The morning was calmer than most. For once, Vio didn't seem like he was actively plotting Milo's demise. There was even a hint of something close to... tolerance.
As they rode the car toward campus, Vio sat beside Milo with his earphones on, nodding slightly to the music he had Milo queue up before they left-classical pieces he used to play, now just memories pressed into sound waves.
"Alam mo, dapat ako na lang ang gumawa ng playlist mo," Milo said playfully, breaking the silence.
"Wag ka nga, gusto ko pa rin marinig 'yung music na kaya ko pang tandaan. Hindi ko kailangan ng K-POP mo, thanks."
Milo smirked, glancing at him. "Bakit, allergic ka sa ENHYPEN at SEVENTEEN?"
Vio smiled just a little-just enough that Milo knew he was winning him over, bit by bit.
When they got to school, things moved as usual. First class was Music History, where Vio sat in front, hands resting on his Braille slate while Milo sat beside him, whispering quietly whenever the professor flashed something on the screen.
Afterward, they strolled the campus lawn for a short break, walking slower than most students. Milo had grown used to guiding Vio now-always staying on his left side, always warning him about cracks or changes in the pavement. They moved almost in sync.
"May gusto kang kainin mamaya?" Milo asked.
"Ikaw na bahala. Surprise me."
"Okay. Dinuguan it is."
"Putek, wag naman!" Vio made a face, and Milo laughed.
But just as they neared the next building, the sudden, shrill BWEEEEEET! of the fire alarm rang through the halls. Students screamed and scattered.
"Putek, anong meron?" Milo instinctively grabbed Vio's arm, his voice panicked. "Evacuation ba 'to?"
He looked around, overwhelmed by the chaos. Faculty and staff began ushering students out. The mass of bodies swarmed the walkways like floodwater.
"Milo?" Vio's voice rose, confused. "What's happening?"
"Fire alarm! Wait lang, hawakan mo kamay ko-"
Someone bumped into Milo hard from behind, sending him stumbling forward. His grip on Vio's arm loosened-then disappeared.
"Vio!" he called, trying to push through the bodies. "Wait! Teka lang-VIO!"
But the crowd was relentless. Vio was no longer in front of him.
Milo spun around, eyes wide, heart hammering.
He lost him.
End of Chapter 13.
YOU ARE READING
In the Key of Us
Teen FictionVincent Rio Maglangit (Emilio Daez) known as Vio to those close to him-was once the prodigious violinist of St. Hildegard Academy, a musical genius with a future carved in crescendos and standing ovations. But one rainy evening changes everything. A...
