either a family gathering or hanging out we've been suspicious then but we weren't so sure so we have never brought it up.

Just a distance from the right side of the Engineering building was the College of Science and Technology where Finnick Frederick was at, taking his Game and Design Development to another level – he was the most techy boy I have ever known – he did mention once that he's going to be known not just a Frederick kid but a person with a creative mind just like his twin sister – but best duo amongst our circle when it comes to video games would be Haru and Finnick. Haru was Harmony and Tekeshi's cousin, he came along just months before we moved in at San Frandale he was also here at Ravenwood University with Finnick's College, he was as a Game Art/ Interactive Media Design. Haru also had an older sister named Delilah – they were here for the meantime while there Father was at Southstein and there mother was at Frencheri.

It must have been hard for them – as it was for me, but even though there parents are miles apart they still find ways to visit them for Haru's Dad was the owner of one of the known Company's here in San Frandale I guess when you're busy, have a great job and become successful you then forget about family – like how Papa forgot about me.

Walking pass by the bridges of the huge building of the College of Science and Technology was a modern almost looking like a skyscraper structure of the College of Architecture and Interior Designs where Freya and Tekeshi are at, if Haru and Finnick was the best duo, there was also Tekeshi and Freya there motives of designing, sketching and making blue prints were as beautiful as it ever was – that explains why the tree house was amazingly built though it needed some improvements it was still perfectly made. After years we were able to improve such place and now it's more likely to be sturdy than before.

Tekeshi once told me while we were alone in that tree house 'If you ever – want someone to design your house in the future don't hesitate to call me.' He said that while he was laying down staring at the luminous ceiling I was trying to hide my smile when he mentioned it – focusing my gaze at my guitar. 'I don't know I think Freya mentioned she's willing to do the structure of my hacienda. .' I replied which immediately caught his attention, I bounce eyebrows at him in a mischief way just teasing him and he glared at me. 'My hacienda? You don't go there living alone it's our hacienda.'

That made me stopped my strumming as it was my turn to glare at him in annoyance but he smiled – that darn smile that gets me every time. 'I don't remember saying my.' I replied, and then he would laugh again 'I said your lately and just what I said we can remove the Y and it can be Our.'

I was silent because again I had nothing to say except to throw a pillow at him as he went running down the exit of the tree house. . . 'Love you Elena!' he yelled from below and I saw him waving, running away – I just laughed at how amusing it was to see him running and I was then left alone yet again in the tree house with only the sound of silence.

There were different College Buildings here in Ravenwood for one there was the College of Education the left beside the College of Engineering at the back of the building of College of Sciences and Technology was the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and just a distance between that was the College of Accountancy and Business Management. The best part was a hotel building fit for the College of Hotel Management and Cookery where Haru's sister Delilah mastered her skill of cooking and baking – the best when she makes cookies for all of us because it was just too good.

A far mile apart a building carve with a metallic silhouette of boy and girl wearing their gowns and tuxedo and a sign from just the entrance with a huge musical note and comedy/tragedy mask was the College of Fashion, Fine Arts, Literature and Music.

Mine and Harmony's forte this was our building – it was obvious enough why this was the career I wanted to plan because it's where my heart belongs? It's where it's going to lead me to create the story, the melody that I have hope to search for.

Harmony's story was quite different – her passion was more on Fashion, she told me her dream once to be an intern and a well known designer at Frencheri the country of fashion and love, how she longed for the day that the famous fashion designer I forgot her name would notice her designs and maybe even get to associate with them.

Seeing my friends chasing their dreams – chasing their passion was the biggest flex I could admire they all have plans in life after it warms my heart and feeling when I get to see them shine in their achievements but where was I going with life? Music was in my heart – but what then after?

-

I snapped back into the fortunes of reality when I heard someone calling my name from afar distance – holding some notes in hands and slides their way right beside me then followed by another one who almost slipped but luckily I caught both of them before they would make an impact. "Scarlet? Xavier?" I asked worried staring at them while Xavier was trying to catch his breath.

"Wait, why are we catching our breaths? We used the elevator. . ."  said Xavier even though he was the only one catching and breathing heavily.

Xavier Hendrix and Scarlet Evans were both my circle of friends inside the classroom – I can rely to them mostly everything in the midst of school work let's say we were a trio. . . Xavier was more on the nerd side of the trio since he fancies not just music but also literature, let's say if Amadeus Mozart and William Shakespeare had son it would be Xavier Hendrix whilst Scarlet was more on the musically inclined type like me, who was also raised in a family of musicians both of his Fathers were singers – they were a duet and a duo.

Scarlet and I share the same share of a favorite instrument the guitar while Xavier on the other hand was more on the Piano, but he could play any instruments for that matter but the Piano is highly a different breed for him to play such masterpiece, they say it was the hardest but he made it looks so easy – one day if I have the courage I'm going to ask them if we could play together like a band. . .  .Hmmm like a band isn't that something.

"Why were you two running? Is there something wrong?" I asked.

Then another one came running and sliding in calling my name as well bumping onto Xavier's shoulder which made Xavier almost stumbling down the hallways. "Harmony?!" I exclaimed – What is up with these three? They were quite loud and odd today.

"Son of a. . .!" Xavier exclaimed – rubbing his shoulder giving Harmony a warning look and the back his attention to Scarlet and me.

"Sorry. . . Sorry. . ." Harmony gave a bow of apology – but Scarlet was just laughing at Xavier's unfortunate embarrassment. I admit that was funny too.

Since we were in the same building – and Harmony and I are close my classmates had become her friends as well, including everybody else, the circle expanded unexpectedly and never we have expect that it would happen — we even named it the SUS SQUAD because we were all Suspicious and Suskillable and that's not even a word at least that's what Freya thinks. . . She was always the one making up weird names.

"You busy Harmony?" Scarlet asked.

Clinging her arms around the Hamada. "Professor Lavillant gave us a whole stack of Task to do due tomorrow and it's frustrating."

"Ah the blonde long hair – high pitch one?" Xavier asked, though that is one way to describe a professor – luckily she belonged in the fashion and fine arts Department, there was no need to worry about her.

"Come on. .  ." I cling to Xavier and Scarlet's arms as we walked outside the building and made our way towards the exit – the blue sky had already faded into pink another sign that the day has ended and it was time for it to pass by. We stopped our track when we saw Tekeshi standing by at the bridge, waving his hands at our direction with that wide grin that graced across his features, I sighed as I look back at Harmony who was giving her older brother a thumbs up.

"Ooohhh. . ." Scarlet teased, nudging my shoulder my gaze turned to her with an eyebrow raised. "I will alwayyysss wait for you. . . ." she sang out loud that students were staring at her and I hushed her down. It was Harmony's turn to laugh at Scarlet's hilarious singing "Come on Elena my - - - . ." she coughs " brother is waiting. . ." and then she ran towards him waving goodbye at Scarlet and Xavier as I took a deep breath once more, it has always been like this for the past 7 years he would wait outside of our college building at first I would thought he was doing this because of Harmony after all they are siblings but even when Harmony has already gone home ahead of him, he was there still waiting even when sometimes my classes ended at 7:30pm at night – there he was still waiting. I don't know what his deal was? I told him a thousand of times he doesn't need to do that but he was to stubborn to even listen – it continued on and on, until I gave up and just let him be.

I get that he was willing to make our story but was waiting for me even part of that story.

Even Scarlet and Xavier had their senses that something was really up but they won't say there hunches maybe that's why Freya named us the Suspicious Squad because we were always suspicious. "Lucky for Elena he has someone to wait for her." Xavier chuckles and I rolled my eyes at him. "What about you Scarlet? How are you and that boy from the other School? That nerd, that scientist?"

I have heard that Scarlet was seeing someone – I did not expect that someone would be a Scientist? I never thought that would be her type, but then again a year of knowing Scarlet she doesn't really do commitments only flings – so maybe this one was serious?

"Shut up Xavier that was only one time and nothing more!" she puffed her cheeks that turned crimson red and I couldn't help but to smile.

"Well whoever he is – he better not be in the way on making your OH so finest dreams come true." I teased and winked at her, which she mocked back with her eyes twitching but then she smiled after. "Hardiharhar Elena. . ." she replied. "I better go to! Come on Xavier."

"Actually I have – something up, you go ahead Scar. . ." Xavier walked in a different direction, hurriedly as ever and that left me in a curious note since he has been like this for the past few weeks. Scarlet bid his goodbye at him and then to me, before I ran towards Tekeshi and Harmony it looks like they were having a serious conversation and immediately stopped when I arrived. I didn't bother asking them because it looks like a serious matter – but no matter how serious it was there was that buoyant smile that always manage to brighten up the mood.

"Hóla Elena!" he greeted there goes his enthusiasm.

"¿Puedes dejar de ser entusiasta por una vez? ( Translation: Can you stop being enthusiastic for once?) "

"Him enthusiastic? His only enthusias. . ." Tekeshi locked his arms around his sister's neck, giving a small gentle rub on her hair. "That's enough for you Harmony C'mon!" I learned why they understood Mico Language there Mom was from Viarinas a country who also highly speaks of Mico, their Father however was from this country Janslandnorth in the city of San Frandale. I have gotten close with their Family same goes how they were close with Aunt Rosa – they even knew that I was related to the famous celebrity musician Maverick Rivera but what they didn't know that I was his daughter all they knew that maybe he was just a distant relative and I would like to keep it that way.

They weren't that kind of family to spread gossip but it was still – good to be cautious.

"Can you drop me at the hospital?"

Tekeshi looked at Harmony even from the rear view mirror I saw the look of suspiciousness in Tekeshi's eyes, the suspicious squad are at it again. Though it wouldn't be that suspicious since there Father was the CEO of Hamada General Hospital and there Mother was the Director of the Hamada Medical Academy there's no reason for him to get that suspicious right?

"Why? Did Mama and Papa told you to come over?" he asked and I could hint that cold disbelieving voice of his even from the backseat. Harmony was not even looking at him, she was more to focus on the window but I could see the reflection in her eyes glinting with spark.

"Yeah! Papa asked me to run an errand for him – it'll be quick. . ."

-

Tekeshi drop her of at the Hamada General Hospital, massive huge 30storey-buildings with surrounding trees and a garden equip with advance technology – I heard that Tekeshi's Uncle Taikichiro Hamada CEO of Hamada Tech had also been a big impart of the technology in Hamada General Hospital and San Frandale along with Mr. Alexander Kreil – CEO of Kreil Techzen.

Right after he dropped Harmony we were left alone, both of us in mere silent but it wasn't as awkward since we were comfortable with each other I still wanted him to talk because I love listening to him talk. "WOAH. . .!" he was in awe – I shift my hues to what he was amaze at but, the car was at full speed, I didn't manage to caught at what he saw.

"What are you whoa-ing at?" I asked eyes staring at the rear view mirror and his hues met mine, I could tell that he was smiling because of his eyes would disappear and I found that rather adorable.

"Nothing!" he responded.

I narrowed my eyes into slits as I quickly stood up and made my way towards the shot gun seat, he was trying to stop me from doing so because he was driving but it was to late I manage to make myself comfortable at that seat so that I wouldn't miss anything. "Don't ever do that again!" he yelled and I just manage a laughed, he was annoyed that's for sure but I know Tekeshi very well he wasn't that type to hold any grudges that long – the only one time I saw him angry was when he had a fight with his Father, that he left his home and went to sleep with his Uncle Taikichiro, that was the worst it worsen when he had a fight with Zian one of our circle of friends, that was to painful to even reminisce.

They manage to sort it out, cause we just have to let Tekeshi calm down and it'll be alright in the end.

"Yes I will do it again." I replied to him, lips pressing into a thin smile with nose scrunch – something about annoying him just satisfies my feelings.

"No you will not! If you get an accident- I will never forgive myself. . ."

That was new – why was he only talking about me? "Don't you mean we?"

"NO YOU. . . I don't know what I'll go crazy mad if something ever happens to you." He was serious though I must admit he was always serious but he's only serious during his hours of doing plates and projects or task works – I 've got to break his seriousness before the silence turns into awkwardness. "You know what makes me smile? When you smile." I teased that made him smile and I saw his cheeks heating to crimson, I may have smiled to because of how corny it was but it was the least I could have done.

"Oh so we are doing pickup lines now huh?"

"Yeah. . . And you just lose so my point. . ." I leaned my head against the head rest, smirking at that thought the last time we did pickup lines the one who can't reply back is the winner and I have lost the challenge, this time I won't go easy on him.

"It's getting pretty late don't you think?" he said looking up the night sky as I looked up as well – it was getting pretty late but 7pm for me was still a little to early.

"Yeah." I replied.

"We should commit a crime. . ."

"Wha . . ."

"I steal your heart, you steal mine."

OOOOH – he even added a starter line at first as expected I'm going to lose. "Ha-ha Tekeshi. . . Soooo uhm I have heard you stop loving yourself, your mom told me about it."

"She told you about that?" he looked at me quite confuse.

"Yeah! She did – You want me to do it for you?"

And there he goes coughing, another point for me I guess thought we might stop there but he wasn't finish.

"I mean you could – . . ." – silent – "And then I could call you my waifu. . ."

I raised an eyebrow staring at him rather skeptic as what e was implying. 'Waifu?"

"My wife, you. . ." he bounced his eyebrows – I turned away staring at the window, trying to hide my blush. . .Shit. . . That was unexpected nonetheless it was only a game, a pick up line nothing to be serious about but I was still processing the fact I was called Waifu by fucking Heath Tekeshi Hamada.

He was laughing like an idiot, trying to tease me and I smack his arm. "Love you Elena. . ." he said and I was completely quiet,  I had nothing to say.

He drop me home.

As I lay in my room smiling – I lost the game, I lost to him again.