FOREIGN BLISS

CHAPTER TWO

“What?”

“What what? It’ll be fun if you’re one of us now!” Melanie argued. “Uh huh! And her saving’s sacrifice will be gladly remembered now.” Fiona added.

“No thanks.” Daphne said, making the two of them roll their eyes, unsatisfied with her answer. “Besides, I would like to be the sane member in our group to keep you guys in check.” she added, making Melanie and Fiona gasp.

“Hey! Don’t make false statements lady, it is not acceptable in our formal discussion!” Fiona said, with her arms crossed and tried her best to look stern and intimidating. Daphne sighed, tired of their another try to persuade her, while Melanie clapped slowly and raised it up high.

“All bow to the Queen of Ugly Acting peasants!” Melanie said, her hands raised in the air and bowed slightly, her hands reached Fiona’s face making her more irritated.

“Such a best friend you are.” Fiona said, harshly removing Melanie’s hands that are still on top of her shoulders. “Ow!”

“You know Daph,” Melanie started, her hands now glued on Daphne’s shoulder, shook her head then leaned forward. “For the sake of stopping Fiona to act, please join us.” Melanie whispered, but still loud enough for Fiona to hear.

“Can you convince Daph in a better way? Stop dragging my gorgeous name into it!” Fiona said, completely against in the words that Melanie used to persuade Daphne.

“Gray Sky is a band consisting of three members, I know you’re into music so I know you’ll easily love them.” Melanie said, still facing Daphne and completely ignored Fiona’s remarks. Daphne sighed and turned her gaze to Fiona, who’s completely into glaring on Melanie’s back, but smiled soon after seeing Daphne looking at her.

“You’ll love them. Just try listening to one of their songs.” Fiona said, now temporarily forgot her unresolved issue with Melanie, smiling widely and her eyes gleaming with hope of having her say yes.

“There’s the leader and their drummer, the pianist and also the sub-vocalist, and the guitarist and their vocalist.” Melanie said, enumerating their minor information and leaned back in her seat, now letting Fiona be seen in a bigger picture.

“Just say yes, and I’ll completely forget about Melanie’s disrespect and be in very very good terms again.” Fiona said, bargaining with Daphne.

“Aren’t we in a very very good terms?” Melanie asked, genuinely confused about the tactic Fiona used against Daphne. “For now, we aren’t.” Fiona replied, sparing her a glance and a wide smile, before turning her gaze back to Daphne again.

“So?” Fiona asked, waiting to Daphne’s answer. Melanie turned her gaze at her as well, her expression mirroring the hopeful and expectant face Fiona is showing.

“Fine.”

 “Yes!” Melanie and Fiona exclaimed at the same time, finally relieved that they made Daphne, their one and only best friend that doesn’t take part in anything she deemed unworthy, say yes and finally try to fir with them.

“I’ll go to your house this Friday and I’ll drop their disc collection there okay?” Melanie excitedly suggested.

“But I can’t promise I’ll like them the way you guys like them.” Daphne said, clarifying her answer from before.

“Nah. I’m pretty sure you’ll be a fan in no time.” Fiona predicted, before fishing her phone out her bag and opened it, typing something before giving it to Daphne.

Daphne took it with curiosity building up inside her. Why would Fiona suddenly gave her phone? Is it something really important?

“This is,” Daphne started, now browsing on what’s on the screen. “Their information.” she added, catching a glimpse on the words and pictures while she’s carelessly browsing to check on what it really is.

“Yep. Now go read it.” Fiona said, encouraging her to start knowing the so-called famous band.

Daphne mentally sighed before browsing back up, now reading and looking at the first member present on the information file. It was a guy with blonde hair, with light hazel eyes and a charming smile.

Name: Denver Taurus

Age: 22 years old

Birthday: October 23

Band position: Leader and drummer

“This guy is fond of smiling isn’t he?” Daphne commented after finished seeing his photos and read the other information. He does smile in every picture, emphasizing the deep dimple that appears in his every slight facial movement. He’s also the one that mostly took the speech part whenever they are receiving an award for their music.

“Who wants to see a frowning guy on stage? And he’s handsome and a cutie that way! Look at his dimple!” Fiona answered, defending Denver. “And cool too!” Melanie chimed in.

Daphne just rolled her eyes and continued reading, now on the second member. It was a guy with a midnight blue hair, almost black if far, contrasting his pale skin, and is staring at the camera with a slight smile.

Name: Johann Hawkins

Age: 23 years old

Birthday: March 19

Band position: Pianist and song producer

“Is he even going out?” Daphne asked while looking at his pictures. His choice of clothes made his skin more noticeable, for he tends to wear dark colored outfits that really emphasized his skin.

“For crying out loud. At least say a compliment if you’ll talk about the three of them!” Melanie reacted. “Yeah. Don’t mock his since-birth skin color!” Fiona added.

Daphne sighed and focused on the phone once again, now looking at the third and final member of the Gray Sky.

Name: Christopher Evans

Age: 19 years old

Birthday: November 26

Band position: Vocalist and Guitarist 

“He looks fine.” Daphne said.

“Ugh. You’re insul-” Fiona stopped her remarks when she processed what Daphne just said. She blinked thrice, absorbing the words Daphne let out after reading the last member’s information.

“Did you just compliment him?” Melanie asked, still in doubt of what her ears heard and delivered in her system.

Daphne shrugged. “Nah. Just said that he isn’t really gross in a nice way.” she reasoned, still looking at the screen. In Daphne’s mind, she did find him attractive. 

His eyes looked like he’s staring at her when he’s just simply looking at the camera while smiling, pretty much just like the other two members, and his way of bringing himself made him look like he’s near perfection, even if he’s just wearing a simple outfit in the stolen shots.

A complete opposite of how Daphne sees herself.

For some reason, seeing him made her curious about him. Daphne wanted to know more about him, not just about his career but his true self, the characteristics hidden beneath the smiles he’s offering the crowd. But of course, she won’t admit it to her friends.

Not yet.

It was just curiosity after all.

“So,” Melanie started after Daphne gave Fiona’s phone back. “Have you found someone you liked?” Fiona continued.

“Nope.” Daphne said, crushing their hopes. “But maybe if I listened to their songs and watched them perform, I’ll have one.” she added, causing Fiona and Melanie’s spirits return in high level mode.

“Nice!” Fiona exclaimed. “They started four years ago. Their first song is called ‘First Everything’, reflecting themselves with the lyrics itself.” Fiona explained, already starting to introduce the band to Daphne.

“Denver’s such a cutie trying to be a bad boy back then.” Fiona added, reminiscing the past look of her idol. “But now, his bad boy look isn’t an acting anymore.” she continued. “Why is he constantly growing?”

“Are you into him?” Daphne suddenly asked, noticing Fiona’s constant compliments and mentioning of his name, she felt feelings when she heard her speak. For some reason, it made her think that something’s on and it's more than what they’re talking about.

 “Into him? Like love him?” Fiona asked, confirming the meaning of Daphne’s question.

“Yep. You seemed interested to him.” Daphne answered. “Welp, kind of.” Fiona said, averting her gaze and just stared at her lap. “Kind of?” Daphne asked again.

“I mean,” Fiona started, unable to form the following words. “ I don’t know if love as in in love, I’m just a fan, and as a fan, we have a rule.”  Fiona said. “Rule?” Daphne asked confusedly.

“Why are you curious in everything?” Melanie asked, joining their conversation, making Daphne look at her friend that is currently lying her head on the table. “What? I’ve been here since forever, in case you forgot about me.” Melanie said, rolling her eyes before lifting her head and fixed her hair using her hands.

“Because I want answers in my questions, that’s why.” Daphne said, answering Melanie’s question. “Jeez, we are Biology students. The three of us want to be a doctor so don’t act like a future lawyer.” Melanie retorted. Daphne just rolled her eyes and looked at her friend that is currently silent because of her question.

“So Fi,” Daphne said, making Fiona look at her. “About the rule?” Daphne said, mentioning her question that is still unanswered.

“Oh rule.” Fiona said, chuckling after. “Sorry I dozed off. I haven’t got enough sleep last night so my brain’s malfunctioning right now.” Fiona continued, cracking a joke which was suppose to make the atmosphere lighter but Daphne knew better.

Daphne knows almost everything about emotions. Her own life story thought her the things that made her look more than what can be seen by the eyes. And one of them is hiding the feelings. She isn’t certain about what’s going on but she is pretty sure that Fiona’s lying to cover up the real reason.

“The rule is simple: the group inspires the fans, the fans support the group.” Fiona said, finally answering Daphne’s question. “It’s a win-win situation, but if you included something that isn’t mutual to both parties, you’ll lose.” she added.

“So if I were you, just be a fan that can understand them and like them.” Melanie said then pointed at her. “But nothing else.” she added, before removing her finger and continued fixing her already neat hair. But not after a whole 30 seconds, a hand ruffled her hair, making her efforts wasted once again. 

“What’s up?” Yuan suddenly interrupted, appearing in front of them, now sitting on the chair he turned to face them. “You girls seemed to have a formal discussion.” he added, looking at them one by one.

“Yes, very important.” Melanie answered, glaring at the culprit. “And such formal meetings don’t need intruders.” she added. Yuan raised his brow and hummed, pretending to think thoroughly. “There’s a meeting scheduled today? Why am I not informed?”

Yuan Evergreen might look like childish and care free but his family is pretty rich, with his parents quite well known in the field of technology, and his grandfather as the capital investor of their school and owns roughly 65% of the school’s shares, so basically, they kind of own the school.

Because of his reputation, many girls tend to swoon over him and develop admirations, receiving confession letters and public ones from time to time. His light blue eyes and brown hair,  great facial features and remarkable personality added more points on him too.

Avanuez University is an elite school that nourishes students with great skills and family background. They were trained thoroughly and treated luxuriously at the same time. The school provided almost all the minor and major subjects needed for every courses, which took up almost 10 hours of their stay at the school, then gave the best materials, lounges, and other student needs that can satisfy a student during their breaks which lasted almost 2 hours a day, excluding the rare free time given by their professors.

In Daphne’s eyes, Avanuez University is the epitome of give and take. Give your best to succeed and withstand everything, then take your sweet time using the extravagant facilities present in the campus as the reward. So for her, in their school, failure is never an option.

“Anyways, I heard Mr. Harrison will be the one who’ll take up Mrs. Graye’s position.” Yuan said, spreading the rumor he heard a while ago.

“Mr. Harrison is a microbiology professor; how will he teach us genetics?” Fiona asked then rolled her eyes, not believing him. “Because he studied both obviously.” Melanie said, countering Fiona.

“Whoa.” Yuan exclaimed, surprised that Melanie supported him. “So we really can agree with each other.” he said then smirked, causing Melanie to frown. “I take back what I said.”

***

“I’m parched.” Fiona said, her hands stretched out taking up the space in their table. “Melanie’s third on the line so just wait.” Daphne said, trying to stop Fiona’s rambling on how tired she is.

“But I really am thirsty!” Fiona said then removed her hands on the table. “This,” she started, her finger pointing her face. “looks really tired right? and that means I’m really tired.” she continued, releasing a sigh.

“We all are tired.” Daphne said, emphasizing the word all. “Just be thankful you won and just sitting right now.” Daphne continued and rolled her eyes.

Their first day at school wasn’t the typical welcoming first day. The professors who knew them since the first time they enrolled at the university started their lectures immediately, with some of them included activities and exams that tested their capabilities and knowledge.

They are currently in a fast food restaurant at the nearby mall, enjoying some time altogether before going home. Daphne and Fiona were sitting in a table area beside the wall, impatiently waiting for Melanie to return with the food they ordered.

The three of them usually do the game of having one of them do a different hand gesture to pick on who’ll do something for them if they’re tired or just lazy. And this time, Melanie was the unfortunate one to have her palm visible and the other two showed the back of their palms.

“Finally.” Fiona said then released a sigh of relief, quickly taking the cheese sandwich and large soda she ordered out of the tray. “That 3-hour straight long practice exams drained my energy out of me.” she commented while removing the wrapper of her food.

“You bet.” Melanie seconded, taking the plate of chicken nuggets and glass of iced tea she bought for herself. “No one told us that our class would get almost all the terror and strict teachers of the 1st year college department.” she added before taking a bite of the nugget she putted in her fork.

“Guess we should prepare for the coming days.” Daphne said before sipping at the cola she bought to partner with her large fries. “I hate the surprise exams our professors threw at us.” she added before she continued eating.

"Now that mentioned it again." Melanie said, harshly stabbing the nugget using her fork. "I nearly failed the exam Mrs. Hemsworth threw at us! " she continued before taking up the whole nugget in one bite.

"A.U sure is merciless." Fiona commented before sighing. "But mom won't let me be a doctor if I won't study at Avanuez." she said before taking another bite at her sandwich.

"Me too." Daphne seconded. Melanie took a sip in her iced tea before slightly raising her right hand before speaking. "Me three." she added.

They have lots of similarities in terms of several aspects, and it includes their reason of studying at A.U. They all came from wealthy families, meaning, their life was supposed to be following the steps their parents planned for them. They were ought to be the next heiresses of their companies, then take over their parents position and take the lead in maintaining the high status their family is currently in.

Daphne is an only child. Meaning, she really is the only one that can rule over their company with series of hotels in different cities and countries. Bargaining for her dream job, a doctor, she complied in her parents' rule to study in Avanuez University, then be a licensed doctor, but still save some time in leading their business, Diamante Inc. and the branches of their hotel, Lunar Hotel.

In Fiona's case, she is the second child in their family, but since her brother, who's currently an engineer and hoping to continue that career, declines the position as an heir, she had to take over the role. Her parents once forced her in taking up the business course so she can run their business, the DnC Fashion House, which is famous for having the most famous models and ranked second in having the most expensive and rare fabrics that are used in creating their outfit masterpieces.

Melanie’s also in the same page as them. Their riches came from their restaurant, Inheritance Restau, which had several branches that can be found worldwide, which was all monitored by her father. The same rule applies for her, balance the job of being a doctor and being the business leader of their top class restaurant.

After spending some time talking about their first day of school and other topics that were inserted, they decided to go home and take the rest that'll give them enough energy for the next day.

"You should really ask Aunt Ember in letting you use your car." Melanie said while they were walking towards the parking lot. "Yeah. It's not like you'll go break the speed limit again." Fiona added, making Daphne frown at the memory she just mentioned.

"It's not my fault I'm late again." Daphne said, defending herself. She marked that day as one of the embarrassing moments of her life. She exceeded the speed limit just to reach the school, then the cops nearly took her license, but luckily her dad saved her by answering her phone call and talked to the cops himself. 

In the end, she haven't got a ticket and her license was safe. She didn't reached the school in time though, so she ended up appearing in her second class and another promise in the school head to bring the gold trophy with her in the contest that was held two months after the incident. 

"But fine, I'll try asking mom and dad again." Daphne said, convinced with the thought of having her own car again and not run to catch the bus again. They continued walking until they reached a dull pink and mint green colored vehicle.

Daphne will be with Melanie in her pink car since their direction is the same, so she'll just be dropped off in their house, then Fiona went in her mint green car after bidding goodbye to each other.

"I'm getting sleepy." Melanie said while her eyes were focused on the road. "Stay awake or we'll die." Daphne commented and looked at her with bored eyes. "Who told us to stay there until 8 pm again?" she continued.

"Me." Melanie answered. "Hang in there Mela, you can take a nap while driving after you already dropped me in our house." Daphne said and tapped her arm slightly, making Melanie scoff and roll her eyes.

"That'll kill me, stupid." she said and took a glance at her before focusing on the road once again. "At least I'm safe." Daphne answered and smirked.

They spent their car ride with bickering and listened to some songs being played on the radio that Melanie finally turned on when she's getting bored of the traffic they're in. After some time, they finally reached Daphne's house, so she got out of the car and waved her hand.

"Sleep and drive well, Mela." Daphne joked then lowered her hand. "I'll haunt you and bring you with me if that happened." Melanie fired back before smiling and spoke again. "Bye! Wait for the disc collection I'll drop off here on Friday okay?"

Daphne rolled her eyes at her friend's determination and just smile then raised her thumb. "Make sure they're really good." she said and shook head before waving her hand once again.

"Hi honey! how was school?" her mom greeted after she entered their house, meeting her mom whose in her usual apron and holding a spatula, and her dad is on the sofa, watching in the television.

"It's fine mom, still the same, boring and tiring." she answered, making her mom laugh and shake her head.  Daphne removed her shoes and place it in the rack before walking towards the living room and dropped her bag on the sofa before sitting beside her dad.

Then her eyes landed on the television where a commercial is playing.

They seemed familiar, she thought, silently watching the three guys that was focused on the camera one by one. Ah, they're the Gray Sky, she thought after remembering the pictures and data that Fiona showed her.

It showed Denver holding the drum sticks then smiled before giving a flying kiss, then Johann standing in front of his keyboard with a wide smile then winked, then the last one, Christopher, holding a microphone with a huge smile on his face before giving a slight bow and winked before giving a flying kiss.

After seeing the last member appear, her heart leaped without an explainable reason. What's going on? Daphne asked herself. 

She knew she did saw them on countless posters and several shows and commercials before, but she didn't paid attention to it. So she is now questioning herself on why is she affected when she just literally just learned about them today? so why is she so curious about him?

"Hey dad," Daphne started, making his dad look at her and hum, waiting for her next words. "Do you believe in love at first sight?"