It's Like Music In My Ears

MELODY'S POV

The Beginning:

When I first met Francis, I saw him as nothing more than a rival. We were both talented pianists, and everyone knew the competition would be fierce. But it wasn’t just about the music—it was about being the best. From the moment we both set foot in that competition, I knew it was going to be a battle. Yet, beneath the rivalry, there was something about him that caught my attention. I didn’t want to admit it, but Francis intrigued me.

The Competition:

As the competition progressed, I noticed how Francis was always watching, always calculating. It was like he was trying to figure me out, and it made me nervous. But I wasn’t about to let him get into my head. I focused on my music, practicing harder than ever. The piano had always been my refuge, and I poured everything into it. Still, there were moments when I wondered what Francis was really thinking, what he was planning.

The Hurt:

Everything changed the day Francis tried to talk to me. At first, I didn’t want to hear it. I had built up walls, trying to protect myself from whatever game he was playing. When he finally cornered me and apologized, it felt like the ground had shifted. I didn’t know what to think—was he being genuine, or was this just another tactic? But when he spoke, there was something different in his voice, a vulnerability I hadn’t seen before.

But it was too late. I was hurt, and I couldn’t just let it go. I had started to like him, to see him as more than just a rival, and that realization made everything worse. When I walked away from him that day, my heart was heavy. I felt betrayed and confused, like I had lost something important.

The Competition Day:

On the day of the final performances, I was a bundle of nerves. My heart was still aching from what had happened between us, but I couldn’t let it affect my music. When it was my turn, I poured all my emotions into the performance, channeling the pain, the anger, and the confusion into every note. When I finished, the applause was deafening, but it felt hollow. I had done what I came to do, but something was missing.

Then it was Francis’s turn. As I watched him sit at the piano, I didn’t know what to expect. When he started playing “Godspeed” by Frank Ocean, it was like a shockwave hit me. The words, the melody—it was as if he was speaking directly to me through the music. I could feel the sincerity, the regret, and the love in every note. My heart ached because I knew he was trying to make amends in the only way he knew how.

The Confrontation:

After the performance, I couldn’t stay in the auditorium. I needed to get away, to process everything I had just heard. But Francis found me backstage, and I couldn’t avoid him any longer. When he apologized again, this time face to face, I could see the pain in his eyes. He wasn’t just saying the words—he meant them.

I wanted to be angry, to hold onto the hurt, but seeing him so vulnerable made it impossible. I realized that he wasn’t just my rival; he was someone who cared about me, someone who had made mistakes but was trying to make things right. I cried because I was still hurt, but also because I could see how much he had changed.

The Resolution:

Francis promised me honesty, and in that moment, I decided to give him another chance. It wasn’t easy—I still had my doubts, my fears. But I could see that he was willing to do whatever it took to make things right between us. When he said he would let go of his claim on me, I knew he meant it. He was willing to give me the space I needed, and that meant more to me than anything.

The Victory:

When I won the competition, it felt surreal. I had worked so hard for this moment, but the victory was bittersweet. As I looked out into the crowd and saw Francis cheering for me, I knew that this was about more than just winning. It was about the journey we had both been on, the lessons we had learned, and the connection we had forged.

The New Beginning:

After the competition, Francis and I started to rebuild our relationship. It wasn’t easy, but we took it one step at a time. We spent more time together, not as rivals but as friends who were starting to understand each other on a deeper level. There were still moments of uncertainty, but we were committed to making it work.

In the end, I realized that what we had was something special. It wasn’t just about the music or the competition—it was about finding someone who saw me for who I really was, and who was willing to fight for me, even after making mistakes. We both grew from the experience, and I knew that whatever happened next, we would face it together, with honesty and love.