The Faith Of The Dream.

Chapter 22

"Okay! Okay! I'm coming!" Cole shouted to his phone. The small rectangular thing was being pinched between his left shoulder and ear. Both hands were busy stuffing a guitar to its case. "Don't you dare leave me!"

"If you don't come out in five minutes, I'm going to leave."

The call ended.

"Oh, man." Cole stuffed the phone into his jacket pocket, and hoisted the heavy guitar on his back. He scrambled to put his shoes on, then skipping along the hallway like a little rabbit. Only when he got to the stair, he walked just as a normal person should be.

He stopped when his eyes caught his father's figure standing on the main hallway downstairs. The man was wearing casual clothes tonight, indicating that he wasn't leaving for an extra meeting with his colleagues.

"Cole?" he asked sternly. "Where are you going at this hour?"

The boy glanced at this watch. "It's still seven, Dad. I'm a boy. I can go whenever I want."

"And what are you carrying?" His father's ruby eyes were fixed on the guitar that peeked from Cole's back.
"It's a guitar," he replied confidently. "I'm going to perform. You remember my friend Kai? We worked on a song together, and I just happened to finish it. It's time to tell the world about this."

The fierce look on his father's face softened. He nodded. "Go."

"Eh?"

"You have my blessing."

A fire crept up his cheeks. "You... do?"

The older man flashed a genuine smile. "I'm proud of you for anything you want to be and do."

Cole didn't take a second thought when he pulled his dad into a tight hug. "Thanks a lot, Dad!"

His father huffed a laugh and tapped on his back repeatedly. "Go make me and your mother proud, son."

"Will do!" Cole pulled apart, and ran toward the door while waving to his baffled father. "I'm gonna be home late! Don't worry! Jay's with me. We'll be fine!"

Jay was already waiting for him by the gate. He was straddling a jet-black bike. Its paint was shining like new. He looked disturbed even with a helmet that covered most of his face, and his hands around the grips were trembling. He was wearing a black leather jacket with black pants and boots.

For a second, Kazuha thought that Jay looked like a real biker gang member.

"It's been five minutes and a half!" His friend said, voice was muffled by the helmet. "I was about to leave, y'know!"

"You'll never leave me. You're stuck with me forever, y'know." Cole climbed on the seat. His front body was pressed against Jay's back, and it was cramped with the guitar hanging on the back. "Cool ride you have here."

"Here, put this on. It's for safety." His friend handed him a spare helmet. It was a humble one, unlike Jay's heavy helmet. "These are all my bro's. I stole them."

"Whoa! Don't get yourself into trouble with your brother." Cole put on the helmet that pressed his fluffy hair. "I don't think he's going to let you go easily."

"Nah, don't worry about that. Morro oughta share a little once in a while. That guy needs to learn his lesson."

"Alright! Let's head off!"

"Hold on tight!"

The bike engine roared on the street. The wind was blowing so hard that Cole almost lost his balance. He quickly circled both hands around Jay's waist, earning a small yip from the latter. His friend didn't comment anything, so Cole pressed his ear to his back.