Here and Beyond

Theories

CHAPTER 4
Theories

"You're one hell of a crazy bitch," was the greeting I got from my cousin Nyla, when she walked through the door of my walk-in closet. I have been in deep thoughts, purely isolating myself, amid chaos I know I created when my album dropped. It was timed for local midnight, meaning some people already heard of the songs I'd written. 

"First of all, you didn't tell me you'll release it on February 14, although I should have known better..." she looked at me with a hint of stress, "Second, why did you title it with a short phrase and a comma?" 

I contemplated right then and there if I should tell her about the lore this album holds and when I realized I shouldn't be lying to my supposed Public Relations Manager, I started opening my mouth for information, "That was what he told me or at least what I heard while I was panicking. He called me, late at night, to tell me that. I was busy having fun in America, taking time with my summer vacation plans in the middle of May, and he ruined it all." 

"He should have told me the news in person." My voice sounded hurt, and maybe at this moment, I am. I feel hurt despite the constant denial I tell other people. "I get that he was in the middle of practice sessions, that he was busy, that he got better things to do, but to have some decency, even a bit? Couldn't he give it to me?" 

Nyla sat beside me, in the middle of my walk-in closet, "I'm sorry you had to go through that. Again, you did not deserve it. Every bit of it. I'm glad you were convinced to put this out." 

Holding on to the anger I feel, I manage to prevent another tear from dropping down my cheeks, I'm done crying about him after all, "It took me a long time to decide. I dropped Ocean Eyes in the middle of 2021 and it has been almost eight months since. A lot of things happened." 

"What was the reason for you to release it on your former anniversary date?" 

I chuckled bitterly thinking of the petty trigger, "He's dating someone new," I whispered. "And he made it public official. No secrets, no keeping private. They've been all over my feed for a long time now." 

"He has the guts to do it?" I nodded at her question to confirm her thought. 

"L- He did," my voice falter a bit. Until now, I couldn't properly speak of his name. To anyone and even to me. 

Before Nyla Nikkola could continue the conversation, another girl walked in, she's in her casual attire while running inside the room we were already in, "Bitch! You didn't tell me! I had to know about it on Twitter, of all places?" Elliana Kirsten shouted with her phone in her hand. I laughed at her reaction, finding it funny, despite the heavy conversation I was having with my cousin. 

"It's because it's not midnight yet, Elle," I reasoned.

"Still. Wait, I will download VPN so I can listen to your new release," I shook my head at her, "Don't spoil the fun and wait, babe," I said. 

Nyla laughed beside me, "As if you don't know how Elle is, she wouldn't listen to you," then she turned her head to our best friend, "Are you on Twitter?" 

"Uh-huh," the girl said while nodding, still busy and fixated on her phone. 

"What does Twitter say?" 

"I'll show you," she replied to my cousin's request and walked towards us. Elle plopped down beside me and placed the phone between us three. The first thing that caught my eye was that most Formula One users are hooked on my album release despite my hiatus for two years. It warmed my heart that they were still waiting for my comeback. The second thing I noticed was the amount of his fans talking ill about the guy I was talking about.