Chapter 57

As time moved forward, the editing process followed its usual course.

The dim glow of the computer screen filled the room, casting a soft illumination on Edward's face as he meticulously edited each scene.

The rhythmic tapping of the keyboard blended with the quiet whir of the computer, creating a soothing ambiance amidst the focused atmosphere.

Edward worked diligently on editing, paying close attention to fine-tuning every element to achieve the desired outcome, all the while patiently explaining each minor aspect and detail to Patricia.

He made sure she grasped the vital aspects, like the techniques of sound editing and visual transitions, making it easier for her to comprehend the finer details of editing.

Recognizing the value of different perspectives, Edward asked Patricia for her opinion on the ongoing work, hoping for some pleasant surprises. And indeed, much to his surprise, she pinpointed few areas that could be improved, significantly boosting the overall quality of the work.

"... I think, The music sounds very artificial. Its sounds a bit lip-synced and unnatural?..."

"... makes sense. The removal of all background sounds and all the adjustments made the sounds artificial..."

"... Maybe you could reduce the full shot of your body and focus on close-ups. As a listener, I don't really care about anything other than the music..."

"... is my body look bad?.."

"... w-well, y-your body is in good shape, but there are others who have a better physique?.. I-i mean-...."

Edward glanced at the young woman sitting across from him and couldn't help but admit that what she said did make sense.

Her opinion made him realize that despite the progress made, there was still a lot of room for improvement in their work.

Looking back, it struck Edward that he had indeed missed these crucial details before, when they should have been clear all along.

Apart from Patricia's perspective, there are thousands of remarks all over the comments sections of his videos.

But then again, Edward hardly had the time to pay attention to such things. His demanding schedule prevented him from giving the comments a thorough review, and even when he did find some time, his busy routine meant that those comments rarely caught his attention.

From morning till night, his schedule was filled with recording sessions, lengthy editing stints, attending college lectures, creating scripts for skits, bass practice, and more

n the midst of his hectic schedule, let alone reading comments, he can't even spare time to open his social media accounts.

Hence, it was only now that he remembered how reading constructive criticism from his audience could provide him with valuable ideas and insights for improving the quality of his content.

"There's still a lot to improve," Edward let out a sighed.

Two hours later, the rhythmic sounds of a keyboard, accompanied by the repeated playback of the song cover, resonated through the room. At last, the editing was finally completed.

Edward leaned back in his chair, a sense of accomplishment washing over him as he gazed at the final result of the project on his screen.

"But it's still early."

Edward hesitated, his gaze fixed on the screen as doubts crept in. But in the end, he shook off the uncertainty, taking a deep breath and squaring his shoulders, determined to resume the work.

He opened a fresh document on his desktop, the soft glow of the screen reflecting in his focused eyes, and began making a draft for his next song cover. The click-clack of the keyboard echoed in the room as ideas flowed like a steady stream.

At around 7:20 PM,

Noticing the time, Edward realized it was the perfect moment to take a breather. He paused his work, leaned back in his chair, and allowed his gaze to wander out the window.

He turned to Patricia and said, "How about we take a break and have a dinner?"

"Yes," Patricia readily agreed, feeling the weariness from today's work.

They left their workspace and stepped into the lively atmosphere outside, where the pleasant chatter of people and the comforting hum of traffic accompanied the bustling scene.

Arriving at the restaurant, they could smell the delicious mix of foods in the air, accompanied by the friendly chatter of fellow diners and the sounds of cutlery clinking.

They found a cozy, quiet spot to settle into their seats, taking a moment to look over the menu and chat about what caught their eye.

After some friendly debate, they placed their orders and eagerly anticipated the delicious dishes.

In no time, Honey, with her welcoming smile, arrived to take their order, as she usually did.

Following a satisfying meal filled with delightful flavors and pleasant conversation, they bid their farewell to Honey and made their way back to apartment.

As they stepped out into the cool evening air, a gentle silence enveloped the two of them, the bustling sounds of the restaurant gradually fading.

In this newfound tranquility, they found themselves in a contemplative world as they strolled back to their apartment, illuminated by the soft glow of the streetlights, creating a peaceful atmosphere for their silent journey home

As the two walked back to their apartment, an awkward silence enveloped them, accentuated by the dimly lit streets and occasional passing cars.

"A-are you still going on a date with her?" Patricia asked hesitantly.

"Yes," Edward answered simply, as he didn't want to lie to her.

"B-but... w-what about me?"

"What about us?"

"I-I, didn't we do that?"

"Yes."

"D-don't you like me?"

"I like you."

"Then... w-why are you still..."

"This is just how I am. You can break up with me if you want."

"A-are you going to fire me if we break up?"

"No, who will do homework if I did?"

"... I, then let's break up!"

"Okay."

The two decided simply, and upon returning to the apartment building, the air felt heavy with unresolved emotions.

Despite the facade of normalcy, they continued making a draft, each stroke of the keyboard a subtle echo of their recent conversation, heightened by Patricia's occasional sniffs and teary eyes, which added a somber undertone.

Soon, as the clock struck 10:00 PM, they made the decision to stop and picked up where they left off tomorrow.

The clock on the wall ticked away the passing time, its rhythmic beat was a gentle reminder of the night's progression as they diligently tidied up the music room—saving their progress and carefully organizing the scattered papers around..

"I, I'm going."

"Okay."

"Then good night?"

"Sure," Edward grinned and slowly held her in his arms.

"H-hey, you..."

"Ahh yes?"

"We broke up already-"

The next day, Edward woke up promptly at around 5:00 in the morning, feeling the comforting embrace of limbs that were tightly wrapped around him.

"Edward sighed, feeling a headache pulse at his temples as he gently unwrapped himself from the comforting embrace of limbs. He quietly made his way to the bathroom, where the cold tiles met his feet and provided a soothing contrast to the warmth of the covers.

As he turned on the faucet, the sound of flowing water filled the air, and he cupped his hands to splash his face, the coolness instantly refreshing his awakening senses.

As Edward looked at himself in the mirror, frustration surged within him, an urge to scold himself for this ongoing inner conflict. The truth was, he didn't feel ready to commit to a serious relationship just yet.

As someone who had travel time and experienced society early on, he knew how demanding serious relationships could be—the expectations, compromises, and the considerable time they required.

He also knew how crucial regular communication was. It wasn't just calls or texts; it meant finding that connection online—calling, texting, or simply being present, even when physically apart... if you understand what I'm saying.

Taking care of each other's needs and emotions, making decisions together, discussing options openly, and making sure everyone feels listened to and valued—these are all key to a healthy relationship.

Taking all these aspects into account, serious relationships can be demanding, requiring significant dedication and compromise from both individuals.

This is why, for now, he leans towards casual relationships.

He'd rather not adhere to these societal expectations, allowing relationships to evolve organically, devoid of the pressure to fit into predefined roles.

Understanding Patricia's traditional values and her preference for the conventional path, valuing commitment and sticking to established relationship norms, he knew they couldn't be together.

These differing viewpoints would inevitably cause a rift sooner or later, so he made the tough choice to step back.

He didn't want to force a relationship that didn't align with her values, nor did he wish to compromise on his own principles and desires.

So, when she brought up the topic the day before, he agreed to part ways. After all, Patricia's feelings for him at this point weren't that deep, so it wouldn't affect her too much.

The plan was simple: end things sooner rather than later. He believed it would ease the pain over time, sparing both of them from the emotional entanglements that would inevitably make parting harder.

Unfortunately, his hypocrisy really knew no bounds.

"Damn."