{LeviHan} Inspiration

Chapter 8: To Know a Star

Levi's POV

Making my morning tea, I had to come up with lyrics to this beat that Isabel and Farlan collaborated on. I can't explain the beat, but it was pretty cool. So now, I had to try this. Focusing hard on the paper, I didn't realize that Hanji had walked in and grabbed a cup of coffee. I noticed when she spoke to me.

"Yo, Levi." I jumped at her voice, feeling my heart pound. "Ah? Someone's a bit jumpy this morning."

"And someone's a bit cheery this morning." I murmur softly as I went back to the paper. "Sleep well from last night? After all, last I knew was that you had a migraine and I had to tuck you to sleep. Did the soup help?"

She nods, drinking her coffee. "Yeah... thanks... and speaking of last night... who are you? Like... who are you really?"

That question forced me to drop everything. The pencil that was resting in my hand fell to the granite counter. I coughed, trying to clear my throat. "Honestly... yes, I am a singer. But aside from that... the Ackerman family is one of those rich families, and I was the only person in my family that was eligible to take the fortune. I do run a technology company- but I rarely go there. I only go when I'm not working with the band."

"So... a rich guy trying to get richer?"

I shook my head. "No... I just... really like singing. When I found Farlan, we taught each other how to play the guitar. Then... we thought about playing our own kind of band. That's how we found Isabel. My uncle highly disliked the idea of me being a singer... so I did it in secret. I was called 'Captain' multiple times... and since it started when I was a teen... it stuck with me."

"A hobby that turned into a career..."

"Exactly." I looked away, and sighed. "I wanted to leave, but there's always something to hold me back. Something that would always keep me in the singing industry. I can't escape it."

Hanji took a seat next to me, looking down at the paper. "I know I've been selfish these past days... and I've been focusing on me. I want to know more about you, if it's possible. To make up how ignorant I've been acting- as well as... you keep telling me to move on from Erwin. So... here I am."

"Be specific, Hanji. There's a lot about me."

She chuckles softly, drinking a couple gulps of her coffee. "Well... I already know your identity... when's your birthday?"

"December 25th. Yours?"

"September 5th. Seems like you're a Capricorn and I'm a Virgo. Wonder what our compatibility is..."

I chuckled softly, drinking more of my tea. "Is that what you're worried about? Zodiac signs? I didn't know you were like that. Are you superstitious?"

She shook her head with a soft smile. "No... not really. I just know some people uses that to chat with others. Levi, when you told me that you don't usually go to your company to work... what do you do in your free time?"

My broad shoulders rolled a bit as I looked down at the empty paper. A few scribbles were there, but there was nothing significant. "Write songs. We're on the edge of disbanding the band. I keep running into this dead end. But... that's why I found you. When I first saw you, I got this amazing song lyrics in my head."

"So... I was the reason you searched for me? Because I was a part of your lyrics?"

"Don't put it down like that, Hanji." I sighed, looking off the paper and saw her curious eyes growing. "I wanted to find you because... I really did fall for you. I wanted to see if we could be friends- and I told you that the first day we met- officially. I wanted to know who you were. But that was... yeah, let's not talk about that."

Hanji began to look around, almost like she was searching for a familiar face. "Where's Isabel and Farlan?"

"Oh, they went home. Those two houses behind mine? Remember seeing those on your way here? Those are their houses. As much as we love each other, we want our privacy."

"Oh."

Hanji began to shuffle in her seat, trying to cover her rose-colored cheeks. "What about you? Should I know what kind of job you have currently?" Seemed like a struck a nerve, Hanji looked away with embarrassment. "Sorry... I shouldn't have asked that."

"No no, you're okay."

"You sure?"

"Positive." I saw a fake smile growing on her face. How did I know she was faking it? Easy. I do it all the time. Whenever someone wants me to smile, I fake it. They know it's fake because I hardly ever smile. Being an expert on it, I know how to detect it. 

"Tell me the truth, Hanji."

As expected, her fake smile disappeared. A heavy sigh fell from her chest as she depressingly looked down into her cup of coffee. "I got fired. Too many absences. I didn't dare to tell Nanaba, so please don't tell her. I'm trusting you. I'll tell her when I have the chance... but really... my dream job fired me."

My hands went to hers, and I was overwhelmed with this wave of warmth. "As I said, I run a company. If you like, I can hire you. Though I can't say what position you'll be granted with- you can have a steady job."

"I don't want to be that kind of person. Living off of funds from a job that a friend hired me for."

"I'm not giving you a high position, Hanji. Besides, in my company, every interviewee talks to me. You already have been talking to me, so I'll give you a job. You told me why you need a job, and a bit about yourself. It's fine. I'm treating it as if you were an interviewee."

Instead of a fake smile, her facial expression perked up. Her cheeks were rosy red as a genuine smile grew upon her fair face. It was nearly impossible to fall in love with her more than I was. "You're really doing that? Not as a favor?"

"I'm not. You can start your job tomorrow-"

Unexpectedly, she jumped from her seat and plopped a kiss on my lips. She pushed herself against me that I had to hold onto her. When she was practically on me, I could smell her shampoo from last night. Strawberries. Even her lips faintly tasted of strawberries. Strawberries and coffee.

We pulled away, embarrassed by that sudden turn of events. "Hanji..." I whispered, seeing her retreat back to her seat. 

"Sorry..." She whispers back, turning back to her coffee.

"Well... about time..." We both jumped to see Isabel and Farlan walking in with their things. "I guess I owe you those $20, Isabel. They did kiss within a month of meeting. Drat."