Chapter 3: Cities in Dust (1)

Paul's guitar started to strum the Opening of the ‘Wake me up when September ends by the Greenday, he started to pluck each key and was deeply focused enough on the beat of the music, the guitar sound then vibrated perfectly inside the studio room.

Serina looked at Paul's performance and smiled, she was surprised as to how Paul perfectly did it on the first try, like he already did practice it many times.

But Serina didn't know that Paul did with the practice with her until the end of September before he time-traveled back through time.

Serina then proceeds to calm herself, imagining the mood of the music, serene yet nostalgic conflicting emotions, she visualized herself at the position of the song, a song that was once reminded of a lost loved one, a feeling of loss and the agony of having to carry the pain.

"Summer has come and passed." A slow rising melody came out from Seri's voice, it started from the lonely feeling in every tone, like how she imagined herself looking back at faded memories, visualizing every lyric in her head, she memorized them and deeply gave each sentence a proper tone.

The nostalgic melody came out from the studio, it delivers a nostalgic feeling as if it was telling a sad story, Paul also flows with the mood of the first sentence of the first verse, his hand became delicate on the music adjustments, he slowly arranging his finger to the right strings quickly, since the 'Wake me up when September ends' was an alternative rock that was supposed to be sung by the band, they modify the tone of the song making it more of a slow solo, after all, only two of them was working on the song.

"the innocent can never last." She proceeds to maintain the lyrics in the same feat, she added blending the breath singing in her voice, a bit few of windy vocals, the sound then became a soft yet clear, it delivers a fine introduction on the first try, Paul almost made a mistake in his strum, he remembered an embarrassing moment he did while ago, quite surprised to misheard the lyrics, he remembered that he sang the lyrics as 'memories had gone so fast', and many more mistake. he can't help but felt a little embarrassed by his singing and memorizing lyrics, It was the wrong lyrics!

"Wake me up, When September ends." Serina then gives deep emotions on the key lyrics of the song, she started it with a feeling of simple words that carry an excruciating yet serene that pertains to the singer of the song, which she depicts in an exact tone.

The song was carried out thoroughly, with few bits of repetition and changing what to change in every sentence, including the pronunciation and the audio test if it was fit.

The practice did not last long, only done after an hour. It included training their voices to reach the sluggish part of the song, to make it more clear and catching, few syncs in the duet part, and to lastly add some ad-lib in both styles on the song.

They both packed up all the types of equipment, lying in the studio, arranging them back at the proper place. Serina felt a bit dull from the monotone scene of cleaning and immediately calls out Paul.

"Hey Paul, since it was Saturday, Help me buy some stuff at the mall," Serina suggested, Paul suddenly thought about something else, a memory came into his mind, according to the timeline of the event, last time, after practice, Seri also asked Paul to come with him but he rejected it because he plans to do his studies at home.

He never knew what happen during that time, he admits he was quite ignorant during that time, but this time he already knows well enough, to try to discern every detail.

Plus he already knew the lesson that he should study, there is no hustle, what worries him is the change of timeline, what if something might change, he brushed out those thoughts and convince himself.

this time he will change it, he will not miss clues and what is happening on Seri to prevent that thing to happen again, anything that includes Serina tragedy will be lessened if he prepares enough, it was also an opportunity to track his observation on the suspicious person lurking around.

"Sure." He answered, placing the guitar back on the tripod stand.

"Really? Do you not need to study right now?" Seri asked him, tilting her head in confusion.

"What studies, I'm bored on it," Paul grinned and smirk, he was bored on studying, who wants to study the same page again? Especially when traveled through time.

"Okay! Since you will come with me, I'll make you a human bag carrier." Seri teased and giggle, thinking that Paul will add more time for her shopping spree, there is someone who will carry her things around, thus she smirked at Paul.

"I've been scammed!" Paul said, acted as he bet on the worst agreement ever.

"Don't worry, we have food!" Serina tapped his shoulder.

---------------------------------

After the agreement to met-up in the cafe, Paul immediately dressed back home and bid farewell to his mother afterward.

He immediately found his bicycle at the garage, the town small mall was actually just a few distances from Paul's residence, it was located at the front of the K-Town Park, which is near the riverbed, and a few distances from the municipal, after all the Mall was one of the important landmarks of K-Town, most profits came from here.

Traveling around the K-town again, it felt odd and weird.

That's how Paul felt, around the corner from his home was the playground where most of the children play every day, yet it was empty.

He continued to observe it, the residence in their area was silent, he then forwarded his way throughout the town, passing the K-Town General Hospital, The K-Town Plaza where few people were arranging some stuff, and finally, he arrived at the Park, he located the mall which was just in the front of the Park square, it was grander and more lively, the park was bustling with people as usual, and the Mall entrance was designed with gaunt surfaces between the door area and a cone glass ceiling that was gigantic above it, it was slanted in the exterior, having far vibrant yellow color as the wall painting and crimson paint above the ceiling where the giant glass cone was located, it was quite an innovative idea to build a Mall for the town, in front of the town, it builds meticulously to match the park surroundings.

Paul then locked his bike at the bike rack near the park, proceeding to head inside the mall where he felt the dull wind of the air conditioner and the usual mall music playing out on the speaker. He founded the cafe and waited for Serina to shows up.