Kai
Today was the day, where I would do the craziest thing I will ever do in my whole entire life. I have prepared for three days for the open mic event held not at the school but at a restaurant this time. I was surprised about the sudden change of venue. Mrs Hugo did a pretty good job at persuading the principal for putting in some extra money for this event. That said, I have no reason to back down or even messed this up.
One of the big reason I want to make this great was that I was doing this for Stan. It has been my intention to do so and that I feel if I can't express my love to him publicly and obviously to everyone... I might just as well do something that only him know whom I am doing it for. I love the fact that he promised to be there, usually one would text to beg someone to come, but he, he spammed me texts saying he's gonna come and support me like the boyfriend he was. Boyfriend... that was so new to my taste buds, it tasted sweet like candy, a flavour that I love.
I just can't believe that I am Stan's boyfriend. Who would have thought that at some point... I was being liked by the one person whom I liked back and it just feels unreal and too good to be true and who would have thought that he likes boys too. I never asked him about that, but I'm sure if he takes interest in me then maybe it means something about his sexuality?
Everyone had their own thing going on for tonight, which makes me feel worried at times that maybe my performance would be the same as the others. I wouldn't say that my show, later on, would be entirely unique and it was not entirely unique because I was going to sing a song. Just that.
That was why I borrowed Stan's guitar, to play a song... for him.
It was difficult for me to learn the six-strings instrument since my fingers never laid a touch onto them. But within those three days of learning, I pretty sure I got the hang of it. Well, not necessarily a professional or an amateur, but somewhere in between a beginner and an amateur. I learned some few easy chords, spend my days almost six hours each to learn how to play an F chord and almost bled the shit out of my callous fingers. Yeah... my fingers are not looking so great rather than my fingers on my right hand, the difference of the feeling was just so off. I wonder how Stan stays comfortable with that uneasy sensation.
"So... are you ready for your show?" Liara asked me, walking with both of Charlie and I for a booth.
I glance at her, clutching onto the guitar bag tightly. "Well, I guess you could say I'm nervous? Or worried?" I smile at her, showing less reassurance that my sentence meant as a joke. A not hilarious joke. It wasn't even humour.
"You're gonna do great, Kai. I've seen you destroyed that kid one time at a speech-"
"That's a competition, Charlie. It's not even the same as this one,"
He scoffed. "Hell yeah, it's the same. If you're doing something, you'll always give it your 100 per cent dedication to it,"
"Even when it's not a competition," He continues again, making me speechless of what I want to say to object that. I guess he was right. I do feel very competitive over every sort of things. That was just me. "Fine... but that doesn't mean I can't feel worried or anxious. What if I did something off? That could send me into social isolation for who knows how long," I spoke out, having them both nodding their heads at the same time.
"True indeed," Both of them spoke.
"Hey! You're not supposed to agree with that!"
-
"Welcome everyone to the Senior's Open Mic Event! It is an honour for the school to have this event at this wonderful restaurant. I would like to thank you, Chef Azekial, who's also the boss here for letting us do this with open arms. So! Without further ado, everyone, take your places, get your drinks and meals and... Let's start the show!" Mrs Hugo cheered as everyone clapped their hands.
It felt fun to be here and for 10 minutes I had before this, I had fun talking with my two friends. But... I never have seen Stan anywhere... I wonder if he will be here in time for my turn.
"I guess he's busy...," I spoke to myself, trying to reassure the negative thoughts away. He's gonna be here soon, he even promised so... for like a hundred times.
But as soon as the first person went on the small stage in front of us, I could see a glimpse of the boy with dark hair with a smile on his face as walks in with his friend beside him. His friend was the same person that was with him when he imitates my actions before. To think about it again, it was cute for him to do that. It's different now that he was my boyfriend.
"I see that someone special is here," Liara whispered, giggling quietly with her eyes glued to where Stan was at.
I look at her with red cheeks. "Stop that, someone would hear you,"
"Someone who?" She asked, smiling at me.
"I don't know... you crush?" I spoke out, having no ideas of how I want to answer that but just that one. But it made her shut up for some reason, her cheeks were now redder compared to mine. "W-what are you talking about? I don't have a c-crush,"
I raised my eyebrows. "You don't?"
"I- I mean I... do like," She stuttered.
"So you have a crush?" I asked again.
"Wait! I mean... oh look! It's Aaron from your biology class!" She pointed out, having her hands around my head and turning them roughly to the show. I think my bone cracked a little. I don't know, I just got a feeling it did.
After that, we continued to listen and seeing random seniors doing their miraculous stunts and did it ever come to me that a lot of us has some weird talents. There was this one girl who could simultaneously speak two languages in one go. That was some wicked horror story. It sounded like one.
But what was having me roll into a fit of giggles was how unbothered Charlie was. He acts like he doesn't even want to be here and every time someone would do something out of the norm, he would shut his eyes and put both of his hands onto his ears like there a full-on rainstorm coming by to get him.
Liara, on the other hand, was particularly dazed by this one guy. Well, it was Stan's friend to be exact. Plus, I just knew that his name was Felix when he introduced himself on the stage. He was with the same band as Stan, but he plays the bass, and damn did it sound so good. He sang this one song that I don't know what it was but it was good, well Liara had a good time listening to him play. Hmm... I wonder.
Now that the majority of the seniors had performed, it was my turn. I was now waiting behind the stage, waiting to be called my name. It gave me another feeling, excitement. I don't know why but it was as if I had confidence out of nowhere all of a sudden. I realized that I want to do this not just because of Stan but to have fun. Even Stan himself said to me just to have fun. Speaking of him, we haven't talk yet since he got here, it was just texting because I didn't want to interrupt his time with his friends. That would be very unthoughtful of me.
"Now, let us welcome our next senior, Kai Everest," Mrs Hugo spoke, walking away from the mic to give me the spot. I walk onto the stage with slow steps. My eyes began to scan the scene in front of me, everyone was silently waiting for something to happen when they saw me walking to the mic with a guitar. It made my throat clogged, my heart was beating so fast of the nervousness I had but I got to keep pushing.
Then I saw his face amongst the crowd, with some strands of his hair falling down to his forehead, with his eyes that fixed to my whole existence like I was the only one here. It calms my heart.
I looked down to the stage, inhaling and exhaling the air slowly. It was now or never I guess.
"H-hey everyone, I'm Kai, as you all know... I guess. So, you see... I'll be playing a song. This song is dedicated to those that I...-" I pause, looking to the crowd. When I look at Stan, he mouthed something to me.
'You can do this...,'
Then I smiled (fuck it). "Sorry... what I meant was... I want to dedicate this song to someone that made me feel on top of the world lately... I guess you can say that I'm stupidly in love," I chuckled.
With the count of one to three, I played.
Every strum that I made was filled with emotions, feelings that I felt. I'd assume that it would be too much for me to do that over someone but it's not. I feel that as long as it was sincere, there's nothing wrong if everything that you do revolves around that person. You just gotta believe that it was worth it, and it was, for me.
He was just staring at me when I played.
He had the same look on his face back during the assembly.
He looked awed.
He was smiling at me while I'm here, smiling back at him with the feeling of that if this was the last night for us, I would smile at him for a decade long.
-
"You did it, Kai! I'm so proud of you and you sounded good too!" Liara cheered.
"Yeah... I didn't know my childhood friend was that great at singing" Charlie spoke, a big smile played across his lips.
I shake my head but smiling nonetheless. I felt good, superb about what I just did. Everyone liked it, my friends like it and what was important was that Stan liked it too.
My head turns to look at Stan, and he was looking at me. He moves his head to the right a little, signalling for me to come to him. I guess he wants to talk. Talking as in... a good talk.
"Guys... I have to go somewhere first but... if I don't come back, please go home without me," Both of them nodded at me but Liara managed to wink at me, having both of her hands do a motion of two people kissing. I cringed at the image, yet I didn't speak a word about it.
Having that said, I walk off. My legs automatically bring itself to meet with Stan. He was outside the restaurant. I open the entrance door and walk out with my eyes searching for him. Then out of nowhere, someone lifts me up from the ground - carrying me far away from the restaurant. I laughed out loud at what was going on and he was chuckling too. He brought me to a car, placing me on top of the car's bonnet.
I could feel my cheeks heated. He had his hands crossed over my lap, placing his head there facing up to see him. His back bent a little to do so, he was indeed tall so there was no denying.
"You did great. I love your show the most," He smiled, closing his eyes dreamily. With how the night sky and the moon shining above us, it felt like we were in a movie. With not many cars around us, I felt safe.
I chuckled. "You said that just because you like me,"
"Hmm... nope. You were great. Learning to play for three days? That was exceptionally good. I think you'd be a wonderful performer," His voice felt soothing.
I laughed. Me? A performer? "You're too much Malik,"
"Always was," He chuckled. I roll my eyes. "Cocky,"
"I mean, you did see my cock so...," He started, but I quick to cut him off instantly, putting my hand over his mouth to keep him from continuing that dirty mind of his. That was far off-topic. Yes, I did saw but that doesn't mean... I... Oh my god what am I doing?!
The red on my face never left as I loom aside, trying hard to resist any sort of unwanted thoughts. When I look back at him, my eyes focused onto his hair.
"Can I touch your hair?" I asked, uncertain if he wants me to lay my hand on it. He looks at me with big eyes, that made him look like a child wanting a lollipop. It was so cute! How can one be hot and cute?
"Go ahead... I would love it,"
Slowly, I put my hand onto his hair. With every feeling of his soft hair, I rummage my fingers into his dark locks. When I do that, he closes his eyes, loving the feel of my fingers touching his hair with much gentle and delicate.
I want to be in his life for as long as I could. I have no knowledge of how we could go tomorrow or the day after that, or even a month later. There's was nothing scarier than the future. It holds certain possibilities that could mean everything to me. Whether it was my grade or whatever it is, I'm scared. I'm scared that all of this was just all in my head. That I was piling up bricks that were just meant to be wreck soon. So, I want to cherish this, even, shit could fall right after.
With every courage I had, I lower my head. I place a kiss onto his head, murmuring something I don't think he could hear.
"I love you,"
- - -