Golden Melody

Chapter 7.1

Miexha Verra

Her Pov

Whenever I see Riel and Marie together, happy and laughing, I always tell myself that if he's happy, I should be happy too.

I'm lucky, right?

If Ron didn't love me, what would I be like now?
Lost, alone, maybe even heartbroken?

I came back to reality when Riel spoke, his voice a gentle that cut through my thoughts.

"Mimi, do you have any ideas?"

"Ha? Eh? Uhm, Wala na, hehe," I mumbled, my voice barely a whisper.
I couldn't look at him, not now, not when my heart ached with a longing I couldn't explain.

Riel and I are partners for a performance in our Music subject.
I drew his name, a cruel twist of fate.
Even though I wanted to be with him, I'd rather be like Kyliah, who drew her own name.

Riel is smart, a quick learner, but he claims he's not musically talented.

He doesn't know how to play any instruments.
I even taught him how to play the guitar and read music, patiently guiding his fingers across the strings, my heart swelling with a strange sense of pride.

When I had him try singing, even though it sounded a bit awkward at first, I could only say that with a little practice, Riel would become a famous singer.

His voice is cool and clear.

Now, for our performance, at Concert Night, a night for students to showcase their musical talents.

He's the main singer, and I'm the second voice and on the keyboard.

The stage lights were blinding, but the roar of the crowd was a comforting hum.
I watched Riel, his face a mask of concentration as he stood center stage, his heart pounding against his ribs.

This was it.

His first time singing in front of a crowd.

With me.

The music started, a soft melody that flowed through the room, and he took a deep breath.

"When you hold me in the street
And you kiss me on the dancefloor
I wish that it could be like that
Why can't it be like that?
Cause I'm yours"

His voice, a low rumble that echoed through the hall, surprised even me.
It was clean, cold, as if carved from ice.
I felt a strange sense of power as the words flowed from his lips, each note resonating with a raw emotion that I hadn't known he possessed.

"Every piece of you it just fits perfectly
Every second, every thought, I'm in so deep
But I'll never show it on my face"

I took a deep breath, my fingers dancing over the keyboard, ready to weave a sound to complement his voice.

"But we know this, we got a love that is hopeless"

My voice, a delicate counterpoint to his, joined in, adding a layer of sweetness and warmth to the song.

"And nobody knows
I'm in love with someone's baby
I don't wanna hide us away
Tell the world about the love we making
I'm living for that day
Someday"

We sang together, our voices blending in a harmonious duet that captivated the audience.
The crowd roared with approval, their cheers echoing through the hall.

"Why can't we be like that?
Wish we could be like that"

We finished the song, and the applause erupted.
He gave me a thumbs up, and I smiled back, my heart overflowing with a sense of accomplishment.

We walked off the stage, our hands brushing together as we passed through the curtains.

I felt a surge of happiness, a feeling of lightness that I hadn't felt in a long time.

Our performance went well.
We got high grades.
I was happy, in a way.

But it was a hollow happiness, a fleeting moment of joy that couldn't erase the ache in my heart.