Chasing Starlight

Chapter Four: Coffee and Confessions

The café was a cozy refuge from the busy streets outside, its warm lighting and the soft hum of conversation providing a quiet background as Y/N sat across from Martinus. She still couldn't believe it—Martinus, the person whose songs had helped her through heartbreaks and triumphs, was sitting here with her, sipping coffee like they were old friends.

The initial awkwardness had melted away surprisingly fast. Martinus was down-to-earth, quick to laugh, and easy to talk to. The more they chatted, the more Y/N realized he wasn't just the superstar she admired from afar—he was real. And that made him even more captivating.

"You ever wonder what people would do if they knew we were just sitting here, drinking coffee like this?" Martinus asked with a sly grin, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement.

Y/N laughed, taking a sip of her latte. "I think they'd freak out. I mean, I'm still freaking out."

"Don't freak out too much," he teased, leaning forward with a mock-serious expression. "I'm just a guy remember?" "like okey i might be famous and all that but i am still a guy"

"That's easy for you to say," Y/N replied, her cheeks flushing slightly. "You're, like, a global superstar."

Martinus shrugged, a hint of something deeper crossing his face. "It's weird, though. Sometimes I don't even recognize myself in all of it. The fame, the attention—it's like I'm playing a part, but it's not really me."

Y/N tilted her head, sensing a vulnerability in his words. "You feel like you have to be someone else for your fans?"

Martinus nodded, staring down at his cup. "Yeah, sometimes. Don't get me wrong—I love making music. It's just that people expect this perfect version of me, and I don't always live up to that. I make mistakes. I have bad days. Sometimes when people comment Who is the pretty one it affects me more then you think" He glanced up at her, his eyes searching hers. "You ever feel that way? Like you're trying to live up to something impossible?"

Y/N swallowed, feeling the weight of his words. She wasn't famous, but she understood the pressure of expectations all too well. "Yeah, I get that," she said softly. "I mean, with my music... I'm always second-guessing myself. Wondering if it's good enough, if people will like it, or if I'm just wasting my time."

Martinus leaned back in his chair, studying her. "From what I've seen, you've got real talent, Y/N. Don't let doubt hold you back."

His words sent a thrill through her, but the doubt lingered. "It's just hard, you know? I've always admired you because you make it look so easy. Like you were born to do this."

Martinus laughed, a genuine, light sound. "Trust me, it's anything but easy. There were so many times I almost gave up, especially in the beginning. But I stuck with it because I couldn't imagine doing anything else. If music is what makes you come alive, you have to keep going."

Y/N smiled, his encouragement settling in her heart like a warm embrace. "Thanks. That means a lot coming from you."

For a moment, silence hung between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It felt... natural. They weren't just fan and idol anymore. They were two people, sharing pieces of themselves over coffee.

Martinus cleared his throat, breaking the quiet. "So, tell me more about your writing. What inspires you?"

Y/N shifted in her seat, feeling both excited and nervous to share something so personal. "It's a lot of different things, honestly. Sometimes it's something I see or a feeling I can't shake. Other times it's..." She hesitated. "It's people. People who come into my life and change everything. I write about how they make me feel—good and bad."

Martinus nodded thoughtfully. "That's how the best songs are written. From life. From real experiences."

"Yeah. It's just hard to put yourself out there, you know? To be vulnerable like that."

He smiled softly. "I get that. But vulnerability is where the magic happens. People connect with what's real, not what's perfect. That's what I try to remind myself when I'm struggling with a song."

Y/N looked at him, surprised by how open he was being. The man who seemed larger-than-life on stage was sitting here, baring his soul to her. And it wasn't the glamor of fame that drew her in—it was the honesty in his words.

"I've never told anyone this," Martinus said, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret, "but there was a time, not too long ago, when I almost walked away from it all. The pressure, the expectations—it got to be too much."

Y/N's eyes widened. "Really? But you seem so confident up there."

Martinus' smile was sadder this time. "It's a mask. You have to wear it when you're in the spotlight, or it'll eat you alive. But there was this moment, right before my last album dropped, when I just felt... lost. Like I wasn't sure who I was anymore."

Y/N's heart clenched. She had always thought of Martinus as invincible, but hearing this made him more human than ever. "What stopped you from walking away?"

He looked at her for a long moment, his gaze intense yet kind. "The music. The fans. People like you who actually listen to what I have to say, who connect with the songs. That's what kept me going."

Y/N's chest tightened, a wave of emotion washing over her. "I'm glad you didn't quit. Your music has helped me through some tough times, too. I don't know what I would've done without it."

Martinus reached across the table, placing his hand gently over hers. The contact sent a shiver down her spine, but not the kind that came from nerves. This was something else—something deeper.

"I think," he said softly, "we all need someone to remind us why we keep going."

Y/N's breath caught in her throat as she met his gaze, feeling the weight of his words settle between them. Was this still just a casual hangout, or was something more happening here? She wasn't sure, but the way Aiden looked at her, the way his touch lingered—there was an undeniable connection, one she hadn't expected but could no longer ignore.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed in her pocket, snapping the moment in half. She glanced at it quickly—a message from her best friend, Mia.

Mia: How did it go? You're hanging out with Aiden Knight, OMG!!

Y/N smiled, feeling the surreal nature of the situation hit her all over again.

"I guess your friends are checking in on you?" Martinus asked with a grin, pulling his hand back.

Y/N nodded. "Yeah, they can't believe this is actually happening."

"Neither can I," he said quietly, his smile turning softer. "But I'm glad it is."

The warmth in his words sent her heart racing again. She could barely focus as they finished their coffees, lost in the mix of emotions swirling inside her. What had started as a chance meeting between a fan and her idol was turning into something more—something real, and possibly life-changing.

As they left the café together, the cool evening air brushing against their skin, Martinus turned to her with a thoughtful look. "Hey, do you want to come to the studio with me tomorrow? We're recording some new tracks, and I'd love to get your opinion."

Y/N blinked, stunned. "Wait... seriously? You want my opinion?"

"Yeah," Martinus said, his voice sincere. "You've got a good ear. Plus, I'd like to hang out again."

Y/Ns pulse quickened at the invitation. This was more than she ever imagined. "I'd love that."

Martinus grinned, his eyes twinkling under the streetlights. "Great. It's a plan then."

They exchanged goodbyes, and as Lena watched him walk away, she couldn't help but feel that her life was on the verge of something extraordinary.