Guitar Strings

3

"Just text her, Felix" Changbin laughed as he walked past me in the living room. "Stop sitting there looking constipated about it."

"I know, I just don't know what to say." I said staring at the blank text message screen.

"Usually 'hi' is a good start, mate." Chan said laughing.

"Seriously? Shut up, Chan" I laughed throwing a pillow at him.

Just as I started to type a message she was calling me. I froze in panic for a moment before answering.

"Hey!" I said smiling.

"Hi! I just wanted to call and make sure you gave me your real number." She giggled. She had the best laugh.

"Well, I guess I did, huh?" I laughed back.

"I have a favor to ask." She said getting suddenly serious.

"Sure" I said worried, a thousand things were running through my head. I leaned back on the couch.

"My friend signed me up for an open mic night in Incheon tonight, I was kinda hoping you would come and watch me crash and burn" She sounded so unsure of herself.

"Of course I'd come! I doubt you'll crash and burn though. You don't seem like the type."

"I don't think you understand just how bad this is going to be."

"I'll be there" I said as Hyunjin and Changbin were making kissing noises.

***

Later the evening I was standing awkwardly in the bar. Bars weren't exactly a place I frequented, but if it meant I got to see her I was there.

"You came!" she said walking up to me.

"I told you I would" I laughed giving her a hug. Even if we didn't end up dating she'd be a great friend, though I'd be disappointed. "When do you go on?" I asked as I pulled away from her.

"I'm next. Still haven't decided if I'm actually gonna do this or not." I could tell she was nervous, she had her hands shoved in her pockets and a flush on her cheeks.

"You can do it, I'll be right here." I smiled at her as the MC stepped up and started talking.

"Now for a singer songwriter that is new to our open mic night! Please welcome, LINA!"

"Oh god." She said under her breath. I put my hands on her shoulders and gently pushed her forward, trying to get her to remember to move.

"You can do this" I said quietly in her ear as she took a deep breath. She stepped up the stage and looked around as the bar silenced waiting for her to start.

"I'm no good at these things, so just bear with me." She pulled her guitar on over her head and took a deep breath before she started. The room fell silent and I could see her start to panic a little, she looked at me and I smiled back at her mouthing that it was ok to start.

She took another deep breath and started her song.

"My true feelings,
on a torn paper
are getting clear somethin' about you...
you look like me but different somehow
I wonder if you feel the way I do,
there's hope but I expect it."

Her voice was perfect, smooth, and effortless, but when she got the to chorus and really belted, she sounded even better. A few minutes later she stepped off the stage as I walked up to her.

"You didn't tell me you were that good!" I said giving her another hug.

"No, my voice sounded terrible, I messed up the chords. It was awful" She said shaking her head.

"Who cares, that was incredible!" I said smiling at her again. I could see the blush creep up her cheeks. "You hungry? We could go grab some food to celebrate."

She nodded her head, "I'm starving!" She laughed as she grabbed her guitar case and we left the bar.

***

A few hours later we were walking back to her apartment. I was falling for her and she had no idea. I knew it was fast, and I had no idea what I was doing. We'd only been talking for a few weeks. She had the greenest emerald eyes, they were a stark contrast to her dark hair. Her smile was always so bright and her laugh was like a drug I was addicted to.

When we got to her apartment door, she turned to face me. We were standing so close I could smell her perfume, like pineapple and jasmine. She looked up at me and I didn't know what came over me. I put my hand on her cheek and slowly moved towards her. She seemed like she was ok with what I was doing so I swallowed hard and kissed her. I was surprised when she kissed me back. Her lips tasted like cherries, and they were so soft. I pulled away and looked at her for a moment.

"Sorry, I-"

"Don't be sorry, Felix. I wanted you to." She said smiling at me. I laughed nervously and stepped back slightly.

"Good." I wasn't exactly experienced in the art of dating. My last relationship in high school lasted all of one week before she dumped me and dated someone else more popular. I had no idea what I was doing, and I felt like maybe she knew that.

She stepped away and pulled her keys out of her bag and unlocked her door, "Goonight, Felix"

"Goodnight, Lina" I slowly stepped backwards as she closed her door, and I couldn't help but smile to myself as I walked away.

______
Song lyrics in this chapter are an English translation of  "I'm Fine" by Taeyeon, I take no credit.