Ten seconds.
Antonio and the young man with teal irises stared silently at one another for a total of ten seconds.
Antonio was about to break the silence first and greet the other but the man swiftly flicked his head away from Antonio with furrowed brows.
Antonio also furrowed his brows in confusion.
'What's wrong with this man?'
He thought and just focused his gaze at the circular platform at the center of the colosseum.
It was the stage.
Someone was already walking on the platform.
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the Grand Performing Arts Academy!"
A sophisticated old madam announced while standing behind an audio podium.
Everyone in the colosseum closed their mouths shut and paid close attention to the woman.
"I am Ms. Jennifer Hale, your host for today."
She introduced herself and scanned the people in the audience seats.
She then smiled as she gaze at the area where Antonio seated … the seat area assigned for all freshmen students of the academy.
"Before we start, I would like to acknowledge the presence of the academy's chairwoman, Madam Laura Murray! Let's all listen to Chairwoman Murray's speech."
The host said in a very lively manner before leaving the podium.
Soon, a middle-aged woman walked to the podium and surveyed the whole colosseum with her gaze.
Her eyes first landed on the countless media outlets and agencies' representatives.
Then, she stopped her sight at the freshmen students' area.
She then began her speech by welcoming the new students before she acknowledged the presence of other people in the colosseum.
After her speech, the host went back to stand behind the podium and uttered what she needed to utter.
She discussed the policies of the academy and other things needed for orientation.
"With that, the orientation for the new students has now come to a close."
She ended the orientation with a wide smile on her face.
She then moved her gaze to the numerous representatives from different entertainment sectors.
For the representatives, the end of the student orientation is a sign for them to try to recruit a student in the academy that they have their eyes on.
Most of them are currently looking at Antonio and want to be the first person to be able to talk to him.
They quickly stood up from their seats to head to the students' area.
Most of the freshmen still didn't know what was going on so they remained seated in their seats and planned to give way to representatives who seemed to be in a hurry to exit the colosseum.
Meanwhile, Antonio already knows what's going to happen because his aunt and uncle told him in advance that this was like a tradition of the academy during the first day of the freshmen. .
It may seem like an opportunity to others, but for Antonio, he doesn't want to be pressured by recruitments.
In fact, he wants to be the one to choose which entertainment he would join.
Thus, he quickly stood up from his seat and quickly fled to the exit.
"Ah, wait!"
"Sir, excuse me?!"
"Oh no, he's getting away."
People from various entertainment sectors started panicking as they saw Antonio leaving the colosseum rapidly.
Since Antonio was seated in the furthest back area of the colosseum, the people sitting in the front row seats naturally didn't notice him.
But now that he was walking away and heading to the exit, added to that that a lot of people were calling out to his direction, the students that were sitting in the front rows as well as other people in the colosseum, turned their gazes to his direction.
It was at that moment, they saw a hard to see kind of human beauty.
A person with a height that maybe around 168 cm is walking elegantly towards the exit.
Most of the students felt excitement upon seeing that he seems to be their schoolmate.
Some felt admiration and attraction.
While others look jealous of the person's beauty.
From the people's point of view, it was hard to tell at first if the person is a man or a woman because of his height and soft features that made him look feminine.
He has a flat chest but people didn't quickly think he is a man because there are a lot of women who are flat chested nowadays.
Yet, somehow, they know that he is a man because of certain things that you will only find in a man.
Adam's apple and a broad shoulder.
Antonio's shoulder may not look that broad if you compared it to man.
But his shoulder is definitely broader than the females around his age.
Antonio hastened his steps as he started to feel uncomfortable on the piercing stares directed to him.
He beamed when he saw that he was now only a few steps away from the exit.
He was about to rejoice but suddenly, a representative from some entertainment sector blocked his way from who knows where while huffing.
"H-hello sir, can I ask for your time for a moment?"
The representative asked with a wide smile on his face.
Antonio knows that he should be happy to be approached by a person from an entertainment agency.
However, the feeling of being approached just because of his face and not his skills and talents is quite annoying to him.
While he was having a hard time thinking of how to politely refuse the man, a sudden help came to rescue him from the situation.
"I'm sorry but my friend couldn't spare you his time for now as there was an emergency that we needed to attend immediately … then, please excuse us."
A baritone voice spoke from Antonio's side and an arm wrapped around his shoulder.
The voice was extremely polite so the man who asked for Antonio's time stepped aside and gave way for them.
Antonio then felt his body being dragged away by the man who claimed to be his friend.
He looked at the man who was dragging him.
It was the young man beside him earlier with red hair and teal irises.
They managed to pass the exit then went to one of the rooms in the hallway.
That was where the man let go of him.
"I'm sorry for butting in but it seems that you were truly uncomfortable there, that's why."
The young man spoke while scratching the back of his neck as if he was embarrassed.
Antonio observed the man for a moment.
'Didn't he ignore me like a narcissist before the orientation started? Why is he acting like a decent person now?"
Antonio thought before he smiled at the person.
No matter what, the man still helped him out during that moment so he felt really grateful to the man.
So he spoke.
"Please don't apologize, you really helped me there—thank you."
He then smiled to express his gratitude.
The man in front of him gawked at his face for several seconds before managing to snap out of his senses.
"Ah … no problem! I'm Arata Fuji … Fuji is my name by the way and Arata is my last name."
The young man enthusiastically introduced himself to Antonio.
Eagerness to make friends with Antonio is visible in his expression.
'Huh? Isn't Brother Yuji's last name also Arata?'
Antonio wondered if the two men are related to each other.
He looked at Fuji's face and compared it to Yuji but he can't find any resemblance with the two.
'Maybe they only have the same surname but are not actually related.'
Antonio concluded after seeing that Fuji and Yuji's face doesn't really fit the faces of people who are related.
He then spoke.
"I'm Antonio Christian Legaspi ... just call me however you like."
Fuji flinched slightly after hearing Antonio's surname but he maintained his composure.
"Legaspi? That Legaspi? Are you one of Christopher Legaspi's sons?"
Fuji asked curiously.
He wants to confirm if the person in front of him is a son of a very powerful figure.
"Hmm, how did you come up with that question? As far as I know, there are a lot of people with the surname of Legaspi in the country—aren't I a lucky person if I am really Christopher Legaspi's son?"
Antonio replied.
He didn't lie nor say the direct honest answer to the question.
He just made it ambiguous enough so the person who heard his answer would be more inclined to believe that he is just an ordinary person.
For the time being, he doesn't want people to find out that he came from a powerful background.
He wants to make a name for himself first through his own talents and skills and not because of his family status.
Moreover, he knows that if the students in the academy know his background, there will be jealousy and trouble coming to him.
He doesn't plan to hide his family background, rather, he just wants to be careful of those people who have the habit of taking advantage of rich kids.
In any case, if someone does really find out his real family status, he won't deny it.
He conversed with Fuji for a while before he decided to go back to his condo as the real class will really start tomorrow.
During his conversation with Fuji, he found out that the man wanted to act just like him.
And that's how the first day of Antonio went in the Grand Performing Arts Academy.