Make Her Happy

Chapter 4 - Hidden Feelings

--- Kim's POV ---

I have been daydreaming all day, I can feel that something wonderful will happen. Like having Xian greet me a happy birthday? Haha! LOL, I know that's sooo lame, I should be daydreaming of a kiss instead, right? Oh well, that will not seem to happen since we're not even introduced to each other yet. A birthday greeting will more likely to materialize than a kiss.

Xian is SMU's heartthrob, he's every woman's dream! I had a crush on him from the first day I saw him walking on the auditorium. I can still remember how he wowed everyone with his audition piece.

--- Audition's Flashback ---

"It's time to announce the top 4 aspirants for this batch.", the host started. "In no particular order, let us give a round of applause and welcome on stage the top 4: Alexander Xian Lim."

I am so thrilled that I jumped on my feet, now standing and clapping for him. He looked my way and smiled, I hope that it's for me this time but when I realized that almost all eyes are on me, I came back to reality! I am the only one standing! "Argh, that is totally embarrassing!" I sat down and bowed my head, I felt like all the blood in my body is now in my face.

Still, I am wondering why I felt happy when I heard his name and when I saw him, it's as if there's an existing connection, like I've heard that name before and have seen that handsome face before. Thinking when and how gives me headache. Until Maja shook me to get me back to my senses.

She's now standing and dragging me in front, "Kim! Congratulations, you're on the top 4!", she yelled.

"How come I didn't hear? Stop it Maja, if it's a joke, it's not funny."

Then I heard the host, "Kimberly Sue Chiu, are you still around? Please join us here on stage."

Maja shrugged her shoulders and gave me a now-who's-joking look.

I was very surprised and not expecting this coming, I hugged Maja and rushed to the stage, whispering sorry and thank you on her ears.

I saw the 3 students already in front including Xian, I am the last to complete the top 4. "Thank You, Bestfriend", I murmured.

The spot I was lead to stand is right beside Xian, he smiled at me and said "Congratulations", showing his beautiful teeth. I felt like I am in cloud nine!

Afterwards, he turned to the other two students and did the same. Oh well, I assumed too much. I just let out a sigh and secretly looked at him. Surprised to see him with eyes closed, "Thank you, Bestfriend", he murmured.

Did I just daydream about that? I really saw him and heard those from him. Hmm, it seems like we have a lot in common huh? I had the urge to chat with him but this is not the best place, hello, we're on stage! And then the host continue speaking. This time, I focused.

"The top 4 will be on different blocks, ensuring that each of the four blocks for freshman will have one of the bests of the batch." This announcement made my jaw dropped!

I had my hopes up that I'm gonna be close to this man when the host just crashed it down. We're of the same course: aspiring to be popular singers in the whole world. The sad thing is, we'll never be classmates until the 3rd year. "Long wait", I whispered.

The host continued, "The SMU ruling is set up as this:

1st and 2nd year: 4 blocks with different professors, all blocks will need to prove their talents against each other, as well as individual performers

3rd year: merge class, 3 blocks will be dropped. Only the juniors will stay for press and producers presentation.

4th year: One class but more of managing careers - be it as a group/band or solo."

--- end of flashback ---

Sigh.

I never get the chance to be near him or befriend him for that two looooong years! We're of different buildings, each blocks has their own. But I am grateful I get to see him everyday because he's always sitting on that same bench in the hallway beside the parking lot since our first year. I always get the chance to steal a glance, ok not just once, multiple glances.

We're now on third year, the school has just started the first semester. We're now sharing the same building but still of different classes and professors, the announcement of the merge will happen next week.

I was sad that on my 18th birthday, since the day I studied on SMU, this is the first time I didn't get to see him sitting on his bench.

The sadness turned to excitement when I get to see him coming near me as I walked back on that same hallway towards my next class, as if my daydream is happening, really!

But my happiness didn't last for 5 minutes, it turned to tears after he greeted me and gave me flowers. Not that I am not happy, I just felt bad hearing from him that he's gonna tell his friend when I told him that I liked the flowers. I have concluded that he was just asked by a friend to do that. Argh! I feel so sad now, I am not in the mood to party either.

--- Xian's POV ---

It's her 18th birthday, we promised each other that on this day I will be the one standing beside her as escort. But everything has changed with just one snap.

I went back to my pad to prepare for school after pinning all the posters in the University. "I hope that will make her feel special.", I thought as I imagined her looking on those today.

I made sure that I'll be early enough to see her reaction, so instead of sitting on the bench in the patio where I wait for her to pass by everyday, I hid myself on an empty storage room in front of her locker.

She stood in front of her locker, staring blandly at the poster. Uh oh, she's not showing any of my expected reactions. I still waited and suddenly she giggled with her friend, they are now pointing on the crown stamped in it. They hugged and I heard them said "Prince Charming". Happiness, I exhaled happiness.

I was more than happy when she took the poster and slid it on her bag. That's the only poster she unpinned and put on her bag, all other posters with the other students' greetings were still hanging.

But it seems like she's looking for some more important greetings, they are walking on the hallways and inspecting the signatures. That hurts. It seems to me that she's expecting someone else.

I let it go and waited for her on her next class. I had the bouquet of pink tulips in my hands. This is her favorite, I know. We planted tulips together on her mini-garden back in Dallas. "If I can only turn back the time", I sigh.

Then I felt my heart pumping as fast as it can. Here she is, few feet in front of me. "Oh man, she's perfectly gorgeous.", I whispered.

This is it Alex. No turning back now. I had been trying to consume this for two years, this is the day to tell her! "Go now," I instructed my feet that seems to be planted on the ground.

I greeted her a happy birthday and hand her the precious tulips, oh that smile. That made my heart jump!

Wait, she mentioned my name, but she said Xian. That hurts. She still can't remember me, up to now. I frowned but managed to gave a smile.

All other people call me Xian, that's the name I use to introduce myself to others. But all of the people I love call me Alex, she used to call me Alex. My heart is bleeding now, but I understand.

She told me she liked it! That made me so happy. I don't know what to say, I searched for words to reply. All I know is I can't contain my joy and I need to tell everybody how happy I am, so I said, I'm gonna tell my friend.

Really Alex? That's the best reply you can compose on your head? Man, I can't take those words back, as if my tongue suddenly froze! So I turned away and walk towards my next class.

"Ahhh!!! A friend? Seriously? I hope she's not thinking it's from a friend." Wrong move. Wrong words.

I will just make it up to her. Today is the day I'm gonna make her remember the past.

"I'll see you at your party tonight, my Princess." Tonight, you'll remember me tonight.