The Sound of Them: Book One

Prologue

Who would have thought that I would be here when I was so upset that I got accepted into the summer research program at my university?

It started with an argument with my parents. I wanted to travel with Tori. I wanted to study in Costa Rica and see a new culture. They should have known how much I love learning and observing new cultures. But they said, "Focus on what's necessary now. Is that what you need now? What about that research program?"

"Please! I won't even get accepted! It's so hard to get in!"

"Why are you so negative?!" my mother said.

"I'm realistic!"

"No," my father said. "That's it! You will apply for that research program! You said you need it to graduate. Why don't you do it?"

"But Costa Rica--"

"I don't care," my mother firmly said. "Apply to the program. I know who my daughter is. You are already accepted. Do it tonight or else."

I angrily submitted two applications and I got accepted into one.

It was ironic to see how the universe pulled me closer to this summer program when I tried to pull away. But I should have known I was going to find much more than research and a step forward to making my life less stressful during senior year.

I found her.

At first, I found out that my friend, Jar, had also been accepted. So we prayed that we would get housing together, but the universe once again turned my plans upside down when I saw in the email a completely different name as my roommate.

Cristina Wong.

Once again, I let out a sigh of annoyance. I knew this name from work, but I had only interacted with her once. However, I tried to be nice and reached out to her. We only spoke once over text until the day I moved in. I thank the universe now as this random roommate became a friend I could trust. She became a girl that made my heart delicate. I felt like I could be myself with her.

She had to confine to me since I had a car and she did not, but our friendship slowly bloomed until the very last day. Every day in the laboratory, each difficult trial, showed me her kind heart. She even stayed with me one night in the laboratory until 3 AM even if her research was done. But she didn't want me to be alone and we laughed the most on that night.

She found strength in me as she nervously feared for the last presentation day. I took her arms and told her, "You can do this. Only you know this material. You did this work. You put in the hours, sweat, and tears to get these results. Now show them what you got!" She nodded with determination and we cheered when she won best poster.

It was with her that I found my favorite restaurant to eat near our university. It was with her that I found life outside my studies and how nice it was to step out of campus once in a while. It was she who taught my heart how to dance and giggle without care. It was she who I missed when I went back home and my mother broke my heart.

It was her that I became closer to without even trying. It was as if the universe only moved our stars around so we could bump into each other and become inseparable. We found each other nervously standing in front of our posters again to present to vicious judges from thousands of universities. It was she who stood by our side even if she did not present at my first conference. She stayed close by and would give me an encouraging thumbs up every time I finished a presentation.

It was with her I felt most safe with every time I left campus for research presentations. It was with her that I faced my fear of presenting using a slideshow in front of professors and students who judged every inch of our research. We learned the melody of each other's hearts to the point where Dr. C asked me out of the group of research students to join her in Seattle because they had accepted only Cristina's abstract.

It was she who I saw when I cheered as she happily showed me the acceptance email for the Seattle conference. She begged me to go with her even if I was hesitant.

It was she who touched my heart and it could never be the same again. We found ourselves on a plane to Seattle and had the best of our time there. We walked on streets filled with filth and scary homeless men, but it didn't matter because we had each other. It was with her that I found a new love for friendship and gave her a mini bouquet she surprised me with, too.

I saw her and I realized I had found a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I decided to give it a chance after my heart broke with the last best friend I had in high school. I had hardened my heart to true friendship but she proved to me that my heart was left delicate and that was okay. She made her way to lighten my heart and give it wings again with each presentation we successfully achieved and each adventure we shared because I decided to listen to my parents.

Thank God they accepted me for that research. I was in denial when my heart told me that I found a real friend as she said goodbye to me when our summer research ended. She left first and she hugged me tightly as we listened to our favorite song of that summer. She cried and I was surprised when she said that she was going to miss me and she didn't want to leave yet.

I understand now. It's impossible to leave without feeling that rush after soaring so high up. I always feared the fall would be as painful. I've fallen before and those walls crumbled around me. But just that once, I let them crack away when I saw her.

"This trip was amazing, Lianne! I hope we can travel more! We must! This trip would not have been the same if you weren't here. Thank you so much for tagging along."

I smiled at her genuine words and nodded. "Thank you for inviting me. I couldn't miss seeing you present."

She took the small cylinder that carried her poster and held it with pride. She then gave me her warm smile and her eyes sparkled just like the time I first met her at work and in that summer apartment. "Where should we travel to next, Lianne?"

I chuckled and looked up at the many departing planes. "Anywhere as long as you come with me."