the violin recital

Chloe was surprisingly more into spending time with me ever since that unfortunate café catastrophe. She'd call me often, asking for help with her assignments and invited me over frequently to study for exams and pop quizzes. She genuinely had varying topics of conversation that didn't include Garo so things were looking up. My haphazard plan was finally yielding some results and I was over the moon.

"You're down for the movie tomorrow then?" Chloe asked as I was putting my shoes on.

"Yeah, see you there." I nodded and turned around, ready to leave her house when I was interrupted by two arms snaking around my torso.

Chloe rested her head on my back and sighed deeply. I was taken aback. "I'm so glad we're doing this."

I turned around, backing away a bit. "Doing what?"

"You know, studying and movie dates and stuff." She took a few steps closer which compelled me to open the main door to her house and step out so there was appropriate distance between us.

"Yeah, it's great. I'll see you tomorrow." I scurried away like a scaredy cat, not even bothering to look at her.

As I made my way to my house with a throbbing headache, an unknown number flashed on my screen. I decided to pick up the call, hoping it'd distract me from everything that was going on in my head.

"Hello?"

"Sair?" I heard a familiar voice that I was unable to put my finger on.

"Who is this?"

"Jasmine, silly." I could hear the gum she was chewing.

"Hey...how'd you get my number?"

I heard her giggle loudly and stopped in my tracks for a moment. "That's besides the point. Are you coming to the recital tomorrow?"

"Recital?"

"Huh? Ro didn't invite you to her violin recital tomorrow?"

"Oh, that. Yeah, she did." I responded, not knowing jack shit. "Could you confirm the time and venue for me?"

"Tomorrow at 7, Montgomery theatre." I took out a pen from my pocket, jotting the details down on the palm of my hand.

"Do I have to, like, wear something formal?"

"Not really." She hummed. "But since you're the boyfriend, I think you should look presentable."

"Okay."

"I'm so excited! See you there!" I smiled as she hung up.

THE DAY OF THE RECITAL

Garo Lewis

To say that I was nervous was an understatement. I was on the verge of shitting myself at any moment, to put it in a less lady-like sentiment. I wasn't even exaggerating. I had been stress eating that entire afternoon and found myself on the toilet three hours before the recital.

"You okay in there?" Angie asked, knocking on my stall.

"I guess," I sighed. "I don't wanna mess this up."

"Babe, we've heard you play, no one plays like you." Jasmine chimed.

"A lot of people do, Jas."

"I don't care! You're the only violin-playing baddie I know." She raised her voice as I got out of the stall.

"I would've killed myself a long time ago if I didn't have you guys." I looked at myself in the mirror. I still had my pyjamas on and my makeup and hair weren't done, but I definitely was.

"Me too." Angie raised her arm.

"Me three." Jasmine grinned, putting her arm as well.

"You've been practicing all day, I want you to chill for a bit now." Angie placed both of her hands on my shoulders, shaking me violently. "Come back from the dead."

"It's time to slay, babe." Jasmine handed me the shopping bag with my dress in it. "Go get ready, you'll feel so much better after."

As I slipped on my dress, I tried not to think about things that were out of my control. All I wanted to care about was doing my best. I was performing for my family and friends and anyone else in that audience didn't matter.

I let out a deep breath, stepping out of the stall and saw Angie and Jas staring at me with adoration. They had been looking forward to seeing me in that dress all month. They were thrilled about my stupid recital more than anyone. Unlike me, I was dreading every second. I just wanted it to be over. As much as I liked attention, I could only revel in it when I was walking around the school campus, doing nothing and looking my best. The pressure of actually doing something and being good at it in front of so many people was slowly starting to weigh me down as I got closer and closer to the recital.

"How do I look?" I asked, just as I was done with my makeup and hair.

"Insane." Angie and Jasmine said at the same time and then high-fived each other, screaming, "Jinx!"

"Okay, girls," I cleared my throat, checking the time on my phone. "Half an hour more." All three of us held each other's hand, forming a circle. "I love you guys for being here."

"You're going to kill it." Angie stared at me with determined eyes.

"You're going to smash it." Jasmine added.

"You're going to eat and leave no crumbs!" All three of us wrapped our arms around each other and I closed my eyes, feeling, somewhat, sane.

After Angie and Jasmine left the bathroom to go get seated, I quickly retouched my makeup and made my way backstage at last. "Nervous?" Leonard asked and I nodded, forcing a smile on face. Leo was my partner who was to play the piano beside me. Him being on stage with me was quite literally the only thing keeping me from pissing myself.

I peeked through the curtains. More than half of the theatre was full. Mom and grandad were seated in the very first row and Jasmine and Angie somewhere in the middle.

I closed my eyes and shook my head in an attempt to clear it. Our names were announced and Leo and I quickly took our positions. Him at the pianoforte and me with my violin.

The curtain slowly slid open, revealing us. I, ever so slightly, propped my chin on the chin-rest, eyeing the crowd one last time and that's when I saw him. My heart skipped a beat just as Leo signalled me to start. I took in a deep breath, closing my eyes and began to play.

The tension left my body almost instantly and as I glided the bow over the strings, it almost felt like it moved on its own accord. It was so smooth; I could hardly believe how good everything sounded. I was worried because Leo and I had been botching our practices occasionally. We sounded decent most of the time but there was always something off in our piece whenever we practiced. On stage, every imperfection seemed to have disappeared. I felt the music in every fibre of my being. It was like the notes were embedded into my soul.

When we were at the very end of our piece, I opened my eyes to look at him again. Sair was seated next to Jasmine in a black suit. I wasn't even sure if I was imagining everything I laid my eyes on considering how euphoric that experience was. The music had nestled around me, creating this magnetic field that filled my chest with warmth. I had never played the way I did that day. I don't know what possessed me but I was thankful to that entity.

I was still in that euphoric daze minutes after it was all over. My mother was the one to wake me up from that trance by sneaking up behind me and startling me backstage. Granddad gave me a hug, handing me a box of my favourite chocolates. "My Ro is so talented." He told me, hugging me again. I was so happy that I ended up crying in his arms. "Shh! You're a star." He patted my head lovingly and I smiled, letting a few more tears make their way down my face.

Jasmine and Angie followed next, enveloping me into the tightest hug that almost made me forget that I had seen Sair's face in the audience. But when I saw him standing with a bouquet of white lilies in a corner, I knew right away I wasn't hallucinating before. He walked up to me when all the commotion surrounding me had died down.

"I can't believe that you didn't invite me." He handed me the bouquet, a slight smirk playing on his lips. Now that he was standing close enough, I could silently appreciate how handsome he looked. The suit complimented his lanky frame and his pushed-back hair added to the appeal.

"Can I ask who did?" I narrowed my eyes in suspicion.

"Jasmine." I gave Jasmine a look. She was busy talking to my mother about something at a safe distance. "You were great up there." He commented and I examined his face carefully to catch a hint of sarcasm. To my delight, there wasn't any. He was really complimenting me.

"Thank you. You do know you didn't have to do all this, right?"

"He's your boyfriend, of course he did." Angie and Jasmine walked in on our conversation out of nowhere. I immediately tried to locate my family to make sure they were nowhere near to have found out about my boyfriend. But I was, unfortunately, too late because my mother was standing right behind Jas and Angie, talking to Granddad.

"Boyfriend?!" Grandad exclaimed, looking around for a couple seconds and then gazing up at Sair attentively. "You didn't tell me you have a sweetheart."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Michelle, Garo's mother." Mom extended her hand to Sair.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Lewis. I'm Sair." He smiled, shaking hands with her.

"I divorced Mr. Lewis, so just call me Michelle, will you?" Mom grinned and I glared at Jasmine who was visibly suppressing her laughter. Sair chuckled politely, nodding his head.

"And you too, Sir." He went on to extend his hand to granddad who shook it with a lot more enthusiasm than I had anticipated.

"When were you going to tell me about Sair?" Mom looked at me.

"It happened so suddenly, I didn't even tell Jas and Angie for a while." I answered, filling up all the awkward silences. "Anyway, we have a dinner reservation, people! Let's get going."

"Will the young man be joining us?" Granddad asked and I shook my head in panic.

"No!" I replied on Sair's behalf.

"Why? Are you busy, son?" Granddad looked at him expectantly and I glared at Sair, my eyes literally shooing him away.

"I can always make time for Garo." He wrapped one of his arms around my waist and I felt my cheeks heat up. I couldn't understand what was up with him. Usually, he was this lost puppy following my lead, but that night he was being weirdly assertive. And dare I say, it was turning me on.

"Are you drunk?" I whispered in his ear as all of us made our way out of the theatre.

"Angie did pass me a flask during your performance."