Teardrops of Winter

Chapter 3

“Are you coming with us?” I was shocked to see Flaire and Fate in the hallway.

“Where?” I’m clueless, I don’t know why they are in my building.

“Let’s go visit Val,” the tone of Flaire’s voice is so excited.

It’s been a week since Val began being the school volleyball team’s manager.

“Wait, what’s happening?” I’m still curious why are they so desperate to see Val with me.

There are only three building gaps to reach the covered court for volleyball players and they look so frantic going to the gym.

It’s been a week since I transferred here, the university campus is wide, but I managed to remember directions as well as buildings that I needed to go. We reached inside the boys’ volleyball gym and a lot of them are playing, while some are stretching. We climb up to bleachers and decided to sit here. We still haven’t seen Val.

“I told you, he’s here!” Flaire is really excited to come here.

They’re both already starting to stare to a guy doing a stretching routine in the side of the court. A jump with his height could exceed inches from the net, and his white shirt show how fit his body. He has a long and shiny black hair. He started to fix it making him more fresh in ponytail.

“Knight is really here,” while Flaire was still stunned, Fate and I just continue finishing our foods.

Knight was a star in the court, and a lot girls are here to watch him train, how irritating my situation is. I can’t believe that I’m here too!

We all waved when we saw Valentine carrying water bottles. He just offered us mild smile from afar and started giving those water to his teammates. After the short break to his team, they continue going back in practicing. Val soon then came to our sits.

“Oh nice, manager!” Fate teased him with his vest that says ‘Manager’.

“Tsk!” Val pointed the letter in his shirt, proud for his position that he worked hard.

“How does it feel? Is it hard?” I asked full of curiosity.

“Not really. It was even harder than when I was an intern. We will be having a practice match tomorrow from other school,” he soon started telling long stories with my simple question.

“Can we say hi to Knight?” Flaire begged him.

“What, we? No!” Fate was disgusted to even part of it. Like me, she was also pulled by Flaire.

“I swear, you don’t want to meet him.” Val gave him a mysterious yet an assuring smile.

After the bell, we go back to our classes. My class for today ended well. I decided to go back home and continue studying. After hours of studying, I started doing assignments. I also refused going to our busking for tonight, so it’s just me and my papers. The night was tiring and so I’ve decided to sleep.

We’ve been planning last week for what surprise should we do to Win’s birthday this Friday, and we’ve decided to surprise her after her dance class.

I’m still uncertain about what gift should I buy, what else should I give to her when she already have everything.

After my class today, I messaged Flaire and Fate to come and buy with me in the mall, but they both already bought theirs. I also forgot that Val is having a practice match today, I have no choice to go alone.

Among in our group, Win is the hardest one to give a gift with. I have no idea of what material things she doesn’t have. I thought of buying her a new ballet shoes but her parents might have the same idea as mine.

She doesn’t like wearing necklace, so maybe she won’t use it if I bought her one, it will be wasted.

I’ve been here for hours and has no single product in my hands. In an unexpected store, I found an unusual gift for her.

After buying my gift, our driver texted me to take me home as for my dad’s command. After I got home, I took a shower and ate some snacks while watching on Netflix in the living room. When I finished two episodes, I decided to go in my room.

I took out my guitar out of the its bag, and sit near to my window. Its already dawn. I opened my window, took out my journal and opened it to the last part where I ended my writings. It’s been a week since I’ve wrote lyrics, a song in my head, and until now, I still don’t have any lyrics in my mind. All I have is this humming inside my head.

I’m trying to transfer the sound in my head through the strings of my guitar, and experiment which fits well. I can’t write love songs if I’m not in the feeling of writing it, and my feelings right now is so… blank. So stopped.

“Happy Birthday!” we all hugged her outside her class.

She was crying, she must’ve thought we forgot her birthday, since nobody is talking about it since yesterday.

“Of course not! We won’t forget you!” Fate hugged her and offer her gift.

We started giving her our gift. She wished and blow the candle. We took her to and her gifts to her car. We all go off back home to get change for her party. My dress is quite simple but still with elegance. I wore a see through midnight blue lace mini dress paired with my black boots.

I arrived with the party with Fate, she’s wearing a Paris purple belted mini dress. She looks stunning with her modest outfit tonight.

We both greeted Win’s parents who are busy entertaining some guests. Then, finally look for her and found her talking to some groups who I think the same age like us. Flaire greeted some of her from fellow strand friends the other table, leaving me staring to Win alone in my table. Val together with his semi-formal fit make him looked even younger.

Win really is the star of the night, her dress was a sassy yellow gold draped strapless mini dress and she’s wearing a diamond high heal sandals. Her face never rested smiling, only then I realize that she’s talking with her fellow STEM strand too. The light was to focused into our area so I barely saw who she is talking to.

“Hello miss, are you Snow?” A woman wearing a formal dress tapped my shoulder.

“Yes, I am,” I was confused for a bit.

“You were asked by your friend, Win, if you could sing for tonight?” My adrenaline suddenly rushes throughout my body.

“Me?” still confused. I just followed until we reached the back of the main stage. She instructed me for what should I do and also asked me my easy go to song that I could sing for tonight.

I mean, why not right? Simple performance for Win would make her happy. And so I did agree with it.

Our table is not far from Win’s table, so we could easily talk to her by just raising our voices. Win started the night with her welcoming speech, thanking us for coming at her grandest celebration. We enjoyed the served food. Our laughter bursts out when they started showing old pictures of Win together with us.

After having so much performances from her other friends, I became next to perform.

“I didn’t know you’ll perform?” Fate said confusingly.

“Me neither.” I looked at Fate smirking.

There’s a bit of panic that is starting to arise with my body, but I didn’t let that eat me. The other performance ended and I heard my name called out from stage.

“Hi,” I said shyly, I couldn’t see the crowd clearly, but I can tell that most of them are looking at me, while some are too busy paying attention to others. That made me confident enough, thinking that not any one is interested to hear my performance.

Another staff handed me one of their spared guitar, as well as a chair to sit with but I refused too. I tried playing some cords and tune it a bit. I adjusted the mic stand and level it to my desired height.

“Happy Birthday, Winona. This is for you my love.” I smiled sweetly even though couldn’t see her.

I heard Val cheering me up and so the others followed to. I coughed a bit to prepare my throat and widen it a bit. I inhaled and my fingers started immersing with the strings. I started playing the State of Grace.

I wanted to play something remarkable for Win. I know she loves Taylor’s songs, we both do. She’s an immense lyrist a reason why we love her, and State of Grace is one of her favorites.

And I never

Saw you coming

And I’ll never

Be the same

Musicians started to follow and tune in with my instrument. They vibe in perfectly as well as the second voices of mine performed by singers.

This is a state of

This is a worthwhile fight

Love is a ruthless

Unless you play it good and right

These are the hands of fate

You’re my Achilles heel

This is the golden age of something

Good and right and real

I remember how this song is played throughout our summer camping way back two years ago. She kept it on repeat, which is also why we all love this song too.

I looked at the crowd even though it was unclear as the light is blinding me. I can’t get a hold to see Win or even if the crowds are still listening, but I kept on playing until the last verse of the song. Until I saw someone, unclear, maybe it’s him or not.

This is a state of

This is a worthwhile fight

Love is a ruthless

Unless you play it good and right

I let go the last struck on my strings and was stunned when the crowd was all in silent. My soul jumps in abrupt sound of applause. The unbothered crowd which I thought won’t care of my performance was all here, focused in the stage.

I sighed with disbelief of what is happening. This euphoric feeling felt good.