[Music Recommendation: "Soffia La Notte" by Fabrizio Paterlini - available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter ~

[Please note: This chapter is written in Verrill's POV - after he turned down a confession]

'Uggghhh… another confession today. I'm getting more and more lately. During high school, I used to get two or three in a week but now it's almost everyday. This is exhausting. I wish they would just stop. Do they think if they confess, I'm gonna like them? Ughhh… What are they? Delusional?'

Sighing and shaking my head, I walked straight to the piano room. It was a free period for me so I'm free to do what I want until the next class, which would be after lunch. I decided to spend the rest of my time there since it was the only thing worthwhile to do. It had the perfect spot, too, since it was near Hora's department. I'm really glad our departments were right next to each other.

Upon arriving, there were already some students playing with the grand piano in the main room. Luckily, there were lots of rooms here so I could just pick an empty spot and stay there until it's time to fetch Hora.

I walked past a long series of rooms until I reached a vacant one near the end of the hallway. I entered and slumped the bag I was carrying on the couch inside. Walking straight towards the piano, I checked if it was properly tuned. I tested it a bit and once done, I sat in front of it so I could play.

Closing my eyes, the very first thing that popped to mind was Hora's cute face. Yeah, the one she made after I kissed her for the first time. He-he. Her lips were so smooth, moist, and warm… I loved kissing her. It was the first time I kissed a girl and I didn't think it would be that awesome. So awesome I didn't want to stop.

Badump! Badump! Badump!

'I can't believe this. Just thinking about her is making my heart pound this much. I've been smitten real hard, haven't I?'

While my heart throbbed hard, I started playing "Night Breaths" or "Soffia La Notte" by Fabrizio Paterlini—the same song I played last night for Hora.

As I played, I couldn't help but reminisce the very first time I met her.

It was really odd since I never gave sh*t about romance before. I always thought girls were irritating because of that—always talking about boys whenever they got the chance. Who managed to get the most boyfriends, up to what bases did they reach together, kissing and all that stuff—ugh… they were all gross to me. Hearing them ramble on was beyond me—since I couldn't avoid it if my seatmates at school were girls.

That was why I've always been irritated whenever someone would confess to me. Flirting was the least of my interest. I preferred learning different instruments or playing games with Kai and Cal. Well, that was until I met her.

It was the first day of school and Kai texted us the night before that he would introduce Lady Pumpkin to us. Curious as to who the girl that managed to befriend the picky Kai was, I agreed and went to school early. What I didn't know was how she brought along her best friend, too.

Yeah… her best friend who was so cute and petite that she looked like an innocent doll. Those eyes of hers… it was like looking at the sky, so beautiful and peaceful. Just seeing her made my heart throb hard for the very first time.

Badump! Badump! Badump!

After that, I couldn't take my eyes off of her whenever I got the chance to see her—which was mostly during lunch. What sucks though was how I never had the chance to be alone with her or talk to her. She was always with her best friend and that started to irritate me.

Good thing, Cal had an argument with Senara. Not that arguing with someone was good but being able to talk to Hora was. I even managed to get her number. She came to me one afternoon asking what the deal was with Cal since Sena didn't tell her anything.

Heh. She was so cute that time, too, when she complained to me about Cal.

"Do you know what happened between Sena and Callan?" she asked, pouting so cutely. Her eyebrows were knitted and her cheeks were blushing in anger—something I found so cute. She was like a little hamster or a kitten. "Sena would never start a fight so I'm guessing it had something to do with what Callan said or did. Did he tell you what happened that day?"

"I'm sorry, but he didn't," I answered her.

It wasn't a lie. Cal really didn't tell us what exactly happened except for mistaking Lady Pumpkin as a man and saying he fu*cked up. But she didn't ask that, right? Heh.

She pouted even more after hearing my answer. But I quickly gave her my sweetest and most reassuring smile.

"Don't worry. They'll make up soon. If you want, I can call you once I have news."

"Really? You will? Is that okay?"

"Of course."

And voilà—she gave me her number. Heh. My plan was a success. After that, we started to call each other—calling because I told her that whenever I got the chance, I would rest my fingers so that meant I preferred to call rather than texting. He-he. Another plan of mine which was a success. Listening to her sweet voice was much better than reading her texts.

And so, days passed by and I'm happily enjoying getting to know her. To my surprise, we had many similarities with our likes and dislikes. She was fun to talk to as well. Not irritating at all unlike other girls my age. Maybe it was because I liked her in the first place? I wasn't sure. But whatever the reason, I hoped that Cal and Sena's argument would take longer. That way, I could talk more with Hora.

Unluckily for me, they made up on Saturday, which was too quick. Tsk. They could have made it to last for at least a year, or even a month. What's good though was how the next day was my birthday. Even though I didn't give them invitations, I was sure Kai or Crystal would bring them along. Those twins were never the type to leave friends alone anyway.

And as I predicted, they brought them along.

What I didn't predict was how mesmerizing Hora would be… like an angel who descended from the sky.

Badump! Badump! Badump!