Chapter I - Chasing The Beat

...𝐀𝐧𝐚 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠....

I was late!.

I knew it as I bolted down the hallway, clutching onto a pile of files against my chest. The papers fluttered dangerously, threatening to spill as I dodged a group of freshmen who were loitering near the vending machines. They scattered like startled pigeons at my approach, their surprised faces soon blurred as I hurtled past them.

''Sorry! Excuse me!" I threw the words over my shoulder, but I was already too far gone to see their reactions.

The door to the student council room loomed ahead, slightly ajar. With a final burst of speed, I stormed inside, nearly crashing into the long meeting table..but thanks to my quick reflexes I didn't. My breath came in sharp, ragged gasps, but I managed a weak smile almost like an idiot... as I steadied myself and looked around the room.

“Ana! Finally, the wind has blown you in!”Tiana, one of the secretaries, greeted me with an exaggerated sigh, throwing her hands up in mock exasperation. “We were beginning to think you’d taken off to the Himalayas for a spiritual retreat, abandoning us poor souls to sort out this event all on our own!”

I chuckled, despite my flushed face and ragged gasps “Oh, you know me. Always chasing inner peace… by running laps around campus.”

The room filled with laughter, easing the tension that had built up in my chest. I plopped into a chair, my files now a mess on the table, I could see the expectant looks directed at me. The joke had bought me a few seconds of reprieve, but the main topic was looming like a dark cloud.“So…” Tiana leaned forward, her smile fading into curiosity as she raises one of her eyebrows. “Did you manage to get a suitable artist yet?”

''Um....." Her words triggered a wave of thoughts that crashed over me like a tidal wave. Two days ago, I was the one to step up and take charge of the event management for the upcoming university arts festival. It was supposed to be an exciting opportunity, a chance to do something meaningful for the college as a senior, but if I was honest, there was more to it. And one of them....is my wonderful boyfriend, Derek, in his ''words'' wisdom, had mocked me for spending so much time on “pointless” academic and extracurricular activities. According to him, I was wasting my life away on things that didn’t matter. We had argued—again—about how I wasn’t giving him enough time, how my dedication to my work was “stupid” and “pathetic.” His words had stung, but what really pushed me over the edge was his snide, misogynistic comment about how I’d “never make it” because I wasn’t focused on “real life.

That’s why I needed this event to be a success. I needed to prove him wrong. I needed to show him—and myself—that my hard work wasn’t in vain. That I could find the perfect artist, someone with true passion and talent, who would make this event unforgettable

.But so far, my search had been… less than successful.

I was still lost in thought when Tiana’s voice brought me back to the present. "Ana?..Earth to Ana!." I blinked and shook my head, forcing a smile. “Sorry, I was just thinking… No, I haven’t found anyone yet. But I’m on it.”

"Better be quick, girl,” Tiana said, leaning back in her chair. “The clock’s ticking.”

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Later At The Cafeteria.

The cafeteria was buzzing with life when I finally made it there, my head still swirling with worries. I spotted the hot, charming and chill as always...Olivia sitting at our usual table, cool as a cucumber, sipping on her iced coffee like she had all the time in the world. Not surprising cause the Olivia Okafor that I've known for ten years now is the most coolest human I've ever known. I dropped into the seat across from her and took a long sip of my own drink, trying to let the caffeine work its magic on my frazzled nerves.“Rough day, huh?” Olivia’s voice was smooth, with just the right amount of sarcasm.

“You have no idea,” I sighed, resting my head on the cool surface of the table. “I’ve been trying to find the perfect artist for the event, but it’s like searching for a needle in a haystack. I’ve gone through so many profiles, but none of them feel right. I’m not even a huge music fan, so it’s not like I have a natural talent for spotting the next big thing. But I have to do this. I can’t let him be right.”

“Him,” Olivia repeated, her eyebrow quirking up knowingly. "You mean....Derek?"

I nodded without lifting my head. “Yeah. He thinks all of this is a waste of time. And I’m starting to think maybe he’s right…”

"Please,” Olivia scoffed, her voice cutting through my self-doubt. “Derek wouldn’t know talent if it bit him in the ass. You’ll find someone great, Ana. Just don’t overthink it.”She paused, then leaned forward, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “Actually...." She paused and continued, "I have a suggestion. There’s this new artist I came across at a bar downtown last year. The one I've been ranting to you about and been obsessed with ever since. He’s got this unique style, you know? Raw, powerful, real. He’d be perfect."

"Really?” I asked, not fully convinced. Olivia had always been the music junkie between us, the one who lived and breathed every note, every lyric. Me? I was more of a casual listener. Still, I couldn’t ignore the twinkle in her eye.

“Yeah, really,” she insisted, grinning. “And guess what? He’s coming to our city to perform at a local venue. You should totally check him out.”

I raised an eyebrow. “How do you even know that?” Olivia chuckled, leaning back in her chair with that signature, sassy smirk of hers. “I have my sources. And trust me, this guy’s got an army of fans already, even though he probably has no idea how famous he’s getting.” Curiosity sparked in me. Just who was this mysterious artist Olivia had been raving about for almost a year now? It wasn’t just her, either. A bunch of my juniors on campus had mentioned him too, with a kind of reverence that made me feel like I was missing out on something big. But the funny thing was, no one ever seemed to mention his real name.

“What’s his name?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

“LJ,” Olivia said, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “That’s all anyone knows. But trust me, Ana, you need to see this guy for yourself.”

LJ. The name rolled around in my mind, planting a seed of curiosity that I knew would only grow until I saw him perform. Maybe,.... just maybe, he was the artist I had been looking for. And if he was… well, Derek could take his opinions and shove them up his-...!. Anyways...this was my chance to prove that I could do this, that I could bring something extraordinary to campus. The fire inside me burned brighter as I made up my mind.“Okay,” I said, meeting Olivia’s gaze with determination.

“Let’s see what this LJ is all about.”

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