CHAPTER THREE

     “Shh!”

He covered my mouth using his hand to silence my scream, like what he did the first time I caught him. I was ready to fight him off, I even tried removing his hands off me, but he didn’t even budge. He was too big for me, so I just screamed for help at the top of my lungs. It came out inaudible and muffled though, damn.

     “Stop screaming, you’re scaring the cats!”

You’re screaming too!

     “Calm down, miss. Stop flailing around”

I took a deep breath when he retracted his hand, but still nervous, “What can you get by killing those innocent cats, huh?” I say.

     “I just thought you were rude, but you were actually crazy. How can you hurt those animals?”

     “What the heck are you talking about?”

     “Yeah, you’re damn great at feigning ignorance. You’re the mass cat killer everyone is talking about. You threatened me the night after the orientation when I caught you!”

     “Wait, that was you?”

     “It was me!” I yelled at him.

He’s crazy. He totally is. One must not be enchanted by that handsome face, there’s evil behind it. Gifted people are the scariest. My gosh, he’s wasting his talent in music!

     “Wait, I think there’s a huge misunderstanding going on here,” he massaged his temple and crouched to pet the cat that was standing near his leg.

     “I didn’t mean to leave that impression. I was just feeding the cats that time, like what I’m doing now,” he reasons out.

     “I don’t believe you,” I said firmly.

     “I don’t care about what you think”

     “What?!’

     “What? If you don’t believe what I’m saying, that’s fine. You’re not significant”

     “Are you not scared I might sue you?”

     “You got evidence? I’m confident I could prove my innocence, so do your worst,” he deadpanned.

This rude, rude jerk!

It’s the same attitude he displayed at the music hall. Gosh, I really can’t deal with apathetic people, they’ve got their own world with their own standard of morals or whatever it is. If he’s not the mass cat killer, then all is good. I don’t want to further involve myself with him after all.

The next day, I was woken up by the golden ray of sunlight seeping through my windowsill. Today I didn’t have any classes, so I just planned to pay visit Alison’s house and play with my drums after almost two weeks of not playing them anymore.

I got up from my bed and washed my face before I head out to my kitchen to brew some morning coffee. Last night had been very stressful for me, my hair fall went worse. Guys like Seon isn’t healthy for me at all.

When the toaster alarm went off, I took my bread and put cheese on the heated side, spectating it until it melts. 

     “Smells good,” I mumbled and took a bite.

It didn’t take too much time for me to finish preparing to head out. I took a bath after I washed my dirty dishes and changed clothes. I wore my loose tank top with a black half-slip underneath, a pair of leggings, and white running shoes.

It isn’t hot outside, just the perfect weather for a morning run. Alison lives around forty minutes walking distance from me. I just chose not to spend money on the bus fare and just jog. It’s good to exercise.

I was just about to lock my door when I heard my phone ring.

Hiro calling…

I wonder what he’s calling me for.

     “Hello?” I treaded.

     “Ayen, hey,” Hiro, on the other line, greets, and I lightened up at the sound of his voice. It’s been awhile since we last talked, after all.

     “Hey, what’s up? It’s been a while” I say with a laugh.

     “Yeah, I know. Being in college is hectic, man. How are you?”

     “So far, still good. How about you, Hiro?”

     “Man, I’m barely hanging on,” he laughs lowly. “Hey. Say, are you free today?”

I stopped momentarily to catch my breath, “Yeah? I don’t have plans in particular today, what’s up?”

     “You see, you know I succeeded in recruiting bandmates, right? We’ve been together for almost a year now, but our drummer recently quit, and we’ve been having a hard time trying to find someone to replace him. Would you be willing to help us? Even just temporarily?”

I grip the phone tight, trying to sort out my thoughts rationally. The first month of college was already a chore for me, but the thought of filling in a band even just temporarily makes me excited. It’s one of my dreams, and I’ve been trying to find one that holds auditions.

     “Hiro,” I start.

     “I know, Yen. College is a lot to handle, but just one stage performance? Please? Just one?” he bargains and I chuckled.

     “Hiro, aren’t you a blessing in disguise?”

     “Huh?”

     “Of course, I would! Man, it’ll be my pleasure to fill in.”

     “Really?” his voice sounds exhilarated. “Oh my, thank you. Can we meet right now? I will send you the address shortly if it’s okay with you, of course”

     “Sure, I’m down,” I say, smiling.

     “Man, you’re an angel. I love you, friend. I’ll see you later”

I laughed, “Whatever, Hiro. See you”

I headed straight to Alison’s house, barely containing my excitement. Alison was looking at me suspiciously, but I decided not to tell her yet. For sure, she will nag the life out of me about how impulsive I am. She’s so much of a mother, but she has always been supportive of my decisions.

     “Wow, you kept the love of my life very, very clean” I commented, as I traced the rim of the snare using my fingers.

     “Duh. You don’t think I am unaware of your clean freak nature when it comes to musical instruments, don’t you?” she rolls her eye, throwing me my drumsticks one by one.

     “I’m not. I just don’t like seeing instruments getting low maintenance after use” I reason out.

     “Same thing, Yen. Same thing.”

To be honest, I wasn’t sure how I got to the address Hiro gave me earlier. When I left Ali’s house, it was so sunny that I sweat buckets while waiting for a bus. Then in the middle of the trip, it started to pour hard. Weather forecasts nowadays seem to be complete frauds. It said it’s going to be just cloudy today.

The crystal wind chime jangles against the glass door as I come in. It was a two-story building, Hiro told me to head directly to the second floor using the stairs on the left side.

Inside was a studio-type room covered in soundproof foams, with littered musical instruments around. It looked small from all the equipment parking inside, but it’s spacious enough for at least five people to fit in even with all these things around. 

The door jangles again, and I turned to look at who had just come in after me. I really thought today was my lucky day, but I don’t think that anymore when Seon’s annoying face emerges before me.

     “You again?” he rasps, and I could already feel my blood starting to boil.

     “Don’t make it sound like I wanted us to meet again and again,” I roll my eyes at him.

     “Oh, no way. At this point, suspecting you of stalking wouldn’t sound unreal.” he says, putting down his drink.

Someone interrupts me before I could even rebut, “Hey, hey, hey! Seon’s talking this much today? Who is it–” the other guy stops when he saw me.

     “Oh, hello there,” he greets, ears turning bright red.

I awkwardly shift my feet, “Hello” I say, and another guy enters the room with two drinks in hand. He stops momentarily at the sight of me and slightly bows, “Hello,” he greets.

Are they Hiro’s bandmates? Seon too? Damn. I’m starting to think I might regret accepting Hiro’s proposal.

Finally, Hiro emerges and there I could feel my lungs working fine again. His lips curved into a grin when he saw me and opened his arms for a hug from the door. 

     “Ayeeen!” 

     “Yes. Hello to you too,” I say with a giggle, as I pat his back continuously.

     “I missed you. How’s Ali doing?”

Look at this guy, caring more for my bestfriend’s well-being than me.

     “She’s doing well, with you erased in her memories.”

Hiro’s face changes into a dumbfounded expression, “For real?” he asks, and I laugh.

Hiro and I met a little later after I met Alison. The three of us were practically inseparable since the first year of high school. Despite him being two years ahead of us, we still hang out a lot. They were like my parents.

Also, the secret I have been keeping for him for a very long time is that; he likes Alison. I don’t know if he still does, but I wonder what kept him from confessing to her. He might have a chance.

We also dreamed together about having a concert when we grow up. Him being the main vocalist, and I play the drums for him. Hiro had always such a nice voice, and I remember him singing for us every chance he got before. Sadly, he moved after he graduated from high school and Ali and I were left alone together.

     “This is our bassist, Bo. Bo, this is Yen. She’s the fill-in drummer I was talking about earlier.” Hiro pointed to the guy with red ears earlier, and I hesitantly accepted the handshake as his hands are slightly trembling.

     “This is Lev, he’s an all-rounder. He’s handling the drums right now.” Hiro continues, pertaining to the guy with two drinks in hand. He bows again and I bowed in return. He’s so polite?

     “And this is Seon, our very own main guitarist,” he says, urging the guy to come forward. But instead of doing what he was told, he ignored me and continued doing what he was doing.

     “C’mon, man. We already talked about this,” Hiro sighs in frustration, but Seon didn’t budge.

He looks at me apologetically and instructed everyone to continue rehearsing. Hiro guided me outside, obviously trying his best not to make me uncomfortable. 

     “I’m sorry about that. Seon’s just a little aloof. He’ll warm up to you in no time” he smiles

     “Yeah, right. He’s rude, too, different from what I imagined of him.” I snorted.

     “Wait, you recognized him?”

I turned to him, giving him a look that means I don’t get what he was talking about.

     “He’s that boy, Yen” he says.

My eyebrows furrowed, unable to comprehend what he was trying to say. 

     “What boy?” I ask.

He laughs a little and shook his head, “Remember the boy who made you pursue music? That guitar prodigy you can’t stop talking about before?” he gave me a smile.

Wait. No way, it can’t be. But getting his guitar skills I have witnessed into consideration. It isn’t completely impossible.

     “Seon is that boy,” he paused, “Seon Alatus Yuu.”