I let out a tired deep sigh. Ah Si and I were making our way to our last class for the day. Students made a pathway for us to walk and there were a few girls who followed from afar. I kept my attention forward walking with my notebook. Earlier I had mistakenly forgotten to stop by my locker in the music building to pick up my school bag. I left without it as soon as I left the classroom Faye was in. I was distracted with my first encounter with Faye Calinao that I went straight for my first class. I told myself I could go to my locker after the class, which Faye happened to be in.

She happened to be in my music theory class and my writing class for English right after. I knew from across the room she took glances at me. Her expression seemed to have mixed feelings. Being her first day here, I'm sure she hasn't had the time to meet anyone. She must be alone here on her first day. Her first encounter with a student was me and I may have given her a cold shoulder. It was in my nature to not care about anyone outside my friend group. There was a part of me who wanted to welcome her. A part of me did not feel the need to be different with her.

Faye Calinao has made an impression into the music industry at a young age. She can befriend anyone she wanted and I did not feel the need to give her the satisfaction of becoming friends with Ah Si, Ximen, Meizuo, and I. I was part of a closed group and had no interest of making new friends.

Second time today, I have forgotten to stop by my locker to pick up my bag. I left our writing class in a hurry to meet with Si, Ximen, and Meizuo in the cafe. I had left my bag in the locker the previous day, because I felt I was caught up with my schoolwork and did not think it was necessary to take an extra trip to the music building after a long day.

The one thing I made sure to have with my was my journal for my writing class with Professor Liu. It's the one class to make sure I have my journal, because we use it at the end of every class. Sometimes we may use it more than just our journal entry. Professor Liu also made sure we had our journal with us. Having our journal counted towards our preparedness. My journal entry today was about her. The moment Professor Liu dismissed us from class, I immediately left the classroom in a hurry to bring space between Faye and I.

She was flustered by me and I could tell she was nervous with my presence. Her cheeks were flushed and eyes were wide from my actions of closeness. Being honest with myself, she is a very pretty girl and I may be attracted to her. Her performance earlier in the day had attracted me more to her, but I don't know her well enough to allow her into my personal life. I wanted to test her reaction to me. I was right about one thing, she has some sort of attraction to me. If I wasn't in love with Jing, maybe... there was the possibility of getting to know Faye Calinao. Instead, I wanted to keep her at a distance.

"Lei." I refocused and glanced towards Ah Si who seemed to be attempting on getting my attention. "You're unfocused. Why do you seem... distracted?" His expression seemed serious and concentrated at uausal. His dark black hair was back in his usual style. To me, I call it the porcupine.

"It's nothing," I shook my head at the thought of letting Faye cloud my head again. "Music things. Not serious." He nods and lets out a sigh. We enter the classroom where we find Ximen and Meizuo in their usual spot. I frown slightly wondering where they were during lunch. It was unlike them to not show when we planned to eat in the cafe. Ah Si and I walked over and took our usual seat.

"Hey," Ah Si said, getting their attention. The two of them looked up from their phones. "Where were you two? You ditch Lei and I without reason." Both Ximen and Mei Zou looked to each other as if they were doing a quick calculating answer. Something seemed off with them.

"We were having lunch with a friend of Ximen's," Meizuo said. I nod thinking it's probably another girl they met at the bar last night. I never understood the two of them when it came to girls. One week they're with one girl and the next they're with a new one. Both Ximen and Meizuo liked to go out to the bars on a Thursday and Friday night. They liked flirting with girls, but never seemed to have a serious relationship. Si and I tried going out with them a few times, but it was never my interest in taking part of their games.

My phone vibrates in my coat pocket as the professor begins taking attendance. I take my phone out to see a notification from Weibo. My notification was usually of something important. Seeing my friends are here, it did not have anything to do with them. I clicked on the notification and the apps open to the page of the notification.

Faye Calinao follows you!

My finger hovered over her notification before clicking on it. The notification immediately brought me to her profile. Her profile picture was a picture of her performing. I'm not surprised to see she has over a million followers. She's a verified celebrity on here. I look to her most recent post and clicked on it. I frown slightly in confusion. It's a picture of Ximen, Meizuo , and Faye eating out somewhere. It had to be today, because the three of them were wearing the exact clothes they're currently wearing. This must be the reason why Ximen and Meizuo were not in the cafe. I look to when this was pasted.

Forty five minutes ago

I'm confused with Meizuo's and Ximen's relation to Faye. How would they know her? It makes sense why Meizuo was there for the performance this morning, but why Faye Calinao? I nudged Meizuo from beside me and he looked over taking ahold of his arm. He sent me a disapproving look. Ximen and Ah Si sat in front of us paying attention to the front.

"What was that for Lei?" He asked in a hushed tone. I brought my phone up to show him the post. It took him a moment as he squints at my phone screen to take a look before smiling. He leans back in lot his chair with an expression that says I have brought back great memories. "Ah, lunch was good," Meizuo nodded. "Faye wanted to go to Luneta and so Ximen and I had lunch with her today."

"How do you know Faye?" I questioned. Meizuo tilted his head slightly.

"She hasn't told you?" I shook my head unsure what she should have told me. Earlier, I did not give her much to speak. "She's one of Ximen's mystery best friend. Ximen introduced to me yesterday when we were on the way to the airport to pick her up." Ximen and Faye? They're nothing alike.

"She's... close with Ximen?" I question once again. He nods and Ximen turned slightly to glance up toward us wondering what we're discussing.

"I heard my name?" Ximen asked.

"Lei's finding out you're close with Faye," Meizuo says. I wait for a response from Ximen. He looked towards me and nods.

"Yes... She's like a sister to me. Faye and I have been really close friends from a young age. She can be shy sometimes, but will eventually open up to you if you let her."

"She's pretty great to be around," Meizuo smiles. He seems to be remembering another great moment with her. My mouth parts slightly. If Ximen has known Faye for a long time... I really had no right to tell her what I did earlier. A part of me now felt off for making her feel unwelcome when she has done nothing wrong. She never argued back and she remained quiet as I made her uncomfortable. Ximen thought of her as a sister, meaning he would go to great lengths to protect her. An unsettling feeling came over me. I shouldn't have done what I did. She may have taken my demand as a threat or maybe something else.

"Who are we talking about?" Si asked and joined in on our conversation. He turned around so he can figure why we decided to not pay attention to class this morning.

"Faye." I looked to Daoming Si to see he was thinking before a smirk appeared and he let out a chuckle.

"Nerdy shy Faye is back?" Si smiles. Ximen glared at Si through his glasses. Have I missed something? Meizuo looked as confused as I. Si already knows Faye? If Si knows her, why are we now finding out now?

"And this is why she doesn't like you," Ximen mumbled. Curious to what this is about, I expand the conversation.

"Ah Si already knows Faye Calinao?" Ximen hums in response of a yes.

"Little Faye with braces and had large glasses that could barely stay in place. I remember her quite well. Does she still stutter a lot?" Ah Si seemed to be making fun of her.

"Don't make fun of her Si. I warn you now not to mess with her," Ximen stated. He was beginning to get angry. I noticed his left hand was in a fist and I knew there must have been bad history between them. How did Meizuo and I not know about Faye before then? How did we not ever notice their tension before? Si's description of her must have been what she was like before she left Shanghai. "I will not tolerate your silly games this time Daoming Si, instead you should be focusing on your problems with Shancai. Why don't you worry about the freshman who interrupted us from going into the Bridge room a few days ago?" Ximen know how to play Si's games when he was mad.

Shancai... She's a freshman in the nutrition department. First she appeared by the bridge room. According to Shancai, Si stepped on her phone. I wasn't sure what I was more surprised about. The thought she came after Si, or the bickering the two had with each other.

"Ah! Don't bring her up," Si scuffed and turned his attention to his professor who had already started the lecture. Ximen looked up at Meizuo and I.

"I'd appreciate it if you two would look after Faye," Ximen says. "She had a lot going on when she lived here before. I only ask if you're nice to her. I want her to be around more." I only nod knowing, I had to find Faye. I have a feeling I was too intimidating and cold towards her. Ximen then turned his attention to the front. Meizuo looked towards me and I shrugged. I looked down at my phone and clicked on the follow button to follow her. I noticed a message appeared on the app and I opened the message.

: Hi Lei, I hope it's okay to message you on here. I don't have any other way to contact you. Here is my schedule for the semester. *Photo attachment*

I take a look at her schedule to see it's near identical to mine. It looks like she will be joining me in symphony rehearsals as well. The one class she did not have was this class with Si, Ximen, and I. She would sure have the others with us. Looking at this semesters schedule, she is taking seventeen credits. It seems like a lot for a senior semester. I felt a tap on my arm and I looked over to Meizuo who was waiting for my to look over.

"Did you get Faye's message?" I nod and hold my phone up. "I wasn't sure if you wanted me to give out your number. Instead I gave her your Weibo."

"That's fine," I looked down at my phone to look at her profile. "Uh... actually, do you know what she's doing tonight?"

"She'll probably be sleeping. The time difference was hitting her hard at lunch time."

"Right," I said softly. It's about a twelve hour difference. "I was hoping to see her today."

"You can try going to the Ximen's house tonight. She's staying at Ximen's place until graduation. Maybe try going there sometime after nine. She definitely needs rest." I nod thanking Meizuo and turn my attention to our professor at the front of the class.

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