Rhythm and Secrets ( SB19 Fanfiction) (AU)

Chapter 1: New Beginnings

The start of the new semester at Soriya University was always a mix of excitement and dread. The air buzzed with the sounds of students reuniting, the scurry of latecomers trying to find their lecture halls, and the murmur of fresh possibilities. Pablo adjusted his bag strap and pushed his way through the crowd, his thoughts already on the next song they had to practice.

His mind raced with half-formed lyrics and melodies, barely noticing the familiar path to the music hall. If there was one thing Pablo knew, it was that their band had potential. Real potential. All they needed was that one breakthrough. And with their first gig of the semester coming up, he wasn't about to let anything—or anyone—distract him.

"Pau! Wait up!"

He turned just in time to see Stell jogging toward him, his breath slightly ragged, but his face lit with that trademark grin. "I thought you'd left me behind or something," Stell joked, falling into step beside him.

Pablo raised an eyebrow. "You should've known better. I never leave without my main vocalist."

The words were casual, but Stell's heart skipped a beat anyway. "Yeah, well, maybe one day I'll be the one leaving you behind," Stell shot back, trying to keep his voice light. It was an old joke between them, something they had been saying since high school, but lately, Stell had been thinking about it differently. The thought of leaving—or being left—felt heavier now, more real.

They reached the music room, where the others were already waiting. Josh sat cross-legged on one of the tables, scrolling through his phone, while Justin, as usual, was fiddling with his camera, capturing candid shots of their bandmates. Ken leaned against the far wall, silent but focused, tuning his guitar with a level of concentration that made him seem miles away from the bustling campus outside.

"Looks like we're all here," Pablo said as he dumped his bag on the floor and grabbed his own guitar. "Let's get started. We've got a gig in two weeks, and we're still not tight enough on that new song."

"You say that every practice," Josh smirked, not looking up from his phone. "I think you just like stressing us out."

Pablo shrugged. "Maybe. But if we want to get noticed this semester, we've got to be perfect."

The others groaned but gathered their instruments without argument. As much as Pablo's relentless drive could get on their nerves, they all knew he was right. Their band, Neon Pulse, had been gaining some attention on campus last semester. A couple of their songs had even gone semi-viral after being shared on social media. But now, with real opportunities knocking, the pressure was on.

Stell stepped up to the mic as Pablo began strumming the first chords. His voice flowed effortlessly over the melody, soft and sweet at first, then rising with power as the chorus hit. Josh joined in with his harmonies, while Ken's fingers danced across the strings of his guitar, adding an electric energy that filled the room.

Justin, ever the multitasker, adjusted the sound levels on their recording setup while keeping his eyes on the camera, snapping shots when no one was looking. He was good at that—capturing moments, making memories. Sometimes, Stell thought Justin saw more than the rest of them, especially when it came to the little things that went unspoken.

By the end of the song, Pablo frowned, though the performance had been near flawless. "The timing's still off in the bridge," he said, running a hand through his hair. "We need to—"

"You need to relax, man," Josh interrupted with a laugh. "We nailed it. You're just too much of a perfectionist."

Pablo opened his mouth to argue, but before he could, the door to the room swung open. A tall guy in a leather jacket walked in, a flyer clutched in his hand. His eyes scanned the group, landing on Pablo.

"Pablo?" the guy asked.

Pablo blinked. "Yeah, that's me."

The guy handed him the flyer. "Battle of the Bands. Campus-wide. Big prize this year. You guys should enter."

Pablo's eyes widened as he skimmed the details. "Thanks," he muttered, and the guy nodded before leaving as quickly as he'd appeared.

Stell leaned over Pablo's shoulder to read the flyer. "A chance to perform at one of the biggest local festivals?" Stell whistled. "That's... huge."

Pablo grinned, the weight of their earlier practice forgotten. "This is it. This is what we've been waiting for."

Josh, ever the skeptic, raised an eyebrow. "And how are we supposed to win that when we're already struggling to keep up with the local gigs?"

"We'll practice harder," Pablo said, determination seeping into his voice. "We've got this."

Stell nodded enthusiastically. "I'm in. Let's do it."

Justin and Ken exchanged a glance, both giving small nods of agreement.

Josh stretched, letting out a dramatic sigh. "Fine, but if we lose, I'm holding Pablo responsible."

Pablo smirked. "Deal."

As they wrapped up practice and began packing their things, Stell glanced at Pablo. "You're really going all in on this, huh?"

"Of course," Pablo replied, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "This is our chance, Stell. Our chance to make it big."

Stell smiled, but there was a part of him that couldn't help feeling a little uneasy. Pablo's focus on the band was unwavering, and while Stell admired his drive, he couldn't ignore the fact that it sometimes made Pablo blind to everything else. Including the emotions that were quietly simmering beneath the surface.

As they walked out of the music room together, the group joked and laughed, the tension of practice fading into the background. But Stell's mind wandered, as it often did when he was alone with his thoughts. He glanced at Pablo, who was busy talking to Justin about new song ideas.

Maybe this year, things would change. Maybe this year, Stell would finally find the courage to tell Pablo how he really felt.

Or maybe, he'd keep it all inside a little longer.

To be continued...