1 Muted

A girl with ash blonde hair and blue eyes looked in the mirror and tied her hair into a high ponytail— her favorite hairstyle. Her brows are furrowed, and her intense eyes are staring at her reflection in the mirror as she pursed her lips and is not satisfied with her day. She rolled her eyes and scoffed.

"School, again. These are the worst months, ever!" Valentina shouted as she grabbed her tote bag hanging near her mirror.

She quickly stormed out of her room and walked down their stairs. As she steps, the laughing of a woman and a man is clearly heard, and they are more like flirting with each other. Soon enough, she reached their living room; she saw her parents hugging each other, which made her roll her eyes and clear her throat.

"Looks like someone here is needed of a great love," her father teased her while wiggling his eyebrows.

Valentina's mother smacked her father's head jokingly, "Valentina, honey. What's with that witchy face?" She didn't leave her eyes on them. It was fixated while she thought that if stares could kill, they might be dead right now.

"For God's sake, it's only 7 a.m," she pointed out, looking at them like her eyeballs are gonna jump out anytime she observes them hugging. "And you two are already flirting, hugging, or whatsoever you call that, it's annoying," she added. Still, instead, they would stop, her parents laugh at her making her roll her eyes for the third time.

She stormed out of the living room and walked past their counter, grabbing a tuna sandwich with a bottle of lemon juice. She then hurriedly holds her keys to her Ducati Superleggera V4. Valentina looked at them once again and raised her hands, bidding goodbye.

"Honey, you forgot our goodbye kiss," she heard her mother shout as she closed the door.

Valentina rolls her eyes and walks towards her Ducati. She started the engine of her motorcycle and looked at her side mirror. Valentina's hands are gripping on the throttle, and as soon as Valentina is satisfied, she twists the throttle and drives as fast as possible. Valentina is a perfectionist, but she won't accept the fact that she was.

"Shit. I'm gonna be late," Valentina whispered as she gripped on the throttle. Valentina is a freshman at Serumentus University. It was her first day in a university, and as a 'perfectionist,' she didn't want to be late.

The tall walls of the University and the vast black gate, carved with golden letters of the school, were visible to her eyes. "S.U.," she murmured and entered the gate. She eyed the parking lot and parked near a Tesla. Valentina's eyes are roaming around the University. As she walks by, her eyes are observing the University she's at, watching every student in their uniform, ivory white blouse with blue checkered vest, and a blue pencil skirt that matches the vest. First-year students are wearing outfits that match the hype of the University. Valentina's eyes stopped at the silhouette of a man and woman making out inside the Tesla near her Ducati. The disgust in Valentina's eyes can be skimmed, and without hesitation, she gets down of her motorcycle and gives the window of the Tesla a loud knock.

Valentina frowns as she watches them continue. She knocked again and again until she got the attention of both of them. Valentina raised her eyebrow and pointed at both of them. She muttered, "Go to hell, both of you," clicked her tongue and gave them cold stares. Valentina walked away from the parking lot like nothing happened and headed straight to the gym, where some students were off. She was unbothered on what happened earlier, but disgust was plastered on her face as soon as she remembered.

Valentina walked inside the gym by the' first-year students' banner. She decided to sit next to a woman wearing thick black glasses and has jet black hair.

"Is there any problem with my face, woman?" She asked the girl beside her.

The woman beside her shook her head and gave Valentina a sly smile. "You're pretty," she added and fixated her gaze at the gymnasium stage. Valentina glanced at her and gave her a cold-eyed stare.

A gentle cough was heard in the microphone. "Good Morning to all of the students of Serumentus University." Valentina's attention was diverted to the woman wearing a plaid corporate attire, standing elegantly on the stage. She was bored just looking at the woman and decided to take a gum inside her pocket and chew to take out the boredom she had. Valentina offers the woman sitting next to her; the woman politely smiles and gets the gum handed by her.

"Today is the first day of school for the freshmen!" a loud noise was heard. "Welcome to Serumentus University, where dreams are just steps to your future. I am Mrs. Primrose Agape," she added.

Valentina yawned while looking at the lady talking. "This is an orientation for the freshmen, and classes will start tomorrow so that the freshmen can cope up and roam around the campus university," she stated. Ms. Primrose smiled and pointed out her fingers somewhere, "The club booths are at the Annex 2A Field together with the table of each course. The seniors will take accountability for all the first-year students who will enroll in each course and best clubs," Valentina added and bowed her head. She gave the mic to the masters of ceremony and went back to her seat.

"Thank you, Mrs. Primrose, lovely as ever," the MC commented and smiled at Mrs. Primrose. She stares at the small envelope in her hand and smiles at the audience, "Now, let's call on Mr. Cion Querer, the Student Council President, for the orientation about the university," Valentina's bored out. Hence, she took her iPad in her tote bag.

She grabbed her earpods and played Taiki's lofi music— her favorite playlist when sketching, the cozy bedroom vibes. A man walked up to the stage and smiled at the MC, "Welcome to the University, first-year students. I am Cion Querer, 4th year Civil Engineering and the Student Council President," Cion has wavy hair and long eyelashes. The way he smiles can catch up to a million women, and the way he brought himself, as the Student Council President, has added points for those teenage girls who dreamt of a man with qualities like him.

"As what Mrs. Primrose has said earlier," she looked at the lady and smiled, bowing his head for respect, "the courses are in the Annex 2A Field and have their own gazebos. Each course has three representatives, list your names on the courses you preferred and want to enroll in," he added. Valentina is enjoying herself, sketching dresses that she had in mind. The lady beside her tapped her shoulders, which made her remove one of her earpods. The woman smiled, "You need to listen. He is telling all the details for later," Valentina nodded and pulled her iPad from her lap, placing it inside her tote bag.

"In front of the gazebos are the booths set up by each club. You may choose as many booths as you like as long as you know how to manage your time. That's all," Valentina looked at the man, standing in the podium, and gave him stares. She knew him, but not that long. "Welcome to Serumentus University, Freshmen!" he added and walked down the podium he was standing.

The welcoming address was already done, and all of the first-year students were headed to the Annex 2A Field. Valentina followed some of the first-year students who were not wearing uniforms. Valentina was fascinated by how the University handles the students who want to enroll in the school. There are signs about the courses that the first-year students preferred in each gazebo. The clubs also have their own ideas to attract first-year students to join.

Valentina walked by the gazebos when she saw the girl she was sitting next to. She was standing at the corner of the pavilions and looking at her shoes. Valentina rolled her eyes and walked in her direction as a 'good' but not that 'good' freshman. She cleared her throat to get her attention and folded her arms. Valentina notices the shred of tears in her cheeks that made her open her arms and hug her.

"Why the hell is she crying?" Valentina asks, muttered in her mind. She began patting the back of the woman she-doesn't-even-know-the-name. She sighed, "Why are you crying?" Valentina finally said what was inside her head. The woman began to sob, which made Valentina nervous, "What the hell? I'm just asking. Stop crying, Miss," she let go of the hug and looked at her.

"It's Nikkita. Nikkita Storm, Valentine," she introduced herself while stopping herself from sobbing. Valentina frowned, "It's Valentina, Nikkita," she rolled her eyes and noticed Nikkita staring at a gazebo. Hence, she diverted herself in the Engineering Gazebo, watching a man resting his arms at a woman's shoulders.

"Is that your boyfriend?" Nikkita nodded and averted her gaze.

"He is literally cheating on you, and you're not doing anything? No slapping? No shouting? Just standing here, crying? Do you think he'll take pity on you?" Valentina looked at Nikkita. Disappointment can be seen in her eyes.

Nikkita holds the grip of her backpack and bows down and starts to cry again. Valentina clicked her tongue and looked at Nikkita, who was about to cry again. She flicked her forehead, "Wake up, Nikkita! I know we are not that close, and sorry for flicking your forehead, but wake up! He is cheating on you! That is not an act of a 'friend,'" Valentina commented as he quoted the word friend. She then pointed out Nikkita's boyfriend, that is now secretly kissing the woman's neck.

She sighed and looked away, "You know Valentina? It's hard to let go of the person who loves you with these thick glasses, this backpack, and this weirdo vibe. Love is sort of easy for you to get. You're pretty, elegant, and has a good figure," Nikkita whispered, but Valentina reached for her chin and lifted it.

"Listen, Nikkita. You need to break up with him before he does. Look how devastated you are. He's happily kissing another woman, and you are here, standing near the gazebo, crying your balls out for a man who doesn't deserve any of your tears. Break up with him, and we'll figure out things after," Valentina secured her, yet she thought twice about the things she told Nikkita, and she assured her with a tight hug.

"We?" Nikkita whispered, which made Valentina nod. They are just standing in the gazebo for a couple of minutes to make Nikkita feel better. After a while, Nikkita broke the hug and reached for Valentina's hand, walking together in the Engineering Gazebo.

Valentina slightly pushed Nikkita inside and hid at the side when they reached the gazebo. The reaction of Nikkita's boyfriend cannot be contained, seeing her girlfriend in front of her while he is busy kissing another woman.

"Let's break up! Y-you! You son of a bitch!" Valentina clapped her hands when she heard Nikkita cursing his ex-boyfriend to death. She went ecstatic when that cursing developed into a loud slap that made some of the students watch the scene in the Engineering Gazebo. Nikkita glanced at Valentina, where she gave her girl a thumbs up.

Nikkita walked down towards Valentina's position and smiled at her. They both hugged each other and squeaked silently. Nikkita smiled, "I know we still don't know each other, but it feels terrific to have you, Valentina."

"Just call me Val, Nikkita," Nikkita releases Val from her arms and smiles at her while holding her shoulders.

"So Val, what's your course? What gazebo are you off to?" Nikkita asked excitedly, just like nothing happened earlier.

Valentina looked at her, "Nutrition, you?" she simply stated. Nikkita started jumping and squeals at the top of her lungs, telling her they were at the same course. Nikkita dragged Valentina to the Nutrition Gazebo and listed their names to be enrolled. Both of them are happy when they are in the same class, in each of the units they are taking. When they are satisfied, they are headed to a small briefing by the representatives.

While the briefing was ongoing, they heard someone clearing his throat, "Excuse me," he stated with a baritone voice. Valentina and Nikkita moved aside while listening to the person speaking for the brief orientation for both of them.

"How was it?" an authoritative voice asked. Valentina focuses herself on copying do's and don'ts in the University— she doesn't want to be expelled for the first day of school, and also, Valentina is an organized woman. A representative replied, "We're almost done, Mr. President. Our courses are already filled in, and we're just finishing things up with these two last enrollees," Nikkita tapped Valentina and whispered, "Look at him, such a fine young man," wiggling her eyebrows sounded like a sophisticated old woman. Valentina glanced at the President and saw a man wearing a smirk. Valentina rolled her eyes, "Are you done, Nikkita? Let's go. There is an evil spirit inside the gazebo. Can't you feel the presence? It gives me chills," acting like she's having a cold.

Nikkita was confused but continuously nodded. She grabbed Nikkita's hand and stormed out of the gazebo, whispering a 'thank you, when a man shouted, "Wait!" He called out in a loud voice.

Valentina walks faster, dragging Nikkita with her. He cleared his throat, "I said wait, Miss."

The man pulled her, making Valentina glare at him, and tried to struggle from his big hands holding her wrist. The man smiled, "I'm Cion Querer," he introduced himself. Valentina looked at him, "So?" she replied coldly.

"And you? What's your name?" he simply asked.

"You don't need to know, Mr. President," emphasizing that she was displeased by Cion's existence.