The Rules
1050 Words
I didn't speak the whole time we were inside the studio. I let them down and I listened to a beautiful song they were singing.
There were times when I couldn't restrain myself from moving my head along with the rhythm of the song. The guy in the middle holding a guitar was singing and his vocal vocals were really good. The girl beside him sometimes sings along and the melody it gives soothes my ears. They hold a very powerful vocal together.
Everyone clapped after the song was composed. I clapped too. It's really nice.
"What can you say?" asked the guy. He was looking at Elijah.
They are all looking at him, actually. So I did the same thing.
Elijah was serious now. He's looking intently at the guy who sang the song.
"The lyrics are nice but it needs a little emendation. The rhythm is good. It's a nice song but it still needs to be worked out."
The guy nodded. "Do you think...it could be used for an album?"
Elijah sighed and faced him. He crossed his arms above his chest. "Honestly, no."
The trainees in front of us sighed. They all look disappointed.
"If you're talking about your coming album, the song would only get in the way. But it can be sung utmost."
"I'll work on it."
"You are Emily?" I turned to the girl who spoke.
I nodded. "Yeah."
"It's nice to meet you. I've heard your name before because of the contest. I was a senior in your university." She smiled.
"You sing, Emily?"
I felt awkward all of a sudden. Their whole attention was on me.
"Y-yes."
I don't want to keep it a secret because, first of all, I am here because of it. Besides, it is a talent that I have and I am proud of it.
Not everyone is given a voice so...
"Give us a sample!" they all then cheered.
My heart thumps so fast. Is this the start?
I felt nervous. I wanted to punch myself. It's not like you in contests at all, Emily. Why are you being shy now?
"Come on! What do you sing?"
"I sing-"
"Let's go. They're calling everyone." Elijah suddenly stood up.
"Huh? Calling everyone?"
We saw him hiding his phone. He probably received a message from his Dad.
"Why? What's wrong?"
"Meeting."
"Argh, meeting again? We have just finished practicing. Give us more minutes to rest."
"You've been resting for fifteen minutes now."
"Still, give us more time," a girl said, pouting.
"Let's go," Elijah said again. When I looked up to see him, he was looking at me. I stood up immediately.
He walked away first. We were all staring at him until he reached the door and stepped out.
"That rude brat," voiced by a guy.
"Don't call him that!"
"Why? Because you like him? He won't even look at you. Why would you waste your time?"
"I don't like him! Who said that? T-that's ridiculous."
I shook my head. So some of the girls are secretly crushing on the boss?
"Emily, don't listen to them. You shouldn't be hearing the words of a rat."
"No, don't listen to her. All she does is write a song about Elijah and show him-"
"Stop!"
"What? That's the truth. She writes songs about him but he will always reject her."
"Don't you get tired of him? He doesn't even show any affection for you."
"I will never get tired! We are close to what you think."
They all shook their heads like they were so used to her. "Let's go. Someone is dreaming again."
They all walked out, laughing. The girl who had a crush on Elijah was left behind with me. She was pouting when she faced me.
"My name is Dalia," she said.
"Emily."
She sighed heavily. "Is it wrong to feel this way?"
My brows creased. I don't know what to say. If she's ever feeling lonely right now, I do not know how to give advice. I'm not good at it. Just why are we the ones left behind?
"You think, Emily? Is it bad to fall in love?"
"You have a crush on Elijah?"
She pouted more. "Why are you together, anyway? I saw you in the hallway."
"He was just showing me around. This is my first time here."
"He doesn't show people around."
"H-huh?"
She turned to me. "He smiles a lot, but he has a lot of rules that he keeps on himself like a wild lion. One of those rules is, if he doesn't want to do it, he will never do it."
"And?" Because I don't really get what she's implying.
"He never likes showing a person around. He hates it when he walks a lot."
"A-ah," I answered like I was a dumb listener.
"From all the years that I spent here, you are only the second person to walk around the company."
"Really? I didn't know about that."
"The first one was someone I really hate. It doesn't have to be like that, but it turns out that way. I hope it won't happen to you."
I felt uneasy.
"If you like him, why don't you just tell him?"
She looked away. "You heard what others say. I did it already. But he rejected me."
"How many times you've done that?"
"Six." She looked down.
I sighed. I'm carried away by her story. I can't believe a person can still fight about something that has no possibility of working out.
"You really like him that much?"
She nodded and smiled at me. It was a smile that showed a lot of admiration. "Yes. He's the only one I know who sings so well. He is...my dream guy."
I can't help but to smile too. I have never felt in love with someone yet. I don't know the feeling. But seeing someone in front of you, I can tell that it's really a good feeling. She's in love.
"Have you ever fallen in love, Emily?" she asked.
I shook my head as a response.
"It's an annoying feeling. But when you feel it deep, it will become nice. It will make you want to fall in love again. With that same person you first fall in love with."
- Writer
