CHAPTER 53

David, puzzled yet intrigued by Hamza's uncanny ability, tried to unravel the mystery behind his friend's unexpected musical expertise. The note Hamza had just played wasn't merely accurate; it carried a hint of emotional depth and energy that David hadn't anticipated. He pondered for a moment, then turned to Hamza, an inquisitive look on his face.

"Are you sure you've never played the piano before, Hamza?" David asked, a mix of wonder and curiosity evident in his voice. Hamza, amused by David's reaction, replied, "I swear, this is my first time touching a piano."

Though still somewhat baffled, David acknowledged Hamza's explanation and nodded, accepting his friend's claim that he was new to the instrument. "Alright, let's ramp up the difficulty and see how you handle the challenge," David proposed, preparing to introduce Hamza to more complex keys and chords.

Hamza, eager to embrace the next level of musical intricacy, positioned himself on the bench beside David. With attentive eyes, he observed the finesse of David's skilled fingers on the keys. As the lessons advanced, David transitioned from simple scales and single notes to more elaborate compositions. He shared his own journey of learning the piano, shedding light on chord progressions, key modulations, and the art of harmonizing various musical elements.

David's teachings went beyond just instructing Hamza on technicalities; he delved into the philosophy behind the music. Encouraging Hamza to explore the nuances of each note, David passionately elucidated the emotional depth and dynamics that breathed life into every melody. His guidance was a blend of encouragement and technical knowledge, ensuring Hamza not only comprehended the complexities but also felt the soul of the music.

As the piano lesson was drawing to a close, David, contemplating on a subtle point, turned to Hamza with an intrigued expression. "So, I watched the first video you had. The song you played, it started with something like..." David paused for a moment, mentally retracing the tune. Hamza, sensing David's thought process, chuckled softly and picked up the lyrics of the song.

"It's been a long day without you, my friend

And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again

We've come a long way from where we began

Oh, I'll tell you all about it when I see you again

When I see you again"

David, struck by the tune he recognized, felt a sense of familiarity but couldn't quite place it. "Ah, yes that's the song!" he exclaimed. "It seems more suited for the piano than when you played it with the guitar."

Hamza, noticing David's reaction and wanting to explain, began, "Yes, that song was actually..." His voice trailed off as he abruptly realized that the song he had played didn’t exist in this world. It was from his former life, and in this world, it was entirely unknown. Wanting to keep the truth hidden, Hamza quickly amended his statement. "Yeah, that song was intended to be played on the piano, but I had to use the guitar for it at that time."

He hoped that his response didn't seem suspicious and was grateful that David didn't delve any further into the matter. His past world memories were valuable to him but revealing them could complicate things, especially regarding the mysterious system that had suddenly granted him musical abilities. The encounter made him realize the importance of keeping this secret to himself.

"Oh, that makes sense, and also I have been wanting to ask you, what were you doing at the camp surrounded by soldiers?" David inquired curiously. He'd noticed Hamza's rugged appearance in the video, and his curiosity had been piqued by his friend's evident strain and rough situation.

Hamza's mind was suddenly bombarded by memories of the traumatic incident at the terrorist camp, where he'd suffered and been shot. The mere thought of those past events made him feel suffocated, and he instinctively reached for the spot on his body where the bullet had struck him. Overwhelmed by the flashback, he felt the weight of the memories bearing down on him. The recollection was haunting, making it difficult to maintain composure.

Seized by emotion, Hamza sunk onto the bed, trying to manage the deluge of memories flooding his thoughts. His countenance turned ashen, sweat beading across his forehead as the past threatened to engulf his present.

David, observing the sudden change in Hamza, sensed his friend's distress. Taking a seat next to Hamza, he recognized the need for support and reassurance. Placing a comforting hand on Hamza's shoulder, he offered understanding words: "It's okay, Hamza. You don't have to talk about it if you're not ready. We all have things we wish to forget."

The camaraderie and warmth in David's response aimed to bring solace to Hamza in his moment of emotional turmoil. It was an unspoken gesture of support, an assurance that not all past experiences need to be revisited or shared, and that it's okay to have secrets or painful memories. David's presence became a comforting reminder of understanding and support during difficult times.

Hamza let out a heavy sigh, attempting to collect himself. Deep within, he knew he wasn't okay. The memories of the night he was shot were like ghostly echoes, haunting his nights and unsettling his sleep. He’d never disclosed these nighttime disturbances to anyone, choosing instead to wear a façade of composure, not wanting to trouble others. Shaking off these distressing thoughts, Hamza faced David and said, "Yeah, it's something I don't want to talk about, but I appreciate your support, man. Thanks a lot."

"Hehe, come on, that's what friends are for," David chimed in, seeking to lighten the mood. He extended his hand for a friendly shake.

Hamza chuckled, reciprocating David's handshake. "Yeah, bro," he replied, indicating his readiness to steer the conversation toward a lighter direction.

"Alright, putting that behind us, let's delve into music. Can you show me the notes of the song? Maybe we can start from there," David suggested, a smile on his face, noticing Hamza's gradual recovery and smile.

"Oh, let me grab that," Hamza said, searching the room for the book where he had noted the song's lyrics and musical notations. As he located the book, he opened it to the page containing the requested song and showed it to David.

David accepted the book, settling into the chair closest to the piano. Upon glancing at Hamza's meticulous handwriting - neat, clean, and entirely unembellished but strikingly precise - he was taken aback. "Firstly, how are your musical notes so clean without errors? Where and when did you learn to write them? And secondly, your handwriting is flawless too? You're making me look bad, brother!" David added with a chuckle, genuinely surprised by Hamza's proficiency in nearly everything.

Hamza laughed at David's remarks, taking a moment to organize his thoughts. "Well, I learned to write musical notes from my aunt and uncle," he answered, although he knew it was his biological parents who had taught him. "As for my handwriting, I guess I got it from my mom, who always had beautiful penmanship."

"Well, that says it all then. You're lucky to have parents and relatives that support your music," David acknowledged. For a fleeting moment, a hint of sadness appeared on his face, but it vanished just as quickly.

Sensing David's emotional shift, Hamza reached out and patted his friend on the back. "Everything will be fine, man. I've always believed that life has its phases, and this is just another passage we have to navigate through together."

"Thanks a lot, man. I really appreciate your help. Enough of all this, let me read this music note," David said, adjusting his mood to read the music notes. It took about ten minutes for him to go through the notes. Once done, he turned to Hamza and suggested, "I'm done, bro. So, why don't we get started?"

Hamza nodded and adjusted his chair close to David, who settled in front of the piano. As they prepared to begin, Hamza had a sudden idea. "Oh, I have an idea. Why don't you call your sister to record us, then you can post it on your Instagram page?"

A bright smile crossed Hamza's face as he called his sister. "Zara, could you record us for a bit, please?" He handed her David's phone.

Zara nodded and stood at where david postitioned her to record the video.

David then brought out his laptop, setting up an interface that appeared to be used for music production. After positioning it nearby, he nodded to Hamza. Placing his hands on the keyboard, David began playing a tune for about seven seconds before Hamza started singing.

“It's been a long day without you, my friend

And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again

We've come a long way from where we began

Oh, I'll tell you all about it when I see you again

When I see you again”

Upon hearing the first note, a tingling sensation enveloped Hamza. With each verse, Hamza began to smile and sing along with the tone of the piano, the joy evident on his face. It was apparent that he thoroughly enjoyed the piano's sound, allowing it to carry him along its melodic current.

"Damn, who knew?

All the planes we flew, good things we been through

That I'd be standing right here talking to you

'Bout another path, I know we loved to hit the road and laugh

But something told me that it wouldn't last

Had to switch up, look at things different, see the bigger picture

Those were the days, hard work forever pays

Now I see you in a better place (see you in a better place)

Uh"

As the rap section surged in, Hamza's energy heightened. He sprang to his feet, hitting every verse with precision, his delivery flawless as if he'd rehearsed this moment a hundred times. His eyes flickered briefly toward David, who remained wholly engrossed in the keyboard.

"How can we not talk about family when family's all that we got?

Everything I went through, you were standing there by my side

And now you gon' be with me for the last ride"

Hamza rode the piano's melody, infusing every lyric with raw emotion. His singing became a heartfelt journey, channeling every possible feeling into each note.

"It's been a long day without you, my friend

And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again (I'll see you again)

We've come a long way (yeah, we came a long way)

From where we began (you know we started)

Oh, I'll tell you all about it when I see you again (I'll tell you)

When I see you again"

singing this part of the song, memories flooded Hamza's mind, reminding him of its origin parting ways with his childhood friend, Shamshudeen. The nostalgia hit hard, and he found himself missing him more than ever.

"First, you both go out your way and the vibe is feeling strong

And what's small turned to a friendship, a friendship turned to a bond

And that bond will never be broken, the love will never get lost

(The love will never get lost)

And when brotherhood come first, then the line will never be crossed

Established it on our own when that line had to be drawn

And that line is what we reached, so remember me when I'm gone

(Remember me when I'm gone)"

Mid-song, as Hamza sang, the weight of the lyrics struck him deeply. His gaze shifted to David, and a profound sense of wonder enveloped him. Reflecting on how they evolved from strangers to forging an unbreakable bond, a genuine smile graced his face while he continued to sing.

"How can we not talk about family when family's all that we got?

Everything I went through you were standing there by my side

And now you gon' be with me for the last ride"

"So let the light guide your way, yeah

Hold every memory as you go

And every road you take

Will always lead you home, home"

During this part of the song, Hamza experienced a sense of liberation as if a weight had been lifted. His voice soared higher, and an undeniable feeling of freedom overcame him, painting a bright smile on his face.

It's been a long day without you, my friend

And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again

We've come a long way from where we began

Oh, I'll tell you all about it when I see you again

When I see you again

When I see you again (yeah, uh)

See you again (yeah, yeah, yeah)

When I see you again

Arriving at the song's conclusion, Hamza and David exchanged a shared smile that transcended words. Their expressions conveyed an unspoken language of mutual appreciation and understanding. It was a testament to the profound connection and unbreakable bond that had organically woven itself between them, not merely through the music they had just played, but through the shared experiences, the highs and lows, and the unspoken moments that had silently fortified their camaraderie. The smiles they wore carried the weight of their journey, a silent celebration of the music, the trust, and the unspoken harmony that defined their relationship.