Stars' Song: Clef

Chapter 4 : A Day in the Life Of

4-1

June 13. Wednesday.

The number thirteen. It is said to be an unlucky number. There is even a word for the fear of it, but it was too complicated for me to remember. We go so far in believing this, humanity created elevators that skip the number thirteen. Despite our efforts, the thirteenth floor still exists, right? It just says it is the fourteenth floor in elevators, but it still transports you to the thirteenth floor. In conclusion, whatever we do, bad luck just continues to exist, no matter how much we try to conceal it or run away from it.

But I don't want to believe today is an unlucky day.

The sun had just risen, emitting a meek light. Dressed in my uniform, I waited on the bench in front of Chloe's house. Taking place before me were individuals passing by; students from Sierra High, working adults, and people either jogging, walking their dogs, or shopping. Oh, don't forget the little children chasing each other while laughing in hysteria. In the past sixteen years of living here, I grew to love my neighborhood. Even if the scenarios were the same as always, I don't hate it.

The birds sat beside each other on the electrical lines again. The neighbors left their houses to go to their destinations again. The rare sight of cars drove through the narrow road again. And me, waiting for someone on this bench again. Again and again, nothing changes, and I don't hate it.

But possibly, in the future, something around me will change. Would I be able to notice it?

However, this wasn't the question I should be asking. Even the simple things, we notice. Even the things that have nothing to do with us, we notice. The real question is: If something changes, will I come to hate it?

I heard the close of a door behind me. This prompted me to stand up from the bench, twisting my body and moving my shoulders in a circular motion at the same time. With my bags in tow, I turned around towards the source of the sound. As soon as the girl was done checking the lock on her door, she received my greeting.

"Morning. Ready to go?"

Blink, blink. She stared at me, and so I stared right back. I'm sure this is the time where she acknowledges my salutations. She did not move a muscle except her pupils, which went from my head down to my toes.

"W-what?"

"You seem to be in a good mood today," she concluded while fixing her white uniform and straightening out the blue skirt which reached the bottom of her knees. After sorting her appearance, she moved one foot, and then the other.

"Huh? What makes you say that?" I asked as I paced myself beside her, starting our journey to school.

"Normally," She directed her whole upper body towards me to make her resting mug visible. "You'd be spacin' out on the bench like this," She proceeded to cross her eyes and make a narrow space between her lips, emulating... me? Who is she supposed to be? A dunce?

"What the hell? I don't cross my eyes when I space out. Do I cross my eyes when I space out?"

"Anyway, my point is... did something good happen?" Her expression returned to normal.

'Yes, Chloe. Nothing but good things happened yesterday. It was amazing. I heard Amber sing, and I even harmonized with her! Cool, right?'

In her dreams! No way I would tell her! "Oh, you know..." Chloe can be an airhead at times, so there's no way she'd see right through this!