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“Right sir,” she said with a platter in hand. ‘A year and a have has elapsed,’ the changing room was much to be desired, privacy was but a paper-thin cabinet shielding her from the outside. She swapped clothes, took her backpack, and left through the backdoor, “-good luck at uni,” said a few cheerful colleagues.

“You too,” she replied, “-good luck at work,” two gentle waves and gone, the current of office drones and students swept her without batting an eye. A bus soon boarded, she embarked and left, not many took her line since most headed away from Rashord Musical Academy, ‘-it’s been a year and a bit,’ the familiar outside past, “-my father was killed in cold blood. I knew he was bad... the killer took me in and offered me a chance to fulfill my dream. As he said, the monthly allowance was cut – had to move to a smaller apartment to compensate for trying times. No matter, what of you, Jong, how’s your life been?”

“Are you serious,” returned a ding, “-father was killed, stop lying to me.”

“Yeah, I know, it’s a lie,” a few funny stickers followed afterward, “-who would ever be in such a dramatic situation. Half of it was right, a distant relative took me in after I ran from home.”

“Wow girl, that must have been hard.”

“Not really, I had support.”

.....

“I envy you. Say, are you free later this afternoon, the boys and I, including a few of your mates, are headed to a party, want to join?”

“Right, I’ll think about it,” she toggled the phone screen, ‘-another who wishes to drink and get laid, is this really what youth is about?’ the bus halted, she subconsciously exited the latter before a tall yet dirty looking apartment. The security guard, an old man in his late fifties, fired an acknowledging nod at her, “-hey there grandpa,” said she cheerfully, “-how’s the guard duty.”

“Boring,” he returned coldly, “-don’t call me grandpa, I’m a great grandparent,” he smugly said, fixing his tie, “-back from work?”

“Yeah, I’m tired,” she yawned, reached for the backpack, unzipped, and pulled a rectangle wrapped in a flowery cloth, “-leftovers from work,” she said, “-the best meat we sold yesterday.”

“Working a restaurant has its perks,” he salivated, “-thanks for the meal as always.”

“No worries, grandpa, I’ll be off, take care.”

“Likewise girly.” Inside was much to be said, the walls were dirty and stained, the hallways were cleaned and came with three meals a day, for her, the deal was a godsend. ‘-Repetition later this afternoon,’ the bed buckled, ‘-I thought I had free time... oh god,’ her eyes shut, ‘-let me rest for a while.’ Later said afternoon, she’d head to the campus and practice for Maestro Nevah’s team, the current leader stood a little smaller than the famed Navah, Syndra Lordon took the mantle and conducted the orchestra. She’d often stop the ensemble and point obsessively at small mistakes, the emphasis on perfection made the woman hard to approach. The Devil’s hour, as some had come to call it, “-we’re free,” students left the room with sweat and traumatized faces.

“Finally, right,” chuckled another, “-she’s so hard on us, I don’t get why.”

“I know I’m a good player...”

“Don’t let her get to you,” said another, “-we’re all in this together. Besides, Maestro Nevah personally picked our group, we should be honored.”

“Well,” they slyly with a hint of malice, stared the yet to leave Celina, “-there are people who love kissing boots to get to the top. Look at her, she’s untalented and has nothing special... still, they made her first violinist, I don’t care how I look, tis borderline favoritism.”

“Don’t bark,” said a group of sharply dressed ladies, “-it doesn’t help your case,” they said, “-before throwing blame, why not put yourself in her shoes?”

“Oh look,” laughed the group, “-Jonia Hart and her lackeys, must be nice being rich. You’re not invited to the party,” he blatantly winked, “-come on boys, let’s go party!”

“Lead on, Yane,” said the crowd, he walked past Jonia, ‘-don’t get cocky, else we’ll have you be taken care of like your little friend,’ he sadistically gave the next girl, a once over, ‘-tasty.’

“Bastard,” she gritted solemnly, the very belligerent group left with their obnoxious laughs. “-Ane,” she took the frightened lady’s hand, “-don’t let them get to you.”

“B-But,” her knees cowered, “-he...”

“We know, don’t worry,” she gently wrapped her hand around Ane’s long hair and pulled to her chest, “-we stand with you, don’t worry.”

The last note hung, Syndra whipped, and the song ended, “-good,” she said, “-you held firm through the last passage, I’m impressed.”

“I’ve done it,” her mouth opened, “-the practice paid off.” *clop, clop, clop,*

“Nicely done,” resounded a sharp voice.

“Jonia,” pleasantly exclaimed Syndra, “-lovely to see you here, how have you been?”

“The tour went nicely,” she said, “-sadly, the campus’s grown more toxic since I was away,” she threw a friendly smile at Celina, the group later swapped places to the cafeteria.

The minimalism of the practice room traded for the cleanliness of the cafeteria; the ladies joined around a window table giving onto a path leading to the massive tree. “-Seems to me Celina’s improved,” said Jonia.

“She truly has,” nodded Syndra, “-her long hours of practice have made it worth the wait.”

“I’m lucky is all,” she hid the embarrassment behind a spoonful of rice, “-Syndra is the amazing one, so is Jonia and Ane, you girls are the pride of our year. I barely passed the exams; I don’t fully get music theory...”

“Ha-ha.”

The attention around them three wasn’t pleasant to look at. Rivaling classes and mates watched on with envy since their table had an air of prestige and class attached to it. Daughter of a Marquess, Daughter of a Viscount, and a member of a prestigious Dynasty. *Ding,* “-my phone, sorry,” said Celina.

“Don’t worry,” they said.

“I have to go. Mr. Rocher Cartney is back on campus,” she stormed out the main entrance and hurried along the path.

“Look at her,” commented Jonia, “-she’s carefree, isn’t she.”

“Not really,” returned Syndra, “-she told me about the struggle of living alone. Apparently, she’s living in a less than an admirable apartment on 5th Red Avenue.”

“I didn’t mean it that way,” she sighed, “-never mind. Ane, how are your fingers doing?”

“Recovering,” she said, “-I don’t particularly remember the night... for some reason, I’m terrified of Yane, my body screams run away when he’s in the room...”

‘Mr. Cartney is back,’ a twirl around the tree gave to the secondary auditorium, there, directly adjacent, laid the club building, many were seen walking with instruments and smiles, a strong presence outshone the immediate surrounding, “-how goes it, Yane!” said a few upper-classman running to his side, “-I heard there’s a great event planned later this afternoon,” they hurdled on the path leading inside the club. She gripped her music notebook and hurried past, “-Celina,” said a voice through the crowd, the banter stopped, “-why didn’t you reply to my message earlier?”

“Jong,” she retracted on her steps and avoided his gaze, “-I can’t come, I have practice...”

“Come on,” he gripped her wrist, “-just come for a few minutes, you can leave after.”

“Don’t bother with her,” said a familiar face in the crowd.

‘-Shieon?’ went across her mind.

“She’s a stuck-up little daughter of a rich father, don’t bother.”

“Shieon,” drooled the rest, “-if you say the lass isn’t worth our time, who am I to argue,” he eased on the grip and left, “-show us those dance moves.”

“In due time boys,” said she coyly.

‘I’m free,’ she turned and headed towards the entrance.

“Not so fast,” a strong grip held her elbows.

“Yune?” said the crowd, “-come on man, no need to waste time on her,” said Jong, “-Shieon already said...”

“Shut it, Jong,” he pulled and stared at her coldly, “-tell me your name?”

“It’s common courtesy to say one’s name first,” she pulled out his grip, “-damned pest,” she threw a disgusted glare and headed inside.

*Tsk, tsk, tsk,* “-I told you,” said Shieon, “-the lass’s known for her mouth and temper. She looks innocent... when faced with things she hates, you should see the outburst.”

“I’m interested,” he smirked, “-Jong, do whatever is needed to bring her to the party, we’re going to have some fun.”

“If Yune says we’re having fun, then we’re having fun.”

Rocher Cartney waited patiently behind a piano, “-you’ve made it,” he said and played, “-take a seat and we’ll start the class.” The outside of the campus had no input on the inside of the academy, the conspiracy of corruption resulted in an audit earlier that week. They found nothing, the claims were strong and without proof – in order to look good, the A.N.C ordered for full-scale audit of every department, therein came some very interesting paperwork, many undisclosed to the public and submitted to a case being built against Phantom.

Later said evening, Celina made her way home, and on said travel was joined by her close friends, Elm and Ewi, non-identical twin sisters. “Say, Celina, is it true you’re related to the Haggard dynasty?”

“I wouldn’t say related,” they ambled through the orangish lit street, the sun had reached the west, “-didn’t I speak about my past before, I’m from Alphia, the Haggard’s took me as a favor to my mother.”

“Wow, that’s impressive,” returned Ewi, “-aren’t you like super-rich?”

“Not really,” she laughed, “-I barely make ends meet. I’m happy though,” she stopped at the peak of an arched bridge, “-I work, eat, live, and study without support from another, I guess I’m independent.”

“It’s impressive,” said Elm, her tanned complexion and bleach-blond hair and blue eyes were a great asset, most of the students were workers to an idol agency; looks mattered no matter how bad it sounded. Part of the screening process included a photo shoot. Her sister, on the other hand, held a more mature look, long dark-brown hair, golden earrings, the same complexion with sharper and darker features, she used a darker shade makeup to add to the seducing look, the choice of bright red lipstick often gave the wrong idea, one of which she thoroughly enjoyed – leading men was one of her hobbies.

“Say, Celina, want to go to a party?” suggested Ewi.

“If it’s Yune’s party then no, I don’t want to get involved with them.”

“Why not,” inquired Elm slyly, “-he’s a good guy.”

“I can’t tell you why, he has a bad aura to him.”

“How can you say that about the most popular guy at the academy. Besides, Shieon will be there, isn’t she one of your closest friends?”

“We had a falling out,” she sighed, “-public relation is hard,” her deep-colored pupils wandered into the distance, “-I honestly don’t want to get involved with people, it’ll only lower my expectations.”

“Celina, come on,” pressed Ewi, “-for our sakes, let’s go to the party.”

“I don’t know...’

“This is getting old,” fired Elm, “-Celina, you better follow.”

“Yes, let’s head to the party,” said a stranger’s voice, “-We should have fun.”

“That’s it, we should have fun,” said Ewi with chest, “-wait no,” her eyebrows flashed, “-who are you?” A sharply dressed, white, and crimson-haired gentleman stood kindly with a comforting expression, the bi-colored eyes and pretty facial features drew the duo’s attention, ‘-long eyelashes,’ they thought and watched.

“Brother?” mumbled Celina, “-is that you?”

“Celina,” he hurried into a tight embrace, “-long time no see, how have you been?”

“Pardon us,” interjected Ewi, “-who might you be?”

“Older brother to Celina. You were talking about a party?”

“You overheard us...” Elm’s hurried to stare Ewi.

‘The reply seems a little off,’ he paused, ‘-this could be fun.’

.....

“Brother, please...”

“Let’s do it,” he said, “-is it wrong to want to spend the night with my darling little sister.”

“Calm it, dude,” fired Elm, “-sounded very, very suspicious.”

“Oh by all means it’s not,” he coyly smirked in jest, “-seems to me the thoughts took a trip to the moon and back.”

“Fine, let’s do it,” added Celina grudgingly, “-we need to have a talk later,” she pulled on his sleeve, “-understand, brother?”

‘I’m all for it,’ he smiled.