Let the Light Begin

Chapter 3: Precious Jewels

After the breakfast drama with my grandma, I immediately took care of what I would carry for my first class. As a Guillaume, my grandma doesn't want me to go there independently, and she wanted me to take our car and drive through my school. I insist, but she is still debating about it, so I raise my hand to sign that she wins. Sadly, she can't go with me because she has an emergency meeting with Tita Lavinia.

I park the car at the side of my school, and I don't want them to see that I am driving on my own. In my school, no one knows that I am a Guillaume. My grandma wants my name to be hidden. That's why, in public, I use Castro, my mom's surname. She wanted me to be safe. When my dad was murdered, they changed my name to Castro to protect me. That's why I am just an ordinary student here at Solé University. I am now in my second year of college, taking a Bachelor of Business Administration. Tita Lavinia decided on my course. Since I'm Guillaume, I should know that our name is for business. I am on my way to the hall because it's an event for the first day of class and welcomes the new students.

''ANNIE!" I was shocked because of the loud voice coming through the entrance. Now everyone was looking in our direction. I shake my head. It was Zyreel. Well, it was always her. Her energy is incomparable.

''Why are you shouting my name, Zy,'' I said while covering up my face. I was so shy that we got everybody's attention.

''Why are you, shy girl? We are beautiful! We deserve it!'' Well, for God's sake, she is Zyreel Ribanis, a well-known daughter of one of the most fabulous fashion designers in the world, who can compete worldwide. She also gets her mother's talent.

''Well, Annie, I have good news. Mom wanted us to go to our shop. She wanted us to model her new collection this coming July. And she also said that there's no turning back. She doesn't want NO as your answer.''

''So, I don't have a choice but to accept your mom's offer. You know that I don't want any attention, I am too shy to walk in the aisle where lots of people are watching.'' She holds my hand, and I can see her eyes are shining. She is excited.

''Annie, of all the people I saw on different stages, you hit differently, you are so sweet that you don't need to amaze people to get their attention, you have your own ways of doing that. You need to step outside sometimes, girl.'' I smiled. She always compliments me.

''Good morning, everyone.''

''OMYGHAD! Jenlyn, you creep! For a second, I think my soul stepped out into my body.'' I laughed so hard because of Zyreel's reaction.

''Good morning Jen, let's go guys, they're in the hall now,'' I said, and held their arms and walked towards the hall.

''Look who is here, the weirdest trio!'' Landry said, and his squad laughed.

''Oh, look who's laughing here, the s**t guy.'' Zyreel laughed after she said that. She didn't scare anyone. She was always the bitchy person I know, but the soft one.

''Zy, don’t mind them, let's go.'' I pulled Zyreel into the crowd. It may cause some trouble. I don't want any trouble, it's the first day of school.

''Ribanis, I don't care if your family owns a fashion kind of stuff. You should know who you got messed with,'' Landry said while smirking and getting closer to Zyreel's face.

Zyreel shows her poker face. She flips her hair on Landry's face and pulls us towards our seat. Landry is my cousin. Tita Lavinia is his mother, but we are not close to each other, and he doesn't like me that much. That's why Landry is constantly hitting us. He has the power since he is known as Guillaume and as the next successor to him. I have no intention of going on his way.

''Your cousin is something,'' Jenlyn said while looking at the stage. They were announcing some events that would be going to happen at our school. They know who I am and my family, since they are fans of my mom. They actually became my sisters and my mom was so happy to have us. We have lots of memories together.

''What do you mean, Jen?'' She looks at me and shivers her shoulder

''Never mind.'' I was confused about what she was thinking about Landry.

After a few minutes, I felt like I needed to go to the bathroom. So, I excuse myself to them. I am running towards the toilet, then suddenly I see myself lying on the floor. I bumped into someone.

''Damn.'' I looked at the person in front of me. I was shocked by who I met.

‘’I’m so sorry!’’ I bowed and waited for his response.

''Tsk, why are you bowing at me? What era are you from?'' He said while giving me a cold look.

‘’Ah, it's just an old habit that my dad thought me, sorry again.''

''Will you stop saying sorry? You did nothing wrong!'' I flinched at his voice. I can see some eyes are looking at me because we get their attention.

‘’I’m so―’’ I covered my mouth before saying that I’m sorry.

‘’Kyle! Stop shouting at that woman, just a little be a gentleman.'' I heard the guy beside him say that and smile at me.

''Hi, I'm Gill, and this is Kyle. I'm sorry for what he said. He is not just in a mood right now.'' He is smiling at me and looking into my eyes. I blushed a little; he was waiting for my hand to shake his hand.

‘’Tss, she will not shake your hands, Gill, don't be kind! Let's go'' that Kyle passed at Gill and me. Gill is still smiling at me.

''Annie!'' When I heard Zyreel's voice, I ran towards the bathroom. This is so embarrassing. I immediately closed the door of the cubicle and sobbed a little. Is there something wrong with saying sorry?

I silently sob until I am satisfied. After that, I washed my face because I looked horrible. Back when I was a child, I was always bullied, but I remain silent about that. I don't want to be in trouble with my parents since they are busy. They always mock me because I don't have a friend. They said that I should leave it alone because I deserved it. I remained silent until my mom knew everything. My mom decided to transfer me to another school, and then I met Zyreel and Jenlyn. I shake my head with the tragic memories coming through my head. I don't want to remember it now. I decided to go outside the toilet, and I was shocked that Gill was standing. He is wearing a long white sleeved shirt and denim jeans, and he looks like he is waiting for someone. I was about to pass him when he suddenly held my hand.

‘’What are y―’’

''Shhh! Trust me.'' He pulled me and ran towards the stairs, running up to the rooftop. What are we going to do here? We both keep up in our breaths. Gill suddenly lies down on the floor facing the sky. He taps his hand and points at the sky. So I did what he did, and I really don’t know why I am doing this.

''Look how beautiful the sky is, isn't it so peaceful to watch?'' He looks at me, and I blush. This was my first time talking to a guy. Mostly I am surrounded by a girl, and I don't know what to react to it, so I remain silent.

''You know, you can cry here. Don't mind me, I will listen.'' He said after the silence that we had. I don't know what triggers me, but I suddenly sob. This is my first time crying with someone, especially a guy.

''It is better to cry with someone else than with ourselves. There is nothing wrong if you need someone to talk to. We both know that this place is prohibited, so don't tell anyone, it's a secret, okay?'' He said and winked at me. I nodded and sobbed a little, and looked at the sky. I didn't know how gorgeous the sky was.

‘'If I feel lonely, and I am alone, I prefer to go there. The place is so silent, and you can feel peace here.'' He adds. He is right. Aside from the sky, our rooftop has grass, which looks like a mini garden.

''Sorry about Kyo, we are childhood best friends. He was not like that when we were children. He just changed because he had some problems when we were a child.''

‘’No, it’s okay, it’s actually my fault. I keep saying sorry even though it is not my mistake.’’

''There is nothing wrong with saying sorry, and you should always lift your chin up. Sometimes you will feel alone, and you only have yourself. You should learn how to fight back.''

‘’I am just scared cause I remember some things when I was a child I couldn’t get over them.’’ He suddenly sits and faces me. Why is he so near to me? I can see his face, his thick eyebrows, and his long eyelashes. He is really handsome and handsome at the same time. Then he flicks my forehead.

''Ouch! Why did you do that!'' He laughs after he did that. How could he laugh when he is the one who flicks my forehead, he is making fun of me!

‘’Sorry HAHAHAHA, you are cute!’’ For the third time, I blushed again.

''You shouldn't be imprisoned in your past, forget the hurt and take this your lesson. Maybe that was a lesson for you to stand up for yourself. Crying is not the answer to everything. You need to act, Annie.''

''Why are you telling me this? We didn't know each other.''

‘’Let's say I can see myself to you. And now, look at me. Use your precious jewels to see how beautiful the world that surrounds you is.'' He lifts his hand to me, ''Can we start over again, Annie? Hi, I'm Gill. Nice to meet you.'' I raised my hand and shook his hand. ''I'm Annie, thank you….''

He gave me a broad smile; this was my first time seeing a guy smiling at me. He looks so peaceful. And then I realized everything he said. I remember my grandma, who was always there for me, and even Zyreel and Jenlyn, who always hugged me. The hugs that I received from them are the precious jewels that I can wear around my neck...