“Welcome to Saint Mary’s University!” Kellen announced as they got inside the campus. She welcomed Lemon and Mika with Audrey and they both smiled widely at them.
“Thank you beauties!” Mika told them as he kissed both girls on the cheek.
“And since we’re classmates, we’re cutting classes on our first day of school!” Kellen informed the transferees. Lemon’s eyes widened after hearing what she said, “Kidding! Grade conscious? Your eyes almost popped out of their sockets!” she teased.
“I was just shocked, I thought you were being serious.”
“Of course not! We have our library period after lunch, but instead of going to the library, we asked permission from our adviser and told her we’re giving you a tour around the campus,” she explained.
“Take us to where the boys are~” Mika squealed.
“Sure! Timing that there’s a basketball practice today. They’re practicing from one to five so we can watch them,” Kellen informed Mika excitedly.
“Can you stop thinking about boys for at least a minute?” Lemon scolded her pink friend, but he just rolled his eyes at her.
“Wow Sister Theresa! Don’t pretend like we never did this in France!” he spat, and realizing he was right, she could only laugh.
It’s true. They did chase boys back in France. But they only chase them with their eyes, they don’t really approach them. Besides, she never had a boyfriend in France.
Some did try to court her but they all ended up in the friend zone. She felt like she was too young to be in a relationship at that time.
“Wait up, let’s postpone that argument unless we want to be late for our first class,” Kellen butted in and they immediately headed for the stairs going to the 2nd floor. Out in the corridor, they could see the entire quadrangle and it was a sight to behold.
“Where do you usually stay during breaks?” Mika asked.
“At that mango tree!” Audrey replied as she pointed to a leafy mango tree with benches underneath.
When they got into their classroom, Kip was already there with the rest of the band. A couple of their classmates were there too, grouped up and gossiping.
Their whispers grew louder when Lemon and Kellen came and, in no more than ten minutes, their adviser came. Everyone fell quiet when she did, as if everyone was eager to pay attention to her.
“Good morning class! I’m Mrs. Rañola, I’ll be your adviser for the rest of the school year. I will be arranging you alphabetically, boys and girls, and whoever your seatmate is will be your partner for your projects and activities,” she explained lengthily and everyone nodded in acknowledgment.
“But before we get started, I’d like to call on Mikael Felipe and Leslie Monica Juarez. Can both of you please come forward?” then she looked around trying to find them.
Lemon and Mika stood up and walked toward the front of the class. “Now, both of them are transfer students. They came from France and they’re new to SMU,” Mrs. Rañola continued. “Are you ready for the introduction?” she turned to ask them and they both nodded. “Okay, the floor is yours.”
Mika started introducing himself. He mentioned his hobbies, likes, and dislikes, as well as his favorite food and colors.
Lemon wanted to laugh because it sounded like he was filling up a slambook, but when he was done, she suddenly felt nervous. It’s now her turn.
“Good morning, my name is Leslie Monica Juarez, but you can call me Lemon for short, I prefer that too,” she paused to smile.
She was just introducing herself but her anxiety was up to her throat for an unknown reason. Maybe it’s because some of their classmates were looking intensely at her, with some even raising their brows.
“We moved to France when I was 8, after my parents got separated. My Mom decided to move back here because she put up her own fashion house. I’m an only daughter and Mikael here is my best friend. But of course, it will be a pleasure to be friends with everyone in this class,” she ended.
Almost everyone clapped after their introduction, then they hurried back to their seats. She was close to sitting down when someone spoke.
“She isn’t even pretty,” and when she looked, Lemon caught one of her classmates with long, curly hair, round eyes, and a fair complexion smirking at her.
She looks like she’s ‘someone’, but since she seems insecure, to Lemon, she doesn’t count. She hates people who seem flawless but still overflow with insecurity.
“Unlike other advisers, I don’t like students cutting classes and being always absent. Your parents are paying a hefty amount to the school, so you should make the most out of it. Your tuition fee pays me and it’s only normal that I pay attention to you and your studies, that’s my job and I intend to do it with all my best,” she explained.
Their homeroom ended with tons of reminders. Their adviser also arranged all students for their seats and, fortunately, Kevz is her seatmate.
In the front row were Mika and Audrey and close to them were Kellen and Kippler. “This is so irritating!” Kellen complained.
“Why? You don’t want to be seated next to me?” Kip asked, obviously teasing. “Homme, let’s switch seats!” then he let out a hearty laugh.
“Kip you’re so stupid!” Kellen whispered, lightly pinching her twin’s arm.
The rest of the group can’t help but laugh at the twin’s banter and when their adviser finally left, Kip’s bandmates walked over to Lemon and Kip’s seats.
Homme sat down on the armchair of her seat and Roj did the same on Audrey’s chair. “Are we pushing through with the audition?” Kevz asked Kip and he nodded in response.
“We don’t have any choice, bro! Edge left us at the wrong time,” Kip stated, annoyed.
Kippler Fiel is the leader of the band and the rhythm guitarist as well. Drew is the drummer, Roj is the keyboardist, Homme is the lead guitarist and Kevz is the bassist.
The Edge he mentioned is their former vocalist along with his twin sister, Erica. Unfortunately, the family migrated to the States and left the spots vacant.
“Friday is Club Day, we can host the audition that day. Let’s just inform Mr. Punzalan,” Roj suggested, referring to the Music Club’s adviser.
“We can do that. It’s not like we have another option,” Kip agreed, and everyone else nodded.
When the class’ next teacher arrived, they all went back to their assigned seats. A few more classes and the next bell rang, signaling the lunch break.
Kellen invited them to the cafeteria but before she could get in, she landed on the floor as someone bumped into her forcefully. It was then followed by a fit of laughter from a group of girls.
“Pretending all high and mighty~,” someone said as she continued laughing and her minions joined in.
Lemon quickly stood up to see who was the culprit and saw Tanya standing smugly close to them. She’s the one Lemon heard saying something about her earlier too.
It’s only the first day of school and it looks like trouble’s already brewing. Not a good sign but if unavoidable. Lemon finds it challenging too.