Last Performance

Please Don't Cry

Amber's POV
I stared at myself in the mirror as my stylist added final touches to my clothes. My empty eyes, thin lips, troubled mind...I breathed in and out quietly as I exited the dressing room and headed backstage. I bowed to many idols and groups walking by and waited for my best friend, my Snoopy....my crush- "Hey Stitch!" Henry crept behind me and gave me a slap on the back. I jolted, scared by him and frowned. "Pabo! You scared me..." "Ahaha miahne~" "hmph whatever" "Amberrrr don't be like this on my last day~!" I stopped for a moment as he said last day. That's right...he is going to the army...why must he have to go to the army? Please don't leave me, Henry. I grew quiet thinking about it. Henry, being the type to break the ice, chuckled and scratched the back of his head. "Hey, don't worry! I'll come back, we're up now!" I focused back to reality looking around as staff members motioned us that we're next. We both walked on stage. Henry smiling and waving at the audience while I , who was still thinking of it being his last day, silently without looking at the audience, walked towards the guitar leaning next to a stool, sat on it, grabbed the guitar and waited for the que to start playing with empty eyes. Henry noticed my new actions and walked to me, leaning to my ear. "Hey, don't worry, I promise to come back. Let's do our best together on my last day, ok?" Henry smiled and pecked my cheek doing so without the audience noticing. My eyes widened, cheeks turning crimson, body frozen thinking what he just did. Henry played it off like it was nothing but I could tell he was blushing. He scurried over to the grand piano and sat there. He coughed nervously, staring at me for a moment with reassuring eyes and stretched his arms, about to play. He played the first few notes before I joined him, we played a calm sad tune and he started singing. I sang along with him still thinking about what just happened. Does he like me? Why did he kiss me? How long will he be in the army? What should I do after the performance? Thoughts bundled in my head as I kept singing. Henry saw me and could tell my mind was troubled. He smiled before he went on as it was his solo. I watched him as his delicate small fingers raced across the keys, he wasn't following the music. The staff were whispering to each other wondering what to do but I looked at them showing them it was okay. The staff claimed down and watched as Henry, eyes closed with focus, continued playing a sad tune but full of emotions. He was spilling his heart. I continued watching as he finally opened his eyes, still playing, tears soon fled down his cheeks as he stared at me with a smile. Why...why are you smiling at me with such sad empty eyes while playing such a sad song...don't. I don't like that look. Please...stop staring or else I'll... I started singing as warm tears trickled down my warm cheeks. My voice was trembling but Henry sang along, matching my voice, matching the tune, matching my heartbeat. We finally ended the song, tears messing up our makeup but we didn't care, we continued staring into each other's eyes, full of love. The audience cheered for us as we held hands and bowed. As soon as we got backstage, Henry grabbed my wrist and hugged me. I didn't know what to do only to cry some more, Henry pulled back, smiling as he wiped my tears. "Hey...I told you not to cry, it looks ugly." "Shut up and just hug me." Henry chuckled at my stubbornness as he embraced me once again. "Hey...Henry?" "Yes?" "When you kissed me...does that mean you like me?" "Well, I'll just tell you once I come back from the army." "No! I can't wait that long..." "Haha...what do you think? When someone kisses someone else, what do you think that means?" "T-That...they...l-like the person..." "Well...that's not how I feel, I actually don't like you." "T-Then why did you kiss me?!" I blushed as I pushed him away but Henry backed me up to a wall where no one could see us. "Because, Amber Josephine Liu, I love you..." Henry moved one hand behind my head and one around my waist as he hugged me kissing the top of my head. I wrapped my arms around him as we stayed that way for a while. "I...love you too..." I whispered against his chest. Henry's manager found us, "I'm sorry for disrupting but Henry, it's time." Henry looked at manager and nodded as manager left to start the car. I cried some more as I held Henry tighter. "No! Don't go! Please...don't leave me..." Henry smiled with tears in his eyes, "don't worry, I promise to come back just for you, please don't cry anymore, I don't like seeing you cry, okay?" I sniffed as we broke the embrace. Henry cupped my face and leaned his forehead against mine. "I love you, Amber." "I love you too, Henry." And with that, Henry stared at me, gave me a peck and walked away as I held my tears back. Amber felt happiness instead of sadness as she finally knew their feelings to each other. Henry loved her and she loved him back.