Their College Days had finally begun. Since it was a private university, the students were required to wear a uniform. As usual, Joe bought male uniforms at Madame Lila's protest but the former won in the end with the help of David and though Kenji believed that Joe appearing like a girl would be the best, still, would not force the issue on her so took Joe's side.
Together, the three of them rode on David's two-year-old sedan. David parked his car at the student's parking space and the three of them walked out. It was college and mature girls would not scream or act childish when they see three good-looking rich males. That is how impressive the student body of the University of Chiness could get!
Still, though the girls were all ladylike, decent and well mannered, they could not hide the fact that the three newcomers had gotten their attention. The trio did not realize their effect on the lives of the student body in the university until the end of the day.
Overall, the university was great. The professors were all very intellectual and obviously very knowledgeable about their fields of expertise.. Kenji's first professor was a woman who at the sight of him almost fainted. David's professors were all pleased with him because of his brilliance in all classes. Joe, on the other hand, was having trouble in theories but is excellent in application. With that classes were over and the end of the day came.
The trio was walking to the parking lot when they were handed a copy of the school's newspaper which as they were told is also available on the university's website. Joe was not that interested but her eyes widened upon seeing the headline and the picture: The Ji's Entered the Chiness' Gates Joe quickly skimmed its pages and was astonished at what she read. For lack of a better word, most of the paper is about the three of them.
"What are you looking at?" David asked her and took a quick glance at the paper.
"We're on the news," she answered.
"Let me see," Kenji said and took the newspaper. He read the feature article out loud:
-KENJI JI
From the City of Wakata-- the firstborn son of business magnates Kenshin and Tomoe Ji. He is majoring in business administration though he loves music. His special qualities were his eyes. Research tells that women were captivated when he began to play any musical instrument but the effects of his guitar and piano are incurable. -
Joe chuckled. "They made you sound like the Pied Piper of Hamelin," Joe teased. Kenji smiled at her and continued reading.
-Certified player but was never in-loved.-
"Pervert," Joe reacted. Kenji laughed.
-DAVID JI
From the City of Chiness-- the only child of the President of the JC Industries. -
"Stop reading that," David answered. Kenji did not listen.
-He is taking up Architecture and has a full time basketball scholarship. Intelligence is his best quality. Research founded that his cold, mysterious, and quiet nature, not to mention his handsome face, left many hearts broken since he did not have any girlfriends yet.-
"Where did they get all that information?" Joe asked.
-JOE CHEN
From the City of Chiness-- this heartthrob might look like a dashing handsome prince but the truth is she is a girl. Her best quality is her smile. No wonder that even when the ladies found out that she is a girl, they would still want to date her because she is that captivating.
Kenji laughed as David took the newspaper from him and threw it in the trash bin nearby.
"Let's go," he said and the three of them went in the car.
*****
That night, Kenji took out his guitar and went to the terrace. He took a seat and began to pick on the strings. He closed his eyes as he began to be lost in his music. He was picking the notes of Only Reminds Me Of You by MYMP in memory.
"I see you, beside me... It's only a dream… A vision of what used to be.."
He opened his eyes upon hearing someone singing. It was Joe. She smiled and motioned for him to continue as she continued on singing…
"The laughter, the sorrow… Pictures in time… Fading to memories…"
David heard someone singing… he followed the voice.
"How could I ever let you go?..Is it too late to let you know."
Joe sat down across Kenji. Kenji gazed at her as she sang.
"I tried to run from your side… But each place I hide… It only reminds me of you… When I turn out all the lights… Even the night...It only reminds me of you.."
David was able to locate the voice and smiled after seeing it was Joe. He hid himself behind the door to listen more. Kenji strummed the intro for the next verse. Then, Joe sang,
"I needed my freedom… That's what I've thought… But I was a fool to believe… My heart lied while you cried… Rivers of tears… But I was too blind to see… Everything we've been through before...Now it means so much more.."
Kenji joined in with the song, "I tried to run from your side… But each place I hide… It only reminds me of you… When I turn out all the light… Even the night… It only reminds me of you...Only you…"
The progression became different for the bridge of the song. Kenji harmonized with Joe in a perfect duet and strummed his guitar with intensity.. "So come back to me… I'm down on my knees… Boy can't you see…"
Then, Kenji slowed down and picked the notes in each string perfectly. David watched closely. Joe closed her eyes and sang softly, with a voice that matched the acoustic perfectly, "How could I ever let you go? Is it too late to let you know… I tried to run from your side… But each place I hide… It only reminds me of you… When I turn out all the lights… Even the night… It only reminds me of you."
Kenji stopped playing and looked at Joe. They were silent for a moment before Kenji broke the silence, "I never heard you sing before."
"I know, it has been a long time," she said and sat down like a boy.
Kenji smiled, "Tell me the story."
Joe smiled back, "I loved singing when I was young. I would always sing in my room and in the bathroom while taking a shower. My parents would laugh and encourage me to go on. So, they enrolled me for singing lessons. I had my singing lessons for three years. I guess, I still remember how to sing."
Kenji nodded, "Once music chooses you, wherever you are, whoever you think you are and whatever you do, it will never leave you."
Joe chuckled. "You sounded like a singing guru."
Kenji chuckled back. "Seriously though, you really have a beautiful and angelic voice. I am glad I had the pleasure of hearing it."
Joe scrunched her forehead, "What's with the formalities?"
"It's a compliment for a musician from a fellow musician."
"I am not a musician."
"You're a singer."
"Not anymore…"
"Why?"
She shrugged her shoulders, "Because I guess, I don't have reasons to sing anymore. Before, I sang to make my parents happy."
"Then, why don't you sing to make yourself happy?"
David heard the conversation. He looked at his best friend from a distance with gentle eyes. 'You will sing again, Joe. You will sing again,' he muttered quietly