Chapter 12 - Finest

"Why does it look like this day is new to me?"

Ren closes the door of his recently parked car and took a look around the university area.

He closes his eyes and feels the air as his father's words rewinded within his insides.

"Yes dad, I got your point. I won't hurt mom again."

"My old man's love towards mom is on another level."

He smiles out of nowhere and started walking towards a crowd which got his attention.

He stands a meter behind the crowd and tried to fill his mind.

" The University's First Dance of the Finest? What's this supposed to be?"

"Excuse me "

A lady in a pink dress approaches and splits the crowd. She stood infront of the announcement section and stood in a formal pose.

"This month's event is in collaboration with other universities in our area. Participants in the main event are already pre-selected. "

"As the title of this event implies, the participants are the top freshmen students of this university. The main event is a ballroom dancing competition. Other genres are open to everyone. "

"This list which I'm about to post in here are the university's finest freshmen students who will join the main competition. Good luck!"

The lady posted a bond paper in the wall and left. The crowd eventually rushed to identity the names. This caused a heavy commotion.

"Hi!"

Ren looks beside him and saw Ashley approaching. She is carrying books as she always do.

"Why are you wearing those glasses? I didn't know you have a taste for props." says Ren as the lady approaches.

The lady hangs her hair into her ears and slightly tilts her head while giving an inoccent smile up at Ren.

"Why not?" asks the lady.

"Don't look at me like that, it's weird. What are you? Some kind of desperate?" answers Ren as he looks away.

"Desperate? Hey how am I supposed to be desperate? " quickly returns Ashley.

Ren looked at the lady in her eyes and gave a sarcastic laugh as he walks away from her.

"God I want to bully her!"

"Hey wait for me! " Ashley shouts while proceeding to the posted list and taking a picture of it. She then run after the guy.

" Aren't you interested in the participants wa..YOU ARE IN THE LIST!"

Ren gave a confused face at Ashley as a response.

"Oh I'm so sad. Why are you so surprised? The lady earlier literally said "finest" freshmen. Am I not fine to you?"Responds Ren.while bringing his face closer to the Ashley.

The lady slaps her hand into the man's forehead and pushes him away.

"No! your not fine, not even close. I think your spot would be third from last."Teases Ashley while pointing to the ground.

"Whatever"

School ended with the gathering of the main participants in the school's conference hall. Ren casually walks towards the establishment then suddenly Ashley came out of nowhere.

The lady hanged her shoulder bag around Ren's neck and threw her books into his chest.

"I need to go to the rest room." Shouts the lady while running.

"Hey wai...wha"

Ren was stunned and stood in confusion in the middle of the alley.

"What am I her attendant or something?"

While standing in shame Ren heard a faint laugh behind. It's Jason walking his way to the conference room.

"Your selected too?"

"Course."

After a while Ashley came back to Ren's location while her hands are behind her.

"Stop that annoying smile it doesn't suite you." arrogantly says Ren and throws Ashley's things back to her and started walking infront of the lady

" Your not gonna hold it? Wait for me!"

They found Jason inside the hall. He is alone giving them the notion that they are early.

Ashley moved behind Ren as she still have the trauma when they first met.

"Don't worry he's not the same Jason you know." says Ren as he smiled at the lady.

This gave Ashley a little ease.

There was an awkward vibe in the air. The tension was only released when someone entered the room.

It was a cute shy girl in glasses wearing a yellow skirt.

"Hi, is this the correct room? I'm here for the meeting with regards to the competition."

Ashley turned back and answered the lady.

"Yes, we are also here for it. I'm Ashley, what's your name?"

" My name is Mia."

Ashley introduces the new lady to Ren and Jason.

"Hello, I have seen you guys in some subjects. You may not have noticed me because I'm not fond of socializing."

The girl looked down upon witnessing the cold response of Ren and Jason.

"Come here Mia. Leave those two insensitive idiots." says Ashley while pulling Mia's hand.

Minutes later, the participants are entering one by one. Twenty students gathered inside the hall.

A man in a fitted clothes entered the room and caught the attention of the participants. He moved infront of them and started the meeting.

"The best of the freshmen students! Good evening to all of you. I am a dance instructor hired by this school to teach you with regards to your competition. My name is Antonio De Vera and so let's start."

The whole area silenced in attention. The instructor roamed around for a while and gave his first instruction.

"Let's start with your partners. There are twenty of you and you have equal number of males and ladies. Now start locating your dance mates."

The whole room roared entirely. Everyone is busy looking for partners.

Jason was on the corner quietly standing and doesn't much care of what's happening.

"Come on double time! Get your partners!" Shouts the instructor.

This forced Jason to approach Mia who's in the center of the crowd and obviously doesn't know what to do.

"Mia right?"

"Um yeah?"

Jason suddenly pulled Mia's hand and pulled her to a corner.

"Hahaha what are you doing? Don't abduct the lady"

Jason noticed Ren near them and is laughing so hard.

"Shut up, hold her. I'm going to the rest room ." ordered Jason to Ren while handing Mia's hand to the other guy.

"Um did he just treated me as an accessory? " asks Mia.

"Don't worry, despite his looks, he is kind. Barely. "

Jason on the other side who went to the restroom accidentally collided with Ashley.

"Ouch! oh Jason it's you"

Ashley Immediately stood up and fixed her things.

"Ashley I'm sorry" says Jason in a faint voice.

"No it's okay I'm not hurt." Answers the lady.

"Not for this."

"Sorry for hurting you when we first met."

Ashley smiled at the guy and told him not to think about it.They smiled at each other and separated.