16 The Calm Before the Storm

Monday, September 20, 2088.

Since it was cold this afternoon, they had decided to eat at the cafeteria. And to Jae Hyun's great delight, there was a Korean meal. It was the first time he had eaten one since he arrived in Heaven. He had noticed that all cultures were mixed in this world and that there were no standard meals in the different cities. He was eating his food and was happy to find a familiar taste. The kimchi that accompanied the meal was excellent.

While they were eating, Tiffany complained. Earlier in the class, she was caught by the teacher listening to music, her headphones had been confiscated, and she got one hour's detention. Emma laughed at her misfortune.

"But seriously, you asked for it. Who listens to music in the middle of class? Couldn't it wait?", said Jasmine.

Tiffany made a falsely sulky face.

"But the song is really too good. I can't help but listen to it over and over again!" said Tiffany in despair.

"And which song does this effect on you?" asked Emma curiously.

"Creep from Echo!" replied Tiffany.

Pfft. Jae Hyun spits out the soup he was swallowing on his tray and started coughing.

"Are you all right? It went down the wrong way?" His friends were worried.

Jae Hyun waved his hand to say to them that everything was fine while he continued to cough. What were the chances that Tiffany would come across one of his compositions?

Tifanny kept talking.

"I was curious to know who had composed this song, so I went to Rouse Fox's channel. He only has two songs, but they're so good! I think I've become a fan! His songs speak too much to me. Then his voice. Oh! His voice~" Tiffany took a loving face.

Jae Hyun sank into his seat.

"Because there's a singer you're not a fan of? You're worse than a shark looking for its prey", replied Daniel.

Tiffany looked at him furiously.

At that time, Jae Hyun felt that women could be scary when they wanted to. He wouldn't have wanted to be in Daniel's shoes for anything in the world at that time.

Curious, Jasmine typed the name on True Music to listen to one of his songs. Her best friend who was only talking about Dynamic lately had found a new crush? She couldn't let that go.

Jae Hyun suddenly felt really embarrassed. They were talking about him after all. It would probably be a good thing if he told them, but... It was too embarrassing! He would have wanted to be anywhere but here at that time.

Moreover, he knew he was taking risks as a singer, and didn't want to put them in danger if ever he was caught. Not that he trusted his ability to defend himself and hide well. He had been doing it for years after all.

As if to spare him from this embarrassing situation, he received a message. It came from Sumire. He hadn't seen her since the previous week. Between her brother who did everything he could to keep them from seeing each other and the fact that she was one year older and not in the same pavilion, it was complicated for them to see each other.

"It's been a long time. I wanted to know if we could meet in the music room of the last time if you have time? I have a favor to ask you. — Sumire"

Saved! Jae Hyun replied that he would come and swallowed what was left of the soup before telling his friends that he had to go.

When he arrived in front of the music room, he opened the door and found Sumire sitting a guitar in her hand. When she saw Jae Hyun, she smiled and waved at him to come in and close the door behind him.

"I'm sorry. I asked you to come like this the last minute." said Sumire.

"No, it's nothing. And that was for?", Jae Hyun asked.

Sumire took a paper out of her bag and handed it to Jae Hyun. In dismay, Jae Hyun took it and read it.

"Are those... lyrics?"

She nodded.

"Yes. I thought about what you said last time and I'd like to try my luck on TrueMusic even if my parents don't want I become a singer. This is my life after all. I wanted to see you to get a neutral opinion about my first song. Since you're one of the few people who know I'm singing and I have the feeling you wouldn't lie to me about it, I asked you to come."

"Uh... Are you sure you want to tell me? I mean... It would put you in danger if I ever reported you, wouldn't it?" Jae Hyun gave her a look full of innuendo.

She rolled her eyes before smiling at him.

"I trust you."

There was no hesitation in her voice.

Jae Hyun feels rather touched. To know that she trusted him that much.

He went to sit on the piano bench. "All right. I'm listening to you."

She started to scratch her guitar but seemed uncomfortable. Obviously, she was not used to singing in front of others knowingly. Sumire started singing.

Jae Hyun closed his eyes and listened seriously. After a few minutes, the song was over, and Jae Hyun opened his eyes again.

"So?" She had asked him the question timidly.

"That's good. The lyrics are well worked out. But..."

"But?" asked Sumire.

He didn't know if he should tell her, but since she had asked him his sincere opinion.

"But the melody is not so good. It's pretty bland."

Contrary to his expectations, she did not seem offended by his remark. She even took it seriously. Jae Hyun sighed and looked into her eyes. He really couldn't leave her alone in her misery seeing her doing such a face.

"Is it okay if I borrow your guitar?"

Sumire was surprised by his request but still passed him her guitar.

Jae Hyun tuned the guitar and placed the lyrics on the piano next to him to be able to read them. He started scratching some notes. After finding a general idea of a music he could put on her lyrics, he turned to Sumire.

"Sing. I'm going to improvise something."

She nodded, and he started an intro to the guitar. She closed her eyes to gather her emotions and started singing at his signal.

"Can't ever let my heart forget today, a feeling I'll never see

The pattern made to fit, I cut myself a place in the seam

And suddenly I'm singing out a line but catch it to make it mine

Be free, the words in me, to ride atop this melody beginning to fly"

Jae Hyun started hitting the guitar.

"I'll sing it for the words I wanna reach you

I'll sing it for the day it finally meets you

If every pixel joins into a straight line

So can all this sound live on as starlight

I'll sing it for the words I wanna reach you

I'll sing it for the day it finally meets you

If every pixel joins into a curved line

So can all this sound connect, music, yours and mine"

Sumire opened her eyes surprised by Jae Hyun's improvisation. Jae Hyun kept sliding his fingers over the guitar.

"Remembering a white and falling light, a feeling you brought to me

A glowing memory, I'm reaching for your voice but grab to see

My every little touch began to lead a symphony through the sky

Be free, the words in me, they're echoing into heaven and beginning to fly"

Sumire felt that her message could pass more easily and gained confidence in her singing.

"I'll sing it for the words I wanna reach you

I'll sing it for the day it finally meets you

If every pixel joins into a straight line

So can I be heard and take the spotlight

I'll sing it for the words I wanna reach you

I'll sing it for the day it finally meets you

If every pixel joins into a curved line

So can all this sound connect, music, yours and mine (ah ah)"

Jae Hyun looked in her eye and smiled at her. Sumire responded to his smile by doing the same before continuing to sing visibly happy.

"And every day the same, no way did I think

The world could change at all for me

Then I saw the morning come again

Giving me the "present" that I need

A second, I believed without looking back

And changed my life and all I had

Tell your world to me, I wanna know that world you see

I'll sing it for the words I wanna reach you

I'll sing it for the day it finally meets you

If every pixel joins into a straight line

So can all this sound live on as starlight

I'll sing it for the words I wanna reach you

I'll sing it for the day it finally meets you

If every pixel joins into a curved line

So can all this sound connect, music, yours and mine (ah)"

The song had ended. Sumire hadn't realized the time that had passed. It was the first time she realized how much influence a composition could have on a song. She contemplated Jae Hyun with admiring eyes before speaking in an enthusiastic voice.

"I didn't know you could play the guitar! And besides, do you have any composition skills? You hide your game well." She looked at him with a smile on her face.

"Aha. I'm not that good. I just know how to play piano and a little guitar. And it wasn't so good. You can use it for your song. I recorded it just in case. I'm sending you the file."

He put down the guitar and sent her the file.

"Are you sure? I don't feel like stealing a composition from you. I should still give you credit." She was in the clouds.

"And put my name on TrueMusic, so I can get arrested? No, thank you." Jae Hyun laughed after his own remark.

At that time, Sumire felt that her remark had been silly. She laughs too.

After Jae Hyun had insisted a moment, Sumire finally accepted to use Jae Hyun's composition for her song.

The bell announcing the end of dinner time rang, and they headed to their respective classes. It was mathematics class and Jae Hyun already felt boredom wins over him. As the endless course was about to end, someone near a window began to shake before getting up in a hurry.

A girl closes to the guy who was going to make a remark to him also panicked when she saw what was happening outside. The teacher tried as bests he could to calm them down, but several curious people had rushed to the windows to find out what had made their two classmates so upset.

That's when Jae Hyun saw her. A visibly older girl with long black hair was on the roof of the school. Several whispers were heard in the classroom. Jae Hyun finally got up to approach the window. A student reacts.

"Isn't that bad? She's going to kill herself?"

Before he could finish his sentence, the girl had jumped in front of the panicked eyes of the students. A girl screamed a shrieking scream shocked by the scene.

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Author's note:

If you have suicidal thoughts or know someone close to you is in danger, call your local suicide hotlines.

Your life is important! You're not alone!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suicide_crisis_lines