Captured Melody

2

Caleb~

*BZZT BZZZZT BZZZT*

I woke up by the sound of my alarm. I still want to sleep, I got so drained by the conversation I had with my Mom last night. I checked the time, and it's 8 AM.

I have nothing else to do today. But I'll still go to our mini-studio. I'd rather spend my day there than stay here in my apartment.

I stood up and started preparing myself.

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I arrived at the studio and as soon as I entered, I was greeted by none other than our drummer, Ion.

"Hey, didn't know your coming. Here to review some of our demos?" He asked.

"Yeah. I don't have anything else to do, so I might as well check 'em out."

"Oh yeah, Clyde made a demo all by himself. You might want to check it out. It's actually pretty good."

I put on the headphones and started listening to some demos that we made for the past months. We haven't turned them into a full song. Of course, I checked out the one Clyde made. It is actually not bad.

So, Clyde is our vocalist. He really does have a good singing voice. I mean, he wouldn't earn the position if he's not good, right?

He's also good at playing piano. But he only plays when he performs solo. That's right, he performs alone sometimes. Which benefits him because he gets a lot of recognition. He even receives some emails offering him to sign to a record label as a soloist. It's good for him but ends up bad for the rest of us. We feel left out of the picture whenever we perform altogether. Since it's only Clyde that receives a lot of attention. Some people even say that he's just carrying us to fame.

But despite all of that, Clyde never left us. He stayed with us because he told us that he believes that we will all get the proper attention someday. He's a good friend. But sometimes, I can't help but doubt his intentions.

"Ooh, what do we have here?"

I looked at Ion and saw him holding a paper which looked familiar to me.

"Isn't this the one you wrote before?" He said while raising the paper.

Ion showed me the song I wrote some time ago. I thought they had thrown it away. I didn't know they kept it.

"Why'd you guys keep it?" I asked.

"We were supposed to compose that song after you wrote it. But you know what happened before that."

"Oh, I see."

I remembered. Everything went downhill for us back then. At least for a moment.

We were in high school and we used to cut classes. We show up in our morning classes but we don't attend our afternoon ones. That kind of helped us not to raise any suspicion from anyone, or so we thought.

We didn't do anything wrong. All we did was to practice being a band. We would go to our secret lair and just play instruments all day. We would also attempt to record ourselves covering a song. Until one day, a rumor about us started to spread. Someone made up a story that we leave school early to do something illegal. It reached the principal and we ended up being investigated. They went to our hideout to thoroughly check. We got suspended for almost 2 weeks, but thankfully, we were proven to be innocent. But it caused so much damage to us. Our parents got so mad, especially my Mom.

We thought we wouldn't be able to play and perform. Until we came to the decision to drop out of high school, together.

But you know what's the difference between me and them? Their parents ended up supporting them. But me? I don't think that's ever going to happen.

I leaned against the chair while looking at the song I wrote. I remember how excited I was when I finished this. All I was thinking was to show it to the others. I even thought that it was going to be the one song that'd get us exposed and discovered.

I was full of energy back then and somehow, it just happened that I'm no longer that same guy I was.

"You hungry?" I asked Ion. I kind of want to make an excuse to go out and have some fresh air even for just a while.

"Honestly, I was thankful you asked because I'm starving."

"You talk as if you've never eaten anything."

"I'm trying not to eat too much. I worked hard for this body," he jokingly said.

I just shook my head lighty and stood up to grab my jacket.

"A'right, just text me if you want me to buy anything else."

"Copy!"

I left the studio and started making my way to my usual hang out place. I'll buy the food later. I just want to dismiss myself from thinking too much.

The park was just a few walks away from our studio. That's why sometimes, if I have some spare time after spending the day in the studio, I would go there to relax.

When I arrived, I immediately looked for my spot but, sadly, someone was having a picnic at where I usually sit. My spot was under this huge tree and, since it has good shade, I wouldn't blame them if they wanted to have their picnic there.

So, since it's occupied, I just decided to look for somewhere else to sit.

There's a huge fountain in the middle of the park and I thought I could hang out there for awhile. I mean, there are other people sitting on its rim.

I observe all the people in the park. Honestly, I envy them. They may have their own battles, but somehow, they can still smile through it. Which made me ask myself: 'What happened to me?'

It all started when Dad died. I kind of lost a part of me. It kind of died with Dad.

I really hate whenever I get lost in my thoughts. Like now, I think too much.

I closed my eyes and did some breathing exercise. I just want to calm my head.

Inhale..

Exhale..

Inhale..

Exha--

"OH NO!"

I got distracted by someone who just yelled. I looked at the girl who was panicking while trying to reach something from the fountain water.

She's trying to reach for something that I don't know. I was just watching her.

"No no no, that was a good shot." She said, as if she was about to cry.

She pulled her hand out of the water, holding onto a wet Polaroid photo. She sat down on the rim while looking at the photo that just got wet. I looked at her and,

Wait, she looks familiar.

"Damn it. What a waste." She said.

She then unexpectedly turned her head. I was caught off guard since I was already staring at her. We both stared on one another until I finally was able to look away.

"Hey, didn't we met before?" She asked.

I didn't face her and just kept quiet.

"Oh, yeah! I remember you." She said with a hint of cheerfulness.

I looked at her, she was pointing at me while smiling.

"You're that guy I accidently swapped cellphones with."

Now I remember her.

I didn't know how to react or what to say to her, so I ended up just nodding to what she said.

"Did I sort of disturb you? It seems like your meditating earlier."

"Not at all."

"Sure? 'cause I saw you close your eyes."

Okay, is she watching me the whole time? Because that just creeps me out.

"Oh, hey, I didn't mean that in a weird way, okay? I wasn't watching you or anything." She immediately explained.

I looked at her, waiting that maybe she would say something else.

"I was actually taking random pictures around here. You kind of caught my attention because you were sitting perfectly there and the sunlight kind of complimented the frame. So, I took a picture of you," she said, "and now the picture is wet." She added.

I just sat quietly while listening to her talk. I don't know why but it seems like a cat got my tongue. Or maybe I just don't know what to say to her.

"I know it's forbidden to do that. Taking pictures of anyone without notice. I'm sorry if I invaded your privacy without permission. I just can't help myself. I mean, I rarely see an opportunity," she said. I was not so sure what to say.

We sat there in complete silence until, "Are you always this quiet? Do you talk? Are you mute or deaf?"

"Oh no, I'm just not so sure how to respond to you." Finally!

"Did I make you uncomfortable?"

"No no, you didn't. I--uh--I'm just really not the conversational type of a person." Why on earth am I stuttering?

She laughed slightly. I feel so stupid for stuttering.

I felt my phone vibrating. I pulled it out and saw Ion's text message. I still need to buy some food for us.

"Uhm, I gotta go." I said and stood up. I don't know why I said that awkwardly.

"Oh sure. Take care." She said while smiling at me.

I nodded and went on my way.