Theory Of The Constant Melody

CHAPTER 3

THE NEXT MORNING, we set off for school at seven o’clock which was earlier than usual. Walking down the avenue under the shade of tall trees; cars moving on the highway, the sidewalks are pretty free of leaves. The color and the sounds, quite bustle and the either gallant and average cars pulling over on the side.

The autumn has dressed itself for another season, exhibiting its most vibrant hues. Feeling the warm breeze touching against one’s skin while enjoying to view the slow dancing of sepia-toned leaves. Embracing each moment in everyone’s lives can ever bring the serenade of autumn. Soothing.

Living on Sunset Boulevard in the central and western part of Los Angeles has never been easy, yet the variety of people you meet by accident seemed so familiar.

Suspending a black guitar and slate blue leather back pack over Acherous’ broad shoulders, he turned around after sneaking a glance at me in the rear. He’s striding until left me behind.

Silence. Smoothing my soul, yet the jagged edges actually pierce my within as I demand for a not-so-quiet measure—appreciatively from Acherous dulcet voice. I’m not entirely sure what he’s minding right now, perhaps being aloof for the meantime is his state of mind. We have been walking for almost thirty minutes; surely, a ream of tramps can do enough to get in the campus.

Freely to study his back feature, I doubted what he lacks for to be left by the girl whom he wished to look after.

Moreover, our turquoise vest V-neck uniform has really something to add him robust and chiseled good-look.

After a while, a lady with her looking 50’s of age went near me as if she were lost and unable to find her way as barely she had visited here.

“Excuse me. Could you tell me where Beverly Drive is? It was my first to get here that’s why I’m way too nescient about Los Angeles,” she queried, sounded possessing an Asian accent.

“Uhm…” I mumbled and extended my index finger, pointing at the back. “It’s that way. However, it’s quite distant so better take a cab,” I answered.

“Oh, thanks. I’ve only been in the city a few days after I moved out of my son’s house in Idaho so I really don’t know my way around yet.

“Sure. Very well,” I expressed. “Have a high old time,” I ended and smiled at her.

I quickened my pace as to approach Acherous to strike up a conversation with him as if the nature conspired the fate to create a silence between us.

“Bro, I will be off to work tonight. And I’ll be back…” I brought to an abrupt stop, following the word he said yesterday. “… home late. I have to work for two hours of overtime since I did not complete my whole shift last week,” I continued and kept pace to join him on the walk.

He paused walking then glared at me with his left brow lifting up. “What? C’mon, bro. You’re exhausting yourself. You might get sick. You’re doing a lot of overtime for several times,” he ticked off.

I laughed shortly and shrugged. “Bro, I need to. If only I could take my fall back to come home—in the province—to aid and sustain my family’s needs all over the day, I will not have doubt to do it. But since I have to study and finish my studies, I’ll stay here… while working—at least I am helping my family financially,” I replied and patted him on the back to walk on.

“I stick by you, as I’ve told you last time. I don’t want to offend you but please, let me help you,” he offered over again which his remark every time we talked about this.

“Bro, it’s fine. I got it under control. Besides, you’re helping me by means of buying stuffs and taking out a dinner for me,” I objected to wave aside his incessant help. He’s supporting me too much.

He gave me a light blow in the head and shook his head in defeat. “You really are so importunate, Cyan,” he replied hopelessly and hung his thumb on the drooping compression strap.

I gave his shoulder a nudge and posed to punch him in the stomach. “Bro, like you.”

He chuckled and jovially ruffled my hair. His face abruptly changed to plainness. “Seriously, if you need something, tell me, okay? I know you so well. It’s quite opposite.”

I smiled and nodded twice. “Oh, yeah. Noted.”

No wonder helping me financially is a easy great deal for him because his family owns and runs one of the successful coffee shops in the City of New York. As he told me last time, they already have built eleven branches in Nevada and five in Washington DC.

“Anyway, how were you last week? Have you done well? Or any customer messed you over?” he questioned like if I were his son, asking how was my day at school.

“Pretty fine. In fact, the two days I’ve got to work was totally enjoying. You? Does your heart mend? Or it still stings you?”

“It was just like yesterday as to reminisce her whenever and wherever our relationship would take. But I’m trying. I’m trying to move on. I’m doing what I know will help me just to bury the pain.”

“Very well. As long as I’m here, I’ll not let you shoulder the pain by yourself. Count on me.”

Like it was yesterday, wasn’t it? Bringing back the memories of ours, one stormy afternoon, I was musing on my problems when continuous knocks on my door had suddenly distracted me. I absolutely had no idea who it was since I wasn’t expecting anyone had to call around or just swing by. As I opened the door, a native American like my nationality, and my landlord Gweniva came into my view in the proximity.

My former Canadian roommate that time had departed on the NE 7th Avenue who got his girlfriend pregnant.

Gweniva had introduced us to each other and we easily palled up because of his endless topic he’s had. 

“Hey, Cyan!” Iris, upon recognizing her, greeted me by reaching along the pathway heading to the senior’s lawn.

I observed that the grassland, soccer field, and the yards of each building have been beautifully manicured. I wonder how the circular pots of pesky daisies and buttercup stood a dozen strides across the lawn.  

Taking a couple of belly breaths, I noticed how Iris’ light turquoise pleated jumper uniform with a small white fabric knot on upper chest neatly fits her. Furthermore, her natural rosy lips parted together and her long bob hair grazed the middle of her back.

“Can I take you on a date later? I’m dead on wishing you can be with me for just a night,” she added and winked at me.

I hesitantly smiled and scratched my hands against my back head. I stared at Acherous who’s now smirking and he might explode in hoots of frolic any minute now.

I returned my gaze to Iris and did imprecise movements. “U—uhm… I don’t come across with anyone on either day or night. I mean…” I stumbled over my words and would better to think up a good reason to get away from this. “If you want, my friend Acherous is free,” I instigated.

With his outright reaction, he pushed me sideward and I caught him throwing a pair deadly, squinted eyes at me. “What the f**k are you saying, bro?” he complained and hemmed once. He looked at Iris who just ceased to laugh. “Hey, Iris. Uh… you can bounce into date with my best friend. No worries—”

“Iris, I’m sorry but I can’t go out with you. I have a shift tonight and oftentimes I snowed under at work,” I butted in, sounded apologetic, moving leisurely my hands forward.

She plastered a half close-lipped smile on her face and nodded slowly. “All right. I’m sorry for interrupting you, Cyan.”

Forthwith, I felt guilty about it.

After the nth time, I stroked the nape of my neck and bit my bottom lip. “Iris, I sympathized with your situation. Uh… we can go out the next days ahead if you have some time,” I comforted to lighten up, making sure it wouldn’t be a bit off between us.

I hate when I hurt anyone.

Eventually, a cheerful smile escaped from her lips. She placed her hand inside her folder purse and draw out a small, blue box with a lilac faux glitter ribbon in the middle. “For you,” she rejoiced and handed it to me.

I parted my lips together and heard Acherous suppressing a laugh. “U—uhm…” I stuttered. “Iris, I don’t want to be rude but may I know what’s in the box?” I requested shyly, struggling to make eye contact with her.

“Secret,” she snickered and stepped closer to me.

“Iris, I don’t want to take advantage of you because it’s not my thing at all. Moreover, I don’t want to leap at the chance to get anything from you. I am not… gold-digger,” I answered, making certain with my tone and establishing respect for Iris—or anybody else who will come about this kind of situation with me.

Instead of getting caught off guard, the corners of her lips quirked up. “That’s the reason why I have a crush on you, Cyan. You’re simple, smart, kind, easy to approach and all the affirmation can be described to you. Please, accept my gift. I fobbed it off, Cyan.”

My eyes flickered with the box and I took it skeptically. “Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it. It’s the least I could do to show my admiration toward you. Honestly, I’m glad that you accepted my simple present,” she responded.

I nodded. “Okay, I’ll get going. We must be late,” I bantered that made her laugh.

“Definitely,” she replied playfully. “See you around,” she added and walked past me.

I let out a deafening sigh and gave Acherous a glinted glare.

“She’s head over heels in love with you, bro. What the f**k!” he commented while grinning so widely.

I stared at him and tousled his hair. “Silly. She has a crush on me, that’s what she just said. Don’t over fantasize,” I opposed.

“You say so...” He drew his bottom lip between his teeth and aggressively pulled my neck into his right arm. He tapped my head and tittered softly. “If you two will soon click together, don’t leave me behind, bro. Don’t be like me. Although I am still in a state of moving on, I believe I can get over Shandria as soon as my heart forgets,” he added and held out his arm.

I fixed my disheveled uniform and landed a punch on his shoulder. “You, dickhead. You almost ruined my uniform.”

“Wow. Not so quite.”

I tightened my collar and raked my hair. “Acherous, heart never forgets. You can forgive but the memories will stay. Additionally, you cannot just bury the moments, it will not help you move on,” I advised.

He raised his arms side by side as to surrender. “Okay, nothing else I can argue. You’re a love consultant, Cyan. Your expertise is giving some advice and it would be greatly and well appreciated,” he answered with a beam.

I laughed inwardly and patted him on the back.  “Bro, it’s no bother,” I babbled.

Somehow, I’ve been a lot of most clear thinking and in control with this situation alike. There was a certain time to express our feelings in honest ways, but we couldn’t always go on like that, right? Besides, people talk about mixed emotions that it’s like an exception—or sort of feelings that have to be either positive or negative. But most of the time, we tend to be neutral because we are afraid to ever fall.

Acherous and I are actually against the clock. Afterwards, we proceeded to nip on engineering department building.

We are both taking engineering course, structural as sub-discipline at West Sunset College. Having the same blocks in the senior year satisfies me to the full of seeing each other every single minute.

Acherous is the cause of my euphoria; no matter how hard I try to be much fair with my feeling, it always gives an intense excitement.

I was junior way back when Acherous moved to our current school for some reason.

On the other hand, the campus has a wide range of soccer field and a basketball court inside the sport’s hall. Additionally, we have four lawns alongside the quadrangle area as the first to perceive at the threshold of the campus.

There’s this main cafeteria that is located at the frontier which I don’t understand well why the staff place it there. Furthermore, West Sunset College offers management, engineering, medical, and army courses. Each has the foremost building, having five decks of ten rooms each.

Adorably, the ambiance is so relaxing; the green hues of trees strike our eyes. Also, wall of the exterior building is really pleasing to the eye due to its wisteria-colored as the signature color of the campus.

As my four years and counting of studying here, this becomes my second home of learning. I’ll treasure every moment, especially that it gets much more colorful by Acherous’ presence.