A/N: Once again, here's a legend for musical wordings…
Words underlined in italics are either sung by background singers or duet partners
Words underlined in bold italics are sung by lead vocals
CHAPTER THREE
-Several Months later-
"I'm sorry for breaking down." Liam Horton apologized once more. "That was really unprofessional of me whoo!" Liam Horton used his hands to fan himself, attempting to fight back the tears.
"Liam! Liam! Liam! Liam!" The crowd continued chanting.
Sonny Kiriakis and Paul Black looked at their surroundings. The last thing they expected from Will Horton was to have such star power.
"I did this." They both sighed in unison. "I made him who he is today."
"Can somebody give me a glass of water?" Liam requested.
A member of the crew quickly ran on stage to pass him an evian bottle. Liam quickly took a sip of water before passing the bottle back to the crew member.
"Did you know our son was such a high-maintenance guy?" Lucas Horton quirked his eyebrow.
"Well, he is Philip's nephew. That means our boy gets special treatment at Meridian Records." Sami Brady justified.
"So this last song I'm going to sing," Liam took the mic off the stand and stood up from the keyboard. "is a song of repentance. I'm going to take y'all to church for this one."
"Taking it to church?" Paul squinted his eyebrows in curiosity. "Since when did he sing Gospel music?"
"This song is for those who have done wrong because let's face it, we are not perfect." The blonde shrugged his shoulders. "We all have committed some mistakes and made some wrongful decisions in our lives. For me, I know I have and I'm not proud of them."
Choir members donned up in white gowns were entering the stage.
"But I want you all to know today. That as long as you learn from your mistakes and move forward, it's okay! This song is a cry to God for second chance to start over and a second chance for redemption. This song is called 'Happiness'." Liam walked towards the mic stand in front of the stage and put the mic on it. "I want you guys to clap your hands as loud as you can." He began clapping in a slow, steady rhythm. "I want you to clap your hands like this!"
Paul saw a few members of the crowd clapping their hands.
"Come on louder!" Liam tried to hype up the crowd, "I want to see you guys clapping!"
The clapping grew louder and louder.
"Sounds good to me!" Liam laughed. "Keep on clapping on those hands!"
Liam turned his head back to the choir, giving them the signal.
"And one two three…" Liam cued the choir in…
Singing ohhhhh, happiness
Singing ohhhhh, happiness
Liam stopped clapping and held the mic.
I got a homesick heart but a long ways left to go
I've been doing my part but I ain't got much to show
I'm asking you to show me some forgiveness
It's all for you in my pursuit of happiness
Paul Black saw the desperation in Liam's eyes. It made him recall his plea to start afresh.
I got dreams that keep me up in the dead of night
Telling me I wasn't made for the simple life
There's a light I see, but it's far in the distance
So I'm asking you to show me some forgiveness
It's all for you in my pursuit of happiness
Singing ohhhhh, happiness
Singing ohhhhh, happiness
"Lord, please let me move on." Liam pleaded in his mind. "Please let me leave this mess."
He then took the mic off the stand.
These days are tough, these days are long
Sometimes it's hard, you carry on
But I hear a voice singing and I know it's true
There was a long pause.
Liam flagged down with his hand, signalling the choir.
I got dreams…
Liam went down on his knees, belting a high note.
Ohhhhhhhh…
The crowd applauded as Liam continued ad-libbing.
Telling me I wasn't made for the simple life
For the simple life!
Ohhhhhhhhh…
Yeah yeah I'm asking you!
Liam looked to the sky, crying out to God.
Show me some show me some show me some…
It's all for you in my pursuit of happiness
Yeahhhhhhhhhh…
Singing ohhhhh, happiness
Ohhhhhhhhhhh…
Singing ohhhhh, happiness
Happiness, happiness
Singing ohhhhh, happiness
I'm singing, I'm singing, I'm singing
Ohhhhh… happiness
The crowd applauded at the end of the song.
"Salem!" Liam stood up. "You have been a fantastic audience tonight!"
"Encore! Encore! Encore! Encore!" The crowd chanted away.
"Thank you so much for coming out tonight!" Liam ignored the crowd's demand. "It has truly been a great pleasure performing for you guys! Get home or get back to your hotels safely! Good night!" The sliding doors at the back of the stage opened and Liam left the stage.
Paul Black asked himself, "Is he that desperate to leave?"
-Present Day-
Paul Narita laughed at the cartoons on the TV in drunken stupor.
"I never knew 'Adventure Time' was this hilarious!" Paul chortled.
The doorbell rang repeatedly.
"Paul! Paul!" Paul heard his sister's voice.
"Gosh! I'm coming!" Paul groaned in frustration. He lifted himself off the couch and lugged towards the doorstep. "Belle! What are you doing here?" He asked jovially.
Belle Black pulled her head back and pinched her nose. "Geez Paul! You reek of alcohol!" She entered the apartment and was taken aback by the pig sty her brother had created. Beer bottles were lying around and opened potato chips bags were everywhere. "When was the last time you cleaned up in here?"
"Why are we cleaning up?" Paul fell back onto the couch, "The party is still not over!"
"Dad has been worried sick about you!" Belle scolded, "I know what Dad did was terrible, but he's our father. You have to forgive him eventually!"
"Come on sis, take a seat!" Paul shifted to the left to make space on the couch. "Here, have a beer!" Paul offered the glass bottle to Belle.
"No thanks." Belle declined.
"Suit yourself." Paul shrugged his shoulders before focusing his attention back on the TV.
"How long have you been inside your apartment?" Belle questioned.
Paul ignored the question.
"Seriously, what the hell has happened?!" Belle interrogated.
Paul remain unresponsive.
Belle took the remote on the coffee table and turned the TV off.
"Hey I was watching that!" Paul whined.
"Would you snap out of it?!" The blonde lost all her patience. "What the hell happened?!"
"You want to know what happened?" Paul continued giggling. "I'm celebrating! I'm celebrating because Paul Narita is single, available and back in the market!"
"What?" Belle furrowed her eyebrows.
"That's right sis! Your baby brother has gotten back his freedom again!" Paul continued laughing.
"As in you've broken up with Sonny?" Belle asked.
"I've lost my first love!" Paul laughed, "And I've also lost the man who was always there for me throughout the lowest points of my life! The man who was there for me when I came out!"
Belle stared at her brother with worry.
"Here's a toast to me!" Paul raised the beer bottle, "To staying single!" He gulped down the remaining of his beer, trying to forget the conversation he had with Sonny several days ago.
Paul Narita and Sonny Kiriakis sat on opposite sides of the bench at the park.
"So…" Paul began.
"You want to talk about it?" Sonny questioned.
"I guess we have to…" Sonny said. "So how did you find out about it?"
"Shawn did a DNA test between Arianna and Devon. Belle found it and passed it to me." Paul explained. "You?"
"I see…" Sonny nodded his head.
"He didn't know who he really was when he first entered Salem." Paul said, reiterating what his father and Marlena told him.
"I know, Gabi told me." Sonny replied.
An awkward silence took over for a few seconds.
"Look here Paul…" It was Sonny's turn to speak up first.
"We've been together, on again, off again. Hell, we've been doing this for years." Paul said. "I know you love me. I really do. And God knows how much I love you."
"What's the point you're trying to make?" Sonny wanted him to stop beating around the bush. He was terrified with what he was about to hear.
"Let's end this once and for all." Paul declared.
The words felt like a dagger to his heart. Sonny was unable to say anything.
"I know that even after all these years, you still love him. I've seen the way you look at him, I've seen the way you've smiled at him." Paul noted.
"Paul, I…" Sonny tried to justify.
"I can't blame you for your feelings." Paul sighed, "He's sweet, he's kind, he's compassionate, he's crazy attractive even though he doesn't think he is."
Sonny now had a guilty look on his face. Everything Paul said was right Sonny did still have feelings for the blonde chef. Feelings that run deep.
"So this time, let's end it for real." Paul decided. "And when I mean we end things, let's cut all ties."
"What do you mean?" Sonny asked.
"It means that this time, we will no longer see each other at all." Paul clarified.
Sonny's eyes widened.
"And this time, I mean we can't see each other." Paul said, "When we see other on the street, we ignore each other. If we happen to be in the same restaurant, one of us leaves. If we happen to be at the same party, one of us can't turn up."
Sonny shut his eyes tightly. A part of him wanted Paul to stay, to tell him that they can work it out. However, the other part of him is saying this is necessary. This is what he needs.
"Because this time, it seems that you aren't the only who has fallen for him. I know you know how I feel about him too." Paul confessed.
Sonny felt a sting in his heart.
"So for the sake of the man we both have feelings for, we need to sacrifice the feelings we have for each other. This is what's necessary." Paul concluded. He stood up from the bench and walked away.
Belle stared at her brother with sadness, not knowing what to say.
"I've no one to love, no job, nothing!" Paul quaffed the bottle of beer down his throat.
Greg Lee took up the pen and signed at the bottom of the piece of paper.
"It truly is an honour to be part of your company." Greg thanked.
"The honour is ours!" Kate Roberts laughed. "We are working with one the country's top supermodels! Also, you will be able to help us penetrate through the Chinese market!"
"She gets to do the easy part while I have to do the difficult job of firing my brother-in-law!" Theresa Donovan grumbled to Nicole.
Nicole Walker turned her head and shushed her.
"With you becoming the new face of Basic Black, you will be able to wow everyone at Shanghai Fashion Week!" Kate shook Greg's hand. "Let me show you the door!"
"Will, this one's for you." Kate muttered under her breath.
A/N: Ok that's it for now. Yeap, Paul is going downhill…
Song is 'Happiness' by NeedToBreathe
So what did yall think about this chapter? REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! :D
From the next chapter onwards, I won't be doing anymore flash-forwards. At least not for now lol…
Thanks for reading! :D