"WHAT HAPPENED?" Jeff asked curiously. He stepped closer to us.
"Her dad passed away." His voice seemed powerless as he answered.
I saw his limbs tightened due to intense emotions. The man that idolized by many and full of self-confidence suddenly gave up just because of one call.
Who's the lucky girl? I softly asked myself.
"Let's finish this first, so we can be there together," Skye said to him.
He did not answer but went back to his seat.
"Where the hell is Dawzon? He's the one who should be responsible for this. Especially now that he needs her as his wife!" Jeff's jaw inevitably tightened as he spoke.
I remained standing in front of them. My mouth fell open at the conversation I witnessed. Again, I said nothing.
"So let's start this again to finish early," said Skye, who was already on the drum set.
"Okay, let's go!" Zach shouted as he sidestepped the organ.
I suddenly backed away when Rexon returned his backpack to me. "Keep this," he ordered. He quickly glanced at me before he turned to face the crowd.
I didn't mind coming down to the stage to watch them.
They just started to tune the guitar. Their fans began chanting. Some almost fainted because of the excitement and joy.
"Hello, are you okay there?!" Rexon's voice was loud but gentle.
"Yes!!!" they answered back.
"I just want to thank you all guys for coming here this morning. We really appreciate your presence and your heartwarming welcome of our very first album."
"I love you, Logistic!"
"I love you, Rexon!"
That was the crowd's response to him.
"To all the fans out there who didn't get in, we're really sorry! Don't worry, we will surely prepare a big dome for you guys!" His resounding yell could almost be heard on the big screen TV outside the building.
I heard the chanting and the growling of the ecstatic crowd. In a few moments, the sound of his guitar, accompanied by Jeff, Zach, and Skye, became louder.
"This is our first song, written by our very own Skye!" he shouted into the microphone. Again, the crowd was getting wildly exaggerated.
At that point, they started to sing to the backdrop of melodious music. His voice was undeniably melting my heart. What I truly wanted right now was to lie down and listen to his music all day while sipping hot coffee and eating a piece of chocolate cake. That was the impact of his voice on me.
I slowly shut my eyes and feel the calm of his voice.
"Very impressive voice, huh?" I looked up at the man who spoke next to me. "He captured the heart of the sea," he remarked, then glanced at me. "Am I right?"
The redness immediately rose to my cheeks, and I adjusted to my seat. I don't know why but I feel like I was caught in the act.
"I don't think so." I averted my gaze.
"That's what I see." Then he just shrugged. I looked back at the stage and just ignored what he said.
"There's a lunch party after the event. Do you want to join us?" He opened a small conversation again. He's now sitting on the monoblock next to me.
"No, thanks. I'll go with Rexon," I answered and didn't bother to look at him again.
"Is that so? Maybe next time?"
I looked at him, and now a broad smile can be seen on him.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not sure," I openly denied it.
I don't want to be rude. In fact, I want to be friendly. However, given what Rexon had said earlier, I felt compelled to avoid anyone who wished to approach me.
"It's alright. I have many chances to invite you for lunch. We are the ones who secured the Logistic events, I have been in this job for a year now."
I nodded, that's right then. I'm sure he still has a lot of opportunities to ask me.
"Cherry, right? Are you new here?" he asked again.
"Actually I just started my job today," I said in my most polite voice.
"Great, it's better that you come with us after this event."
With a sigh, I turned my attention back to Rexon. There's nothing wrong with letting Rexon know.
"Alright. I'll ask Rexon about this," I said.
"Hmm, much better," he replied.
When the song was over, they went straight to signing their CDs. I thought it would end early, but the queue was still long by the time lunch arrived.
I glanced at them. Rexon was sitting and continuing with what he was doing. And that point, I felt pity for them. Working long hours was difficult; it seemed as if they denied themselves of their personal life and the desire to eat on time.
So I didn't hesitate to approach them.
"Guys, why don't you take a break first? It's past twelve, aren't you hungry?"
"We're okay, Cherry, just give us some water," Rexon replied while bowing to sign the CDs.
"But, you look so tired and-"
I couldn't continue what I was supposed to say when he looked up at me. His eyes were darker than earlier.
"I said, we're okay! Look at them, they're hungry, too, but they're patiently waiting for them to be called!" he said as he pointed to the fans that patiently waiting.
I bit down my lower lip. I want to be ashamed of myself for what he said. He stared at me for a moment before speaking again.
"Alright, guys! Thirty minutes break!"
After he signed a few CDs, he finally stood up. I quickly followed him with my eyes, and I saw him went straight down backstage.
"Let's have lunch?" I felt Jeff's palm on my shoulder, so I had no choice but to follow him inside.
We went straight to a room where some staff was also there. I roamed my eyes around, but I couldn't see Rexon.
"Cherry!" Jeff called out to me as he was sitting in a chair next to Skye and Zach.
"Where's Rexon?" I asked shyly.
"He was talking on the phone earlier. He will come out later," Skye answered.
My eyes turned to the glass door where the small veranda was. I went there, and I didn't make a mistake. Rexon was there while talking to someone on his cellphone.
He was sitting on a bench with his cellphone in his ear. He turned slightly to me when he noticed me. He dropped the call and gently squeezed between his eyes.
"Ah, lunch is ready," I said softly.
He didn't say anything and kept his eyes closed, so I dared to step forward to sit next to him.
I could feel his heavy breathing.
"I'm fine, Cherry, you go eat first." I heard a deep sigh coming from him.
I glanced at him whose staring from afar. This is really a different version of him-a quiet and a cloudy one. It's not what I was used to seeing in him, so I don't know how I would talk to him now.
"No, you're not. Come on!" I bravely tapped his shoulder. And then he looked at me over his shoulder, and I smiled.
He smiled back, but it was a faint smile. I can do nothing but accept that.
"I'll follow you inside," he whispered gently.
I thought I would be able to get up from my seat, but why do I feel like my heart stopped beating because of the closeness of the two of us?
I could almost smell his breath as if it was running out of air in my chest.
My body flinched as he suddenly rubbed the trunk of my hair and grinned at me. "Damn, you're blushing," he chuckled.
I immediately averted my eyes and sat up. "No, I'm not!"
I even heard him laugh a little, so I couldn't help but smile. I thought I would never hear his laugh again because of the heavy news he heard today.
But all of a sudden, he stood up and pulled my hand, so I immediately followed him.
"I know you're hungry, let's have lunch together . . . privately." The corners of his mouth lift into a smile.
My eyes widened at what he said. My heart started pounding. He invited me to have lunch together and privately?
I have mixed emotions. I can feel the redness of my two cheeks because of his tight grip on my hand. I also didn't understand why my heart was beating so loud.
"Come on, don't take it seriously." A soft grin spread on his lips.
"Yeah, I know." I cleared my throat and looked away.
"Good." He nodded.