Forever

VIII

January 2008 (Middle School years)

It was 4 in the afternoon of a Friday, last day of school for the week. Most classes had been dismissed as early as 3 in the afternoon for everybody was seemingly in the mood for the weekend. The school was near empty with just a few staffs and teachers around, dealing with few offices works or take home tasks for the weekend. Austin thought it was a good time to sneak in to the auditorium since almost everyone had left, meaning no one will bother him and he could be just alone.

Austin was never really good with people. He was the type of student who would often sit by the window on the far side of the room so no one could bother him and talk to him. In that sense he could be alone in his world without even minding other people, or his colleagues, for that matter. He, by nature, didn't care about anyone except his mum. Most people around him termed him as cold-hearted and introvert, but he didn't care. He agreed with me them, actually.

So that particular Friday when he thought everyone left, he sneaked in to the auditorium to practice piano. One and important thing that people didn't know about him back then was that he has the gift of music. As much as possible he hid it to everyone for the simple reason that he had the mindset back then that no will care. The only one who knew about this side of him was his mum, only his mum.

He sat on the chair in front of the piano on the stage, running his fingers on the keys. It felt nice against his skin; it brought the sense that something finally was with him at that moment who understood him without even trying to talk. He pressed the keys ever so lightly, making a faint sound, and it brought a smile to his lips. He played the piano properly, pressing the notes, making up the melody of the first song that came to his head.

I may not always love you

But long as there are stars above you

You never need to doubt it

I'll make you so sure about it.

God only knows what I'd be without you.

A small smile made its way on his lips as his voice echoed in the place, suddenly feeling comfortable on his own skin with him singing and playing the piano at the same time. It made him feel like he could do whatever he wanted, and he was free, so he continued playing around the keys of the instruments, pressing chords that continued the melody.

If you should ever leave me,

Life would still go on, believe me.

The world could show nothing to me,

So what could would living do me?

God only knows what I'd be without you.

He ended the song with a fading melody from the piano keys, feeling way better to himself. Although his solitude was suddenly interrupted when he heard applause from somewhere near, making his head shot up to look around him. Not too far from the stage he then saw a girl standing, clapping her hands enthusiastically and beaming at him. Austin was too shock to react so what he did was remain sitting on where he was, gaping at the girl he recognized as Olivia.

How did he know? Everyone knows who Olivia Anderson is. She was the top student of the class, head of the literary club, and a member of the student publication. She is the type of girl who is not popular in middle school because she's a bambi bitch that treats the hallway as a ramp stage but because of her brain.

Austin suddenly felt self-conscious when Olivia started walking towards him and then coming up on stage. She still had this smile on her face and as she came nearer, Austin noticed that it was an amused one.