Chapter 2

Maze's

"Maze, where have you been?" Mark asked me as I entered the backstage. I looked at all of them and saw how excited they are to perform. Mark couldn't control himself from playing with his drumsticks. While Cole is busy tuning the guitar same with Troy who's in charge with the bass.

"Finally, the man of the hour is here!" I looked at Top when he entered the backstage with a wide smile. I smiled at him slyly as I shook my head because of his exaggeration. "Where have you been?" He also asked so I shrugged as I remembered how unfortunate I am to witness such dramatic scene a while ago in the rooftop and how I felt satisfied upon seeing that cheater's red cheeks from the slap given by the girl.

"Someone called me and I had to find a quiet place to answer the call so I went to the rooftop." I answered and they all nodded. So I sighed before smiling at all of them. "Are we good?" I asked them and I suddenly caught a glimpse of nervousness among their faces. It's our first time and we didn't expect that we would get to perform in front of a huge crowd at our first night so I totally understand them. 

Most of the customers are college students and I know for a fact that they are all Top's acquaintances since he's the most acquainted person among all of us. Aside from the fact that I'm still new to this place so the people I know is kind of limited. I can literally count them in my fingers.

"The stage is all yours, Thoughts at Midnight! Break a leg!" Top cheered for us and we all laughed as we can see how excited he is for our first ever performance as a band. He then headed to the stage to properly introduce us before performing.

We agreed to play just one set each night as we all wanted to give chance to other bands who also wants to perform. Top managed to hire 3 bands to perform every night but he always put us first. And so here we are, taking the last minute to take deep breaths before climbing up on that stage. 

"Good evening, Everyone!" He greeted the audience and we didn't expect to hear such a loud response from the crowd which only prove that the bar is jam packed with party people tonight and we had to gather all our guts to perform and do our best. "And as promised, I am here to present to you the first band to perform tonight. But before that, I would like to thank all of you for coming here and making the opening night of this bar wonderful. Especially my friends and my favorite junior, Gabriel! Thank you for coming here tonight!" I was quite stunned upon hearing that familiar name from Top. If I'm not mistaken, it's the same name of the guy I bumped into earlier.

'Oh, God. I hope it's just really another guy with a same name.'

I silently prayed amidst of the fact that Top is actually one hell of a player before and there's a big possibility that they're really acquainted with each other.

The crowd is in uproar as they all waited for Top to finally introduce the first band to perform which is us. I looked at my band mates and finally, they all managed to be at ease and they all looked prepared themselves to give their best shot.

"And now, the long wait is over. And let me have the pleasure to introduce to you the first band to perform tonight. Please give it up for, Thoughts at Midnight!" Top said and the deafening cheer from the audience is overwhelming and I can't help but to smile as we all realized how they welcomed us. We all climbed up to the stage as we flashed our best smile to the crowd. I can already feel my jaw starting to hurt as I was never used to smiling this big in front of other people. We immediately went to our designated places and I started to adjust the microphone as I look around.

And upon looking at the whole crowd, one particular person caught my attention.

It's the cheating bastard, Gabriel.

He's looking at me as if he couldn't believe what he's seeing so I managed to flash a smirk as I looked at my band mates.

"Ready?" I asked all of them and they all looked at me and smiled before nodding. I also nodded at them before facing the loud crowd once again.

"Good evening, guys." I greeted them and I can't help but to smile as I hear some girls giggling and some of them are even screaming. "Our first song for tonight is for every single soul who are still finding their place to fit in. If you know the song, don't be shy to sing alone with me." I said while smiling. It was then Cole started strumming his guitar and I closed my eyes as the crowd fell into deep silence as if they are all waiting for me to finally start singing the first verse.

"Crowded hallways are the loneliest places

For outcasts and rebels

Or anyone who just dares to be different"

I opened my eyes to see the crowd's reaction as I felt a little uneasy when they didn't made any noise when I started singing the first verse. It was then I saw all their stunned reaction as if they can't believe what they are actually hearing and that's enough for me to close my eyes again and continued singing.

"And you've been trying for so long

To find out where your place is

But in their narrow mind

There's no room for anyone

Who dares to do something different

Oh, but listen for a minute"

I opened my eyes again but I don't understand why I directed my gaze at the guy standing near the center of the bar. I don't understand why my heart suddenly skipped a beat as everyone in the room started to blurred out and all I can clearly see is the guy named Gabriel. This feels weird, really. I'm not used to it. 

"Trust the one

Who's been where you are

Wishing all it was

Just sticks and stones

Those words cut deep but they don't mean you're all alone

And you're not invisible

Hear me out,

There's so much more to life than what you're feeling now

Someday you'll look on all these days

And all these pain is gonna be invisible

Oh, invisible"

I tried my best to stop looking at Gabriel as I continued singing the next verse. And when we finally finished, we all looked around to see everyone's reaction and it's been a minute but they remained looking at us with that weird look on their faces. But it was then someone shouted from one of the tables in front. The one where Gabriel is also sitting right now. I saw one of his friends pulled him to sit down while I was singing.

"You're the best, Thoughts at Midnight! We want more!" The short guy with a pale face shouted before clapping and everyone in the crowd soon followed and also cheered for us. I looked at my band mates and they all smiled at me because of the overwhelming cheers we're receiving from the audiences. I can't help but to look at Gabriel again and he's also staring at me. It's as if he's trying to read me and it's kind of funny 'Cause no one else gets to read who I am unless I let them. 

"More! More! More! More!" The crowd started chanting and I smiled at them before nodding.

"Our next song is now for everyone who's in love." I didn't said much for the introduction of our next song since I don't really know what to tell them cause my knowledge about this love thing is really limited. "This is Perfect by One Direction."

I chose this song cause it doesn't require much of an emotional melody. It's easier for me to just fake the feelings and pretend that I'm in love while singing, when in fact, I am not. This is all just for the sake of art. Music is my art. 

"I might never be your knight in shining armour

I might never be the one you take home to mother

And I might never be the one who brings you flowers

But I can be the one, be the one tonight"

I don't know what's happening to me and I totally can't understand why on earth does my eyes is automatically directed to that cheater when I started singing the next verse of the song.

"When I first saw you

From across the room

I could tell you were curious

Oh, yeah

Oh, I hope you're sure

What you're looking for

'Cause I'm not good at making promises"

I tried looking away from him but my dumb eyes looked back at him as I started singing the chorus.

"But if you like causing troubles up in hotel room

And if you like having secrets little rendezvous

If you like to so the things you know that we shouldn't do

Then baby, I'm perfect

Baby, I'm perfect

And if you like midnight driving with the windows down

And if you like going places we can't even pronounce

If you like to do whatever you've been dreaming about

Then baby, you're perfect

Baby, you're perfect

So let's start right now"

I secretly castigated myself cause I couldn't stop looking at Gabriel while singing but I couldn't do anything either. There's something about this cheater that made my eyes glued at him while singing. H even made my heart skipped a beat. And I don't like it.

I need to get him out of my sight. And so as the crowd cheered for us, asking for more. I forced a smile before looking at my band mates. They all nodded telling me that they are ready for our last shot for tonight's set. So I looked at the crowd again trying my best not to look at that Gabriel guy.

"More! More! More! More!" The crowd is still on uproar but the loudest scream is coming from Gabriel's table particularly from his pale face friend.

"Our last song for tonight's set is everything after the fall." I decided to be cryptic about the introduction for our last song and then again, I am amazed just by how the crowd fell into silence again as if they are all waiting for us to play. I've never seen such respectful crowd before. "This is Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri."

Gabriel's

"I know I can't take one more step towards you

Cause all that's waiting is regret

Don't you know I'm not your ghost anymore

You lost the love I loved the most"

I don't know what's wrong with me and what's with that vocalist that I can't seem to take my eyes off him. And I don't even know what's wrong with heart that it keeps on beating so fast while watching him sing. All the other band members seems insignificant as I only focused on him and only him. If only Marvin and Kevin didn't pulled me to sit with them, I am quite sure that I'd still be standing in the middle as I as too drawn to the one performing on stage.

And not to mention that he freaking called me a cheater and told me that I deserved the slap from Jen a while ago! What's with this bastard that caught my whole attention? He's not even that cute!

'And why would I even call him cute?! It's not as if I want to hit on him!'

"I learn to live half alive

And now you want me one more time"

I feel like my heart raced when he looked directly to my eyes and I feel my breathing hitched as he sang the chorus.

"And who do you think you are?

Running around leaving scars

Collecting your jar of heart

And tearing love apart

You're gonna catch a cold

From the I've inside your soul

So don't come back for me

Who do you think you are?"

Is it just me or he's really pertaining to me while singing? I stared back at his dark orbs and I can see how cold and emotionless it is. Amazing how he managed to convey such emotions to his listeners amidst of the fact that he doesn't look like he's feeling anything at all.

'Who are you?'

This guy is something else. He seemed to have a deep personality that no one can fathom easily. As a psychology student, I somehow know how to read people and their thoughts but looking at the vocalist, I can't seem to read anything. He's good at hiding. And that made me so damn curious about who he is.

"Man, this band is a gem!" We all looked at Mike when he said that. He seems to be very fond of the band and has been cheering for them since their first song. "They are geniuses!" He added and Barry laughed at him cause it's actually obvious that he's exaggerating.

"What do you mean gem?" Barry scowls. "Well, I agree that they are all talented and the vocalist is a real deal but c'mon, Mike. They are just like any other bands." He said and Marvin nodded his agreement while Kevin and I just remained listening to them.

I can still hear the vocalist's voice and it's still beautiful but I am now more interested in what Mike has to say to support his claim about his new found 'gem'.

"You don't understand, Barry. By geniuses, I mean they are creative enough to connect and associate the songs they re performing to the name of their band!" Mike said which led us to a much greater confusion. We all looked at him quizzically cause we don't really understand what he means. He winced when he realized that we didn't get what he said and scratched his nape before explaining further. "They performed three songs, right?" We all nodded. "The first song is all about being alone. The second one is about being in love and being with someone while the last one is all about being broken, being alone again after finding someone whom you thought you would spend the rest of your life with. Those are three main things that a person usually think of during midnight. Thoughts that usually strikes us at 1:00 to 3:00 am." We are all stunned after getting his point. And even if I don't want to, I can't help but to feel amaze just by thinking about it. 

Psychology students like us wants to know the deeper meaning of things. We find it interesting just by digging something and learn from it. But aside from the band itself, I know that am more interested about how deep of a person the vocalist is.

Seems like things got a little more interesting now.