"To be an angel, one need not have wings.

In giving love there is an equal grace.

Nor need one seek the aura in the face,

As love unveils the beauty of all things."

- By François Couperin.

1. Nadir of Summer

School is almost there.

It’s April and it’s too hot here in the Philippines.

It’s almost the end of the most unproductive summer I’ve ever had in my fourteen years as Éliane Sophia-Marie Xavier. I thought this summer was going to be the best summer in my life.

I was wrong.

It was a completely stupid mistake to even think that this summer was even going to be “the best summer ever.” Almost not being able to see my mom didn’t make it any easier. Yes, my parents are separated and I currently reside with my father, together with my little brother and our long-time maid, Aunt Margo.

As I lie here on the floor in my room(when I’m trying to think I usually lie on the floor and not on my bed), I wonder if a day will come when I’ll watch my wildest dreams come true without someone spoiling it. I shut my eyes and let everything disappear even if it’s just temporary. I shut my eyes as I shut all my worries about being a high school junior and facing Chemistry and Geometry away. I become dead to the world and face my wildest dreams.

My wildest dreams are beyond compare. People barely believe them. In my dreams, I’d always be the one dying or at least the one being flabbergasted by certain things. One time I had this dream that someone proposed to me. I could hardly forget that dream. It’s such a shame that I couldn’t remember the visage of the boy who proposed to me. But one thing’s for sure, it won’t happen.

Love.

It’s that four-letter cliché that everyone at school talks about. People believe in it, my classmates believe in it. Me? No. I don’t believe in love and I doubt the idea of love. Love for me is something that doesn’t exist. Take my parents as an example. If they really loved each other, why on earth would they be absorbed by jealousy and hatred? In my fourteen years of living in this world, I’ve seen people vowing in front of God and the people they love the most. I’ve seen people spend lots of money and time just to get married and be with the person they love. But where do these marriages end up? Their vows end up being screwed. They go on their separate ways and leave their young ones confused and depressed.

It’s nauseating and weird.

Despite my attempt not to be disturbed by noises, I wake up by the sounds of whispering. I open my eyes and see my eleven year-old brother, Louie looking at me in a very strange manner. “What?” I ask. I try to get up and wait for his answer. But still, he doesn’t give me any answer. Annoyed, I raise my brow and fold and arms. “I thought you were dead.” Louie finally answers. “Dead? Okay, you are freaking me out.” I walked out of my room, leaving Louie there.

“Hey, I was just concerned, okay? Anyway, it’s almost dinnertime. You better go down.” He said. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m okay, okay?” I tried to convince him with a smile. Lately, the people inside our house have been quite concerned about me. About a month ago, my childhood friend, Jacques who was fourteen at that time, died in a car accident while he was still in France. He was the most understanding friend ever had. Jacques made my worries fade away by just telling me those corny jokes that made me laugh. Lastly, he was the only reason why I still believed in love and now that he’s gone, I can’t find any reasons to why I should believe in love anymore.

***

It was about a week since the start of a new school year as a first-grader. I’m a transfer student and I hardly have any friends yet. Who cares? It’s still the first week of my first grade education, I still have time to socialize and make friends.

The first person I ever met in my new school was Angel, a Barbie-loving bubbly girl and she was my seatmate. “Hi.” I managed to speak despite my nervousness (yes, I was nervous). “Hi! I’m Angelica. You can call me Angel, what’s your name?” She asked with a smile on her red lips. “Hi, I’m Éliane Sophia-Marie. You can call me Éliane.” I smiled back.

“It’s nice to finally make a friend. So, are you new here?” Angel asked as she played with her pink crayon. “New? Yes, I am. How about you? Are you new here?” I finally managed to spit out more words. “Yes, I am.” She smiled again. “Angel? Can I ask a question?” I asked her. She stopped playing with her pencil and paid more attention to me.

“What is it?” She said as she cocked her head. “Are we friends now?” I asked. I was actually expecting a laugh to out from her mouth but instead, she smiled then said: “Of course we are.”

Weeks passed and the more days that passed the more friends that I had. I learned to be really friendly and finally got the hang of having friends. Everything was going really good until I met her.

Adrienne.

She was a really beautiful girl with a really, really strong attitude. It was recess I was there inside the classroom, and I was eating my peanut butter sandwich. “Give me that sandwich.” I turned to my right to see who was talking. There she was, standing and smiling. “Didn’t you hear what I just told you? Give me that sandwich” she stuck her hand out and ordered me to give her my sandwich. “No, I’m not going to give it to you.” I put the sandwich closer to me. “If you won’t give that to me, I’m going to break your purple crayon!” she tried to threaten me.

“And who are you exactly to order her to give you her food?” a boy’s voice rang in my ears. “And you’ll break her crayon if she won’t give it to you? What are you, desperate?” with the way he talked to Adrienne, I thought he were some guy from a higher grade. Adrienne was turning red now, and slowly, tears started to form in her eyes. Adrienne turned her back then went out of the classroom. “Thanks. I’m Éliane, by the way.” I stuck my hand out and he took it. We shook hands as he introduced himself. “I’m Jacques. Jacques Moliere, class president. I’m supposed to keep the class well-behaved while teachers aren’t around.” Yes, I can smell a new friendship sprouting!

A/N: Yes, this is the first chapter of my second novel. The names of the characters are mostly French-based because I adore how French names sound, it’s just so unique and well, cute. I hope you guys liked the first chapter and I hope you guys will keep on reading my novel. Xoxo, Mimi:)