While You Were Out | BOYSWORLD

G I R L F R I E N D S

Olivia Ruby rummaged through the stubborn white notes on Bach, Mozart and Jackson - an endless list of lyrical historians - under the effortful weight of her Michelangelo-kissed fingers as her messy former-brunette hair, coated in pink - the darkest rose to the brightest orchid, a cloud floating across the setting sky in Los Angeles, white lilies- and blonde layers dropped into a heavy pool of exhaustion around her. The pink-head adored music, hence why she had settled in her room today, huddled between all her notes, music sheets and instruments. She loved the way the subject, a simple, tune, chord, lyric, would keep her void of refrain, walk her down an almost paracosmic path towards escapism. She loved the feeling of an untethered heart against her ribcage. So soft, yellow and free as her slender fingers kissed the white and black keys, whored the emo strings of the bass, as her delicate soprano voice danced with the wind, from sunset to sunrise, as dawn ascends above the horizon. Olivia Ruby was in love with the lyrical euphoriant. But when it came to History of Music, a bitter Minor tune played at the tip of her tongue driving her towards the chains that held her back, away from wonderland. Where did all the female musicians disappear to? Olivia would rather study on Franklin, Dion, Holiday, Houston and Cher.

But who was she to change the given syllabus, or the past. She needed to pass this exam, get a good grade and move along with her manifested dream - a highly potential reality - where self-made lyrics would reach every ear, her emotions. Her experiences. Her freedom.

Maybe one day.

Maybe one day she could make a change.

Be the next Harry Styles. The first Olivia Ruby.

Olivia Ruby was not one to give up that easily. What Ruby wants, Ruby gets.

She needed to manifest.

And she was in serious need of a mental break. She'd been studying man-made music throughout the decades for hours. She needed a switch of atmosphere. She needed to breathe. She was not a complete Hermione Granger after all. She'd rather be a Luna Lovegood and wander about things outside books at the moment, walk down the streets in marshmallow pink sweat pants and everything Harry Styles-approved, sipping a cup of Latte at her favourite shop by the window under the warm summer sun. And that was exactly what she did.

"Liv!"

She was definitely not expecting to see Hae Ju Hwang at the L' Automne. Books on psychology. Blueberry coffee. Cat-rimmed lenses hovering ever so fine over her crescented owl eyes - Estella DeVil would have been jealous - that screamed unalloyed warmth. She was smiling, smiling at beautiful fair Olivia Ruby. And just like that the latter was reminded of all the times they've been their for each other. The study sessions into the late hours of night and its mysteries. Obsessing and falling for fictional characters and celebrities who were clearly oblivious to their existence. Sharing songs, old and new. Coping with anxiety. Their shared love for music and psychology. Every moment with Ju was a pleasant and fresh experience. Little did Olivia know, the twitch in her eyebrow had vanished into extinction. The world was stress-free all over again. It was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

Olivia cherished every second spent with Hae Ju, where there was no third party involved. Where she was not involved. Don't get Olivia Ruby wrong. She most definitely wouldn't mind additional company, as long as they weren't someone who'd throw her to her corner of unspoken insecurities and thorny anxieties that pinned her on her weak knees. As long as they wouldn't ignore her existence. As long as they weren't her.