It only took them a week to get acquainted, well now they were more than acquaintances. Serenity never, not once in her dream did she imagine that she would be friends with the most popular guys in school. She was a wallflower before Quincey and Galene became her friends. Galene was your average achiever while Quincey was someone that the whole school was afraid of.
The three of them made an odd bunch but that was just how they were and they complemented one another just perfectly. Now, in Clandestine High, there were seven of them. Because of the seating arrangement last time, the three can't help becoming acquainted with the members of Phoenix Harmony.
"Hey Kenzo, think you can drink faster than Quincey?"
Galene jests as she hands Kenzo the milkshake they bought from the canteen. Kenzo looked at Quincey and offered her the milkshake as a sign of challenge. Quincey entertained the thought but when Kenzo started downing the milkshake, she just put hers on the table. A moment later Kenzo stopped sipping his milkshake and grasping his head.
"Are you an idiot"
Drystan shook his head as he stared at Kenzo choking on the milkshake while a brain freeze attacked his head.
"Quincey you cheater, I won that one"
"Sure sure, afterall I'm not an idiot who would let Galene provoke me"
Quincey nonchalantly says before sipping on her milkshake slowly, Galene's laughter and Kenzo's accusing tone and fingers made their small circle seem too lively. Somehow this made Serenity anxious, she was aware of the death stares that their female classmates kept on giving them.
She knew that Galene and Quincey could feel it too. But, Quincey couldn't care less and Galene could just laugh it off like how she usually does.
Serenity sighed, even before, she was the anxious one out of the three of them. She didn't know how to fend herself off and she wouldn't know what to do if she found herself in a spot where it would be dangerous. And she just knows how dangerous a jealous woman can be.
Malkiel who had been staring at her noticed her deep breaths and glances. He followed her line of sight and saw that she was glancing at a group of girls by the side.
"Hey uhh Serenity are you alright?"
Malkiel leaned closer to Serenity as he quietly asked her, Serenity had to blink twice before she asked back.
"Yes? Out of nowhere?"
"Well, you just looked like you had a problem just now"
Serenity chuckled nervously as she felt embarrassed, she didn't know that someone was paying her any attention. She fidgeted with her fingers.
"It's alright I guess"
She gave Malkiel a meek smile which the male didn't appreciate. If there was anything that he learned after a week, it was that he liked Serenity's smiles. It brightens up his day when he sees them and sours when he sees her sad.
It was weird, he thought.
Before he could even console Serenity, their next class teacher came and everybody went back to their seats.
🎙🎶🎙
When classes had ended, Malkiel decided to ask the girls to hang out. He was determined to see Serenity cheer up today.
"Hey, you guys want to go to the newly opened burger joint?"
Everybody looked at him. Koa, Kenzo, and Drystan found it unusual that Malkiel had initiated a hangout because he had never done it before.
"I think we have to pass"
Galene was the one who answered Malkiel. She apologetically smiled before glancing at Serenity.
"Sorry Malkiel, we have to go to the teacher's office about the club and organizations we need to register."
"After that, everyone has their plans"
"Aren't you just planning on sleeping Quincey?"
Kenzo's mocking remark made Quincey raise an eyebrow. Before the two could even start their bickering, Galene pushed Quincey to the door.
"Maybe next time we could go together. See you later"
As Serenity bid them farewell, Malkiel couldn't do anything but wave his hands. The other three men gathered around him and simultaneously patted him in the back.
"Don't mind, it's only your first rejection."
"You'll get used to it don't worry"
Malkiel felt himself burning up.
"Shut up it wasn't a rejection okay, they said they had something to do. Besides, I asked the three of them not just Serenity"
"Ohh so it really is because of Serenity"
Malkiel was taken aback as he was caught off guard by Koa. The three already knew that his invitation meant something. They weren't best friends since grade school for nothing.
Koa put his arms around Malkiel's shoulders and walked with him out of the classroom.
"Come on, tell us what's really going on. It's not like you could keep it hidden from us forever."
Malkiel pondered on it and when he knew that it was something he wouldn't be able to handle, he finally gave in.
"I think Serenity, Quincey, and Galene are having a hard time because of the girls"
"Girls?"
Drystan and Kenzo who walked after them squinted their eyes and looked at each other.
"What do you mean by girls?"
"I saw Serenity earlier glancing at the girls banding together at the side of the room."
"And?"
"Well, I'm not an idiot for not noticing. They may be fans of ours and you know maybe us hanging out with the girls makes them..."
Malkiel couldn't utter the last word but regardless everyone knew what he was going to say.
Jealous
"Well, that is to be expected"
"It may pose a problem for the three. After all, this was the first time that our circle accepted girls"
"That's why I'm worried, it certainly looked like Serenity was thinking about it"
Drystan looked outside the window and saw the three heading to the two-story teacher's lounge.
"Or it may not"
Koa and Malkiel looked back and Kenzo looked where Drystan was looking. He also saw the three girls making their way to the building.
"Weren't they preparing to choose a club to join? After they pick one, we might not hang out all together again."
Malkiel's shoulders laxed out.
"Hey Drys, did you need to say that?"
"Koa's right didn't you know that uhmm..."
Kenzo glanced at Malkiel before proceeding to whisper to Drystan in his loud voice.
"That Malkiel likes Serenity"
Drystan raised an eyebrow at Kenzo before pushing his face farther from his.
"I know, and that wasn't a whisper"
Drystan pointed at Malkiel who was now blushing red. He never thought that his friends would be this perceptive about his likes.
"You were so obvious Malkiel"
Koa laughingly pats Malkiel on the back, something that only makes Malkiel more embarrassed.
"You fall so quickly, did you know that?"
Malkiel ignored Kenzo's comment. Of course, he knew that he couldn't believe it either but he knew that he was drawn to Serenity from the first time he saw her and he knew that he wanted to be beside her.
"That's why I didn't want to tell you guys."
"Anyway, I don't think you'll need to be worried about them anymore. It'll fade away and besides..."
Drystan walked ahead of them before turning around with his devilish grin. The three instantly knew that their leader had something ominous going on in his head.
"We need to practice harder if we're going to join the battle of the bands"