strings of fate. | jake sim

6. a new thing.

the second show of the world tour had started.

i was nervous to perform because of the clips of me that went viral, but i knew that it was my job and i had to do it. the show started off smoothly, following the same schedule it did last night.

when it came to the band performance by ourselves, i took a deep breath and gathered myself together. if i was here and if everyone loved to see me doing what i love, i was going to give them my all.

as soon as Enhypen stepped off of the stage, our cue to play had come. Jae started the initial notes, and the keyboard followed. i joined in here and there, and compared to yesterday, people were screaming even louder.

as my cue to play my own short part came, the stadium was buried in loud screams, with chants coming from the audience. i suddenly had the realisation that they were for me — causing me to get anxious by the minute.

the crowd's wild energy pulsed through me. the lights were on me, putting me right in the spotlight and i could notice everyone's cameras filming me on the big screen.

i went ahead, my fingers hovering over the strings, my pick ready to strike, and i took a split second to soak in the moment.

ripped into the riff, i allowed myself to be absorbed in the loud notes coming from my guitar. my fingers danced and gripped the frets, my body moving to the beat of the song. i caught glimpses of the audience between headbangs and flashes of stage light: eyes wide, mouths open, hands raised to the sky, everyone was watching me.

i hit the final bend, letting out a note that pierced the air like a scream, and the stage lights burned bright, blinding me for a moment. as the air of quietness settled in, the crowd jumped in a deafening wave, and i stepped back, breathless. i bowed down, slightly smiling as the whole stadium was cheering for me, letting the cheers wash over me.

just like that, a good week of Seoul shows had passed by.

every day, we and Enhypen were putting out great performances and great energy. the audience was growing in size day by day as our performances got more and more powerful. it felt great to be a part of this.

————

JAKE'S POV:

the boys and i were collected together at the restaurant, celebrating the end of our Seoul shows before we continued furthermore. the table was cluttered with plates of different dishes, glasses of wine and colourful appetizers.

suddenly, Jungwon stands up from his seat with his glass of wine in his right hand.

"we seriously did a great job. well done to us for ticking off the Seoul shows quickly" he states while smiling and looking at us, scattered around the table.

he raises his glass high up in the air — "cheers to many more successful shows guys" as waits for us to bring our glasses near.

as we all stand up with our wine glasses in hand, the sound of loud clinks take over the atmosphere. drinking all of the wine in my glass, i place it back on the table. we all sit down, ready to eat more food to celebrate today.

after a whole round of more wine and more food, i could feel myself getting tipsy.

meanwhile Niki, Jay and Sunghoon were completely drunk, laughing like maniacs, me and Heeseung sat in a corner while Sunoo and Jungwon were gossiping. i notice Jay turn his head to the table, looking completely lost in alcohol. he looked like he was lost in thoughts, zoning out into the distance.

"yo guys.. don't you think that guitarist from the band is a total smash? like she has the perfec-"
before i allow him to continue his sentence, i let out an uncontrollable loud cough. suddenly, all the attention was on me.

"you okay hyung?" Jungwon asks me while the other drunken trio stares at my face.

"yeah, yeah. all good."

cutting off the silence, Sunoo stands up from his place, judgingly looking at Niki and Jay teasing Sunghoon about god knows what. "hey, get up" he screams at them, waking them up from their drunken dream. me and Jungwon stand up, helping the members up while Sunoo and Heeseung carry the others by their arms.

my mind was still stuck on Jay's remark about Moon — my unexpected neighbour. she caught my attention ever since i saw her, and i would be lying to say that i hadn't done research about her.

though hearing about her from someone else, especially Jay felt like i was being called out.

————

after we get to the hotel, i go into my room and lay flat on the bed. i stare up at the ceiling, my body fatigued and stiff.

i wanted to see her again.

the thought of her sent chills throughout my whole body, and remembering how hot she looked performing on the stage really made her stand out — i want to get to know her.

she was probably in the room right next door, and thoughts of that made my heart drop — she was so close yet so far away from me.

as the door of my hotel room knocks, i stand up quickly, shaking off the thoughts from my head. i open the door, and i see that it's my manager Hyunsik.

"hey Jake, mind if i come in?" he asks me, and i step aside to let him in. he takes a seat on the couch near the window and i sit opposite to him on the edge of my bed.

"no more shows until next week. you can take a break." he smiles, followed by another sentence.
"... but the performance director talked to me today, and they want you to have a solo of your own."

surprised by the sudden announcement of these news, i don't know how to react. the other members had their own solos, whether it was a dance cover or a song that they released themselves — except me.

although i really wanted a solo, this coming up suddenly during our tour made me confused.

"a solo? we are in the middle of the tour though, where will we even start producing?" i question him.
he sees my concerned face, "you can always cover a song... and i thought about it, why don't you do a concept you always wanted to do?"

i start thinking about his request. a concept i wanted to do? i was always in awe of rock stages or stages with powerful songs but i wasn't sure what song or how i would even perform it.

"how does a rock concept sound?" i look up at him to see his reaction to my idea. he thinks for a while, and then a smirk appears on his face.
"to be honest, i do see you pulling off one." he remarks, and after a short quietness i notice his eyes widen, looking like he just saw something fly by.

"Jake, what do you think about electric guitars?" he smirks, waiting for my answer.
"electric guitars??? well.. uhhh..." i stutter, as thoughts of Moon playing the guitar come to my mind. "it would be goo-"

"i got an idea" Hyunsik jumps from his place, coming closer to me.

"think about it.. you on the stage, a tall microphone in front of you and an attractive guitarist near you."

"attractive guitarist?" i question him, my mind filled with a thousand thoughts.

"you know, who's that guitar player on our live band? was she called uhhh.."

"Moon?"

"yes!" he exclaimed, leaving me surprised. it felt like i was being called out everywhere i went — did people suddenly get an ability to read my thoughts or was it just a coincidence?

"i will let her manager know and we will get to practicing tomorrow. until then, choose a song. i'm leaving that up to you"
as he gives me a pat on the shoulder, he leaves the room, the phone in his hand.

i sit there on the bed, grinning like a crazy man.

i finally had a way to get closer to her.