STAY , Don't Go! (COMPLETED) ✔

CHAPTER THREE

(Wesley)

The three of us, Kyler, Justine, and I, turned to look at Alexander, who had just arrived. Where could this guy have come from? We were at Kyler's bar. It had been a while since we last came here. I went to Switzerland for my studies, and so did they. We decided to return to the Philippines to continue our fourth year of college. We are playing billiards. We also had our bar here connected to the Andromeda Bar. It has darts, billiards, an Arcade, and a karaoke lounge. 

Alexander sat down on the couch and propped his feet up on the table. He turned on the TV.

"I saw something," he said, still staring at the TV screen. The three of us exchanged glances and shrugged.

"Saw something?" the three of us asked. We left what we were doing and approached him, sitting on the couch.

"Kyler, have you seen the new vocalist of the Quadro-Cygeus Band?" Kyler shook his head.

"Not yet, why?" 

"The dissimilarities and the similarities—I see it in—" Before he finished his words I interrupted him,

"Alex, did you forget to take your meds?" I chuckled. He threw a couch pillow at me.

"You're just—weird," Justine laughed. agreeing with me that Alex is acting strangely.

"We can't understand you. What are you trying to say?" Kyler pretended to be puzzled. Alexander was about to speak when there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Kyler said. 

It was Manager Cecil. "Sir, it's about to start," she said.

We stood up and straightened our jackets before leaving our bar and heading to Andromeda Bar to watch the live band.

(Aesha)

I was facing the audience, the many people here at Andromeda. I felt nervous. I scanned the surroundings, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. But there was no trace of him, it was too dark. I took a deep breath, and now my nervousness had disappeared.

clap-clap-clap

Raufh and his bandmates exchanged glances, signaling that we were about to start. I nodded and prepared myself. I positioned the microphone close to my chest. Marvin and Raufh started strumming their guitars, followed by JR on bass for tuning. James began to hit the drums. I lifted the microphone to my lips and started singing the melodic music.

(Aesha sing; when you say nothing at all by Ronan Keating)

I moved around the stage as I sang, absorbing every lyric and feeling the beautiful tone. This was what I loved about singing. It allowed me to escape from the chaotic world, from my bitter life. I was nearing the end of my song when I suddenly stopped. It felt like my voice disappeared, and I was overcome with nerves. It had never happened to me before.

"Aesha, keep going," Raufh urged.

I saw Alexander and his friend standing at the back, in the dark, just the four of them. Had they been there all along? I didn't know why I was thinking about this. I shouldn't care whether they were watching or not. But I was being affected by it now.  Clearing my throat, I turned to Raufh and signaled them to continue the final rhythm of the instrumental. Then I resumed singing the last lyrics.

"You say it best when you say nothing at all." Then I bowed slightly.  I stepped down from the stage, where Manager Cecil greeted me.

"Aesha." She approached me with a smile. I kept my head down, feeling embarrassed about my botched performance. Why, out of all the days and months, did I mess up today, when the bar's owner was watching me?