Echoes Of The Unseen

EOTU -DIECISIETE

Flashback: Two Years Ago, Music Room

The late afternoon sun filtered through the large windows of the school's music room, casting a soft glow across the instruments scattered about. The room was mostly empty, save for Reverie sitting on a stool in the corner, awkwardly cradling a guitar in her hands. Her fingers hovered over the strings as she squinted at the sheet of chords in front of her, trying to make sense of it all.

She had always been a pianist, her fingers far more accustomed to gliding effortlessly over ivory keys. But guitar? That was another story. She felt clumsy, like the instrument was fighting her with every note she attempted. No matter how hard she tried, the strings buzzed, the chords sounded off, and her frustration grew by the minute.

Across the room, Aries sat by the window, watching her with a faint smile on his lips. He was supposed to be tuning his own guitar, but his attention had long since shifted to Reverie's quiet struggle. Her brows furrowed in concentration, and the tip of her tongue peeked out in determination as she tried to recall the chords he'd shown her earlier.

Aries leaned forward, his chin resting in his hand, captivated by the sight of her. It wasn't the first time he'd seen her focus this hard, but something about the way she tried so earnestly to learn the guitar made his chest tighten. She was so serious, yet so endearing.

Reverie, oblivious to his gaze, strummed the guitar again, only to wince at the unpleasant sound. She let out a small groan, her fingers slipping off the strings. This is impossible, she thought to herself, glancing up at Aries for help, but immediately regretted it when she saw him staring directly at her.

Her heart skipped a beat. The intensity in his eyes made her cheeks flush a deep pink. She quickly looked back down at the guitar, pretending she hadn't noticed. Why does he always look at me like that? she wondered, trying to suppress the nervous flutter in her chest.

After a few more failed attempts, she heard the soft creak of the chair as Aries stood up. He walked over to her, hands in his pockets, his expression playful.

"Guitar's hard to learn, huh?" he teased gently, stopping just a few feet away.

Reverie let out a frustrated huff, her fingers still hovering helplessly over the strings. "Yes, it's so hard, even learning the drums wasn't this difficult," she grumbled, her tone half joking, half exasperated.

Aries chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he crouched beside her. "Guitar is the easiest instrument to play, you're really having trouble learning it? Want me to teach you?"

She sighed in defeat, glancing at the clock. It was already nearing 3:30 p.m., and the long day was starting to wear her down. "Yeah, sure, teach me then," she agreed, her voice a little more tired than she intended.

Aries grinned, stepping behind her to guide her hands on the guitar. The sudden closeness sent a jolt of electricity through Reverie's spine. She could feel the warmth of his chest against her back, his breath lightly grazing her ear as he spoke. "Here, let's start with this chord again. Relax your fingers a bit."

Her hands felt clumsy under his, her mind too distracted by his proximity to fully concentrate. She pressed down on the strings, trying to mimic his guidance, but the longer he stayed close, the harder it became to focus.

"Like this?" she asked, her voice coming out shakier than she intended.

"Almost," Aries murmured, leaning in even closer. "You're pressing too hard, jagii. Loosen up a little."

Reverie tried to follow his advice, adjusting her grip, but her pulse quickened with every second he stayed near. Her cheeks burned as she struggled to remember the chord progression. It didn't help that Aries hadn't moved away yet, his arms still lightly guiding hers, his presence both comforting and overwhelming at the same time.

"There," he whispered, his voice low, almost intimate. "You're getting it now."

Reverie let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, strumming the chord correctly this time. The sound was smoother, more in tune, and for a moment, she felt a small sense of triumph.

"Thanks," she mumbled, grateful not just for the help but also for the excuse to stop focusing on the guitar. Her nerves were getting the best of her, and she needed a break from the overwhelming closeness of Aries.

But Aries wasn't done yet. He didn't move back. Instead, he gently adjusted her hand again, his fingers brushing against hers, sending a warm shiver down her arm.

"See? It's not that hard," he teased lightly. "Maybe you just needed a better teacher."

Reverie managed a laugh, though her heart was still racing. "With this pace, I'll be a pro in no time."

Aries chuckled, stepping back just enough to give her space, but his eyes lingered on her face, watching the way she tried to compose herself. He could tell she was flustered, but he didn't say anything. Not directly, anyway.

"Let's go over that chord one more time," he suggested, his voice softer now. He positioned her fingers again, making sure they were in the right place. His hands lingered just a moment longer than necessary, his touch sending a soft thrill through her.

As they continued, the quiet between them wasn't uncomfortable. It was filled with the sound of the guitar, soft corrections from Aries, and the occasional shared smile. Reverie's frustration began to melt away, replaced by a growing warmth she couldn't quite name. She wasn't sure if it was the guitar lesson or the fact that Aries was so close, his presence calming but also stirring something unfamiliar in her.

By the time they finished, the clock showed it was nearly time to leave. Reverie's hands were sore from practice, but her heart felt full. Not because she had mastered the guitar that afternoon, but because of the small, fleeting moments she had shared with Aries, moments filled with unspoken feelings, with soft glances and touches that seemed to mean more than either of them was willing to admit.

As they packed up to leave, Reverie caught one last glimpse of Aries as he held the door open for her. There was a look in his eyes, something soft and unguarded. For a brief second, she wondered if he had felt it too, the quiet electricity, the connection.

But as they stepped out of the music room and into the fading light of the afternoon, neither of them said anything. The moment stayed between them, unspoken but real, lingering in the spaces left by what they hadn't said.

- 24FEB2002