✮Ｓｔｅｐｈａｎｉｅ✮

CH.5 :STREET CHASE

"I don't know... I just feel... Weird."

"Homesick?"

"Not homesick."

"Do you like it here?"

"Yeah. Well, aside the school. I'm starting to think I might want to change schools. Like, I feel this pressure and anxiety around there. Something crazy happened today. Do you know this girl called...?"

"What else makes you anxious?" Emlyn asked insensitively. He wasn't willing to know about the happenings at school. As a matter of fact, Emlyn never liked me talking about school. He would shy away from the topic or cause a distraction. I never asked why or if he ever went to school or if he was home-schooled.

"My dreams and ambitions," I answered. "I think of my dreams and sometimes, it makes me anxious and worried. I wonder if I'll ever be good enough. I'm a perfectionist and I also get scared of failing."

"Hey, I need you to meet my man, Jamin."

Is it me or is Emlyn really bad at keeping conversations? I miss Arthur.

He jolted me from my thoughts by suddenly pulling my hands with him. We reached a part of the street where a man stood with a violin and a jar of coins with dollar notes, sitting at his feet. He looked kind of impoverished but his perpetual smile was enough to lighten anyone's day. He obviously sang for money.

"Hey, Jamin, my man," Emlyn said and hugged this elderly warmly.

"Hey, boyo," said he. "Who's the sunflower?"

"That's Stephanie, she recently moved to the USA from Nigeria," he said to him. "Stephanie, meet only the best songwriter ever."

"Good evening sir," I oddly said.

"Got the stuff?" Asked Emlyn.

"Always," Jamin responded and unveiled a guitar, handing it over to Emlyn. Then suddenly, Emlyn started to play the guitar and sing:

You don't fear, my dear
Everything's gonna fall right in place
If you can every hurt bear
You will soar at an eagle's pace

You are stronger than a thousand soldiers
You can do anything if you believe in yourself
You can break the mighty bars
Best believe in yourself

You can make it brighter, you can make it happen
You can make that dream come to life

You can make it brighter, you can make it happen
So that wish will never die

Make it, make it happen.

"Honey, let's hear the groove!" Jamin called out, playing the violin beautifully. I felt compelled. I didn't know when my vocals took control of my entire being.

—I'm just a girl
I'm full of fears

—Well, don't you fear
I am here

—Oh well
I picture mountains of possibilities
Waterfalls of realities
To soar high like the eagle on the mountainside

Oh, if only I can reach that peak
And live my dreams
Then I'll be me
And me I'll be

But... Just when I think I can make it through,
I fall on my knees
Maybe that's just God's tactic
To draw me closer to Him.

I can't do this on my own
I don't want to be alone
The eagle needs the wind
My wind is the Holy Spirit

—Why you gotta talk about God?

—Cause He's all I've got.

—You've got me.

—You're not Him.
He'll make it brighter, He'll make it happen
He'll make a way
He'll take me to that place
Where the sun never goes down

He'll make it brighter, He'll make it happen
You can't on your own
You'll fall like a heavy stone
Make it, make it happen.

We ended the song together in a high pitch, feeling emotional. Before we knew what was happening, Jamin's jar was overflowing with dollars and there was an applause from behind. I spotted someone with a camera taking pictures and Emlyn said we had to leave.
I never imagine my voice could attract a crowd. I basked in the euphoria of the people's presence because of me... And Emlyn, of course.

We went into the marketplace and while Emlyn was trying to get some apples, I stood at a distance when again, I noticed that same person in a mysterious coat with a camera. I watched him from afar and he watched me.

Emlyn came and stood by me and immediately, the mysterious photographer set his camera before us and started taking pictures of us nonstop. I felt special and admirable. I must have looked too stunning and walked with perfect dexterity. I felt like a celebrity.

Emlyn suddenly spotted the guy and he said to me, "Steph, let's go." But I refused. I waited for him to take more shots.
"Stephanie?" The shutters continued. "Stephanie!" Emlyn suddenly yelled and pulled me by the hand in an ignoble way that almost made me fall.

He held me by the hand and we raced after the strange photographer into the marketplace.

I could hear action-movie-sounds play in my head as we dodged obstacles and followed the villian.

Emlyn would not leave my hand. I had to run with him, scattering stuffs in the market, on the way and apologizing. We were close to the guy.

Abruptly, someone spilled a bucket of stinky water over me from a two-storey building and the running ceased. I halted, jaw dropped, panting heavily. I felt totally humiliated as my body reeked and my fancy outfit was immersed in junky liquid.

"What the hell, Emlyn!" I yelled furiously. I gotta admit, I was enjoying the chase at first. "First, you dragged me off like a bag of trash when all he wanted to do was to take a picture of my perfection!"

"I was trying to protect you!"

That's cute but, "from what?" I was totally dazed.

"From... You may have the perfect eyes and skin and dress but none of that mattered to him! He is gonna use those photos for something despicable. This is Olive Valley, Stephanie, open your eyes!"

I had never seen him pissed like that. I couldn't even tell why he was but Emlyn was definitely hiding so much from me.

"Look, I'm sorry... I'm sorry I brought you out in the streets. I shouldn't have. Let's go home."

We took the subway home, saying nothing to each other and as soon as I arrived at my door, I received a call from Arthur.

"Steph, why are you doing this? You promised me you would see that sci-fi movie with me, Sci Spies."

"I did?"

"Yes, you did! To make up for ditching me. Now, you did it again."

"Sp-sp," I burst into laughter.

"Sci Spies!"

"What kinda name is Sci Spies? That alone turns me off. Anyways, see you at school tomorrow."

I hung up, sighed and looked up at the sky... Make it brighter, make it happen.