Cadenza [BINI Mikha X OC]

Chapter 22: Rehearsals

Jon finally stopped the car at the location where he had first picked up Mikha earlier in the day. The streets were quieter now, the soft glow of streetlights casting long shadows. As he turned off the engine, there was a brief pause, the silence between them feeling comfortable, yet charged with the weight of the day they had spent together.

"Well... I hope you enjoyed today," Jon said with a small smile, stepping out of the car to open the door for her. The gentle evening breeze brushed past them as Mikha stepped out, appreciating the thoughtful gesture.

"Thank you," she said, her voice warm and sincere. "And yes, today was really fun. I needed that."

Jon nodded, leaning against the car for a moment. "Don't forget to get enough sleep," he reminded, his tone shifting to something more practical. "You'll be needing it. Once you pick a song for your solo prod, just chat me, okay?"

"I will," Mikha replied, taking the guitar from Jon's hands. She hesitated for a second, her fingers lightly brushing his as she did. There was something comforting in the exchange—something unspoken but understood.

With a final smile, Mikha waved to Jon one last time before turning to walk toward her condo. As the door clicked shut behind her, Jon stood there for a moment, watching her silhouette disappear into the building, his mind lingering on the quiet moments they had shared throughout the day.

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Jon pulled up to his house after a short drive, feeling content. The day had been a success, and it had been a while since he spent time like this with someone. Sure, he had played an unexpected gig with his old friends recently, but spending time one-on-one with someone and just hanging out? That was something he hadn't done in quite a while.

As he stepped inside his house, his phone buzzed with a notification. It was a message from Mikha.

Mikha: Hey. Thanks again for today. I really enjoyed it. I took some pictures. I think they turned out pretty good 😊😌

Attached to the message were selfies and random shots Mikha had taken throughout their 'date.' Some of the photos were genuinely great, while others were more playful, but every single one made Jon smile. Of course, he couldn't let Mikha have all the fun.

Jon: I'm glad you enjoyed it. Here are some pictures I took 😝

Unlike Mikha's lighthearted snapshots, the photos Jon sent were candid shots of her during their trip. The first one was of Mikha sipping ramen broth. Even in that simple moment, she had an elegance about her that Jon found surprising. The second was a shot of her in the car, gazing out the window as rain softly pattered against the glass. He was glad he had snapped the photo when they were at a red light, or else it would have been a blur.

The third photo captured Mikha holding the new guitar, smiling brightly. That image, in particular, warmed Jon's heart—her joy was contagious. The final photo showed Mikha staring into the afternoon sky, her crimson hair blending beautifully with the blue horizon.