Unwritten Melodies

Chapter 17

After Offroad said his goodbyes to Neza and Tan, thanking them for the delicious meal, he signaled to Daou that he would wait in the car. He knew Daou wanted some time to talk to his brothers, so he decided to give him space.

As he walked toward the car, he tilted his head back and let out a deep sigh, his eyes drawn to the night sky above.

"So many stars tonight..." he murmured to himself. He paused and pulled out his phone, trying to capture the scene in a photo. The stars, scattered across the dark canvas of the sky, seemed impossible to do justice through the lens, but he tried anyway.

After taking a few shots, he smiled to himself and decided to post one on his Instagram story, the caption simple: "Beautiful night."

With that, he slipped his phone back into his pocket and got into the car.

Sitting in the driver's seat, Offroad leaned back and pulled out his phone again, scrolling aimlessly through his feed. After a while, he glanced toward the restaurant, his eyes catching the scene through the large glass window. Inside, he saw Daou laughing, his smile bright and carefree as he chatted with his brothers.

Offroad found himself staring. There was something magnetic about Daou's laugh, the way it lit up his whole face. For a moment, Offroad leaned his elbow against the car window, his gaze fixed on Daou, his thoughts swirling.

But then he looked away quickly, shaking his head as if trying to clear it. He let out a heavy sigh, his breath fogging up the car window slightly.

"Why am I here?" he whispered to himself, his voice soft but filled with uncertainty.

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the steering wheel, his hands rubbing his face in frustration. "Why did I even go to his shooting location?" he muttered under his breath. His tone was low, almost resigned, as if the answer escaped him no matter how much he thought about it.

As he sat there, the quiet night wrapped around him, he let out another sigh—a sound that seemed to carry the weight of everything he was feeling but couldn't quite say. Ever since meeting Daou again, it felt like he couldn't stop sighing.

And yet, deep down, he knew there was a reason. He just don't want to admit it.

To distract himself, Offroad reached for his phone again and started scrolling through instagram. His thumb moved aimlessly over the screen as reels played one after another. Most of them blurred together — funny clips, random dances — until one reel caught his eye.

It was a compilation of Daou's dance routines.

Offroad straightened up instantly, his grip tightening on the phone. His gaze darted toward the restaurant, where Daou was still chatting with his brothers, his bright smile visible even from a distance. Offroad cleared his throat and hesitated, but his eyes returned to the video.

The reel showcased Daou performing some of his more sensual choreography. The transitions between clips highlighted Daou's charisma on stage, his expressions, his sharp movements, and the way his body seemed to flow with the music.

Offroad's heart started pounding. His chest felt tight as he continued watching, unable to look away. Each movement in the video seemed magnetic, pulling him further in. The way Daou owned the stage, his presence commanding, was almost hypnotizing.

But before he could... feel something, Offroad forced himself to stop. He quickly swiped up, ending the reel and locking his phone in one swift motion.

He leaned back in his seat, his heart racing. "Stop." he muttered, his voice filled with frustration and disbelief.

He let out a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. "What's wrong with me?" he whispered, his head tipping back against the headrest. His fingers tapped nervously on the steering wheel as he tried to steady his breathing.