Counting Stars ✓

five

King tried not to let the stares get to him when he walked into the music room. He knew very well his presence was strange, and unwanted. But the music club had been the only one to accept his application out of all the clubs he tried signing up for.

He looked around and found Rune, the only person to accept his application, chatting with two others. 'He's as friendly as I remembered,' King thought.

Their first encounter had been brief as Khun Rain introduced them and left them to talk for a bit. And while the individual had been kind to him, King could tell it had been forced kindness at the time, and he had wanted nothing more than to leave and go back to talking to his real friends.

Even when he accepted King's application four days ago, King could tell it was due to the guilt of injuring him.

With a sigh, he sat down on an empty chair.

"What is he doing here?" Ryu asked, sending glares in King's direction. Rune turned around.

Sure enough, Ryu was referring to King. He patted the angered individual's shoulder, not fully understanding why he didn't like King when they had never interacted before. "Calm down."

Ryu scoffed, "Watch him ruin the mood."

"Alright, everyone! Gather around!" P'Gem shouted. The members all did as asked, sitting on the floor while waiting for whatever announcement. King who had been sitting on the chair, playing on his phone, did the same. His actions caused curious gazes to be thrown his way.

"In order to help out the members who aren't all that skilled in playing, we've decided to assign partners based on skills and instruments. Once I call out your name, and your assigned partner's name, please stand up and find somewhere to practice. We will evaluate you next month."

"If you guys do a good job, you will have the opportunity to play for the upcoming university concert," P'Wine, the vice president added. "Then I will begin to call out the names."

King waited patiently for his name to be called. All the while trying not to pay attention to the fearful and anxious looks from those around him - as they clearly didn't want to be paired with him.

"-Rune and King," P'Wine announced, earning several gasps and chatter to explode. King stood up and looked at Rune who gave him a tight smile, a guitar already in hand.

He walked over and followed the senior to a flight of stairs.

"Here," Rune said, "this is my extra guitar. The one in the club room isn't as good for beginners."

King looked down at the guitar in surprise. He nodded and took hold of it, putting it into the proper positioning, and placing his fingers on the stings. His actions surprised Rune who remembered how the boy held it last time, and the fact that he clearly didn't know any notes.

"You practiced?" He wondered.

King gave a short nod, "Yeah. I didn't want to be a burden so I went and bought a guitar to practice."

"Oh, I'll be sure to bring my guitar next time," King added, making eye contact with Rune, who was memorised by how soft King sounded when he mentioned bringing in his guitar. It was almost like talking to an innocent kid when he saw the slight shift of panic on King's face.

Ignoring the strange tug at his heart, he helped King through with new notes. It felt like time could go on forever when he was teaching him. Simply because King actually focused and tried to understand and improve.

Rune had tried to get Cherry to learn ever since they met, simply because she always mentioned wanting to have some sort of musical talent. But she never managed to have the same amount of dedication and concentration as King who only joined the club last minute, and on top of that, with an instrument he's never picked up before.

Somehow it made Rune admire King a little.

A sudden ringing of a phone broke them out of their lesson.

"Ah, sorry," King apologized, digging into his pockets to pull out his phone. The sight of it made Rune remember that he had broken King's phone during their 'first' meeting (second, really, but he couldn't remember the first time they met.)

But judging by the looks of King's phone, he didn't need to worry as a new one was already bought.

"Hello, Father?" King answered.

"Son-"

"-how much?" King interrupted, glancing at Rune who was waiting for him to continue on with the lesson.

"Wait."

He gently passed the guitar back to Rune, "Pardon me. I just need to make this quick call."

Rune nodded and watched as the younger boy descended to the back of the stairs, his back facing Rune.

"How much?" King repeated, wanting nothing more than the conversation to end. "One thousand? Three?"

"I...Ten," his father breathed out, his voice sounding guilty. But King knew better.

"Five," he stated, his voice full of raw and hidden anger, "I gave you ten last time. Bye."

He hung up, not bothering to check the message his father sent after he did so, and proceeded to send the money. He walked back up to the stairs where Rune had already packed the guitar away.

Noticing King was back, Rune gave an apologetic smile. "Clubs done for the day."

King nodded in understanding, "Thank you for the lesson. Have a good one."

Rune nodded awkwardly at the politeness and bid goodbye. Watching the senior walk away, King sighed and began to make his way home as well.