Unwritten Melodies

Chapter 3

Offroad slumped into the soft leather of his couch, the muffled hum of city life outside his window providing a distant soundtrack. His apartment felt empty, almost hollow, in stark contrast to the vibrant energy of the fashion event he'd just left behind. He kicked off his shoes, letting them fall haphazardly to the floor, and reached for his phone, still buzzing with messages from colleagues, event organizers, and fans commenting on his reappearance at the show.

But none of that mattered right now.

He leaned back, eyes tracing the lines on the ceiling as he tried to untangle the knot of emotions tightening in his chest. The offer to return to the runway had stirred something in him—an excitement he hadn't felt in a long time. He could almost hear the applause that had once fueled his every step on the catwalk, the blinding flash of cameras creating a mosaic of lights in his mind's eye. It was a rush, a world that thrived on his every move, yet now he sat in silence, the contrast too stark to ignore.

Memories of Yesterday was thriving, and Chasing Echoes was on the horizon. Each piece and each scent crafted from the essence of his journey—a world he had built with his own hands. The runway had been glamorous, but it was fleeting. Building something lasting, something real and tangible, was a different kind of fulfillment, one he'd fought hard to achieve.

Yet, the echoes of the past lingered.

It wasn't just the excitement of the runway that had left him unsettled. There was another part he couldn't shake, a name that had reappeared tonight, dredging up emotions he thought he'd buried.

Daou.

How long had it been since he'd let himself think about him? He couldn't even pinpoint it; the years had blurred together. He and Daou had once been inseparable, sharing the spotlight as LAZ1, living a life full of rehearsals, performances, and quiet, stolen moments between the chaos. They had been more than friends, more than phi-nong, more than just LAZ1 members. There had been a time when Offroad's world felt incomplete without Daou's laughter beside him, his voice the last thing he'd hear before drifting off, a steady presence in a life that often felt like a whirlwind.

But somewhere along the line, problems arose. Some things happened that changed everything.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he recalled those early days—the late-night rehearsals, the inside jokes, the way Daou could always make him laugh, even when the pressure was at its peak. They'd promised each other the world back then, convinced that nothing could come between them. They had made a pact under the stars after their successful debut, their hearts young and full of dreams, and he had believed it with everything he had. But promises made in the glow of shared dreams don't always hold up against the harsh light of reality.

Offroad exhaled slowly, feeling the familiar ache that accompanied thoughts of Daou. He understood why Daou had made the choices he did. Daou had a fierce drive to succeed, not just for himself but especially for his family. When his father passed away, everything had changed. Offroad had tried to be there, to offer the support he thought Daou needed, but he hadn't known how to bridge the growing distance between them. In the end, he'd done what he thought was best: he'd stepped back, giving Daou the space he thought he needed, even if it felt like it was tearing him apart.

His eyes drifted to his phone on the coffee table. His hand hovered over it for a moment before he unlocked it and opened instagram, his fingers moving as if compelled by a force he couldn't quite explain. He typed in a familiar name.

There it was—Daou's profile. Offroad made another account when their contract ended. He hadn't followed him since their last day as LAZ1 members. 

Daou had always been careful about what he shared—pictures from the stage, candid shots with fans, and now, images of him on the latest concert tour.