--𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 (𝘙𝘪𝘷𝘶𝘴𝘢: 𝐖𝚰𝐍𝐗 𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐁)

2

⸻Musa tugged at the hem of her oversized magenta hoodie as the September breeze slid through her like a coin through a slot. It wasn't just the crisp air that bothered her; it was the mix of anxiety and anticipation she felt as she trudged through the gates of Alfea College. She tried her best to stay focused and positive. The school was enormous, with countless doors leading to who-knows-where, making it easy to get lost within its walls. She couldn't help but wonder what it had been like for her mother when she attended Alfea during her prime, under the guidance of the renowned headmistress, Faragonda.

As she walked, a pang of longing hit her chest. She missed her mother fiercely, wishing she could share this moment with her. Her mother had always believed in her, and Musa wondered if she was doing the right thing by coming to Alfea. Deep down, she knew the answer. Her mother would have wanted her to follow her passion for music, to find her own path and make her mark.

Still, she felt a twinge of doubt. Was she really ready for this? The thought of leaving behind her home planet, Melody, made her heart ache. Melody was a place of peace and tranquility, a stark contrast to the silence that had enveloped her home after her mother passed. The serene melodies of her planet had always brought her comfort, even as she lived in a house where music was forbidden, where her father's grief created an unyielding silence.

But now, at Alfea, Musa had the chance to break free from that silence. She could immerse herself in the music she loved and honor her mother's memory by becoming the best music fairy she could be. With each step, she reminded herself that this was her opportunity to find her voice and heal the wounds of her past.

She continued to squeeze through the bustling crowd, holding back her slight agitation at the sight of everyone being in her way. She didn't enjoy crowds—the kind where you feel as if you can't escape and are squeezed like a tight blanket. Yet, paradoxically, she loved being in front of a crowd to perform. Before her mother passed away, Musa remembered standing on stage with her during one of her shows while her father stood in the shadows, a proud manager and family man.

Those memories were bittersweet, filled with the warmth of her mother's voice and the love that had once surrounded their family. Being on stage had felt like home, a place where she could connect with her mother through their shared passion for music. Her father's supportive presence had been a constant reassurance, a reminder of the bond they all shared through music.

But that was before everything changed. Before her father's grief turned their home into a place of silence and sorrow. Musa shook her head slightly, pushing away the painful memories. She was here now, at Alfea, ready to create new memories and reclaim the joy that music once brought her.

Suddenly, a body collided with hers, almost knocking the wind out of her petite frame. She couldn't help but feel her peace subside as her crimson red headphones slid off her neck and onto the ground beside her, waiting to be crushed at any moment by the unrelenting flow of students.

Musa let out a huff before reaching to grab them, but a hand, the color of rich espresso, swiftly picked them up instead. Musa's midnight blue hair fell slightly from her low buns, and she cursed herself for spending twenty minutes styling it, only to now have to shift it into a messy one.

Her eyes met with a beautiful pair of cerulean ones that mirrored strength and caution.

"Didn't mean to do that," the voice filled her ears with such a soft and warm timbre.

Musa couldn't help but stare in dumbfoundness. Speak, you idiot. You're not mute.

She cleared her throat as she was brought back into the reality around her. "All good, I'm in one piece, that's for sure."