Arthviu was lying on his bed while thinking about a teacher they could ask help with. Their club is planning on performing in a group and he cannot organize the club alone. He is only good at playing guitar and piano which is why he cannot guide the other club members.
His phone suddenly vibrates so he took it from his bedside table only to see Tia’s message.
“How’s your day? Did you enjoy school?”
An instant smile formed on his lips with the jolly sticker she sent.
“I’m good but I have a small problem.”
He is just so comfortable with Tia that he would like to share everything with her except for his family problems.
“Tell me. I might have some solution. Hihi.”
“We’re looking for a music expert that can help us. We have a performance this next week for our school festival.”
“I can help.”
He sat up, a bit surprised by her reply.
“Really? Then we’ll set a place for us to meet you.”
Excitement filled up his nerves. He is happy that he is going to meet her again!
“Okay. I will wait for the appointment. I’m available anytime.”
He sighed in relief after reading her last text. He also informed his club president about the news. He then sent Tia the location of the place where they are going to practice after school.
The next day, his parents were surprised to see him get up early again. He left home after eating his meal and packing his lunch. He went to school with his usual intimidating look but deep inside he cannot wait after school. Because of his unusually good mood, he also affected the class by participating and communicating with his classmates. They might have been intimidated by his appearance but seeing him become a bit participative, they could see that he is becoming more unreachable. He looked professional while speaking formally. He looked like a future successful man.
That day, he was the talk of the school again. His classmates spread rumors about his change of attitude.
“I am so excited to meet our teacher!” One of the club members exclaimed while they were on their way to the bus stop.
They decided to go together to the place where they are going to practice.
“Yes! I hope that the maid at home did not forget to clean my practice room.” The club president replied.
“This is all thanks to Cyn.”
“By the way, do you know this teacher?”
Arthviu shrugged.
The members talked to him and he would only reply to the one that he likes to answer. It is not because he is bored, it’s because he is thinking of how he would approach Tia.
Should he act cold again? Should he approach her in a friendly way?
He was spacing out because of thinking. He just went along with his club mates until they arrived at the next bus stop. When they got off, he remained.
“Are you not coming with us?” The club president asked.
“I will be waiting for the teacher here. You go with them.”
“But you don’t know the way to my house.”
“I’ll send you a message after she arrives. You’ll get us.”
“Oh. Okay. Understood.”
He sat in the waiting area and checked his phone. He then typed a message for Tia.
“Where you are?”
Later, he received a reply. “I’m on the way.”
“I’m waiting for you at the bus stop.”
“Oh really? Thank you! You’re so cute.”
A chuckle came out his mouth after seeing her cute sticker again. He can imagine her acting like that which is why he would laugh whenever she sends a sticker.
He put his phone back to his bag and leaned his head to the wall behind him. He then sighed and looked up to the sky.
“Did I really change?” He asked himself. He is confused about what he is doing. He cannot describe why he suddenly wanted to go to school or participate in the class.
He cannot say that he wants to change. And he also does not call it changing. It is more like… he is motivated? Yes, he is just motivated and later on, he knows that he is going back.
Tia’s name suddenly came to his mind and for some reason again, he got curious. He is really curious about this woman. He wants to know more about her. He wants to… get closer to her. Is it possible?
He was spacing out for a while and he only came back to his senses when an image of Tia filled his vision. He then realized that Tia is actually standing in front of him, making him stand up instantly.
“You’re here.”
Tia smiled. “You were spacing out. I called you three times.”
His face flustered and he looked away as his heart was starting to go crazy. “I-I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Tia tapped his back, making him panic.
He then remembered that he needed to inform the club president.
“E-Excuse me for a while.” He immediately walked away. And because he was panicking, he even hit his head with the pole. He whimpered as he felt like his head was going to explode.
“Oh my god, are you okay?” Tia panicked as she walked towards him to check on him.
“I-I’m okay.” He is in pain yet his embarrassment is overflowing that he cannot feel it.
“No, you’re not.” Tia grabbed his jaw for him to look at her. She then checked on his forehead. She got extremely worried after seeing a small red lump on his head.
“Let’s treat this first.”
Arthviu who’s been feeling the heat on his face looked away.
“I-I’ll be fine. W-We’ll treat it in the house of the club president. I-I’ll call her.” He took two steps away from her. He took his phone and immediately called the club president.
When he was done, Tia walked closer to him to check his forehead again. “It’s swollen.”
She unconsciously touched his face and realized that it was hot.
“Do you have a fever? Why is your face so hot?”
Arthviu immediately walked away again.
“I-I’m fine. I don’t have a fever.” He shook his head, still panicking.
For the first time in his life, he wants to run away from embarrassment. How should he look at her now?!
“Are you really okay?” Tia asked.
“Y-Yeah.” He looked away and showed a fake laugh. “T-This is nothing.”
“Cyn!”
Arthviu felt a bit relieved when he heard the voice of the club president.
“T-There you are, club president.”
The club president got confused with Arthviu’s awkward approach. But then she noticed the person behind him.
“Is she our teacher?”
“Yes.”
The club president immediately walked towards Tia.
“Hello. I am Natasha, the club president. It’s good to meet you, teacher! Please take care of us!” Natasha lowered her head to Tia.
“Hello. I am Amishtia. It’s good to meet you too.” Tia beamed.
“Please follow me on the way to the practice room.”
“Okay.”
Natasha started walking and Tia followed. She grabbed Arthviu’s left arm so he could come along.
“While we’re walking there, can I ask some questions?” Tia starts a conversation while they’re walking in silence.
Hearing that, Natasha slowed down walking. She turned her head to Tia. “Yes, of course, teacher.”
“Do you have an ice pack?”
“Yes.” Natasha answered although she finds the question random.
“Please let me treat Arthviu’s injury.”
Natasha instantly looked for Arthviu’s injury that she did not notice earlier. She then realized that Arthviu had been covering his head with his hand for a while.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Cyn. I didn’t see it earlier!”
They walked faster to Natasha’s house to treat Arthviu. And while doing that, Tia asked Natasha about their club and the instruments they are using. When they were done, they went to the practice room where the other club members were waiting. She was introduced by Natasha and the club members introduced themselves.
After that, Tia asked them to play the song they wanted to perform to evaluate it. While listening, the club members got worried because their teacher does not seem to like the performance. When they were done, Tia could only sigh.
They got silenced for a few seconds as they waited for their teacher’s comment. So then Tia suddenly walked to the corner. She took off the eyeglasses she was wearing. She then tied her hair and took off her jacket. After that, everyone gulped when they saw the frown on her brows while she walked in front of them.
They had no idea if they should admire her exquisite beauty or they should get nervous of her evaluation.
“It was good.” Tia smiled at them, making them feel relieved because she does not sound sarcastic.
“You have a good vocalist.” She complimented as she looked at Arthviu.
“You also have a good drummer.” She looked at the club member named Suviss. “You have a good talent, Suviss.” She smiled at him because he finds him cute. She wanted to pinch his cheek and mess up his hair so bad because he knows him in the parallel world. His name is Ruviz, in the other world. He was one of her seven kids she took from the slumps.
“Natasha and Shalania are also doing a good job with the bass and guitar. And Ruzelly needs more practice with her fingers.” She smiled before clearing her throat and putting her hand on her waist.
“Your performance is enough to impress students but musical experts will recognize it as a simple and a newbie’s performance. You actually have no need of a music teacher since Ruzelly can improve with a week of practice. So, I will ask you. Do you want me to improvise your talents without the thought of winning the school festival? This is not for the sake of performing anymore. This is for each of you to improve more.”
She waited for their replies. She looked at them one by one as they also looked at each other.
“Please take care of me.” Arthviu was the first one to speak while lowering his head to Tia.
Seeing Arthviu who is the most talented of them decided to improve, they are encouraged to do the same.
“Please take care of us!”
Tia’s lips curved side to side. She feels refreshed to teach again like what she did back in the Empire.
She clapped her hands. “Alright! Please take care of me too!”
“Excuse me, teach.” Suviss suddenly raised his hand.
“Yes? Do you have any concerns?”
Suviss hesitated a bit but seeing Tia’s smile, he spoke what he wanted to ask.
“Uhmm, you look familiar to me, teach.” Suviss scratched his head.
“Are you… perhaps… that girl who went viral? The one that played a song on the sidewalk?”
“You were thinking about that too, Suviss?” Natasha reacted.
“She also looked familiar to me!” Ruzelly exclaimed.
Tia’s lips crept up as she put his forefinger to her lips.
“Shh. That’s our secret.”
“OMG!”
“Oh my God, really?!”
The club members panicked while Arthviu was confused because he does not have any idea what they are talking about.
“Can you sing for us, teach?”
“I want to hear you play an instrument too!”
“Oh my God, please let me see you play the piano, teach!”
Tia could only sigh because of their requests. She smiled as she could see them like seven year old children who were excited to go to the beach.
That time, she fulfilled their request. She played her song again while playing the piano. She also showed them that she can play all of the instruments there. Time passes by, it is already evening when they realize that they have not eaten dinner yet.
Natasha’s helper served them food and they ate together before they went home. And because Arthviu and Tia live in the same neighborhood, they went home together.
“I’ll take you home.” Arthviu suddenly insisted when Tia was about to go in the opposite direction.
“It’s okay. I live nearby.” She smiled.
“It’s night. It’s dangerous for a woman to walk alone.”
Tia stared at him because he was not looking at her while he was saying that.
“Hoooh? Are you worried now?” She teased.
“I-Isn’t it natural for me to be worried about my teacher?”
“So precisely, you are worried.”
“No.”
Tia laughed. She can see that they have a bit similarity with Sean especially when they say ‘no’.
“Alright. How can I reject a request from my cute student?” She was laughing as she walked to the direction of her home.
She heard him click his tongue and he followed her.
“Won’t your parents get worried about you? It’s pretty late already.”
Arthviu did not reply so Tia stopped to look at him. She saw that he does not seem to like to talk about it so she immediately changed the subject.
“Is your head okay?” She looked at the patch on his head.
“It’s okay.”
She stared at him for a bit to check on his expression. She sighed and then when she saw the convenience store, she dragged him there.
“Good evening!” She immediately greeted the cashier who was there but she stopped after seeing a new one but a familiar one.
Her eyes were wide when she met the other self of Picka. But then she immediately acted normal.
“Hello. Are you new here?” She beamed.
“Yes.”
“Nice to meet you!” She greeted her once more. She then walked to the drink station to get a pack of milk.
“Do you want something?” Tia asked Arthviu if he wanted some drink.
“The same as yours.” He answered.
“Don’t tell me, it’s also your favorite now?”
“Kind of.” He looked away.
Tia chuckled with his change of mood again. She took more packs of milk before going to the other station. She took snacks and some cute toys she saw. She then went to the counter where she faced Picka again. The price was calculated and she asked her to separate some things. When she had taken the card back, she put the third bag she had with her to the counter.
“That’s my treat for doing a good job today.” She beamed before walking out the convenience store, leaving the part time employee stunned.
“T-Thank you!” Tia heard from her. She looked back to give her a wave before opening the glass door of the store and left with Arthviu who’s waiting outside.
“Here is yours.” She handed him another bag of snacks but Arthviu just looked at it.
“This is my treat.”
“Do you… usually spend so much money?” Arthviu asked.
“Well, I only use it when I want to, like treating people I spend time with. It’s my way of thanking them for being with me. It is also my way of treating them well and my way of showing that I care for them.” She beamed.
“You’re too generous.” He took the bag.
Tia started walking. “No, I just think that I need to give when I have something to give. I usually cannot express my feelings through words so I wanted to show it and I can only show it by giving. Since I had something to give, I will just give it. And if I had no money, I would make time for the people I care about.”
Tia thought about that time she had not lost her younger brother. She had no time to visit him and she is worried that he might think that she doesn't love him. So she would give her all kinds of gifts to make him happy. But in the end, she regretted that she had given him more time for them to play.
Arthviu listened to her as he was also thinking about how his life had a bitter change. When he was young, he was so happy. He could get what he wants either the love of his parents or their time. He had a very good childhood. But as he grew up… everything was slowly changing… Now he thinks of it, has he shown that he cares for someone? No, it’s because he had grown numb from constant melancholy.
On the other hand, Sean immediately felt that Tia was coming but he could feel something strange beside her. And he knows who it is and he should not meet it. He continued sipping his coffee and remained sitting on the sofa. He really wanted to go to her and pick her up at the gate but… it would not be good if he goes.
“I’m home so you should go back too.” Tia finally arrived at the gate of the house.
Arthviu was surprised to see Tia’s house. He did not imagine that she would have a very beautiful house that is twice big than his house. The architecture of the house is well done and it seems like she is living in an advanced home.
“I-Is this really your home?”
“Yes. You should go back now before your parents get worried.”
He nodded. “Good night.”
Tia smiled. “Good night. Take care.” She opened the gate and closed it.
Arthviu was then left alone. He stayed there for a bit to admire the house. It was his dream house.
He started walking home while thinking about his new vision. He will get successful and he will build a house like that. When he arrived home, he passed his mother who was drinking beer. They exchanged looks and he started walking upstairs.
“Your father cheated on me.”
He froze in the middle of the stairs.
“I saw everything on his phone yesterday.”
He clenched his fist to suppress his guilt. He did not speak because he knows. He knows that his father was cheating on his mother. He saw his father dating another woman three weeks ago.
He continued walking upstairs, went to his room and locked himself. He leaned his back on the door and banged his head to it.
He knows everything which is why… he wanted to leave since he can already say that there is no future for his family to be happy together once again.