𝕷і𝗍𝗍ᥣᥱ 𝕭ᥙ𝗍𝗍ᥱr𝖿ᥣᥡ

Chapter 5: 𝕾ᥙᥒsһіᥒᥱ

{Hayvenhurst}
Encino, California
June 16, 1979

It was around eight in the morning. Everyone in the house was still asleep except Sunjai. She's always been a morning person. There's something about the mornings that is peaceful. It was time that she used to clear her head. She made her way downstairs to the kitchen. Pouring herself a glass of apple juice. Today was her day off from work and she didn't have any plans. After making herself a quick breakfast she made her way to the music room.

Sunjai didn't come in here very often. Most of the time the guys were practicing and she didn't want to interrupt. She couldn't help but be drawn to the piano in the corner of the room.

Growing up she's always felt a connection to music that she couldn't explain. Music could say things that words couldn't. It seemed that her father tried to kill her love for it at any chance he got. Her love for music began when she took piano lessons at eight years old.

She was considered to be a prodigy. She learned to play Beethoven's Für Elise in the span of two weeks. For a beginner that should not even be possible and her instructor realized she had a gift. He decided to challenge her by giving her a new piece to learn each month. She loved every moment of it and continued to excel skill-wise. Music was meant to be a hobby not to be taken seriously.

Sunjai sat down in front of the piano. Her hands glided across the keys before she began to play and sing "Boy, I'm in love with you. This ain't the honeymoon. Passed the infatuation phase. Right in the thick of love. At times we get sick of love. Seems like we argue every day
I know I misbehaved. And you made your mistakes. And, we both still got room left to grow. And though love sometimes hurts. I still put you first. And we'll make this thing work. But, I think we should take it slow." This was one of her favorite songs. "We're just ordinary people. We don't know which way to go. Cause we're ordinary people. Maybе we should take it slow. Take it slow, oh-oh-oh. This timе we'll take it slow. Take it slow, oh-oh-oh This time we'll take it slow."

Music made her forget her worries. She was about to go into her senior year of college. Life was about to get real for her. Her grades had to be on point for her to get into law school. The pressure from her father to do well can be a bit overwhelming. She loved her father but he could be overbearing sometimes. She was about to sing the second verse when another voice joined in.

"This ain't a movie, no. No fairy tale conclusions. It gets more confusing every day, oh-oh. Sometimes it's Heaven sent. Then we, head back to Hell again. We kiss, then we make up on the way. I hang up and you call
We rise and we fall. And we feel like just walking away. As our love advances. We take second chances. Though it's not a fantasy. I still want you." Michael sang as he walked into the room. He sat down next to her on the piano bench. "We're just ordinary people. We don't know which way to go. Cause we're ordinary people. Maybе we should take it slow. Take it slow, oh-oh-oh. This timе we'll take it slow. Take it slow, oh-oh-oh. This time we'll take it slow."

Sunjai stopped playing looking at Michael.

"Why did you stop?" Michael asked.

"How long were you standing there?" Sunjai raised an eyebrow.

"Long enough to hear your beautiful voice. I love hearing you sing."

Sunjai voiceover: When Michael and I sang together there was something magical about it. Michael's voice is so pure especially when he sings ballads. I never thought I had the best voice but Michael would always encourage me.

"Thanks but I don't have time to sing. I have to focus on the future. I have to make sure I get into Stanford." Sunjai explained.

"But it's summer for you," Michael said. "You don't have to go back to school until August."

"Yeah, but you know how my dad is. I have to make sure I get straight A's so I can get into law school. Sunjai come on already get on it." She impersonated her father's deep voice.

"He believes in you."

"Yeah, he believes in me to death. He's on my ass 24/7." She sighed. "It's a lot sometimes Michael and I don't know if I can keep up with his expectations." She said sadly.

Michael knew where she was coming from. The pressure from parents can be overwhelming. He had so much pressure and expectations placed on him when he was just a child. He still felt the pressure now as an adult.

"Don't be so hard on yourself." He held her hand. "You're doing the best that you can and that's what matters. I know you're going to knock senior year out of the park. You've gotten straight A's since I've known you."

"It's stressful sometimes but I'll try to focus on the positive." She squeezed his hand. "You know my dad doesn't want me to have too much fun."

"What is too much fun?"

"Anything that is distracting me from my studies. That would consist of parties, dating, and anything that would be considered fun." She rolled her eyes.

"You have to have some fun. Of course, we'll respect your dad's wishes but you can't just work and go to school."

"That's how my dad wants things." She sighed. "I didn't think you would be up this early."

"You know I can't sleep late. Even on my days off I still wake up early but I'm glad I did. I got to hear your voice."

"Now we're back to the singing." She laughed.

"Your voice has always been amazing. I could listen to it all day." He complimented her. Sunjai didn't think she could sing well. "While you're here with us we're going to have some fun. Deal?"

She looked at him and couldn't help but smile. "Deal"

"Great! Now how about we get some breakfast?" He suggested as his stomach began to growl.

"Yeah, I'm getting hungry." The two stood up making their way to the kitchen.