Breaking Out // Gahmi

Twenty-Nine

Handong PoV

"So now, how about that drum lesson I promised you?" Yeongeun suggested after a while of just hanging out in silence. After my teary breakdown I had decided to call it a day and just skip on the rest of classes and hole up in the music room. My motivation to actually attend classes was zero, just like my desire to interact with people. So we just had been lounging around, Yeongeun surprisingly kept me company.

"Now?" I asked, shocked. I didn't feel like doing anything, really, except for raveling in my misery.

"Are you still a bit angry?" She asked, beckoning me on my feet and giving me her signature smirk.

"Maybeeee." I admitted.

"Then now is the perfect time. Plus art comes from the darkest of places." she said while pushing a chair in front of the drums. She nodded her head towards the chair, gesturing to me to sit down.

It pushed my phone into my backpack, locking the screen and ignoring the gazillion text messages my mom had sent me within the last hour. Hesitantly I made my way over and sat down in front of the unknown instrument. I had never played an instrument before, so I kind of just sat and stared at it, not knowing what to do.

Yeongeun laughed, hiding her smile behind her hand.

"Are you laughing at me?" I asked jokingly, stemming my hand into my hips, knowing damn well she was.

"No, no. I just-" She waved her hand in the air, but ended up laughing again. "Yes, I am. Sorry. You just look so ... lost."

"I'm glad at least one of us is enjoying this." I snapped back, my heart not really in it. Yeongeun didn't seem to take it personally and instead grabbed her drum sticks, pushing them into my hands. I took them unknowingly, weighing one in either hand, unsure of what exactly to do with them. I mean, technically I'm aware I'm supposed to hit the drum with the sticks, but practically ...

Yeongeun laughed again, clearly amused about my struggle. "You have to hit it."

"I know I have to hit it. I'm not stupid." I growled, but made no move on actually using the sticks. "But how do I hit it?"

"Doesn't matter. Just do it, you'll see." She assured, though I still felt suspicious. There is no way it could be that easy, right?

I gulped, trying my best to ignore her staring at me and made one of the sticks collide warily with the drum in front of me. The sound that erupted from the drum was a lot lighter and sharper than I had expected. Something about it felt very similar.

"Yep. That's the snare. You can hit a bit harder though. Let your anger out." Yeongeun instructed.

"I thought I shouldn't let my anger out on your drums." I quipped back.

"Well, not the wrong way. Though if you want to use your foot again, there's a pedal you can step on right in front of you."

Dutifully I stepped on the pedal and this time the sound was a lot darker and deeper than before.

"And that is the bass drum."

I nodded, looking at the other drum parts cautiously. I took the stick again and tried out another part, one of those metallic thingies on the top. This time I hit as hard as I could and a loud, unpleasant noise echoed through the room. I crunched up my nose, uncomfortable with the sound.

"Not that hard." Yeongeun said, unfazed by the high pitched sound. "It's all about finding the right balance between forceful and careful. Wait, I'll show you."

I was still busy wondering what she meant, when she pushed off the wall and sat down right behind me, her arms going around my body. Her hands each engulfed one of my own hands, helping me hold the sticks properly.