Melodies Of The Heart (Completed)

Chapter 35

The room buzzed with excitement, a vibrant hum of voices and energy that I both loved and found overwhelming. The line of fans stretched out the door, snaking around the venue, each person clutching my latest album. I sat at the long table, my eyes sparkling with genuine joy as I greeted each person who stepped forward. I cherished these moments, knowing that without these fans, my dreams would be empty.

"Thank you so much for coming," I said for what felt like the hundredth time, I smile unwavering as I handed a signed album back to a young girl who beamed up at me with wide, admiring eyes.

The next fan in line stepped up, and my gaze sharpened slightly. He was dressed in a large hoodie pulled low over his face and oversized sunglasses that obscured his eyes. The outfit struck me as oddly out of place, even for a fan trying to stand out or maybe blend in. There was something familiar in his stance, a subtle but unmistakable air that tugged at my memory.

"Hi there," I greeted, my pen hovering above the album cover. "Who should I make these out to?"

The man hesitated for a fraction of a second before sliding a couple of albums across the table. "No need for names," he said, his voice low and slightly husky. "You've been amazing as always, beautiful."

My hand froze in mid-signature. That voice. My heart skipped a beat, then started to pound erratically in my chest. I glanced up sharply, my breath catching in my throat. For a split second, I was transported back to memories filled with laughter, secrets, and an unmistakable connection. Zavier. The thought jolted through me with the force of an electric shock.

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. Could it really be him? Here? My eyes searched his face, but the hoodie and sunglasses made it impossible to be certain. I opened my mouth to speak, to ask, but words failed me. All I could do was stare, caught between hope and disbelief.

The man took the signed albums from my hands and turned to walk away. "Wait!" I called out, my voice tinged with desperation. I half-rose from my seat, but the crowd seemed to swallow him up. My eyes darted around the room, scanning the throng of fans, but he had disappeared, as if he had never been there at all.

I sat back down, my hands trembling slightly. The next fan stepped up, but I barely registered their presence. My mind was a whirlpool of emotions, my heart pounding so loudly I could scarcely hear anything else. Had it really been Zavier? Why had he come? Kailan pa siya bumalik? Why had he left without saying more?

"Are you okay?" the next fan asked, a look of concern on their face.

I forced a smile, her professional instincts kicking in. "Yes, I'm fine," I said, though her voice sounded distant even to my own ears. "Thank you for coming."

The rest of the signing passed in a blur. I continued to smile, to sign, to thank my fans, but my mind was elsewhere. When the event finally came to an end, I felt a strange mix of relief and lingering tension.

As I packed up her things, I couldn't shake the memory of his words. "You've been amazing as always, beautiful." It was something Zavier would say, something he had said before. But why the disguise? Why the fleeting visit without a real conversation?

I left the venue, my thoughts still swirling. The encounter had left me with more questions than answers, and an ache in my chest that wouldn't easily fade. I hoped, somehow, that this wasn't the end of whatever story had briefly reignited between us.

Visiting my former school always brought a bittersweet pang to my heart. Walking through the familiar hallways, I felt a mix of nostalgia and melancholy. The memories seemed to cling to every corner, every classroom, every whisper of the past.