-- Chasing Fate --

-XX- (why does it hurt?)

JENNIE

It's Sunday and I have a gig on a beach cafe' where they are launching bands to perform in front of everyone outside the bar where they place some carpets and tables around but it's always every Sunday . My friends arrived as they comfortably sit on our usual spot.

Before my performance starts, I saw my Poopoo and her friends arrived and my heart begins to pound for an unknown reason as they  looking unfamiliar with the place and maybe it is their first time. I am hesitating of I will call Pranpriya or not for it may create curiosity with my friends, especially with Irene on how I met her.

After the night when Nini was lost on my a flea market, they didn't even bother to asked me about who found Nini nor ask my daughter about it with the reason of Nini might got some trauma about it.

The manager poked my back and whispered at me to start my performance.

Nini: "you got this mommy!"

My daughter proudly shouted as I finger fire her then wink.

Chef: "dedicate it for me RJ!"

I rolled my eyes and chuckle at Chef's statement. I look around before going up the stage and saw Poopoo and her friends sitting at the back 2 tables away from us.

I settled myself and I saw how they enjoy each other's joke as my friends shouting my name while waving their hands like my own fan's club.

As soon as I start singing while playing my guitar, I saw in my peripheral vision that Pranpriya is deeply staring at me in awe and I knew she will get shocked the moment she saw me here. I think , I didn't tell her that part.

I waved at my loud friends and Nini who is giving me the best support. 

I looked at her, my Poopoo and our eyes met.

I saw how her lips formed a smile at our sudden stares then I remember our last night's first kiss.

Those butterflies inside my tummy. Those sudden rapid heartbeat and that sleepless night thinking about her while I'm inside her room and she's on the living room as if my lips wanted more of her.

I can't take my eyes off of her as she divert her attention to Chaeyoung who is drinking wildly then look at me again not minding the latter which made my heart beat frantically again that I never felt with Kai.

Her stares.

As I look into her brown doe eyes. Those stares I keep remembering the most.

Jennie: "is there anyone who wants to sing here on stage?"

I ask as soon as my song done when I felt the need of water in my throat. Sometimes, when I asked anyone to sing on stage, there some who have the spirit to sing but most of my time as a performer which is my side job and also my passion, there were none.

But this night when I decide to just ignore the needs of my throat and just go on with another song, I heard someone shouted "me" as I found Chaeyoung, walking forward on the stage lifting her one arm like a student saying present on a teacher. I saw how red her face is but clearly, she is already tipsy.

I was about to introduce her when she hand gesture me "no" and gave her the microphone instead.

My friends were also shocked with Chaeyoung's sudden appearance on the stage as my best friend Jisoo can't help but stare at her angel in full admiration.

Irene glanced at our left side and her looks was obviously sad when she saw Pranpriya. I got this sudden pang on my chest as I remembered that she was Pranpriya's ex-girlfriend.

I am dying to know what's the history of them but I don't know how to start the conversation.

Jisoo: " I didn't know they're here! Fate brought us here!"

I chuckled at my best friend's reaction and sit on an empty space which is beside Chef.

Chef: "you're always great RJ. How come I only saw you play guitar just now?"

Chef Song whispered at me which made me shy and chuckled.

Ruby Jane: "cause you only got here for the first time cause you're always busy Chef"

I answered near his ear to make sure he will hear what my answer is that made us laugh.

I looked at Pran's table as our eyes met again but she quickly looked away like she didn't respond to my smile but in that span of 3 seconds, I know how her brow creased and her eyes lost it's spark.

I looked back to the stage and even if Chaeyoung is a little tipsy, she has this angelic voice and no doubt that she can sing very well but I can feel the emotions in her song as if someone is making her feel sad and hurt at the same time.

Jisoo: "who hurt my angel? I want to go there and hug her then tell her to love me instead and not someone who will break her heart!"

My best friend shouted in a drunk state and obviously, she's so interested with Pran's best friend.

Irene: "maybe I knew who?"

We both looked at Irene and my mind started to think of the things that makes my heart sting.

Jisoo: "you knew that too? Oh yeah! You're friends with them!"

Irene: "it's not that hard to see the obvious my friend"

Chef: "just tell that woman to come and visit Jisoo so she can be happy. Right Chu?"

Chef wink at my best friend but my best friend just rolled her eyes.

Jisoo: "respect bro! Respect! I'm not a playboy like you!"

The bickering duo starts again as I smile at them.

Irene just chuckled and lifts her bottle of beer to drink but didn't answer more.

I don't want to entertain what is coming inside my head now. I saw it that too the very first time I saw them in that restaurant. How clingy she was with Pran. How she looks at Poopoo with all admiration.

We once thought that she and Poopoo is a couple. But how they can be a couple when they got a separate room in the hotel?

It makes sense now. How Chaeyoung approach Irene is far different on how Pran's other friends approached her.

I don't want to conclude things but I want to know everything and every people around Pranpriya.

I heard the people clapped their hands and Chaeyoung thanks the crowd. I peek at their table and was shocked when Chaeyoung, the blonde girl quickly pull Pranpriya's head into a kiss when she approached them that made everyone shocked and I felt how my heart clenched a bit.

Am I hurt?

Why does my heart feeling this way?

Why does it hurt so much?

I looked away as I pour my glass with the whisky and drink it straight.

Chef: "easy RJ. You okay?"

I nod and fake a smile at him and fix myself for another performance.

I saw Pranpriya walked away while her friends following her with the other girl they called as Slugs, who was on the last was looking straight at our table.

Are they only friends? Or there's something really going on between them? How about our kiss? Am I getting played? But why does it feel so real?

I don't have the right to question myself with these Stupids question when we only met a few days and talked one time.

But..
.
.
.
It hurts.