seventeenth summer's first kiss

Chapter 1: I'm no different, I am just the same

"Everybody wants to have their taste
I'm no different, I am just the same
But she helped me find a different kinda love
Made me feel like I was finally enough."

Rehya strums her guitar, blissfully unaware of her surroundings. Her fingers move along the strings, resonating a melody with the soft morning breeze. She should probably stop if she wants to be at class on time. But she doesn't. Her blonde tousled hair is pushed by the wind and curtain bangs restrict her vision. She shuts her eyes in concentration.

"But there's more going on behind the scenes
She needs this love just as much as me,

She's cold, she's dark, she's cynical
She's forever angry at the world
She's no angel, but she is my religion
Always finding ways to numb the pain
She's mad and she will never change
She's no angel, but she is my religion, religion."

Music was really the best thing to exist. It was so easy for Rehya to lose herself in it, just singing softly and playing the guitar. God, there was nothing else she ever wanted to do.

But for now, it was the first day of junior college and while being late wouldn't affect her really, Rehya wasn't a fan of being perceived as a struck-up tardy brat. She blames herself for getting lost in the campus and finding this empty aisle. It looked so peaceful that she couldn't help but pull out the guitar from her case.

She opens her eyes only to flinch at seeing another presence near her. The table she is sitting on shakes but she manages to stabilise herself.

A figure is squatting down, arms folded on her knees and she gazes at the bowl on the ground. The substance in it appears to be milk. The guitarist figures the bowl was actually supposed to be for the cat who was here before but sprinted away when Rehya made noise right now.

The other girl turns her face towards Rehya and gets back to her feet, adjusting the bag on her shoulder properly. Her face is devoid of any emotion as she looks at Rehya.

"I'm sorry," Rehya says sheepishly. "I didn't mean to scare it away, just startled." She notices the stranger's features. Her hair are tied into a neat ponytail, eyes that look cold and a well-defined jawline, give her sophisticated and striking appearance. She's lean and at least 5'8 in height.

The girl nods briefly, and checks her watch. Rehya takes this opportunity to ask her about it.

"Uh-what's the time?"

"Seven Fifty-eight." Shit, she was doomed.

The girl watches Rehya panically shove the guitar into her case and put it on her shoulder. "Thank you. See you around, I guess," she says before rushing to make her way out of the aisle.

"There's a shortcut if you want to follow me."

The girl's words make her realise that she could simply ask her for the direction, why was she so slow?

Following the other would be even easier so she nods quickly.

They're already at the end of the aisle, so the other walks to her left to gesture to a few stairs covered in grass that lead to a short gate. They climb up the dozen stairs and the girl retrieves a key from her pocket, unlocking the lock and pushing open the gate for Rehya, who appears surprised. She doesn't question the helping stranger but feels rightfully suspicious, after all her family were the founders of the school and still the highest shareholders. Why did a student have keys to places in the school?

They walk up a slope and Rehya can see the school ground at a distance. This is where she was supposed to be! They're facing the backside of the ground so it's easy to sneak in into the sea of the students. A wave of relief washes her over and she feels intense gratitude towards the handsome girl. Maybe Rehya's luck would strike and they would turn out to be classmates? Maybe she could treat her to a meal to thank her? Did people in India do that?