Heartstrings

01 - Unexpectedly, A Ray of Hope.

A soundless melody as I strum my guitar.
Why do I still dare to play? it will not even reach that far.

Frustrated as I strum my guitar-
Harder. Maybe if I play it harder..
Faster. Strum it faster..
Steady. Keep it stea-

I stare at the club room's door as a knock disturbs my guitar practice. Who could it be?
"Come in." the door opened as I replied.
A familiar, tall, petite and pretty young lady peeped through the door. It was the student council president.

"Did I happen to disturb you?" she asks as she went inside, tucking her hair behind her ears. "... wouldn't call it a distraction, though." I whisper underneath my breath.

"My apologies." the president adds as she locks eyes with me. Her eyes- no, she is mesmerizing.
"No worries.. miss" I replied, only hoping I wasn't too obvious.

"..I was told to inform you that the music club will be shut down in a few days." A sigh escapes my lips, "I figured." I replied.
A confused look formed on the president's face, "You're letting them shut it down?.."

I gave a small smile and replied, "Yeah. A club with only one member wouldn't go anywhere, anyway."
A moment of silence. Who wouldn't know how to react after a depressing statement?

A few minutes later and the president then walks towards me, driving me close to the wall as I avoid closed distance and back up.

"...what's your name?" she asks as she stopped in her tracks. My back now facing the wall as the gap between us became smaller.
I shrugged, "..I'd pretty much prefer knowing your name first, Miss." I replied as I gently pressed my index finger in her chest.

"My name's personal, you know.." I added as I winked. The president chuckles at my statement, throwing both her hands up, "you got me."

"I'm Yuni." The president adds as she reaches out a hand in which I gladly accepted. Her hand is cold. "Nice to meet you, Yuni. I'm Maeve."

Yuni steps closer, the distance between us closing even more. "Maeve, huh? What a charming name." Leaving my mouth was a chuckle, "You flatter me, Miss President."

Yuni giggles, "Whatever." she then replies.
A few minutes of silence occurred as Yuni widens the distance between us by walking towards where the seats were and sitting in one.
She then taps the empty space of the seat beside her in which I responded by sitting down.

"...Can you play what you were playing earlier?" Yuni asks as she places her chin in the palm of her hand, waiting for my response. "Why should I?" I asked back, the question being a joke.. well, partly.

Yuni places a hand on top of mine, "Take it as a request, Maeve." she answers as she gives me a warm yet excited look.

badump. I felt my heart skip a beat.
why are you looking at me that way? it's not like I'm great at playing, anyway.

"..Fine." I picked up my guitar and started playing.

YUNI'S POINT OF VIEW:
I sat there, watching as Maeve played the guitar.
Each strum lets out a tune. A tune so gentle.. yet this gentle melody felt empty.

I watched as Maeve's face- sad yet touched, change into a serious one. Her strumming became rough as the sound that came out of the guitar became distorted.. It was like how someone who doesn't know how to play a guitar would play.

Maeve's eyes then became teary.
Without knowing it, I reached out my hand to stop her from playing.

"..Maeve, are you okay?" I ask as she turns her head to me, her face visibly in pain. "..I hate it." She mutters.

"...I really fucking hate it, Yuni." She adds, her eyes bursting into tears.

"I just.. can't seem to play music no matter how hard I try." She sobs.
I couldn't resist and gave her a hug.
She buries her face in my chest as she continues to sob. She was a mess.

"Do you like music?" I ask, she lifts her face up and wipes the tears off her face, "No... I love music."

Maeve breaks the hug as she realizes how close we were, she's quite cute when she's oblivious.
"I'm sorry." she adds, "For what?" I ask

"..For uhm, burying my face in your- I mean, for getting in your personal space.." Her answer made me laugh, she really is cute. "..Don't worry about it, Maeve. I initiated the hug, anyway."

Maeve stands up from her seat as she carries her guitar. She then walked towards the door but I stopped her when I grabbed her wrist. She looks at me, confused. "What are you doing?"

"I could ask the same thing, Maeve. Are you really going to leave me here alone?" She looks at me for a minute before responding, "..Oh, right. I'm really sorry."

"I was just going to speed up the music club's disbandmen-" What?
"No!" I yelled. Although the yell was unintentional, It was probably because it was so sudden that it shocked me.

Maeve looks at me, shock and confusion painted in her face. "..What do you mean?"

I don't want her to leave the music club.

"..Don't leave the music club, Maeve. Please."
Maeve looks at me, still confused. I should probably say why I don't want her to leave, shouldn't I?.

"As I was walking down the corridor earlier, I heard you playing." I then lock eyes with Maeve as I let go of her wrist.

"Your melodies were.. empty." I added as I remain eye contact with Maeve who was now looking a bit sad, ".. That's exactly why I'm disband-"

"..Your melodies were empty yet they were gentle. It was as if you were taking care of it so it wouldn't break." Maeve looks away.

"When I was watching you play, you really resonated with the melody at first.. but as your face became serious, the tune distorted and started falling apart."

I then cup Maeve's cheek as I made her face me, Once again maintaining eye contact. "You're sad. You're empty."

Maeve remained silent. ".. despite that fact, I couldn't help but notice how you were still shining. It was like looking at a star, a lonely star... A lonely star shining brightly on its own despite being sad, empty, and lonely."

"Everytime your fingers strummed the guitar, I felt my heart skip a beat." Maeve looks at me, shocked.

"I like.. no, I love seeing you play." I let go of Maeve's cheek as I grab both of her hands, clasping it together and holding it tight.

"I know we just met but I genuinely want to know you better, Maeve. I might not know what you're going through right now but one thing is for sure.. you love music and music is your passion."

"I would hate to see you let go of something you love just because of what you're going through so... let me help you, Maeve."

"..I want you to continue playing the guitar for me. I want to watch you play everyday." Maeve diverts eye contact, her cheeks bright red.
"..So please, Maeve. Don't disband the music club."

"..The music club will still disband, anyway. I'm the only mem-"

"Then I'll join the music club!" I immediately answered, earning a shocked face from Maeve as she shakes her head, "..Are you sure, Yuni?"

I nod, "Yes. From this day on, I'd be the one you'll play guitar to, and I'll be the one to play right beside you."