Melody Of Love

Am I Willing To Take This Risk?

Michael’s POV

I left the meeting, thinking of an alternative solution for this problem. I know people have doubts regarding my sexuality, and this already had many people doubting me. I don’t want a new rumor to destroy my reputation. I know my fans will understand me but the others don’t, they will take this as an opportunity to drag my name through the mud. I can't let that happen.

“Tito take me to Diana’s home.” Diana is my makeup artist. I need time for myself, I need to become Michael, not Michael Osburne, even if it's for an hour or two. I need to get out of this media frenzy for some time. Tito dropped me at Diana’s and I asked her to help me take a disguise. She understood my situation immediately, and within an hour, I was ready to get out into the normal world, for once without the paparazzi following me.

I went to a bar near Diana’s place so that even if someone recognizes me, I could escape from there as fast as I could, and get back to her place. I downed two bottles of wine and I wasn’t done yet.

The media should stop spreading lies about me. I should do something about it, I can't let these rumors affect my career, the career which I built through hard work, and by sacrificing my childhood. I can't let them have their way with me all the time.

Is the suggestion Tommy gave me today the right decision to make? Me marrying Liza or someone, is it the right decision to make? Will my marriage keep all these rumors at bay? Hell, why am I even considering these suggestions? What should I do? Please, God, help me this one time, show me the correct direction, so that I could make things right, and back to normal.

I raised my hand for the waiter to get me another bottle, and from the corner of my eye, I saw a familiar silhouette. Rose.

She wore a sheer black top paired with black palazzo pants and black ballet flats. She had no makeup on but her lips were shining under the lights. Her hair is left loose, with few tendrils kissing her face. She looked beautiful. She stood on the stage, closed her eyes as if praying for something, and opened her eyes, she looked right into my eyes and I felt the same familiar feeling I felt the last time I met her.

Her eyes widened, and for a second, and I thought she recognized me, but then considering the fact she never knew who I was in the first place, and me being in a disguise currently, makes it impossible for her to know me. She took a mic and started singing, she had a wonderful voice, and somehow I felt she was soothing my pain right now, through this song.

Light up your face with gladness

Hide every trace of sadness

Although a tear may be ever so near

That's the time you must keep on trying

Smile, what's the use of crying

You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just smile

She never once broke eye contact throughout the song and I felt, somewhere deep down in my heart, that she’s singing this song for me. I felt an unfamiliar sense of calm and happiness wash through me and for a minute I let myself believe that everything is gonna be fine.

She sang, looking at me all the time as if she could take away all the pain in my life and replace them with happiness. And at that moment, I somehow felt that she lightened my mood with her mere presence. And the moment that thought came into my mind, I wanted her to stay with me all the time.

Wait, everyone wants me to marry someone so that the rumors will come to an end, then why don’t I marry someone whom… I like? No, not like, someone who can make me happy with her presence? Why can’t I marry someone who I think is a good person at heart? This is way better than marrying Liza or someone else.

But you’ve known Liza for years and marrying her is better than marrying a stranger a voice in my head spoke. And yes, it was the truth. No matter how attracted I am to Rose, no matter how connected I felt with her, the fact doesn’t change that she is a stranger.

But what are these feelings that I can’t describe, but feel when she’s around me. Why am I so happy just by looking at her from this far? What is she to me? And why am I giving this power to her over me?

Anyways, I can ask Rose to marry me, can’t I? But then will she agree to marry me? Or will she agree to marry me because of my money? Will I be happy with a marriage with someone who I barely know? Am I willing to take this risk at the stake of two lives, just for the sake of my career? I have so many questions and have answers for none. Kill me, somebody.

Smile, though your heart is aching

Smile, even though it's breaking

When there are clouds in the sky

You'll get by

If you smile

Through your fear and sorrow

Smile and maybe tomorrow

You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just smile

The entire crowd applauded her for her performance. She smiled politely at everyone, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes, like the last time I saw her smiling when I met her, she handed the mic to someone and got down the stage. I left some bills on the table and started going behind her but at some point, I couldn’t find her.

I searched everywhere but there was no trace of her. It was as if she sensed I was in pain and came here to reduce my pain somehow, and once her work is done she just disappeared. Just like and Angel. My Angel. Pushing those thoughts away, I went into the washroom and by the time I came out, I saw her sitting on the bench behind the bar.

She put her head in her hands, and when I approached her I heard her sniffle. I stopped in my track. She’s crying and I didn’t know what to do. Should I go and ask her what's wrong or should I leave her alone?

I was absorbed in my thoughts and she looked up, her eyes were red and puffy, from crying and I felt bad seeing her like this, I felt the rage to kill the person who made her cry like this. I gave her a small smile, but she kept on looking at me, dead in my eye.

“I’ve met you before, didn’t I?” she asked me.

I didn’t know how to answer her question, because I didn’t want to lie to her. But why did she say so? Did she recognize me from yesterday? I just stood there, looking into her eyes, and moved to sit beside her.

“What’s wrong, why are you crying?” Instead of answering her question, I asked a question of my own. And immediately her eyes welled up with unshed tears. I wanted to hold her close to me and tell her that everything is going to be okay, but I didn’t have the right to do so, did I?

But why do I have this sudden urge to hold her and solve all of her problems? Why am I dying to see her smile and talk to me? Why do I care if a stranger is crying or smiling? Why is she becoming so important to me? Who is she?