Dear RJ

5. The music room

SN’s POV:

It was the morning of my first day as Headgirl, and I was determined to come to school on time. I had the duty to conduct the morning prayer, which I did with a mix of excitement and nerves. Afterward, I returned to my classroom, and the day went as usual.

During the lunch period, I decided to visit my friend’s classroom. As I entered, I spotted RJ across the room. Our eyes met, and somehow, I found the courage to give him a smile, thinking, What’s the worst that could happen? He might just ignore me. But to my surprise, he smiled back at me, just like he did in our childhood. My heart melted at that moment.

I quickly ran to my friend's classroom, gushing about the smile during the entire lunch break. (Yes! I'm a certified yapper girlie 💀.)

It was the last period of the day, and luckily, we had free time since the math teacher was on leave. I was enjoying some chill time with my friends when the music teacher walked in and pointed at me. “You, follow me,” he said. Panic surged through me as I remembered everything I had done throughout the day. I stood up and followed the music teacher to the music room.

“I heard you sing really well,” he said as we entered the music room. “Oh wait, I have a class to take. You wait in the music room until I get back.”

I took a deep breath of relief. “Okay, sir,” I replied, stepping further into the music room. The soft light filtering through the high windows created a serene atmosphere. The scent of old sheet music and polished wood filled the air, instantly calming yet exciting me.

But then I saw someone sitting by the drums. My heart skipped a beat, and my breath caught in my throat. It was RJ, casually tapping away on the drums. His presence seemed to fill the entire room. Our eyes locked, and for a moment, everything else disappeared. A gentle smile spread across his face as he continued to play, the rhythm syncing with the rapid beating of my heart.

“Hey there,” RJ greeted me casually, his voice smooth and warm, continuing to drum a steady beat against the tight drumhead. He seemed to be in a relaxed mood, the spark in his eyes shining as he glanced at me. I felt my cheeks burning and managed a shy smile.

“Hi,” I replied softly, taking another step into the room, my heart fluttering with every movement. The room was filled with various instruments, each one more inviting than the last.

“Do you play any instruments?” he asked, pausing his drumming, his eyes never leaving mine. I nodded, my voice barely above a whisper. “I play the piano a bit.”

RJ’s face lit up with genuine interest. “That’s awesome! Why don’t you play something for me?”

I hesitated, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement, but I moved toward the piano. My fingers trembled slightly as I touched the keys. I began to play a simple melody, finding my confidence with each note. The music flowed effortlessly, creating a beautiful harmony with RJ's drumming.

As we played together, the butterflies in my stomach transformed into a thrilling sense of connection. Suddenly, RJ stopped drumming and moved closer to me. “Mind if I join you on the piano?” he asked softly. I nodded, unable to find my voice.

As he sat beside me, our shoulders brushed, sending a jolt of electricity through me. He placed his hands on the keys next to mine, our fingers almost touching. My eyes widened in surprise. “What are you surprised about?” he asked, reading my expression.

“I… I… Yes! You know how to play guitar, drums, and now the keyboard? That’s awesome!”

He laughed. “I mean, yes… I am a musician, after all.” Then he placed his fingers on the next keys, and our hands collided. Just as I started to understand the feeling building inside me, the music teacher returned with the class.

“Shit!” RJ muttered under his breath, barely audible.

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Chapter 5 completed! Yayyy! I know this is the first chapter filled with a close interaction, and the upcoming chapters will be just as exciting! Stay tuned for the next chapter!