AQUA

Chapter Four: Mad Discovery

Saying that there was a long Harmonic practice as an excuse why she came home very late wasn’t easy for her, especially for Jenna who would “automatically sounds off like a buzzer whenever I get even the tiniest fault”, as Brielle would always say.

She was with her tight pink shirt that shows off her curves paired with light brown jeans which she bought in a supermarket in Macy’s four years ago. With her swaying bag, she marches towards their classroom and tries to forget about the epic kidnap happened yesterday. Brielle couldn’t expect something like that in her first week of school! Archie, of course, will always be on her mind as the ‘prime suspect’ of the creepy plan of imprisoning her in a worst-ventilated locker. As always, she would walk with her sight on her seven-months-old white-and-blue star-designed Converse shoes. She’s now on the second floor of the academic building.  A Christian book fell on her way to their classroom. She bent to pick it up and returned it to the one who dropped it. Her eyes met Mrs. Theresa’s, the current coach of the Harmonic Club where she newly belongs to. With her thin bony face and dirty blond hair that flies away beneath her shoulders, Mrs. Theresa spoke to her politely and accepted the book.

“Hello. You must be—?”

“Brielle Kruger, ma’am.” Brielle answered.

“Ooh. The one with the outstanding performance yesterday…”

“Thanks. But I’m not—that good, ma’am.” Brielle felt flattered.

“You should keep that up. Raise your voice! We’ll have a meeting later, four in the afternoon at the audition place. Be sure to come.” the lady tapped her shoulder.

“Okay.” Brielle saw her slowly stepping away from her. Then Maxx appeared.

“What was that?” he asked her with a sunny bright mood of his face.

“Uhm. The coach.” Brielle answered.

“Our coach.” She corrected herself.

“I bet you’re joining the singing club?” he led her to their classroom.

“Yes. It will be fun, I guess.”

“So you love singing?”

“As much as swimming, yeah.” Brielle smiled as she remembered swimming.

“Ooh.” Maxx blurted off some air from his mouth and thought deeply of something.

“I did join the church choir before and learned about the teachings in there—a lot.”

“Religious?”

“Think so. My mom always bring me to the church every Sunday before so, I got the enthusiasm to join the choir and hear the priest’s words.” Brielle took off her bag.

Maxx realized after their small talk while walking, they reached their chairs at the farthest batch of chairs in the room. He observed Regina has her nails newly-painted with the deepest red, almost black. He was busy looking at how Regina hides a beautiful piece of blue paper on her small palms and read it quickly. He had a strong guess on what’s inside the paper. Then he decided to mind about Brielle again, who wasn’t at his side anymore, but to Archie’s. He became worried on what may happen.

“So, you’re shocked that I’m here? Still alive?” Brielle said after she poked Archie.

“Wh? What are you talking about, lady?” Archie, with his white polo, looking like a thin greedy politician, turned his back to talk to Brielle while hiding that he was truly shocked that it was like nothing happened to Brielle but showing that Brielle was just talking nonsense. He paused his PSP game just to talk to her. Their classmates were gathering around his desk to watch him play the car racing game in the device.