To Grace's surprise, it was too quiet in her surroundings. As she sighed after getting out of the class, it was all she could hear. No shouting, no announcements, even her sigh was loud and clear.
"Ugh that stupid guy, I wouldn't have been scolded if it wasn't for him", grace muttered.
"What guy?", Mika appeared behind her.
Grace flinched as she heard Mika's voice out of nowhere. "What are you a cat?! How can you be so quiet when you move?!", Grace shouted as she put her hand on her chest, relieving from the shock.
"But what did I do?", Mika whispered as she pouted. "What guy were you talking about? Don't tell me you already have a crush on some idiot!", Mika said with a jealous and concerned look on her face.
Grace was awed at the cute expression. Although Mika takes care of Grace as a mom, she has her moments when she is a total baby who holds onto Grace like her favourite doll.
Grace chuckled, "No, rest assured. It's definitely NOT a crush."
"Then who?", Mika asked looking eagerly at Grace.
Grace told Mika everything that happened after she ran for class.
"What a JERK!", she shouted. "You shouldn't even have said sorry to such a creep. If I were you, I would have kicked him. so he falls off with his face on the ground this time."
"Now now, Mika.", Grace patted her head. "Not only that though. Because I ran into him, I missed my chance to enter the class before the professor did. Now I have to write a five-page essay by tomorrow.", Grace sighed.
Mika patted her back, "aw c'mon! don't be sad. You would be happy to know that I found the music room."
Grace's eyes lit up. Finally, something good was happening. "You did it! You really did!!", Grace shook Mika.
"Yes yes, I really did.", Mika pushed Grace away. But that didn't help. Grace jumped on Mika and hugged her tight, "thank you! What would I do without you?!".
Mika chuckled, remembering the time when Grace ran to her house and told her she isn't going with her parents. They both cried together that night, but this time with a tear of happiness. Since then they both have opened up to each other. They started from hugs, sharing meals, going places together to sharing their innermost thoughts, cuddling and taking care of each other.
"Hey let's go", Grace interrupted Mika's thoughts.
"Alright.", Mika said with a smile.
The music room was more crowded than Grace expected. "Hey, are you sure we're in the right room? The crowd is kind of too much.", Grace enquired Mika.
"Yeah, it was more crowded when I came. Apparently, the president is a big deal.", she replied having a lollipop.
"President?"
"Yeah, he's a big shot hotty with an exceptional heartwarming voice."
"Seriously?"
"Or so I've been told. Never seen or heard him myself though.", Mika Smirked.
Grace frowned. They moved forward to see what is actually happening, but Grace's shorter than average height was really not helping them. She even tried jumping but got nothing.
"Why do you even try?", Mika asked sarcastically smirking on her, slurping her milkshake.
"Owe shut up!", Grace flustered. "And where the hell do you keep on getting so many snacks?!", she asked with a confused look all over her red tomato face.
"I just keep buying frequently. Mika never says 'no no' to the sweet stuff.", Mika said with a straight face, even though it made her sound like a complete five-year-old.
Grace just diverted her eyes to not make fun of her. "C'mon, let's walk a little further to see what's this all about."
Mika nodded. They stepped forward and saw the guy who was talking to Nate earlier that day. "Hey what's going on?", she poked him.
"oh, this? Our president is actually looking for a singer and other members for the band he's forming.", he said politely.
Grace's eyes sparkled. The exact reason she came to the music room was now becoming an opportunity for her. From a long time ago, nothing grabs her passion except for music. 'To be actually starting a band with such a talented guy would be the best thing ever', she thought to herself.
"So, are you interested in auditioning?", the guy asked as he saw Grace's eyes sparkling wide open.
"Yes please", Mika answered with hesitation. "Can we both go for it?"
"Yes sure!", the guy answered with excitement. "This way please."
"Stop sparking all over the place and come with me.", Mika said as she was dragging Grace with her.
The crowd was growing at an alarming rate. As Grace was moving forward her self confidence was gradually decreasing. Everyone seemed so talented. Their faces were reflecting their confidence and proud of their personality. Grace never faced such a situation. In the town where she grew up, there wasn't any event which made her nervous. Now she understood it was because of a low number of people around her. The line kept moving. She was now able to hear people perform. 'Oh wow, everyone seems so good. Are they even college students?', she thought to herself.
"If you keep being nervous like this, I won't stop myself from punching you.", Mika whispered in her ears.
That's right! She is here too. Grace felt relieved. The aura around her started calming down. She sang a lot in front of her. They even practised together. At least there's someone who believes in her, Grace thought to herself.
Soon enough there were only two people in front of her. She could not see a part of the president's face. Her curiosity made her want to take a peek. How would the president of the music club actually look like? Someone whose voice is so respected must be having an exceptional personality as well. 'he would definitely NOT be like the jerk I bumped into earlier.', she nodded.
But how would life not be boring without these fun surprises? As she peeked through the line, she couldn't help but think it was only her imagination.
'OH NO, IT CAN'T BE!'
"What can't be?", Mika poked from behind.
"huh? How did you read my mind?", Grace inquired.
"You were literally thinking out loud.", Mika said with a sarcastic look.
"ugh. It is that guy I told you about. From this afternoon."
"Him? That jerk is here?"
"Not only here. HE is the president.", Grace sighed in agony.
"Your life is a comedy isn't it?", Mika said as if she was a philosopher.
"Next please.", Nate shouted.
Grace was startled by it. She quickly stepped forward. Her legs were trembling. All she could think about was, what if this guy holds grudges? Or why does the president have to be a jerk? How did she land here? Wasn't this going to be a good year?
As Grace was lost in her imagination, she didn't say anything. Everyone was expecting the president to say something.
But this time, nothing was going normally.
Nate was experiencing something he never did before. It was love at first sight. Something that he didn't believe in. Something he made fun of. The guy who went around from one girl to another searching for that 'the one' for him, was frozen at his seat. His mind felt like it was the end of his search. Can anyone be in love with how someone looks here and there? Well, he was. He noticed her from head to toe. Her fluffy curly hair, her fair skin, her not slim but chubby figure, he shorter than average height, her long eyelashes, even the mole on her lip!
On the other hand, everyone in the room was confused by what was happening here.
A guy next to Nate broke the tension, as he shook him, "Say something, mister."
Nate, even though he didn't want to, came back to reality. "O-Oh yeah yeah. Hello miss, I'm Nate. President of this club. Can you please tell us your name and what are you going to sing for us?"
Grace felt a little weird. 'Does he not know who I am.', she thought.
"My name is Grace, I'm a fresher.", she bowed properly. "I'm going to be singing 'Can't help falling in love, By Elvis Presley."
'Okay, now it's time to shine.', Grace heard in her mind. She moved her eyes towards Mika. She smiled at her and nodded. This was the gesture of appreciation from Mika to Grace. She took a deep breath and started singing.
As Grace started, the whole room's vibration changed. Her voice filled up the voids. Everyone hushed down as they felt the sweet melody reaching their ears. It was like heaven on earth for them.
At that one moment, it felt as if the angel itself is playing her music.
For Nate, it meant something more than everyone else in the room. It was a confirmation for him that everything that he was searching for was right in front of him. He couldn't ask for more. As Grace was singing, he could hear his heart beating faster. He felt nostalgic about the moment when he chose to take music as his career. The moment when he realized the depth of a single vibration. It was as if the sea carrying a beautiful tide to form seven colours. Like when birds move to fly around in the blue sky. Like the stars twinkling at night. Like heaven's glory. Like freedom.
He knew at that moment; his search was over. He didn't expect his singer to also be his love, but it was anyway. His body was felt with joy. His heart was felt with warmth. It was indeed what he was looking for.
Even though he wanted to keep his cool, his eyes let some tears out. These were the first 'tears of happiness' for Nate. He could be in that moment forever. His thoughts were clear now. He knew what he had in front of him was precious. He was ready to treasure her.
'I would never let you go.'