“Hey!” A male voice called out to the girls. “You three are friends of Megan, right?” 

 He walked into the area, the sounds of his footsteps announcing his arrival. His silhouette casted into the room, capturing Melvin’s attention although he was looking away. His presence interrupted the girls amidst their argument, coinciding with the intro of a new classical symphony “Niccolo Paganini: La Campanella”.

“Well, duh!”  One girl replied, “Why would we not be?!” 

“Oh… my gosh, you girls need to go to the 2nd floor NOW!” 

 The mysterious guy instilled excitement into the girls. Melvin twitched, sensing familiarity in his voice.

“Huh?! Wait- why?!” The girls questioned, freaking out in confusion. “What’s happening?!” 

“She’s handing out invitations to her new party! Hurry up there before it runs out!”

 Melvin, knowing that his sister wouldn’t do such a thing, recognized that he was lying. Yet, he remained silent, playing along with the stranger. 

“What the heck?!”  “We have to go there right now!” 

 After all, it seems to have worked very well— They completely fell for it, hurrying away in a panic. The fading sounds of their squeaky footsteps indicated their disappearance, leaving Melvin with peace once again.

 The mysterious guy stood beside Melvin, who was still immersed in his sculpture. 

“Heh…” He chuckled. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” 

 Melvin turned to his right, finding a guy who seemed his age. This slim, pale guy had messy medium-length, dirty blonde hair. Like everyone else, he wore formal attire, his long, dark blazer standing out the most. He stood with a slight slouch, yet he exuded confidence. His hands remained tucked into his pockets, as he savored his lollipop — displaying a cool, laid-back demeanor that set him apart from the surrounding formalities.

 Although the guy seemed familiar, Melvin remained silent and expressionless, failing to recognize him. He hasn’t met a person who looked like this guy… at least not in recent memory. 

 The guy’s expression began to darken, taking offense to Melvin’s bad memory. His cat-like eyes locked onto him, like a predator watching over his prey. With each passing second of Melvin’s silence, his grin widened, growing in amusement.

 Melvin swallowed hard, his eyes widening in terror at the abrupt shift in the guy’s demeanor. Beads of sweat formed on his wincing forehead as he came into a shocking realization. 

 T…This guy can’t be who I think he is?! It’s impossible! Father used to say…

 He pondered anxiously in his head, connecting the dots and questioning what he had always known.

 “...O-Oliver?” He stuttered, “I hope I’m not wrong, I—”

“Hahaha! So you do remember me, even after your family cut me off~” 

 The guy shifted once again, this time showing a joyous smile that squinted his eyes and accentuated his dimples. He bursted into a lighthearted chuckle, his aura becoming rather wholesome.

 This was his childhood friend, Oliver Reyes, who was all grown up now. 

 They met over a summer, six years ago, when Melvin’s family stayed in a province for vacation. During their time there, they settled in their ancestral mansion. Taking a break from the bustling city, they enjoyed the surrounding tall trees, and expansive green fields. Across those fields, farmlands unfolded; and there stood the grand farmhouse estate owned by the Reyes Family. Living within close quarters, their parents formed a strong friendship, extending to their children as well.

It all happened so long ago, and for reasons now hazy and forgotten; they’ve never returned since then. For a short and temporary vacation, the memories of Oliver faded over time. Megan and Melvin resumed their lives in the city, moving on with the cycle of life.

 Melvin sighed, feeling troubled by his friend’s sudden appearance, though he hid it well. “Did you… enroll here?”

 “Yeah… Photography.” Oliver said, lowering his head in humility. “Growing up in scenic environments does that to you.”

 Although Oliver smiled, hints of sadness displayed in his eyes and tone. He took the lollipop out his mouth, forming a frown on his face.

“It’s too bad… that I even lost that six years ago.”

…

Oliver raised his head in an instant, and stared into Melvin’s eyes, his gaze blank and lifeless— 

“You couldn’t have known that, did you, Melvin?” He whispered, his voice slow and menacing, sending a shiver down Melvin’s spine.

 Melvin cleared his throat, immediately composing himself.

“Anyways, Oliver… I’m glad you enrolled here.” He turned away, “Hopefully, you’ll be accepted into this school, with my father acknowledging your talents.”

Oliver took a deep sigh, his expression softening in disappointment. “You’re just going to walk away, huh…”

 “I get it,” He turned his gaze onto the sculpture. “the Guevarra's value their time and energy…” 

“So much that they’d stop talking their friend for six years—”

“Don’t be mistaken, Oliver.” Melvin shot back, a ticked off response. “The Results Ceremony is starting soon. I have people waiting for me.”

 Looking at his watch, he continued his way out. By that point, he was aware that Oliver may be up to no good— seen in his sarcasm and tricks, and he felt foolish for showing a reaction. He kept his composed demeanor, but deep down… He felt like a seething volcano— His chest throbbed, his adrenaline pumped and his blood vessels dilated. It was as if his pride was getting torn… So he swore to himself, that he would no longer be toyed with.

…

 Oliver smirked, feeling as if Melvin was within his control.

“I met your sister earlier.” He pestered further, “Oh, you would not believe the look on her face…” 

 Alerted, Melvin turned around and hurried towards Oliver. Throughout their encounter, this was the moment where he expressed the most emotion— seen from the distressed look on his face, as he raised his voice for the first time;

“What?! You saw her?!” Panic stricken, he asked Oliver, desperate for an instant response.

“Yes…” Oliver responded, a slow, melancholic tone as his smile painted with sorrow.  

“It was like she missed me… very much...

 Maybe… she still has some lingering feelings for me.”

 Melvin stood frozen, struggling to find his words. He stared at Oliver with a troubled look, realizing that he might’ve once again, fallen for another trick— But he wasn’t sure, the idea didn’t seem that far. Although it was long ago, and memories remained distant and vague; he could recognize the sense of Oliver and Megan’s endearment in the past.

“I’m kidding.” Oliver bonked his head with the lollipop, ticking him off in the process.

 Although Oliver got him fooled once again, he seems rather unamused this time. His smile vanished, and his expression softened with tinges of boredom… and disappointment.

“I wouldn’t… want that to happen at all.” He muttered, rolling his eyes.

 Melvin huffed, rearranging his hair and face, “So, you didn’t see her?”

“No.” Oliver said,  “Perhaps… I’ll just leave her be…”

…

“And let karma do its thing.”

 He ended his statement, and began walking out of the area;

“It was nice meeting you again, Melvin. And I do apologize for messing with you,”

“it appears that you and Megan shouldn’t be the ones I’m targeting.”

 The further he walked from Melvin, the sun’s rays intensified, casting through the glass windows and illuminating the room. Oliver’s figure faded within the brilliance, a hazy blur separating the two.

“   If fate allows it…   May we three meet again.   ”