Out of the blue

Chapter 17: 

In the middle of white lines 

Note: This is the chapter book cover for chapter 17.

[P.O.V] Kaito Almasen (Kai)

[ATM] University hallway

After three days of clean-up drive activity conducted by the cheerleading club ... Benjie, me, and all our friends were back at the university, and currently, as I walked towards my student locker to get my things for the next subject, I was suddenly surprised when I saw my locker open and all my thing in my locker are all scattered on the floor and at that time when I saw my locker in a horrible situation, I quiklcy approach my locker to check it but my nose couldn't stand the slimy smell I smelled inside my locker so I thought to use my handkerchief to cover my nose as I picked up my thing one by one but as picked up some my things near my locker, I suddenly thought who could have done this to me? and what was his reason for doing so.

As I feel confused while I'm questioning myself through my mind, I heard footsteps approaching me and those footsteps were from Jiro and when he got close to me, he immediately helped me get my things on the floor.

"Thanks for helping me pick up my things." (I told Jiro as I picked up my things on the floor.)

At that moment, as Jiro helped me to pick up all my things on the floor, I sense there's something bothering his mind so I thought to ask him about

"Jiro, Are you okay?" (I ask Jiro as I touch his left shoulder.)

As I asked Jiro if he's okay or not, he suddenly looks at me with seriousness, "Kaito, Can we talk?"

"About what?" (I asked Jiro as I feel confused.) 

 "It's about Benjie." (Jiro told me as he gives me a serious look on his face.)

After I took all my belongings and put them in my backpack... Jiro and I decided to go to the rooftop of the university so we could talk privately and then when we got to the rooftop, Jiro immediately spoke to me as he quickly grabs my right hand and said: "Kai, Can you please break up with Benjie?" 

At that moment, I suddenly looked Jiro in his eyes, I don't know why Jiro said those words to me but he seems he has a deep reason why he told me so I thought to ask him about it.

"Why? Is this about what Benjie did to you at the volleyball game? And if that's the main reason you badly want me to break up with him then I'm sorry on Benjie's behalf." (I sincerely told Jiro.)

"No, You don't understand the situation here... It's not just about between me and Benjie because the one I talking about is the new student petition that Joseph made for Benjie... so soon as possible, I want to take you away from Benjie because all the student herein our university already knows that you and Benjie are in a relationship and because of that, You're in danger!" (Jiro told me as he looks me with seriousness.)

At that moment, when I heard what Jiro said to me, I was suddenly confused.

"Wait for a second!.... A new student petition for Benjie? and who is Joseph?" (I asked Jiro as I look confused.)

"Do you still remember your first day here at university? You saw me that Benjie beats me? and the only one who bravely helps me to stop Benjie from beating me was you." (Jiro told to me.)

At that moment, I was surprised by what Jiro told me.

"Wawaait! you mean you're the one I helped before?" (I stuttering asked Jiro as my mind was still confused about what going on.)

"Yeah, it was me and because of that, you made a way to beat Benjie using a student petition that you file to Benjie in the school council office but in the end and unexpected, you withdraw your student petition against Benjie but even though Benjie regrets his actions in the past, he can't escape the reality that other students at this university want to vengeance and feel angry with him and now... Joseph thought of imitating your student petition to expel Benjie from this university." (Jiro told me as he feels frustrated.)

"Who is Joseph? What's his main purpose to file a new student petition against Benjie?" (I asked Jiro as my mind was still confused.)

"To be honest, I don't have any idea why Joseph made a new student petition against Benjie but Joseph wants to kick out Benjie in our university but even if Joseph makes a new student petition, he still can't beat Benjie because of Mr. Lawrence de Guzman (Benjie's father), so Joseph thought of attacking Benjie in his weak spot and Benjie's weak spot I'm referring to is you, Kaito." (Jiro told me.)

At that moment, I was still confused because of what Jirousaid to me.

"Did Joseph ruin my locker?" (I asked Jiro.)

 "Joseph and his friends have no time to bother your locker because other students in this university can freely ruin your locker when they found out that you and Benjie are in a relationship." (Jiro told me as he looks me with seriousness.)

"But, how did the other student find out that Benjie and I are in that relationship?" (I ask Jiro as my face looks so stressed as I feel so confused.)

At that moment, Jiro suddenly pulls his phone into his pocket, and suddenly, he quickly shows his phone to me.

"3 days ago, Benjie made an announce post on his social media accounts that you and he are now in a relationship, that's why the other student within our university immediately found out this unexpected news." (Jiro told me as he shows his phone to me.)

"But Benjie's childish post isn't a big deal for me and I don't care what other people say about my relationship with Benjie and this post is can't affect and ruin our relationship but I'm still confused, why are you telling me this? and how do you know what Joseph is planning to do against Benjie?"  (I ask Jiro as I am still confused about what's going on.)

At that moment, Jiro suddenly gives a slight smile as he feels down.

"It all started the first day I met inside this university, you helped and saved me against Benjie's hands, and because of that, I suddenly feel interested in you and fell in love with you and because of that, I secretly watch you every day herein the campus to find right timing so that I could confess my feelings towards you." (Jiro told me as he put his both hand on the railing railings of the university rooftop while he staring at nowhere.)

"But as I secretly watch you from far away, I'm still can't approach you because Benjie always tailing you wherever you go, but one day, out of the blue... Joseph's friends (Third and Irene) came up to me and they told me about Joseph's evil plan against Benjie and they told me that the only key to beat Benjie without much that difficult was to attack Benjie in his weak spot that's why Joseph and his friends ordered me to take you away from the university that's why I thought of inviting you in our cheerleading club clean-up drive activity because I know that Benjie will follow you at the cheerleading clean-up drive activity because the main purpose why Joseph wants to take Benjie out of the university is to accomplish his plan inside of the university because as long as Benjie is in the university, he can't fulfill his evil plan against him but unfortunately as I watching you together with Benjie at the clean-up drive activity, I suddenly felt guilty and realized that I had made a big mistake that I helped Joseph in his evil plan against Benjie but I don't want you to get involved in this mess between Benjie and Joseph so I am telling you now to break up with Benjie before you perish in Joseph's evil plan against Benjie."  (Jiro told me as he put his both hand on the railing railings of the university rooftop while he staring at nowhere.)

"But, breaking up with someone I love isn't a valid reason for me and I'll find a way to stop that freaking Joseph on his evil plan against Benjie!" (I fiercely told Jiro as I feel frustrated with the guy named Joseph.)

 "But even if you do your best to save Benjie, you will not be able to stop Joseph from his evil plan against Benjie." (Jiro told me as he looks me with seriousness.)

"What do you mean?" (I asked Jiro.)

"Because if you try to ruin Joseph's student petition against Benjie, the 85% of students in our university will stop you." (Jiro told me.)

 "Straight to the point! What do you mean that I can't help Benjie!?" (I fiercely asked Jiro as I yelled at him with tears in my eyes .)

"Joseph's student petition is stronger than the petition you made before because when you file your petition against Benjie... You only gain 35% of student approval from the student herein our university unlikely, Joseph's student petition received an 85% of the student's approval which means Joseph's student petition is much stronger than your petition and because of the different percentage between the two petitions... the university director decides to support Joseph's petition against Benjie." (Jiro told me.)

At that time, I was completely confused and I don't know what I planning to do just to save Benjie, but as my mind was confused, I thought to ask Jiro, how Joseph get 85% approval from the student within the university.

"But how did Joseph and his friends receive a huge percentage to expel Benjie in this university?" (I stuttering ask Jiro as I feel confused and problematic.)

"During the three days that you and Benjie weren't in the university, Joseph thought that was a good opportunity for him to gather a student's approvals to his new student petition against Benjie, and there was no other way for us to stop Joseph from his plan against Benjie but for me, the only way that you can help Benjie is to break up with him because when you and Benjie were always together, he's getting weaker and soft because Joseph might use your presence to beat Benjie." (Jiro told me.)

"But I love Benjie so I won't leave him at the time he needs me the most and even though there's a small chance that I couldn't stop Joseph and his friends from his evil plan against Benjie, I'm still trying my best to protect Benjie from those people who had bad intention towards him because I bravely enough to protect him because I love Benjie!" (I angrily told Jiro as I feel frustrated at him.)

After I say those words to Jiro, I angrily went out to the university rooftop to go back to my classroom and after five minutes of walking towards my respective classroom, I quickly went to my desk to relieve my stress but while I'm sitting in my chair here in our classroom with a heavy feeling in my chest, I suddenly notice that Benjie wasn't in our classroom.

but as I keep looking at Benjie as I was sitting on my chair, Jelai suddenly approach me and said: "Kai, what's the problem? Did you and Benjie fight again?"

"No, Benjie and I didn't fight... I just feel tired." (I told Jelai as I slowly lay my head on my desk surface as I made an excuse.)

"Is that so? but why Benjie isn't in our classroom? and I also notice that Gun didn't attend our class today." (Jelai told me as she keeps searching at Benjie and Gun inside of our classroom.)

As Jelai looked for Benjie and Gun within our classroom, she immediately saw Kevin suddenly arrive in our classroom, and at that moment, Jelai quickly approach Kevin to ask Benjie and Gun whereabouts.

"Hey, Kevin... where's Benjie and Gun?" (Jelai asks Kevin.)

At that time, Kevin suddenly act so weird and immediately grabbed his backpack on his chair and said:

"Oh... I forgot, there's something I need to do so bye." (Kevin told Jelai as he acted so weird.)

At that time, Kevin immediately went out in our classroom as he acted strangely.

"Hey, where are you going? Are you going to cutting classes again?" (Jelai yells at Kevin as she stands near the entrance door of our classroom.)

After our class, I still didn't see Benjie, or maybe he intentionally didn't attend our class today but for what reason?

Also, it feels so weird because I didn't receive a single text or call from Benjie and as I stared at my phone while I'm preparing myself to leave our classroom, I suddenly remembered what Jiro told me about the new petition for Benjie.

To be honest, I am still confused about how I could save Benjie against the new student against him but still, I try my best to find a way to stop those people who had bad intentions on Benjie because if there's someone who could save him from this situation and I want that person was me.

After 20 minutes of walking, I finally arrived at the condominium building where my condo unit is located and while I was in the elevator and waiting to arrive at the 7th floor, I can't stop looking at my phone as I waited for Benjie to text or call me.

After two minutes, I reached the 7th floor where my condo unit is located, and as I entered my pin code at my condo unit security door, I suddenly heard a strange noise inside of my condo unit that's why I immediately enter my condo and when I arrived in my living room, I was surprised by what I saw.

At that moment, my heart suddenly felt happy when I saw my living room was full of beautiful and colorful Christmas lights and as I looked at the shimmering and twinkling Christmas lights shining in every corner of my living room... Benjie suddenly appeared in front of me as he held the strange balloons with my face.

"Kai, belated happy birthday." (Benjie told me with a smile as he held balloons in his right hand.)

At that time, while Benjie wearing a tuxedo with a smile on his face, I couldn't take my sight off of him because of the happiness I felt, and at that moment, I didn't realize that I was in tears because of the surprise that Benjie made for me.

"Hey, Kai, what's the problem? Didn't you like my surprise to you?" (Benjie asked me as he feels worried about me.)

"No, I'm okay." (I told Benjie as I wipe my tears using my left hand.)

At that moment, Benjie suddenly handed me the balloons he holding and said:

"Hold these balloons for a second."  (Benjie told me as he went towards my kitchen.)

"Hey, where are you going?" (I ask Benjie.)

"Wait! I'll take your birthday cake." (Benjie told me as he opens my fridge in the kitchen.)

"Wait! Can I ask something? Are you with Gun? Because he didn't attend our class today." (I ask Benjie.)

"No... I didn't see Gun on this day." (Benjie told me as he focused himself taking the cake out of its box.)

"If you weren't with Gun then who helped you carry all this stuff just to surprise me?." (I ask Benjie.)

"Well, my Mom and Dianne went here an hour ago to help me all this stuff." (Benjie told me as he lights the fire the cake candle.)

At that moment, when I heard what Benjie told me, I quickly approach to ask him.

"Are you serious?  Did your Mom and Dianne go here to help you carry out all this stuff? and, does your mom know that you and I are in a relationship?" (I stuttering ask Benjie as I feel nervous.)

"Yeah, she helped me to carry out all this stuff, and also, my Mom already knew who really I am and all the mothers knew everything what their children are." (Benjie told me as he smiled at me.)

"Okay... I see but why are you carrying two cakes?" (I told Benjie as I pointed the two cakes using my index finger.)

"Well, this cake on the left side is for your birthday and this cake on my right side is for my success in achieving my dream." (Benjie told me as he looked at both cakes.)

"Your dream? what is it?" (I ask Benjie as I am confused.)

"My biggest dream was to be with you." (Benjie told me as he stared into my eyes.)

At that moment, my heart suddenly feels light as my face suddenly blushes.

"Kai? are you blushing?" (Benjie asks me as he suddenly touches my cheek.)

"No! I am not!" (I stuttering told Benjie as I made an excuse and immediately went to my room to change my clothes

After I change my clothes, Benjie and I decide to take a picture with the cakes before we eat them.

And after both of us take a picture with the cake, Benjie suddenly stood up and went to my kitchen and when Benjie came back, he was carrying a guitar.

"Do you know how to play the guitar?" (I asked Benjie as I touch the cake icing using my index finger to taste the cake.) 

"Maybe you forgot that your good-looking and charming boyfriend has a lot of talent, I know how to make songs, I know how to play the guitar and jet ski and I also love playing soccer." (Benjie told me as he keeps praising himself.)

"But why I don't remember that you loved playing soccer when we were kids?" (I asked Benjie.)

"Wait! Did you forget that the first time I went to your house? when I got there... your Mom told me that you always lock in your room that's why I intentionally broke your window with my soccer ball when we were kids so that you had a reason to come out from your nasty room." (Benjie told me with a smirk.)

"Yeah... I couldn't forget that you're the one who broke my window glass with your soccer ball but I didn't see you playing an actual soccer game when we were kids." (I told Benjie while I'm eating a cake.)

"Well, when you left here in the Philippines with your parents nine years ago, I was really sad and depressed about your absences so I made a way that I don't miss you too much and I devote my time to playing soccer but now, I will show you my other hidden talent which is singing while playing guitar... in other words, I'm going to Harana you." (Benjie told me with a smirk as he held his guitar and sat beside me.)

Note: Harana is a serenade tradition in rural areas of the Philippines in which young men may formally meet single lady visitors or a piece of music sung or played in the open air, typically by a man at night under the window of his lover.

As Benjie played with the string of the guitar, he thought to ask me something.

"Did you remember those lyrics of songs I wrote for you inside of the wooden box I give to you when the both of us sitting near the seashore when we were in the clean-up drive?" (Benjie asks me as he stares into my eyes while he holding his guitar.)

 "Yeah, I remembered, why did you ask?" (I asked Benjie.) 

"Well, two hours ago while you were still in the university and because of the boresome I felt, I thought of writing a song for you as I waiting for you to come home." (Benjie told me with a smile on his face as he played the string of the guitar.)

At that time, I was suddenly surprised as I stop eating my cake when I heard what Benjie told me. 

"Are you serious? you made a song in just 2 hours!?" (I stuttering ask Benjie as I feel surprised by what he said to me.)

At that time, instead of answering my question, Benjie suddenly gives me a smirk as his eyes suddenly focus on playing the strings of the guitar.

And while the shimmering and twinkling Christmas lights shine in every corner of my living room, Benjie starts to sing the song he wrote for me.

https://youtu.be/L58ihFk7_pY

Note: I used this song as my reference to make this lyric entitled "White line"

🎼 Benjie start singing with his guitar 🎸

Intro:

it all started  ♪

when I met you ♪

In the midst of my emptiness ♪

You bring torch herein my heart ♪

Verse:

While I'm with you ♪

My heart gives me a question, I felt so special ♪

I admit ♪

I always keep myself walking beside you ♪

Just to keep our heart poundings ♪

Chorus:

In the middle of white lines ♪

I told the sunset about you ♪

In the middle of white lines  ♪

We can see our memory blooms ♪

Just like the blue sky ♪

Let's keep our hearts going with the flow ♪

Verse:

Even though ♪

There are so many people ♪

Don't understand where we started ♪

As long as ♪

We're walking in the middle of our white lines ♪

No one can break us apart ♪

What we have right now ♪

Pre-chorus:

In the middle of white lines ♪

I told the sunset about you ♪

In the middle of white lines ♪

We met again out of the blue ♪ 

Just like the blue ocean waves ♪

Let's keep going ♪ 

Until the stars in the twilight sky fulfill our vows ♪ 

Verse:

The emptiness of life is always with us ♪

and even though ♪

the world we live in is so complicated ♪

Let's keep ourselves to walk in the white lines of our bond ♪

Just to keep our hearts pounding ♪

Outro-chorus:

In the middle of white lines ♪

I told the sunset about us ♪

In the middle of white lines ♪

We can see our memory blooms ♪

Just like the stars ♪

In the midnight sky ♪

Let's keep our hearts shining ♪

Until the stars in the twilight sky fulfill our vows ♪ 

As Benjie sang the song he wrote for me, all our memory we were together suddenly flashed back inside of my heart, and as I felt a million butterflies inside of my chest, and after Benjie sang the song he wrote for me, I suddenly ask him something.

"What's the title of the song he sang from me?" (I ask Benjie as I secretly blush because of him.)

 As I asked Benjie about the song he sang for me, he suddenly gives me a slight smile on his lips and said: "Well... the title of the song I sang for you was White lines."  

"White lines?" (I ask Benjie as I am suddenly confused about the title of the sang he wrote for me.)

"I chose to name this song "White lines" because the White lines symbolize the bridge of memory and if we were always walking on that bridge with our hearts, No one can break us apart and because of the happy and sad memories that we go through and even though the world we lived in was so complicated, as long as the both of us walking together at the middle of the white lines. The road of our memories will always guide us to fulfill our vows." (Benjie told me with a smile on his lips as he stared into my eyes.)

At that moment, while the shimmering and twinkling Christmas lights sparkling in every corner of my living room as my face secretly blushed because of Benjie... Benjie suddenly smiles at me as he slowly pulled something into his inner tuxedo pocket and after a few seconds, Benjie suddenly comes behind me to put a silver necklace with a silver key around my neck.

"Wait, Benjie! What is this for?" (I startled and stuttered ask Benjie as my face completely turns red.)

At that moment, while I'm asking Benjie, he suddenly gives me a smirk and said: "You'll find out what's the main purpose of that silver key around your neck four years from now."

"Wait 2x, four years from now!? why?" (I stuttering ask Benjie as I feel surprised about what he said to me.)

"After the both of us successfully finish our college degrees...After the two of us have successfully completed our college degrees that's the only time we'll use that silver key to open something, so please take care of that silver key and don't lose it whatever it takes." (Benjie told me as he turns on the television in my living room.)

"Wait for a second!... Is this key is for a house? or a brand new car?" (I ask Benjie as I keep staring at him.)

"Nope, that tiny key doesn't belong to a house or a car." (Benjie told me as he focused himself changing the channel network on the television using the tv remote control.)

"Then tell me, what's the main purpose of this silver you gave to me!" (I ask Benjie as I sat next to him on the sofa of my living room.)

As I asked Benjie about the silver key he gave to me, he suddenly leaned closer to me until my body lay on the sofa.

"Hey, Benjie! What are you trying to do?" (I stuttering ask Benjie as my body lay on the sofa while my fave keeps blushing \.)

"I'll tell you the main purpose of that silver key in one condition." (Benjie told me as he leaned closer to me while he touched the silver key pendant around my neck with a smirk.)

"What's the condition?" (I ask Benjie as my face keeps blushing.)

At that moment, while I waiting for Benjie to answer my question, he slowly leaned closer to my ear and whispers to me: "Kai, give me your virginity then I'll tell you the main purpose of the silver key I gave to you."

At that time, when I heard what Benjie wants from me, my whole face turned red until in my ears, and at the same time, I quickly push Benjie away from me as I quickly went to my room.

"Hey, Kai, I am just joking okay, so please open the door and let me in." (Benjie told me as he keeps knocking in my room.)

"Stay away from me! Pervert!" (I told Benjie as I quickly locked my room and stood behind my door.)

While Benjie kept knocking on my room, my heart keeps bumping so crazy but even I am enjoying this happy moment with Benjie... I'm still didn't forget what Jiro said to me this morning about the student petition against Benjie made by Joseph and his friends.

and because of that, I suddenly felt unpleasant emotion inside my heart that makes my body become weak as I stood behind my door.

To be continued...