p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c644e11be3851c4f0b45cf9ccf4cbfc8"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"My future bride just said she would very much like me to be the one singing our song to her. Maybe it's not too late to learn some guitar./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9efc314b65237d5d646e1b817372afc6"-/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="bad47cc0cfae02916a5f2f4eb1324e33"He listened to the melody. How she made the strings vibrate such a beautiful sound that is almost incomparable to the original./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9392757e8cede30815c41d505f6a6ecb"Jared just stood there and did nothing. The moment he stepped in, the song was just starting and for all four minutes of that song, he was just standing and observing Drea play it. Sometimes she would have lapses and mistakes but she just laughs it off and hums the whole song. With this, waves of memories ate the shore of his mind./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0da32d7418dcb3b5892af93fa2a70d50"It was the juniors' ball that time, when he first laid eyes on Michaela Beth Stone, the most stunning lady in the event. She didn't come with a date, in fact she didn't entertain any because she just broke up with her gangster of a boyfriend by that time. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3dae553c6d9734c5c1a084fdcafbb021"She was one of the bad girls at school, the emo punk type. Her hair was shaved on the other side and the other with her blonde and rainbow curls, wearing a statement shirt or anything black, ear piercings,.and that wasn't exactly his type of girl. But when she arrived there, prom night,.her blue eyes were highlighted by the blue ball gown she wore with her blonde locks up in a braid bun. She looked enchanting. And when he saw her walking on the dancefloor, this is the song that played./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1e643537088abc016ec2120577bc332f"When they were seniors, he finally asked her out to be his prom date and she said yes. For him, that was the very first accomplishment of his teenage life. He requested that song to go in the dance playlist and that night, they danced under romantic lights./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="593b8ef456e436a91666639422032e27"Whenever they'd go in road trips, that song will never be off the playlist./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="46aec4bcbb7d39d84e0ef6c36f67a2cb"And when he finally made the decision to ask her hand, that song was what he brought with him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ab2358ea4283ca4f69f9fa4390cc08ed"Even when they're not in good terms anymore, he still used it to let Mick know what was happening just so they can save Zeke and call the undercover done./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1dc6cbde3a3c5b2d713c79fb346c7e7e"That song... will always remind him of them two./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fb205fe703f7326cd8f033b5a1035eca"That's why when Drea finished playing it, he found himself still immobile. Still stuck in his memories and the thoughts of what could've been. He didn't even notice that Drea has already sensed his presence and is facing his direction./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="42af4147dbfd5601ecbf25c82e181c9f"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""You're here,"/span she says with a smile, pulling him out of his thoughts. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a0e408ba670de83bb11290ff260311db"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Yeah... I'm here," /spanhe replied. Just then did he remember what he's rushing for and the nervous heartbeats resurfaced. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Do you have my bag?"/span /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="92c3fe4c12cf1f05d071310088c2137d"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Yup, they're here."/span Drea used her right hand to reach for his bags but he was too edgy and instead of letting her be the one to hand his things to him, he rushed there and grabbed his backpack like he's hiding something. That caused a reaction to cross Drea's face./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="895f1413d767979e61c6b8a42e942d79"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""You're jumpy. You hiding something in there?"/span /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b624535fc577f258f8602a14d5d0069c"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""No. Nothing."/span He shook his head like a guilty little boy./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6f593f884c6f36d6efb47ba4eac52e67"Drea narrowed her eyes at him, taking another look on the bag he hid behind him and was planning to catch it from him but she didn't. Instead, she focused on the thing he found in his house./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f7431bafe05bdc254095370348e38dd7"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Anyway, sorry, I put my hands in this thing. It was getting boring waiting for you,"/span she leaned back on the couch and fiddled with the strings before saying another thing. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Didn't know you play this thing."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="784d4d9cbd5dad9f25550ee565039231"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Actually, I don't."/span He replied right after successfully transferring em style="box-sizing: border-box;"that thing/em from his bag to his jacket pocket. Drea turned his direction once again./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ff485da56e0c3ff18a19f29197b7a1f6"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Then whose guitar is this?"/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a300f2e56ecbc40b95cc9434d0b6d9d7"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""It's mine."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="db1f3b617f42e21775774447b1972145"When he said that, she looked puzzled, so he walked around the couch and sat beside her, getting the guitar from her to see if he still can remember something./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="966b8d5af5d54dafdda3e6ace95ba3e1"He remembers some chords though he can't play it nicely. His fingers always hurt when he tries to press hardly on the strings and he can't transition from one chord to another./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5e5c7eb14fc601cbb5aafbfdee2d0aab"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""See? I can't play it."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a04332548c1a0a1002ed220ee0db20cb"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""But you do know some chords."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f86ec17912c70aa74e453bd7dcfb82bc"He smirked. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Only the basics."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d29226dfb2d62afcb834e07924f83262"And she smiles. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Me too."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="cbae298793c3a515d71ff8ec98cf8257"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Well at least you know how to really play the thing. You played that song well."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="030cbfd21fb1fb4cfacaddd78a87c361"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""And I guess that song should mean a thing to you because you were trying to play it,"/span she raised a folded paper up the air. Something he can't seem to remember because it's been years since the last time he ever cared for that guitar. Shortly after, he realized it was a chord sheet for the song. Maybe that's why she was playing it when he got here, she found a cheat sheet./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="58a489728c5e2efc566fc6d3cfb3337f"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""That song was the main reason I wanted to learn how to play this thing," /spanhe chuckled. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""All of Michaela's ex's during high school knew how to play this. In fact that's what she liked with them. The band member type for her emo punk high school self."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="00152ce4cd214e6f952526a5fe79ebc5"He just realized by then that he's opening up to Drea again, and he might say something that shouldn't be said. However, when he glanced at her, he can see the same Drea that listened to his drama when they were in Japan. She's still all ears for his stories while being all eyes on him. Those big brown eyes looking so sincerely at him as if making him spit out even his deepest, darkest secrets./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9799b84ebbc676e970f8cd468605ae8b"Jared sighed, trying to remember and trying to put them to words. When he was composed enough, he leaned by the couch and Drea followed what he did./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="76c9815731efaa9650a1570490c33613"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""It was our song. The first time I ever noticed Michaela, that played from the speakers. It was our song. The one/spanspan style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;" I used to propose to her. Supposedly, I was gonna sing that in our wedding while playing the guitar,"/span he smiled at all the thoughts. Remembering it like a dream. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""But when I bought that guitar and printed out a chord sheet, it was the same day that Mick and her family went to Jamaica. I decided that it would be the best time to practice because she will not be around to see. I was just starting to learn the song I want to sing for her, but then the plane never came back."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="748f7ac25bf568424b8fb5450f60f4fe"A pout appeared on Drea's face. The same pout she had when Jared left at Michaela's wedding. It must really hurt for him to see the woman he's supposed to marry, walking down the aisle towards someone else./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9725567c7c352508515fdbf8795579ca"If only she could give him another Michaela, or if she could turn back the time and meet him earlier then she would've done something./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b5c0cfac70dcb6f5e184b110309e0ddd"It hasn't been that long since she met Jared. God, it wasn't even a month since they've been close. But she always felt like she knows him. It was as if his sorrows were hers that's why when she suspected him to be leading the wrong way with the Xers, she interfered. Because although she knew Jared as this serious detective who doesn't know how to smile, she still wants him to have a chance to a better life./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="aac2b81dac6a943febf6c0f10cb016fb"To happiness./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c2fadef8053a66cdf8692b97714cffb5"That's why using all her wit, she diverted the topic into something optimistic. She snatched the rusty guitar from his hands and rested back at the couch./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3b4192c29e1bd4593de5b0cd680fe12d"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""You know, the guitar looks good on you. How about we learn it again?"/span She offered but Jared just raised the side of his mouth./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7e34bba22c2735839e9f72b6beade596"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""What for?"/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="2f77378f9ecf447aa0f3bec077046e57"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""For you? You definitely need a hobby."/span /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e661b64f688d403ee8ff60c0338121eb"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""I have a hobby,"/span he said cheerfully before looking into her eyes, diving deep in there as if telling something he's not supposed to say out loud. Drea scoffed./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="678a37f4b94254eacac65b55fda02b1a"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""What? You're gonna kiss me?"/span She scowled at him. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Kissing every girl that comes this close to you is not a hobby, Jared. And what happened to not kissing anyone unless you're sure you're in love?"/span /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="bd03291867f2595f5f58c0010c728ab2"She distanced herself, pushing back two inches farther. It was a joke, what she said. But it doesn't change the fact that Jared is a total seductive hottie. He may not kiss her but what if she does?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="173057ee866d2995e457c91b12c3ef74"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Wow, Drea. Since when did you do kissing?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="597008eca9cb9ca093a7102584226dea"Jared scowled back. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Who's kissing who? You're not my type. And besides, that's not my hobby. This."/span He crawled inches above her and reached for a digital camera that laid just below her elbow. He showed it off. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""I like photography."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0938c46f287865178c9a12c9c58fd3ad"Upon realizing she was wrong and that he wasn't looking at her, she kicked back./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9efc95ce6fb654389222c6ebbca2f22b"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""God, you're messy. i almost sat on that." /spanInstead of a smile, she gave him an honest remark. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""That's your hobby yet you can't even take good pictures of me."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="36ade0d34e6ce711f80f7dbe7d2299a9"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""In my defense, portraits aren't my thing. I like capturing landscapes," /spanhe opened the thing but it beeped red, signaling it's out of battery. He was about to brag of the beautiful pictures he had taken but to his disappointment, the camera won't cooperate./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="517abb450c16b434efcc16311357bf69"Drea smirked. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Okay, fine, sure you do have a hobby but why let this baby down?"/span She raised the guitar up his front and examined it. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Look, the strings are rusty. He's weary and begging to be played,"/span she hid her face behind it while doing another voice to sound like an old guitar who's been left abandoned./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a488dadba2133e5e166f9996eb1965b3"Jared just had his eyes narrowed. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"This girl is silly./em /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b879ae2d0ab74be5e93e11f522cc723d"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Even if I play that, I can't sing."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f4e0a288e5718d9e3671e01f3e169872"He lied. In fact, he sings very well but he barely practices. In his work office, everyone is silent that's why he kept himself without a sound. And he's too shy to let anyone hear his singing voice. Only Mick and Lourdes has ever heard him sing and he didn't even like it when they did./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b2896bc482f710cbbf916c5187b64ecd"But tonight is different. Drea's face reappeared from behind the guitar and gave him a curious look. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="448bbe434d6f9d1ebce6a0299e50c551"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""I don't think so, detective. That rich baritone voice you have can't move in rhythm?"/span She raised both her eyebrows. He nods. But she still gave him the same look, refusing to believe. Sge put the guitar on her lap and started playing the song. While at the intro, she signals to him and encourages him to sing while she plays. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="bb57a3a516a673ef71876309ec32b354"Surprisingly, Jared just let out a sigh and sat up straight. Waited for the cue, and then he's singing./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9ef24846def44375ff6715f562d0e42e"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Saying I love you, is not the words I want to hear from you.../span/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fba2c6b87cd206d3f79293e0e7696e1d"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"It's not that I want you not to say it but if you only knew,/span/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3ce9ab373baae36c5f6bc99d4b23bb18"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"How easy it would be to show me how you feel./span/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d61806cdd1b87e2f6c3ce1deed87ebae"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"More than words is all I ever needed you to show,/span/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8917a392a395460efabeae9f7706735e"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Then you wouldn't have to say that you love me./span/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="640c83b8f50de30d1ea94405745782da"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"'Cause I already know."/span/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3606b8b6adce26b5a2f97da7206bb3d0"Drea was smiling from ear to ear. He can sing, and his voice fits the song so much that she didn't want to stop playing the guitar. While doing the interlude, she looked at him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="323053d229498744b670e851f6f97605"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""You can sing, liar."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="80ba89b9de35968cea53327e5695e56e"Jared just chuckled softly. He intended to continue singing but then when Drea was about to play it, one of the strings stretched broken. It hit Drea's arm and she immediately uttered a curse upon hissing. Jared quickly grabbed that arm of hers and worriedly looked at it. It's not bleeding but the shape of the string engraved a red line on her skin. He rubbed it gently, checking on her. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3fa2c283923a6d6c02e72e37fd97c0b6"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Is it bad? I'll get a band-aid."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="21d544d6280d41f6d805817183cbf89a"Drea just shrugged it off. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""I'm okay, silly. But this baby isn't,"/span she picked Jared's guitar up again. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""He's in need of a makeover so I guess we'll find some other time to teach you."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9eb968ab91e5dd5e56d209783133af01"He wasn't listening but looking at her arm, still. Checking if it will get worse but it didn't. Drea stood up./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ad2d36c8949fd7394e2f132a763ee3de"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""It's getting late and I still have jet lag. I better get going."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c37318914a6a2d2c6546d4878d97fb1b"He just nodded worriedly then stood up to walk her to the door. It was dark outside and he just set eyes on her until she reaches her car. When Drea drove away, she waved at him with a smile and there goes Jared, left by the doorframe of his house. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e37a5331f1507bbb663c3ba9d7867843"He breathed. It felt like forever since he last inhaled but the air seemed nice. When he looked up, the skies were bright with moonlight and with a few twinkling stars around it. He remembered those pictures he wanted to show to Drea earlier. That picture of a sea of stars above an actual sea was his greatest photograph./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="dd2257aa838cf383287bc30f613d8016"But speaking of photograph. When he closed the door and he was again all by himself, he sat on the couch where he was a few minutes ago, beside the guitar. Somehow, he will remember Drea every time he sees this./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="510a4ef95b15fba6850241b243e6e117"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Drea.../em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3d19699c842f00c01480ba11aba51798"A smile crept up his face as that name echoed in his mind. His hand fished that thing he kept in his jacket pocket./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f524f289f5cc268a211d4494d3e1d6ec"That thing he was so afraid she will see./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8e5939b591e6fec0fcc2542adea9e9f4"A picture of Drea, looking outside the cabin of their ferris wheel that night of Christmas./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9efc314b65237d5d646e1b817372afc6"-/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="bad47cc0cfae02916a5f2f4eb1324e33"He listened to the melody. How she made the strings vibrate such a beautiful sound that is almost incomparable to the original./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9392757e8cede30815c41d505f6a6ecb"Jared just stood there and did nothing. The moment he stepped in, the song was just starting and for all four minutes of that song, he was just standing and observing Drea play it. Sometimes she would have lapses and mistakes but she just laughs it off and hums the whole song. With this, waves of memories ate the shore of his mind./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0da32d7418dcb3b5892af93fa2a70d50"It was the juniors' ball that time, when he first laid eyes on Michaela Beth Stone, the most stunning lady in the event. She didn't come with a date, in fact she didn't entertain any because she just broke up with her gangster of a boyfriend by that time. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3dae553c6d9734c5c1a084fdcafbb021"She was one of the bad girls at school, the emo punk type. Her hair was shaved on the other side and the other with her blonde and rainbow curls, wearing a statement shirt or anything black, ear piercings,.and that wasn't exactly his type of girl. But when she arrived there, prom night,.her blue eyes were highlighted by the blue ball gown she wore with her blonde locks up in a braid bun. She looked enchanting. And when he saw her walking on the dancefloor, this is the song that played./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1e643537088abc016ec2120577bc332f"When they were seniors, he finally asked her out to be his prom date and she said yes. For him, that was the very first accomplishment of his teenage life. He requested that song to go in the dance playlist and that night, they danced under romantic lights./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="593b8ef456e436a91666639422032e27"Whenever they'd go in road trips, that song will never be off the playlist./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="46aec4bcbb7d39d84e0ef6c36f67a2cb"And when he finally made the decision to ask her hand, that song was what he brought with him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ab2358ea4283ca4f69f9fa4390cc08ed"Even when they're not in good terms anymore, he still used it to let Mick know what was happening just so they can save Zeke and call the undercover done./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1dc6cbde3a3c5b2d713c79fb346c7e7e"That song... will always remind him of them two./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fb205fe703f7326cd8f033b5a1035eca"That's why when Drea finished playing it, he found himself still immobile. Still stuck in his memories and the thoughts of what could've been. He didn't even notice that Drea has already sensed his presence and is facing his direction./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="42af4147dbfd5601ecbf25c82e181c9f"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""You're here,"/span she says with a smile, pulling him out of his thoughts. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a0e408ba670de83bb11290ff260311db"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Yeah... I'm here," /spanhe replied. Just then did he remember what he's rushing for and the nervous heartbeats resurfaced. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Do you have my bag?"/span /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="92c3fe4c12cf1f05d071310088c2137d"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Yup, they're here."/span Drea used her right hand to reach for his bags but he was too edgy and instead of letting her be the one to hand his things to him, he rushed there and grabbed his backpack like he's hiding something. That caused a reaction to cross Drea's face./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="895f1413d767979e61c6b8a42e942d79"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""You're jumpy. You hiding something in there?"/span /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b624535fc577f258f8602a14d5d0069c"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""No. Nothing."/span He shook his head like a guilty little boy./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6f593f884c6f36d6efb47ba4eac52e67"Drea narrowed her eyes at him, taking another look on the bag he hid behind him and was planning to catch it from him but she didn't. Instead, she focused on the thing he found in his house./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f7431bafe05bdc254095370348e38dd7"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Anyway, sorry, I put my hands in this thing. It was getting boring waiting for you,"/span she leaned back on the couch and fiddled with the strings before saying another thing. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Didn't know you play this thing."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="784d4d9cbd5dad9f25550ee565039231"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Actually, I don't."/span He replied right after successfully transferring em style="box-sizing: border-box;"that thing/em from his bag to his jacket pocket. Drea turned his direction once again./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ff485da56e0c3ff18a19f29197b7a1f6"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Then whose guitar is this?"/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a300f2e56ecbc40b95cc9434d0b6d9d7"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""It's mine."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="db1f3b617f42e21775774447b1972145"When he said that, she looked puzzled, so he walked around the couch and sat beside her, getting the guitar from her to see if he still can remember something./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="966b8d5af5d54dafdda3e6ace95ba3e1"He remembers some chords though he can't play it nicely. His fingers always hurt when he tries to press hardly on the strings and he can't transition from one chord to another./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5e5c7eb14fc601cbb5aafbfdee2d0aab"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""See? I can't play it."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a04332548c1a0a1002ed220ee0db20cb"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""But you do know some chords."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f86ec17912c70aa74e453bd7dcfb82bc"He smirked. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Only the basics."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d29226dfb2d62afcb834e07924f83262"And she smiles. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Me too."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="cbae298793c3a515d71ff8ec98cf8257"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Well at least you know how to really play the thing. You played that song well."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="030cbfd21fb1fb4cfacaddd78a87c361"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""And I guess that song should mean a thing to you because you were trying to play it,"/span she raised a folded paper up the air. Something he can't seem to remember because it's been years since the last time he ever cared for that guitar. Shortly after, he realized it was a chord sheet for the song. Maybe that's why she was playing it when he got here, she found a cheat sheet./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="58a489728c5e2efc566fc6d3cfb3337f"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""That song was the main reason I wanted to learn how to play this thing," /spanhe chuckled. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""All of Michaela's ex's during high school knew how to play this. In fact that's what she liked with them. The band member type for her emo punk high school self."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="00152ce4cd214e6f952526a5fe79ebc5"He just realized by then that he's opening up to Drea again, and he might say something that shouldn't be said. However, when he glanced at her, he can see the same Drea that listened to his drama when they were in Japan. She's still all ears for his stories while being all eyes on him. Those big brown eyes looking so sincerely at him as if making him spit out even his deepest, darkest secrets./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9799b84ebbc676e970f8cd468605ae8b"Jared sighed, trying to remember and trying to put them to words. When he was composed enough, he leaned by the couch and Drea followed what he did./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="76c9815731efaa9650a1570490c33613"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""It was our song. The first time I ever noticed Michaela, that played from the speakers. It was our song. The one/spanspan style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;" I used to propose to her. Supposedly, I was gonna sing that in our wedding while playing the guitar,"/span he smiled at all the thoughts. Remembering it like a dream. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""But when I bought that guitar and printed out a chord sheet, it was the same day that Mick and her family went to Jamaica. I decided that it would be the best time to practice because she will not be around to see. I was just starting to learn the song I want to sing for her, but then the plane never came back."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="748f7ac25bf568424b8fb5450f60f4fe"A pout appeared on Drea's face. The same pout she had when Jared left at Michaela's wedding. It must really hurt for him to see the woman he's supposed to marry, walking down the aisle towards someone else./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9725567c7c352508515fdbf8795579ca"If only she could give him another Michaela, or if she could turn back the time and meet him earlier then she would've done something./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b5c0cfac70dcb6f5e184b110309e0ddd"It hasn't been that long since she met Jared. God, it wasn't even a month since they've been close. But she always felt like she knows him. It was as if his sorrows were hers that's why when she suspected him to be leading the wrong way with the Xers, she interfered. Because although she knew Jared as this serious detective who doesn't know how to smile, she still wants him to have a chance to a better life./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="aac2b81dac6a943febf6c0f10cb016fb"To happiness./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c2fadef8053a66cdf8692b97714cffb5"That's why using all her wit, she diverted the topic into something optimistic. She snatched the rusty guitar from his hands and rested back at the couch./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3b4192c29e1bd4593de5b0cd680fe12d"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""You know, the guitar looks good on you. How about we learn it again?"/span She offered but Jared just raised the side of his mouth./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7e34bba22c2735839e9f72b6beade596"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""What for?"/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="2f77378f9ecf447aa0f3bec077046e57"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""For you? You definitely need a hobby."/span /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e661b64f688d403ee8ff60c0338121eb"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""I have a hobby,"/span he said cheerfully before looking into her eyes, diving deep in there as if telling something he's not supposed to say out loud. Drea scoffed./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="678a37f4b94254eacac65b55fda02b1a"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""What? You're gonna kiss me?"/span She scowled at him. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Kissing every girl that comes this close to you is not a hobby, Jared. And what happened to not kissing anyone unless you're sure you're in love?"/span /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="bd03291867f2595f5f58c0010c728ab2"She distanced herself, pushing back two inches farther. It was a joke, what she said. But it doesn't change the fact that Jared is a total seductive hottie. He may not kiss her but what if she does?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="173057ee866d2995e457c91b12c3ef74"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Wow, Drea. Since when did you do kissing?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="597008eca9cb9ca093a7102584226dea"Jared scowled back. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Who's kissing who? You're not my type. And besides, that's not my hobby. This."/span He crawled inches above her and reached for a digital camera that laid just below her elbow. He showed it off. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""I like photography."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0938c46f287865178c9a12c9c58fd3ad"Upon realizing she was wrong and that he wasn't looking at her, she kicked back./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9efc95ce6fb654389222c6ebbca2f22b"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""God, you're messy. i almost sat on that." /spanInstead of a smile, she gave him an honest remark. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""That's your hobby yet you can't even take good pictures of me."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="36ade0d34e6ce711f80f7dbe7d2299a9"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""In my defense, portraits aren't my thing. I like capturing landscapes," /spanhe opened the thing but it beeped red, signaling it's out of battery. He was about to brag of the beautiful pictures he had taken but to his disappointment, the camera won't cooperate./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="517abb450c16b434efcc16311357bf69"Drea smirked. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Okay, fine, sure you do have a hobby but why let this baby down?"/span She raised the guitar up his front and examined it. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Look, the strings are rusty. He's weary and begging to be played,"/span she hid her face behind it while doing another voice to sound like an old guitar who's been left abandoned./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a488dadba2133e5e166f9996eb1965b3"Jared just had his eyes narrowed. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"This girl is silly./em /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b879ae2d0ab74be5e93e11f522cc723d"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Even if I play that, I can't sing."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f4e0a288e5718d9e3671e01f3e169872"He lied. In fact, he sings very well but he barely practices. In his work office, everyone is silent that's why he kept himself without a sound. And he's too shy to let anyone hear his singing voice. Only Mick and Lourdes has ever heard him sing and he didn't even like it when they did./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b2896bc482f710cbbf916c5187b64ecd"But tonight is different. Drea's face reappeared from behind the guitar and gave him a curious look. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="448bbe434d6f9d1ebce6a0299e50c551"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""I don't think so, detective. That rich baritone voice you have can't move in rhythm?"/span She raised both her eyebrows. He nods. But she still gave him the same look, refusing to believe. Sge put the guitar on her lap and started playing the song. While at the intro, she signals to him and encourages him to sing while she plays. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="bb57a3a516a673ef71876309ec32b354"Surprisingly, Jared just let out a sigh and sat up straight. Waited for the cue, and then he's singing./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9ef24846def44375ff6715f562d0e42e"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Saying I love you, is not the words I want to hear from you.../span/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fba2c6b87cd206d3f79293e0e7696e1d"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"It's not that I want you not to say it but if you only knew,/span/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3ce9ab373baae36c5f6bc99d4b23bb18"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"How easy it would be to show me how you feel./span/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d61806cdd1b87e2f6c3ce1deed87ebae"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"More than words is all I ever needed you to show,/span/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8917a392a395460efabeae9f7706735e"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Then you wouldn't have to say that you love me./span/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="640c83b8f50de30d1ea94405745782da"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"'Cause I already know."/span/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3606b8b6adce26b5a2f97da7206bb3d0"Drea was smiling from ear to ear. He can sing, and his voice fits the song so much that she didn't want to stop playing the guitar. While doing the interlude, she looked at him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="323053d229498744b670e851f6f97605"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""You can sing, liar."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="80ba89b9de35968cea53327e5695e56e"Jared just chuckled softly. He intended to continue singing but then when Drea was about to play it, one of the strings stretched broken. It hit Drea's arm and she immediately uttered a curse upon hissing. Jared quickly grabbed that arm of hers and worriedly looked at it. It's not bleeding but the shape of the string engraved a red line on her skin. He rubbed it gently, checking on her. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3fa2c283923a6d6c02e72e37fd97c0b6"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Is it bad? I'll get a band-aid."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="21d544d6280d41f6d805817183cbf89a"Drea just shrugged it off. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""I'm okay, silly. But this baby isn't,"/span she picked Jared's guitar up again. span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""He's in need of a makeover so I guess we'll find some other time to teach you."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9eb968ab91e5dd5e56d209783133af01"He wasn't listening but looking at her arm, still. Checking if it will get worse but it didn't. Drea stood up./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ad2d36c8949fd7394e2f132a763ee3de"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""It's getting late and I still have jet lag. I better get going."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c37318914a6a2d2c6546d4878d97fb1b"He just nodded worriedly then stood up to walk her to the door. It was dark outside and he just set eyes on her until she reaches her car. When Drea drove away, she waved at him with a smile and there goes Jared, left by the doorframe of his house. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e37a5331f1507bbb663c3ba9d7867843"He breathed. It felt like forever since he last inhaled but the air seemed nice. When he looked up, the skies were bright with moonlight and with a few twinkling stars around it. He remembered those pictures he wanted to show to Drea earlier. That picture of a sea of stars above an actual sea was his greatest photograph./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="dd2257aa838cf383287bc30f613d8016"But speaking of photograph. When he closed the door and he was again all by himself, he sat on the couch where he was a few minutes ago, beside the guitar. Somehow, he will remember Drea every time he sees this./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="510a4ef95b15fba6850241b243e6e117"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Drea.../em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3d19699c842f00c01480ba11aba51798"A smile crept up his face as that name echoed in his mind. His hand fished that thing he kept in his jacket pocket./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f524f289f5cc268a211d4494d3e1d6ec"That thing he was so afraid she will see./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8e5939b591e6fec0fcc2542adea9e9f4"A picture of Drea, looking outside the cabin of their ferris wheel that night of Christmas./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" /p