Dear RJ

6. until i found you

As the music teacher entered the room with his class, he spotted RJ seated by the drums. “See, if you had told me that she sings really well, there would have been no need for an audition. Just explain to her about the band and see if she wants to join,” he said, glancing at me with an encouraging smile before moving on to his class.

SN’s POV:

I stepped into the guitar room, my heart racing with a mix of excitement and nervousness. The sight of various guitars on the stands was mesmerizing, but my gaze was immediately drawn to the stunning white electric guitar. Suddenly, memories of our previous encounters flooded back—his laughter, our stolen glances—and I felt myself blush deeply.

An overwhelming urge to play the guitar welled up inside me, so I reached for one that was beside the white one. But as I pulled it out, my fingers accidentally brushed against the white guitar, causing both to tumble. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for impact.

But instead of the anticipated crash, I felt a steady grip on the white guitar from behind. My eyes fluttered open, and there stood RJ, his warm smile reassuring. “Mind telling me what you were doing right now? Because you were just about to hurt my precious son,” he said playfully, his voice laced with a teasing undertone as he gently placed the white guitar back in its stand.

“I was just taking this guitar out, and somehow it touched that white—wait a minute, I was about to hit your what?” I exclaimed in disbelief.

“Yes, I treat my guitar as my son!” he replied with a straight face, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Wow, that’s... hilarious!” I chuckled, unable to contain my laughter, feeling the tension ease slightly.

“What’s there to laugh at?” he asked, his brow furrowing in mock seriousness.

“Because that guitar was about to break my head! Instead of checking if I’m okay, you were worried about your guit—son?” I retorted, meeting his gaze, our eyes locking in an intense moment that sent a shiver down my spine.

“Oh wait, you’re right. I just love my guitar so much... I’m sorry! Are you hurt? Let me see,” he said, moving closer, his hands reaching up to gently grasp my face. The warmth of his touch sent a rush of flutters through me, my heart pounding wildly as he rotated my head to examine me.

“I… I… I’m okay,” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper, lost in the depth of his gaze.

“I’m glad to know!” he said, his hands still cradling my face, sending my heart racing. Just then, someone entered the room, shattering the moment.

“Oh wait, am I interrupting something?” KB asked, leaning against the door with a teasing smile. He was the boy captain and RJ’s friend, and the unexpected presence made RJ’s expression shift to annoyance.

“Yes, you did. Leave now!” RJ snapped, his tone sharp and protective.

I was taken aback by his outburst. “It’s not what you think—” I began, but KB had already left, closing the door behind him.

The atmosphere in the room turned awkward, thick with unspoken tension. RJ, sensing the shift, took out his guitar and sat on a nearby chair. I moved to a chair close to him, breaking the silence. “Let’s sing together!” he suggested, and I nodded, eager to share this moment.

“Okay, but what song?” I asked, trying to regain my composure.

“Did you see our performance at the last skill exhibition?” he asked, his eyes brightening with enthusiasm.

“Yes!” I replied enthusiastically, feeling the anticipation bubble up within me.

“What did you like the most?” he asked, his eyes sparkling.

“I think I liked that ‘Until I Found You’ song,” I admitted, remembering how it resonated with me.

“Same! Let’s sing that,” he said, a grin spreading across his face as he began to strum the guitar chords.

Initially, RJ sang solo, his voice smooth and captivating, filling the room with warmth. The way he effortlessly played the chords drew me in, making my heart swell. As the song approached the bridge, I joined in, our voices blending beautifully, creating a melody that felt like a heartbeat—syncopated, electric, alive.

As we sang, I couldn’t help but steal glances at him. His eyes were closed, lost in the music, and for a moment, it felt as if we were the only two people in the world. The emotions poured out of me, intertwining with the lyrics, and I lost myself in the moment.

As the final verse drew near, I opened my eyes, the weight of unspoken feelings pressing down on my chest. “RJ, do you really not remember me? You forgot me, didn’t you?” I blurted out, my heart sinking as I braced for his response.

“Sorry... what?” he asked, confusion clouding his expression, and I felt the heavy reality settle in. My heart raced, and the warmth of the moment was replaced by a cold dread.

I felt the heaviness in my chest deepen, knowing the truth. Without waiting for his response, I stood up abruptly, my emotions spiraling. “I... I need to go,” I stammered, the words spilling out before I could stop them.

I rushed out of the music room, leaving RJ in stunned silence. He stared after me, trying to process my words. Did I say something wrong? he wondered, his mind racing.

I picked up my bag and hurried through the empty classroom. As I walked toward the hallways, I heard RJ call out my name. My heart raced, but I didn’t stop. I stepped outside the school, the cool air hitting my flushed cheeks, leaving behind the warmth of our moment and the unfulfilled connection that lingered between us.

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End of Chapter 6