Bubble Gum Kisses
CHAPTER 20

**Kapittel 20** ***Vanessa***

**"Bye, sweetie! Take a taxi on your way home!"** mom waved me goodbye enthusiastically before driving off, leaving me all alone in the parking lot. I groaned internally, ignoring the other students' curious stares at me as they pass by, it seemed that it was their first time seeing someone sent to school by their parents but I was not embarrassed by that though, my mom was a strong woman and I would never be embarrassed by her no matter what. Again, with mom, she won using the dad card, saying that if it were dad cajoling me to go to school and I refuse, he'd surely be upset. She's got a point though, dad valued education very much as he was formerly a dropout who came back to high school at 20 when he realized the value of schooling and what happened after successfully graduating. Getting a good job and a fine life. He always told me that story of his when I was a kid, that was why I always put in mind the importance of graduating and getting into a good college than a nice job later on. Upon his death, I valued it even more. I began making an ambition of giving mom and Zach a good life.

I sighed, thinking why I was thinking of lazing off earlier, thinking of going to school tomorrow instead of today. Why tomorrow when I could do it today? Why not today? That was stupid of me. Giving in to what I was feeling rather than what I'm ought to do. Self-control sure was hard, huh?

Taking another breath in, I turned on and stared at the façade before me. When we passed by the enormous gate earlier, I thought that it was just a show-off and everything else inside was just like in my former school; buildings with up to three to four floors, an open field large enough for a game of soccer can play, cafeteria and of course, a parking lot. But Trinity Knight here was a lot different. From the parking lot, I could see the enormous building with up to five floors and higher, and it was packed with lots of people, the large cafeteria with a bunch of fast-food chain restaurant slots one after another, and the field is four times wider that the students were playing three sports at once! This rather looked like a university than a high school campus to me. Maybe mom took me to the wro

*Ring!*

Hearing a sudden small ring, I took my phone out of my back pocket to see what it was. Turns out it was a text.

**From:** ***Katherine***

*It's your first day of school! I Have fun and make new friends, but don't forget us too! [*

The others are sending their regards btw.

A smile formed on my lips as my phone rang again with another message.

**From: *****Katherine***

*We'll replace a way to visit you. *]

"I wish you guys are here," I mumbled with the same smile etched on my face and touched my necklace. I wanted to call them on Facetime but I was sure they were busy doing stuff and goofing off right now, especially since we were now in our final year in high school and had to make the most of everything. I didn't want to disturb them just for small matters. I was just feeling a little lost and dazed just because I was on a new campus. Not to mention, Katherine texted me with a wish of having fun. That was already good enough for me.

I sent her a heart as a reply, feeling energized at the memory of my friends. Feeling that I was getting started on my day, I thought that it was time for me to move and head to the registrar's office.

"Vanessa Hathern?" the registrar asked me with a small smile and gentle look on her face. Wow, even the service here was amazing. My face sourced when I remembered my previous school's registrar, she'd raise her voice over the slightest squeak and purposely type on the keyboard harshly to show the students she was annoyed with them giving her work.

"Yes," I nodded and she did too, stating, "I see." She then looked down at the monitor of her computer and begin typing. When she stopped, she immediately grabbed a paper and pen out of nowhere and began scribbling fast on it before handing it to me along with a book and other cards with one of them having my face wearing an awkward smile.

"Take these, it contains your class schedule, and your student identification card-please wear this immediately. This is your student handbook, inside it is your campus map, admit-to-exam slip, books list that you need to reference for the textbooks which you need to claim in the book center before you go to class and a letter to the teachers, in case they're wondering who you are and if you are late. This one expires only for a week," she said under one breath, much to my astonishment. She took her breath for a minute before adding: "Welcome to Trinity Knight High School, by the way."

I took the papers she handed to me gently with a small thanks then left with small trudges despite feeling a bit awkward about what she said about the last paper. Looking at the campus map, I pondered. Looks like the campus was so large that students easily get lost and need to have their excuse for being lost legit. But the hard part was I needed to memorize the entire campus only for a week, I wish I had someone to give me a tour. I flipped the card to the back and saw today's schedule. I clicked my tongue, seeing that my first subject this morning was mathematics on the fourth floor of the STC building. Geez, what a great way to start my first day in this posh school.

I scratched my head and stopped in my tracks when I remembered something. Reminds me, the woman told me told to get my books first before heading to class. Grr. I flipped the school map back to the front to see where the book store was. My eyes widened when I learned that the bookstore was three buildings away from the current building I was in right now, the STC building was also two buildings away from the bookstore, and it was currently 7:25, 35 minutes before my first class. Dang, I was given a hard time on my first day.

**"Gosh, where am I?!"** I fumed, turning my head left and right, looking at every part, side, and corner of the building. It said on the map that the book center was one entire edifice between the faculty building and the Chivalry building. If I wouldn't get my books sooner, God knew what bad thing was going to happen. I didn't like to ruin my first day and give the instructors a bad impression. Sigh.

*"The silence

I'm screaming

Calling out your name"*

"Huh?" I turned around, looking for the source of the lovely melody of guitar strings strummed and the soothingly lovely voice singing the lyrics. The voice sounded deep but was in tone and sounded soft and gentle, a perfect company with the strums of the guitar. It made me feel warm like I was being cradled in someone's arms, soothing me with the song. I admit I was enchanted.

*"And I do reside in your light

That put up the fire with me and replace

Yeah yeah, you'll lose the side of your circles

That's what I'll do if we say goodbye"*

"Over there?" I mumbled out my sudden thought and turned on my heels towards the direction where there was a thick acacia tree. I narrowed my eyes and saw a person's arm, a guitar's neck, and someone's head bobbing as if they were doing a little headbang. That must be the one singing. Slowly and painstakingly, I walked towards the tree, not wanting to disturb the person singing but wanting to hear him closely at the same time.

*"To be is all I gotta be

And all that I see

And all that I need this time

To me the life you gave me"*

I closed my eyes, a smile forming on my lips. I stepped another foot closer, closer, and clos-crunch!

*"The day you said good n-"*

Along with the sound of the twig crunching, the singer also stopped singing midway. They automatically stood up, stepping out of the tree, revealing themselves before my eyes, making me gasp in surprise. He had the complete ideal guy code. He was quite tall that I had to stretch my neck to see his perfectly chiseled handsome face that contained a handsomely sculpted upturned nose, almond-shaped black eyes, nice thin lips, and naturally tan skin that shone against the sun's rays. It was like seeing a deity.

"May I help you?" he asked, his voice deep but at the same time, gentle, surprising me even more. How in the...?!

But despite the surprise felt, I immediately organized myself internally and asked him: "Why did you stop? It was beautiful."

His confused facial expression soon dispersed and changed into something soft. "I'm sorry. I was just a bit confused- I mean, it's my first time seeing you on this campus."

"I'm a transferee. Today's my first day," I told him with a small smile. "I just left the registrar's building and came here to get my books when I heard you sing. Your voice is wonderful, by the way I'm sorry for suddenly barging in too," I added with an apology. It must have been uncomfortable for him with me suddenly interrupting.

"If you are a transferee and you just came from the registrar..." he said slowly with a hand on his chin and his eyes looking afar, as if he was thinking. Moments later, he looked at me and said, "This isn't the book center." "What?" I asked, confused.

"This is the back of the library annex, a library exclusive for visitors." What?!

**

Thank you for reading Bubble Gum Kisses! To keep up with my works, future works, and endless frustrations on Twitter: https://twitter.org/RiosMorpheus**