"Klai"

Help. My friend Fong seems to be in love.

After last class period Fong dragged me with him to meet someone. He said this person wanted to talk to me and I have no right to say "No" to anything this person might ask me.

We arrive earlier than was expected in the meeting place. I sat at a chair near me and looked at my friend. Fong looks nervous and giddy pacing back & forth. I'm afraid the floor would set fire soon coz of friction.

"Is that person coming? Tell me something already. I've ran out of ideas why you'd drag me here."

I put my hand under my chin. My eyes still following him.

Fong halted from pacing grabbed a chair and sat next to me.

"I think I have found the perfect girl for me Win." He said it with such sincerity I could almost cry.

"Great. That's the same thing you said to me two weeks ago remember? That girl's boyfriend threatened to kill you if you ever come near her again."

"It's real this time Ai Win. When I saw her my heart pounded hard everything was in slow motion."

"Dear lord, here we go again 😑." I face palmed myself.

"Hello guys! Sorry for being late!." Fong & I turned and saw two girls smiling at us and shockingly with them is our School Student Council President Dim.

Everyone calls him "P'Dim" in short.

The two girls introduced themselves as a member of the Official Magazine Publication (OPM) club supervised by the Student Council. It's a magazine that contains exclusive photos of Idols from different year and faculties.

"You must be confused why P'Dim is here with us. Win, we would like you to do us a favor please 🙏." The 1st to speak was the girl Fong liked.

Her name is "Pear", fair skinned, cute and has a bright personality definitely Fong's type.

"The school's magazine will be celebrating it's 5th Anniversary soon and this time we decided to up our game and go big!"

The girl named "Earn" handed me some sort of invitation & a student pass marked with the Student Council's seal.

"Uh..This is..??" I looked at the three of them in confusion then I looked at my friend Fong, sigh, he stand frozen in place just staring at Pear. Talking to him is useless.

"This year the Council is funding a school event  that has long been planned. If this Anniversary Magazine sells out the profit would make up 60% of the event cost." P'Dim proudly said.

"P'Dim is right and in order for that to happen we need you to run us an errand. Don't worry, the council will keep it a secret if you want okay?".

Pear smiled cutely at us Fong nearly fainted.

"To cut it short. Go inside the Gifted Building and give this invitation to Bright. We want him as the cover of our magazine. We saw the post. We know you and him are close." Earn made an "okay" hand sign at me.

"Fighting Win! The Council & the club will be cheering for you!" Said Pear.

"Don't forget to take a selfie with him as proof. Your sacrifice is greatly appreciated."

P'Dim tapped my shoulder leaving quickly after saying thanks and goodbye.

I didn't even had the chance to say "No" at all.

Thus, I'm here looking stupid standing outside the envied Gifted Building. With only an invitation, student pass and my fixed phone in hand I entered the building.

This is my first time here. My eyes wandering left and right scanning every inch of the building. Everyone looks perfect even the facilities are much better than ours and the building is huge.

What if I get lost? I stopped walking and approach a group of students chatting about how boring their class was.

When they saw me they looked at each other seemingly confused a student in regular uniform is talking to them.

"Sorry to disturb you but do you guys know where could I find Bright?" I smiled at them nervously holding my student pass hanging in my neck to show them I'm not trespassing.

They saw the pass realized I was sent by the Council and replied to me.

"If you're looking for him ask his closest friends Man and Boss I think I saw them went into the 3rd floor audio room."

They giggled and left. I don't know if I'll believe them. What if they're pranking me? I wish Fong was here. It's scary being alone.

I slowly climbed the stairs up to the 3rd floor audio room. Unlike the first 2 floors the 3rd floor is quiet. A few students passed by me their expression's just like the group I approached earlier.

The door to the audio room is slightly open no voices can be heard inside. Damn. They pranked me for sure. Whatever, might as well take a look inside.

I took one step inside and suddenly stopped.

My heart, Bright had his eyes shut seemingly focused listening to some music from his wireless headphone. Wonder how much it cost? My heart is pounding hard again.

Forget Man and Boss, my target is right in front of me all I have to do is give him this invitation take a selfie and scram.

What to do. Shall I disturb him? A tap in the shoulder maybe?

One, two, three steps after I'm in front of him but he still hasn't noticed me, the volume must be loud?

With shaking hands I slowly raise a finger to tap him in the shoulder.

"😳!!"

Bright grabbed my hand I almost lost my balance lucky I didn't fall and straighten myself.

"He--hello 👋 ." God. This is so awkward.

"Win? Where's Man and Boss?" Bright pulled down his headphones looking around for them.

"You--your hand ..can you? Before I answer your question?" His hand is still holding mine hope my hand is not sweaty. Bright slowly remove his hands saying a soft "Sorry" as he let go.

I cleared my throat, he scratches his head.

"Aren't you going to ask me how I ended up here inside the gifted Building?"

"You are here, no need for explanations."

At least be curious Bright 🤦

My heart. My heart. That was so smooth! My mind went back to Admin_cutie's post he had surely forgotten about it by now.

"This--our Student Council & magazine club asked me to give this invitation to you. They're hoping you'll agree on being the Magazine's cover for their Anniversary. They said they'll go big and wanted to generate funds for an event. Here."

He scans the invitation puts it in his pocket and said "Okay" to me.

Well, that was fast.

"I'm afraid if I said "No" the Student Council will hate you. Everyone knows P'Dim as a violent person and it's for a good cause, there's no reason to say no."

He smiled softly at me, I smiled back.

"Then, could I take a selfie with you before I go? P'Dim wanted some proof from me."

I took out my phone opened the camera app then realization hits me taking a selfie would mean we have to stand close to each other right? Like, shoulder to shoulder? I paused to think of a solution to this.

"Here. Let me help you."

Bright grabbed my phone his arms at my shoulder and pulled me close to him.

2 clicks from the camera and it's done. Bright took a look at our picture smirking. He pulled out his phone typed something on mine after 5 seconds a notification popped up from his phone.

This man just sent a copy of the pic to his line via my account!

"I was told your phone was broken. It takes good pictures I'm glad it's fixed."

He handed my phone back while myself is still processing what he just did.

"Since I helped you with your problem would you help me with mine? Man & Boss was supposed to help me choose a song to sing for our music class tomorrow. I was waiting for them before you arrived but it looks like they ditched me again."

"My knowledge about music is next to nothing but I can try?" I said smiling sheepishly.

We sat face to face at a small table in the audio room Bright layed out a paper with the list of songs. I looked at them and scratched my head. Did I ever listen to these songs?

"The list is useless, I already have a song in mind. Here, take a listen." Bright leaned forward and placed his wireless earphones to my ear.

This position.. how would I explain this? I can feel his breathe close to me. I can clearly see his thick eyelashes perfectly shaped nose, he's more handsome zoomed in.

As I engrave his face into my mind the music played.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So close that I can't say a word

It's so close that I can't see anyone else..."

"When we're so close that I want to hold my breath

It's so close that there's only you and me today..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"How is it? Do you like it?" Bright stared at me.

We are on eye to eye level now. I can't answer, the music continued to play.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Maybe it's because we met by accident

Maybe it's because we're together by accident...

"Because you have never known how it will be

and I have never understood if it were to be like that..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"It's one of my favorite song. I'm thinking it's a  perfect song to sing. What do you think?"

"I.." I can't think. The song keeps playing and I'm being drawn by it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"If we never talked a word, today no one will understand...

"That day you have never, and I also have never, known how it will be

then why would we stop?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I...I think I like it. What song is this?" I finally snapped back to reality. I press "Stop" and pulled his headphone down my shoulder.

"The song name is "Close" by Scrubb. You should try listening to their music often. Their music can relax you."

With his hand under his chin and with that look any person's heart would definitely skip a beat.

"I like this song. A song that can make a person smile is the perfect song."

"Mhm. I like it too. I like it very much."

He slightly tilted his head his hand still under his chin staring at me. I stopped breathing for a second here.

I wish I was a song.

Because Bright likes the song very much.

*This was quite a long one, I'm surprised! 🤣*