No Ordinary Love - Chapter 1

I woke up around 6 o’clock in the morning and I felt something heavy over the covers of my feet. I sat up to see what it is. And I saw a box wrapped in blue pinstriped wrapper with a blue ribbon and a card that says,

“For our beautiful daughter,

As a reward for her hard work and dedication!

Love,

Mom and Dad”

After reading what the card says, I hurriedly rip open the cover and found a packaged laptop. I was surprised and I hug it very tight. I opened it to make sure Mom and Dad are not playing tricks on me as what they have always done. I pulled it out and found a latest model of Compaq Notebook. I hugged it again and pulled out other stuff inside the box. I then hurriedly dress up. I am in my usual get up, the zip-up cropped jacket over a graphic tee, fitted jeans, a pair of high-cut Converse sneakers and vintage cap. I then gathered all my stuff, my iPod, my old and new laptop, my digital camera, my palm organizer, my cell phone, my wallet, music notebooks, pens and other accessories and put them all in my messenger bag. I also grabbed my guitars and put them on their cases. I hurriedly then went down for breakfast. I saw Mom preparing a cup of coffee for Dad while he is reading a newspaper. I put all my stuff down in the living room and went into the kitchen.

My Dad is a businessman; he owns a chain of department stores. My Mom is a baker, she owns a café. Actually it already has three branches in the country, and another one in England which my older brother manages. My older brother is studying there for college. ‘Know what? My brother never liked England not until he met this hot English gal in Mexico during our vacation there two years ago. Oh, I miss that man. I wish he’s here to see this scene.

“Good morning Mom! Good morning Dad!” I greeted them loudly and they smiled back. I hugged each of them and give them many kisses on the face and said, “Thank you for the brand new laptop!” They both smiled at me and we had a group hug. And we had breakfast as always with a laugh.

After breakfast, I bid goodbye to both of them to go to school. I drove my rocking pink Chevrolet Veo. It was my parents’ gift last Christmas.

I am studying in a famous International Art School in the country. You know the one like in a famous Korean TV series. The students here are big time. There are a few that is a member of a royal family. Some are working in Hollywood; I mean young actresses and actors. Some are daughters and sons of great businessmen, businesswomen, politicians, actors and actresses. I could say that many girls here can follow the steps of Paris Hilton in the future. And a few boys could be like Prince William in the future. A crown prince is enrolled here. But that sounds normal for me. I don’t care if he’s the prince of the world. As long as I’m happy living my life. Whenever he and his colleagues pass by us, I don’t mind looking at them. Duh! I don’t like him. But then, I had to admit, he’s a real Hottie!

Just like any other ordinary schools we have our own versions of the plastics, who are always after socializing, gossips and pretensions; the jocks, who always brags about their winning stunts, girls and everything under that; the cheerleaders, who always talk about boys and their steps; the punks, who always tackles about songs from different punk rock bands; the skateboarders and bikers, who loves dangerous stunts; the science club, who always talk about theories and chemicals and the existence of different creatures ‘round the globe; the theater people, who always shows off their theatrical ability; the debaters club, who always argues on issues in politics and society; the bookworms, who always loves to read and barter books from each other; and the neutral people, that’s me and my friends, who have different interests but is bonded in the name of friendship and oneness.

Well anyways, I am a Music-major in this institution. My major instrument is the guitar and my minor instrument is the piano. My favorites are in the genre of punk. Well that includes punk rock, emo-punk and the like. My friends are far from what you are thinking I could have. They’re not into punk music their not into things like that. They are simple but real friends and they have made a great difference in my life. They are Rozen the eldest of all, Cathy the bookworm, Joanna the prank one, Janne the happy-go-lucky gal, Daphne the silent one, Vince the beauty queen, Richelle the beautiful genius, Dawn the math wizard, Sonny Lou the aspiring songbird, Cecile the rebel one, Ghealze the strong willed one and Kristina the pretty bookworm (she has the most number of admirers in our group!). We are thirteen all in all. Yes, you have read it right we are T-H-I-R-T-E-E-N.

Rozen is Canadian-American and an applied arts student. Her mom is one of the professors in our school and her Dad owns a livestock corporation. Cathy is pure American and is a journalism student. Her family owns a big law firm. Joanna is English-American and an industrial design student. Her parents are one of the owners of a computer programming company. Janne is French and a fashion design student. Her mom is a designer who also owns her very own clothing line while her Dad is a car dealer. Daphne is Filipino-American and an animation student. Her family is one of the owners of a film production company. Vince is Portuguese and a ballet dancer. Her family owns a large furniture company. Richelle is Austrian-American and a performing arts student. Her father is into real estates business and her mom is doing charity works. Dawn is Japanese-English and a photography student. Her mom works in a big company in London. Sonny Lou is Mexican-American an aspiring singer and is also a performing arts student. Her mother is a volunteer teacher in the suburbs and her father is a licensed engineer and works with the largest construction company in Seattle. Cecile is Chinese-American and is also a fashion design student. Her mom is a politician (but she prefers not to talk about it!) while her Dad is the assistant of the Royal Secretary. Ghealze is Bolivian and is a film and video production student. Her ‘rents are resort owners. They own one in Florida. Kristina is Greek-American and is also a fashion design student. Her mom is always traveling. And we haven’t got any clue what her work really is.

I arrived ten minutes before the bell rings. Many students are already here. When I went out of my car, Raven approached me. He is my best friend and is also a Music major. They own a big motor company.

“Hi,” he greeted in his usual greeting tone. He smiled and laid his back on my car with his arms folded in front of him.

“Hi,” I greeted back smiling as I open the back compartment of my car and gather all my stuff.

“So, what’s the mood of the day?” he asked. I throw my messenger bag over my shoulder and pulled my guitars. I step back a little and closed the compartment. He grabbed one of my guitars to lessen my burden. I gave a thank you. We then started walking towards the building and I said, “The mood for today? I guess it’s still normal. The usual mood I mean.”

He looked at me weirdly and went, “Nah! You can fool other people but not me.” We looked at each other eye-to-eye. He’s trying to catch me. And as what have always happened he caught me.

“Ok. I give up. You got me,” I said and added, “Well, I’m just happy. Mom and Dad gave me a present this morning. And when I saw them in the kitchen this morning, I was so touched that their love for each other didn’t wear out in a very long time they have been together. And I pity my big bro in not seeing that scene this morning.” I sighed and face him. He’s looking at me with this look again. The one that you wouldn’t know what it says.

I looked at him back and asked, “What?”

He is still looking at me, “Nothing. It’s just that I don’t know how to react.”

“It’s okay, I don’t expect any reaction from you anyway,” I said to him and laughed. I gave him a slight tap on the shoulder and went in the building.

I saw Marivic in the benches with her boyfriend Matthew. Marivic is Latin American and is a commercial art student but we are classmates in one subject, surprisingly. Her mom is one of the designers for the stars in Hollywood and her Dad works in the government. Matthew is a Canadian and is also a Music major like me. His family owns a real estate company in Canada.

“Hey,” I said and added, “I’m sorry for my disturbance, have you seen my boys ‘round here?” I smiled at them mischievously.

“Oh, I haven’t seen your boys ‘round here. I’m sorry to disappoint you,” Marivic answered back and we all laughed.

The best friends Ross and Mari were chatting in the benches with Bar, Hugh, Jocko, Donald and Kareem. But Dave wasn’t there. All of them are music majors like me except for Donald who is in industrial design department. Ross and Mari are best of friends and so are their mothers. Ross is Spanish-American while Mari is Japanese-American. Ross’s mother is a scriptwriter and an editor of a magazine and Mari’s mom is a theatre actress. Their mothers are both away always. So they decided to buy a house for the two of them. And now they are happy living together. Bar is American-Chinese. His father is one of the stockholders of a motor company. Hugh is English. His father is a duke in England. Donald is American-Japanese. His father is the CEO of their own gaming company. Kareem is Latin American. His family owns a coffee exporting company.

“Hi guys!” I greeted.

“Hi!” they greeted back.

“So, what’s new?” I asked.

“Uhm…” Bar thought for a while, and finally said, “The Used got a new album and ‘My Chemical Romance’ will be invited for the departments’ soiree next month.”

“Wow, that’s great!” I exclaimed, “That’s a great idea!”

“Jed’s, Dave passed by here awhile ago,” Ross announced.

“Yeah, and I heard that they’ll be performing with the band on the soiree,” Mari informed and the other agreed.

“Wow! So I would be able to hear Marvin rocking the guitars once again,” I said and we all laughed.

I had more chat with them and bid goodbye and proceed to the café for lunch.

They are my other group of friends. They’re the ones who have influenced my music so much. But they’re not part of the ‘The Neutrals’.

We all, I mean the thirteen of us, gathered in our favorite bench. We then went to the café together. We settled ourselves in this very long table in the café. Surprisingly, we are the only group that can fill up that very long table for lunch. I feel like it was meant for us. Trish, our friend and is a waitress in the café, went out to get orders.

“So, what’s the meal of the day?” she asked.

“Nothing,” Cathy answered and smiled.

“Why? Is there something wrong?” she asked worriedly.

“Nah! It’s just that we want to have something new,” Janne answered to ease her worry.

“Yeah, we don’t like the monopoly anymore,” Joanna added.

“Oh! That’s good,” she said and added, “that way you would know what one really likes.” She then gets our orders.

While waiting for Trish, we had our usual chitchat.

“So Kristina, how’s it going with Monnien?” Ghealze asked.

“He’s still hoping,” she answered sadly.

“Well, I guess he really likes you very much,” I said and added, “he wouldn’t wait for almost 8 months if he really doesn’t like you, right?” She just looked at me and I look at her.

She sighed and said, “I really don’t know what to do with him.”

“You got to decide girl or else you’ll find yourself not knowing what to do,” Cathy advised.

Trisha came with our orders. While munching in our meal, Vince called our attention.

“Girls, don’t you think the prince look to old in near view?” she asked with eyes locked on nowhere thinking deeply. We all throw each other a weird look. We didn’t expect her to say that line. She has the biggest crush on the prince.

“Vince, are you serious?” Richelle asked to clarify.

“Yes, I am,” she answered back.

“What made you say that?” Daphne asked.

“He talked to me after our History class this morning,” she answered back.

“What? The crown prince talked to you this morning? Wow, Vince! That’s an achievement,” Sonny Lou said in a very fast tone. Each and every one of us gave a comment.

Then I eagerly asked, “What did he say to you?”

She looked at me weirdly. She has never done that before to me. She thought for a while and said, “Nothing!” I decided not to add more questions to ask her to, she might be irritated by those. I can sense something bad with her answer.

We all continued in our meals. Vince was still looking at me with that weird look. I’m puzzled by this one. After we had lunch, we went out to set who will go with whom.

“I’ll go with Vince,” I said. She looked at me with anguish and started walking briskly.

I ran after her and caught her by the arm and said, “What’s your problem?” I’m losing my patience this time.

She didn’t answer me and just looked at me with anguish on her eyes. I let go of my grip and she started walking again. I ran after her again and walked with her when I caught her up, “Vince, would you just please tell me what’s going on!”

“I don’t want to! Just, just leave me alone!!!” she shouted at me and went on to her path.

I went back to the group and asked them, “What’s wrong with her?” No one answered because no one knows what the reason is.

When I went in the concert hall, nobody was still there. I went up the stage to make sure no one is there. I sat on the stage, swinging my feet back and forth. I thought deeply for the reasons that have to do with Vince and the crown prince. In the middle of my thinking I felt something cold touch my upper arm. I looked up and saw Dave smiling down at me and handing me a can of Pepsi. He is the bassist of their band. He’s one of the best players of bass guitar in our batch. His father serves in the army while her mother is a teacher in Harvard. And lastly, he’s my ultimate crush. I grabbed the soda from his hand and say my thanks. He then sat beside me and asked, “What’s bothering you?”

“Vince,” I answered as I open the Pepsi.

“Vince? But why, what happened to her?” he asked. He already knew my twelve friends since we became friends.

“She acted so weird this lunch, she suddenly got angry with us,” I answered back and after a pause I added, “or just with me.” And I drink up some soda.

“Why do you think so that she’s angry?” he asked.

“She shouted back at me when I asked her what’s wrong with her,” I explained.

“Well, I guess you got to give her a little ‘knock knock’ on her head,” he advised and added, “She might need some shaking, too.”

“Oh no, I can’t do that to my friend or else I’ll be left out without anyone to hold onto and loose all my friends,” I said kidding.

“Uhm… Jed’s?” he said.

“What?” I answered back.

“Are you free next weekend?” he asked.

“Next weekend? Uhm… Let me see,” I said and reach for my organizer in my messenger bag. I looked at my schedule for the next weekend. I’m free and I saw that I’ll be resting the whole weekend.

“I’m free next weekend, why ask?” I said.

“It’s just that… Uhm… I’m just wandering if I could take you out,” he said in an almost shaky voice.

“What do you mean take me out?” I asked.

“I mean, you going out with me. And, and Bar and the other guys. You know that kind of stuff,” he explained so fast that I began to laugh. “Why are you laughing?” he asked.

“You’re so funny,” I said still laughing.

“Why do you say so?” he asked again.

“You’re panicking, can’t you see?” I answered and added, “So defensive.” When I finished laughing, silence fell between us. I look down to think. Should I believe him? Well, I guess I should.

“I’ll go,” I said without looking at him. I heard him sigh in relief. I looked at him and I saw that he’s smiling from ear to ear.

“Well, thank you for trusting me,” he said and added, “So I’ll pick you up at 9 in the morning. Wear any comfortable outfit that would be fine.” He then stood up to go. But before he could make his fifth step, he turned around and said, “Oh! Don’t forget to bring some extra clothes.”

“Okay,” I simply answered back.

“You’ve got to be killing me,” Cecile said after I told them about what Dave had said.

“How did he ask you out?” Dawn asked.

“He just asked me if I’m free next weekend and I told him that I am and he asked me if he could take me out and said yes and that’s it,” I explained to them. Then they asked questions such as, “Where will he take you?”; “What would you do there?” and blah blah blah! I just looked at them smiling at their funny faces and just sat there. But then I remembered Dave told me that we’ll be with Bar and the other guys.

“But wait,” I called them and added, “I guess I forgot a little detail.”

“Wait, before you spill it out, I am warning you that I’m getting nervous with that detail you are going to say,” Rozen told me.

I looked down and said, “Well, I guess so that you would.”

“What do you mean?” Cecile asked wearing that worried look on her face.

“We’re not alone,” I said and they all sighed in disgust.

“Why? Who’s going with you two?” Richelle asked in disgust.

“They can’t be ruining your date with Dave,” Cathy commented.

“Well, his group of friends will be there and also Ross and Mari and Marivic,” I said.

“Oh them,” Rozen said with her tone of disappointment.

“Guys, let’s not get there again,” I explained and added, “They’re my friends too.”

“So you are saying that they are part of this ‘The Neutrals’ thingy?” Joanna asked me.

“It’s not like that,” I said.

“So, what would it be like, huh?” Janne asked and added, “Dump us after you got what you want?”

“I’m sorry guys. I don’t want to make you feel bad about me or something but it’s just that that’s the only thing that would make me know more about him and would help me in my updates for my major. I’m really sorry,” I answered and added, “I know it’s selfish. And I know that you would not like it. But I’m still hoping that you guys would understand because you’re my friends.” And tears began falling from eyes. And they went to comfort me except for Vince.