Track 9: Everything

"Everything" by Michael Buble

"Oh, when you smile at me you know exactly what you do

Baby, don't pretend that you don't know it's true"

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Summer's POV

"Tell me which one is the lie among these three statements," I said enthusiastically. I was wearing the white t-shirt given by the planning team and paired it with grey shorts. I kept my short hair in a tie because it was windy on this beach this late afternoon.

I am currently having introductions with my team members which includes Shien. He looked so bored with everything. I just let him. No one really knows that we are somewhat 'close' and shared some little secret from last night's incident.

We are staying under a tree near the sea. Gio asked us to think of a creative way of presenting the project assign to our team in our team members. I decided to let all of us play a small game named 'Two truths and One lie.' Each member should tell his or her two truths and a lie before telling us his or her name. It will help us break some barriers and personal judgments before we proceed to our project.

"First, my favorite color is green. Second, I like being in the dark. And lastly, I wish to be a lawyer someday." I paused for a while after repeating the same statements so that they will have time to decide which one is true.

I let them raise their hand in every statement that they think was a lie. Most of them answered the second one which was wrong. Shien just smirked at me because he knows which one is a lie. He still looked bored though.

"Good morning everyone. I am Sam and I will be your official Team Leader throughout your stay in Isla Minerva." I said with a smile to the fifteen people in front of me.

Each one eagerly participated and made some funny statements like their fears, weird habits, and even their gender preferences. Some even tried to make moves to me by using it in their statements. I just laughed at them because they don't even know that I am just an incoming freshman in their university. After all, I don't want to catch attention.

It was so fun that I forgot that I was with Shien in the circle. I felt a little bit awkward when it was already his turn to make his statements. Everyone was excited to know him personally. All the girls in the circle were silently giggling and focusing on him. He just looked at me and smirked before he started to talk seriously while looking at me. I felt like I freeze for a while because of that stare.

I'm just like this because of our little secret, right?

"First, I have never fallen in love with someone. Second, I am starting to like a short-haired girl. And lastly, I want to spend my whole life on music."

I gulped at those statements. It's very hard to know which one was the lie. It feels like the only truth was the third one. He looks like he was meant to live for music.

Everyone murmured different perspectives towards those statements. We all looked like we are having a hard time which made Shien laughed at us.

"Common guys! It was just a game. Don't be too serious." He said to us.

Is he just messing with us? Was he really following the rules of the game?

"Hey," I tried to get his attention because I felt like we look like a joke to him. "I think there's no right answer. It feels like there's more than one lie."

I got the attention of everyone which made the tension between me and him. He stood up and asked everyone if I was right. No one said a thing. They all looked afraid to him. Does he really have this kind of effect on everyone? Seriously?!

"Okay, to make Miss Sam comfortable, I'll reveal the answer." I looked at him seriously. "The correct answer is the third one. I am Shien Alfredo Olaivar." He sat again and looked away.

I felt guilty for everyone for creating a scene so I just acted jolly again. We played some more and after that, I told them the main agenda of that meeting.

"So, today I will tell you what will be our team's project for our month-long stay on this island." I handed them some pieces of paper. I tried to give one to Shien but he didn't even bother to look at me. I just left it in front of him and proceeded.

"This island has twelve small villages. Our resort was near to three of them. Our project was to provide a summer school for the children ages four to 10 years of age. In each village, we will stay with them for a week and provide tutoring to their children. Since you are fifteen in this team, each one will have one student per village. While I and some of the planning team will provide help in terms of food and materials assistance. You will stay for four hours with the child assigned to you. Any questions?"

"Is there a particular subject that we will teach them?" Someone asked.

"Good question. Hmm, I think we can focus on one subject which they lack the knowledge the most. After all, we will just be with them for a week. What do you think?"

Everyone agreed and I told them that the name on the paper given to them will be one assigned to them. They need to familiarize themselves with the profile given to them.

"What will be the project of the other teams?" Someone asked.

"As far as I remember, some will help in the market, in the preparation of food, and assist in the medical missions," I said nicely. "Any more questions or suggestions?"

Shien raised his hand like he was in the class. He was now holding the paper in his hand. "Yes, Shien?" I asked attentively.

"Can we also offer some music to the children before starting the discussions? So that we can get their attention to us?" He said seriously.

"Well, that's a good point. We can do that. I'll tell the planning team so that they will be updated to the changes in our daily program." I smiled at him. I didn't know that he can be serious sometimes, especially in things like this.

"Can you give us a sample Shien?" A girl beside him asked. He looked at the girl and then to me like he was asking my permission. I nodded and smiled.

He asked for the guitar brought by one of the members. "What song do you guys want?" He asked.

"We just want to hear the song of your heart at the moment," the same girl answered. What was her name again? Bella?

"Hmm. Okay." He started strumming the guitar. I sat and listened to him just like the others. We clapped, following his beat.

"You're a falling star, you're the getaway car

You're the line in the sand when I go too far

You're the swimming pool on an August day

And you're the perfect thing to see"

Then he looked at me while singing. What was he doing? I felt shy for a moment.

"And you play you're coy, but it's kinda cute

Oh, when you smile at me you know exactly what you do

Baby, don't pretend that you don't know it's true

'Cause you can see it when I look at you

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times

It's you, it's you; you make me sing

You're every line, you're every word, you're everything"

Then he smiled and slightly bang his head. He really looks good when he was like that.

"You're a carousel, you're a wishing well

And you light me up when you ring my bell

You're a mystery, you're from outer space

You're my every minute of my everyday

And I can't believe, uh, that I'm your man

And I get to kiss you, baby, just because I can

Whatever comes our way, oh, we'll see it through

And you know that's what our love can do"

I can't imagine him not living his life for music. He really looks like it was his love. His every reason to live on.

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times

It's you, it's you; you make me sing

You're every line, you're every word, you're everything"

He smiled sweetly at us while singing, showing his dimples.

"So, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

So, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times

It's you, it's you; you make me sing

You're every line, you're every word, you're everything

You're every song, and I sing along

Cause you're my everything"

He keeps looking at me and enjoys my reaction to his gestures. I am hoping that no one will notice what he was doing.

"Yeah, yeah

So, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

So, la, la, la, la, la, la-la-la, la-la-la"

When he finished, all of us clapped at him. He acted like he was doing some bows at us which made me laugh.

"So, Shien, who's your everything?" Some guy asked. I suddenly remember Sass and my conversation with Shien. He will probably say, no one.

Shien pushed his tongue on his cheek, keeping himself from laughing. Then he said, "Refer to my statement number two."

What was it again?