Rising Stars

XIV - An Angel, Found

"I didn't need to find the right thing to say. I needed to find the right thing to do."

- Son Jaemin

April 12th, 2020

"Any luck with the songs for the EP?" Seraphine asked. "We've got my two covers done, but we have none of your tracks done and I feel bad."

"Well, I actually made something last night," I said to Seraphine as she idly strummed at her guitar.

"Wait, you finished the whole track overnight?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Mixing and everything?" She double-checked.

"Yup," I confirmed.

"Wow."

"...That shocked?"

Seraphine flushed. "Well, It's... just a little surprising. With how little progress we were both making and all that, I mean," she explained. Then, she grinned widely. "I love the name already."

"Cinnamon Sugar?"

She nodded. "Mmhm. It's cute." Setting down her guitar, she slipped on her headphones. "Alright, I'm ready to listen."

The track opened with a classic R&B percussion rhythm that featured muted kicks, light snare rolls, and consistent taps on the side of a closed hi-hat.

"All these sweet talks, midnight drives to your place— Still come to my shoes when you don't wanna see my face," I sang. "And I love when you throw your clothes on the floor, could I sit and watch you put your makeup on before you leave out the door."

From the first section of the verse, the soft, lilted piano played gentle notes, and it was shortly followed by the deep strums of a bass guitar. "And I know, you like tea in the morning, cause coffee don't do your heart well. I'm all ears, your stories never get boring— Even though they're stupid as hell."

Seraphine giggled.

I chuckled alongside her.

"When its time to go, by the time you'll know— Cinnamon sugar, cravin' that flavor, taste a little sweeter when its drippin' from your lips."

"Now that I realized I can't let go," I sang in falsetto, every word pronounced and emphasized by the rhythmic strumming of the bass guitar. "Cause I need you every time and day baby— But I know I will find my way to your heart. Show me the way, the way..."

I paused the track. "Aside from the verses and the bridge and stuff, that's pretty much the whole song," I said.

"That was amazing," Seraphine said with a smile.

"Thank you, Seraphine." You were the inspiration after all.

"Not sure what I did," Sera replied. "But you're welcome, Jae." She scrunched her nose adorably and brought up a fist. "Alright, looks like I need to get to work too! I need to catch up with you, after all."

I grinned. "That you do, Ser."

And with renewed passion, Seraphine and I continued to work on the EP for nearly the entire day.

[;]

April 21st, 2020

I glanced back at Seraphine. "This is super random, but do you think you could learn Korean lyrics?"

She looked up from her laptop as she sat on my bed with her back against the headboard. She had a blanket drawn over legs and her laptop in her lap. Her hair was wet from the shower she had taken— something we decided she would do as a precautionary measure against the virus. Sera hummed in thought. "Mmm... Most likely," she stated confidently. "Is it for just one song?"