Chapter 4: Drake Anderson

"You're here." Drake looked at me dearly. It feels weird. He signaled me to sit beside him then handed me the guitar that he was tuning. His smile can charm every girl that sees it.

"Yeah!" I answered.

"How was your first day?" He asked me with a concerned look.

"It's okay. My classmates kept asking me questions." I answered sternly. After taking out the other guitar from its bag, Drake asked.

"I promised to play you a song, so what do you wanna hear?"

"Ah... Surprise me!" Then, I smiled. He smiled back and looked at me.

"Alright"

After saying such, he started plucking his guitar. The Intro is so captivating. I know what this song is. It's entitled "More than Words" by Extreme.

"Can you sing?" He asked.

"Yeah. But I'm not good." I answered shyly. I can sing but not as well as Nam.

"It's alright. Let's have a duet." After the Intro, he started singing.

"Saying I love you is not the words I want to hear from you. It's not that I want you not to say but, if you only knew..." He sang the first verse until the chorus. I was smiling from ear to ear while listening to his voice. I tapped the guitar gently until it was my turn. I looked at him and smiled. When it was my turn he gave me a smile and a hint.

"Now that I've tried to talk to you and make you understand. All you have to do is close your eyes and just reach out your hand. And touch me. Hold me close. Don't ever let me go. More than words..." I sang until the chorus. We sang together until the end.

"More Than Words "

At that very moment, it felt like it was just the two of us. We were looking at each other, smiling until the end of the song. Suddenly, we heard a loud clapping surrounding us. We were both taken aback. But he just gave me a reassuring smile. The moment I turned around, I was shocked to see the dense number of people. Some even held a phone in their hand. There were teachers and students. The guards and the outsiders standing outside the gate were watching us.

"Sophia, You are so amazing!" Xin shouted. Then, students from the crowd started whispering to each other while others were cheering.

"Drake, My love!"

"Hubby!

"Is she the new vocalist?"

"She's the student that entered straight to Section A, right?"

This time, I felt nervous. I know that I should never enjoy myself. The last time I did, my brother fell down the stairs. I was singing then. When my biological mother knew, she hit me with a metal hanger. She blamed me for enjoying the moment of singing. The guilt enveloped me and hunted me for years. Now, I am putting Drake in a hot seat. I can't even get myself to stand and can only look at the crowd. Suddenly, a warm hand held mine.

"Sophia. Are you alright?" It was Drake. He looked worried and gave me a reassuring smile. In an instant, my fear and regrets started fading away. He has slid his guitar into its bag.

"Yeah. I'm..." before I could finish speaking, Drake cut me off.

"You were Amazing. Relax Okay? I'm here." With that, he stood up and exuded a domineering aura. He carried the guitar bag in his right shoulder.

"Everyone. Thank you for listening." Then he looked at me and picked up the guitar I was holding with his right hand. He smiled and offered his hand.

"Let's go practice somewhere else, shall we?" Being caught in the moment, I can only offer my right hand to him.

He held my hand gently as we escaped the crowd of onlookers. While I was following his lead, someone deliberately bumped into me.

"Sorry." Drake stopped and looked at the guy I bumped into, but I did not.

"Are you okay?" Drake asked. He looks a bit angry while staring at the guy. But he did not release my hand. It feels awkward.

"Yes, Let's go."

When we arrived at the band room, He finally let go of my hand.

"Let's practice here. I'm sorry for earlier. You..." A yell stopped him.

"Drake! Bro, you're popular again!" Someone ran into him and punched his shoulder weakly. When the guy noticed me carrying the guitar, his face flushed red. His eyes widened. Drake lightly squeezed his shoulder and gave him a warning look.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know. I'm Damien! You're Sophia, right?"

"Yeah." Damien was as tall as Drake. They look close.

"I'm Drake's cousin. Damien Anderson" Damien was the vocalist earlier. I did not focus on him, though. Also, Drake sounded even better than him.

"Hi! It's okay."

Drake handed me the guitar and pulled a chair. Damien felt out of place at the moment. But, he sat near the piano and started pressing keys.

"Do you know how to play the piano?" Damien asked.

" A bit," I answered.

"Want me to teach you?" Before I could respond, Drake spoke.

"I can teach her. Don't worry about that."

"Alright." Damien looked goofy, and is smiling ear to ear while showing his hands up in the air as if surrendering.

As they were talking, the broadcasting team of the school announced.

" Time check, 12: 25. Had everyone taken lunch? Or are you still enjoying your lunch? Well, Let's add more flavor to your day as we listen to a beautiful song that was also sang earlier by our very own Drake Anderson and Sophia Luna. With the song entitled, More Than Words."

The song echoed throughout the whole school. I looked at Drake. He seemed to be unconcerned, but I am. I hate attracting attention the most.

I learned that Damien was also part of the Student Union as the Grade 8 representative. He is also one of the top students in their year level, and a known player.

"Drake! You have taken the spotlight for the First Day again. Too bad I wasn't there, it took us long to finish the pretest on the last subject. " Damien exclaimed.

"Sophia, do you wanna join our Club? You can be the vocalist. I'll play the piano. "

"Damien!" Drake called out Damien. He can't believe how insensitive his cousin is.

" What?" Drake shot Damien a cold glare.

"It's alright, Drake."

After the commotion, Drake started teaching me the strumming patterns and chords. Damien slept near his piano.

When the clock hit 1:00 P.M., Drake sent me to my classroom along with Damien.

When we stepped out from the band room, the students were already in their respective classrooms. When we arrived in front of my classroom, my classmates started cheering. Drake smiled and waved me goodbye.

Xin looked dumbfounded.

Our classes were supposed to end by 5:00, but since it was the first day, we ended at 3:00. As I was waiting for my Uncle to pick me up,

I sat on the bench under the Acacia tree. My cousin was still in her classroom chatting with her friends. I felt sleepy. We need to wait for two hours. I searched for my earphones in my bag and put them on.

I was listening to Beautiful in White by Westlife when someone sat beside me. I just leaned my head a bit and closed my eyes.

"Hey... Your car is here."A sweet manly voice rang in my head. So, I lifted my head and nodded while rubbing my eyes to put back my glasses.

The very moment I opened my eyes, I saw my Uncle looking straight at me with a curious look.

When I was about to open the car door, he pointed to something inside the campus.

"Who's that guy, your classmate?" He asked.

"Who?" I was confused who he was referring to. I mean, I leaned my head slightly on the tree though.

"The boy where you leaned your head earlier."

"I don't know." I opened the car door and stepped inside.

My cousin is not here yet. My eyes were heavy, and I felt sleepy.

Third Person POV

Sophia falls into slumber. Her uncle rolled down the car window to let some fresh air enter. He can't help but sigh. Kids do grow up fast. Now, two guys seemed to be chasing after her. He was protective of Sophia because the kid was clueless. Both her biological parents weren't there for her. The idea of being alone and abandoned rings no bell to her. She thinks that it's normal. What matters to her is her freedom. She doesn't even mind shutting the world out. She can easily get rid of and escape from things and situations that chain her.

Danny was already 45 years old. He works under his aunt, Sophia's adopted mother.

Drake and the other guy were talking when the window of Sophia's car rolled down. The car was off as Nam is yet on the car, and Sophia is sleeping, and sweating so Danny decided to roll down the car window a bit. Right now, she wasn't wearing an eyeglasses and tied her hair up. She don't want to stand out or attract attention. Danny saw how stunned they were when they saw how angelic Sophia's face is while she was asleep. Sophia somehow noticed that the window is opened that she decided to close it again.