Tangled Strings

Chapter 7: Another Show, Another Cut

The lights were blinding. The stage felt electric beneath Chiquita’s feet.

Another performance. Another crowd screaming Baemon’s name.

This was where she was supposed to thrive.

And yet, tonight, something felt off.

Maybe it was the way Ahyeon stood at the back of the gymnasium, arms crossed, face unreadable as always. Maybe it was the way Chiquita could still feel the ghost of last night’s tension between them, lingering in the air like a storm waiting to break.

Or maybe it was just the exhaustion—the weight of pretending like she wasn’t slowly coming apart.

“Alright,” Rora’s voice echoed through the mic, snapping Chiquita back to the present. “This next one’s a little different. Hope you guys are ready for it.”

The students screamed in response, excitement buzzing through the crowd.

Chiquita took a deep breath, gripping her guitar.

The song started slow. A melancholic riff that drifted through the gym like a whisper.

And then, Rora started singing.

I could spend forever chasing something I can't hold.
I could call it love, but it’s just a story that’s getting old.

Chiquita’s fingers moved automatically over the strings, but her mind was elsewhere.

Her eyes flickered toward Ahyeon, even though she told herself she wouldn’t.

And there she was.

Standing there. Watching.

And for a split second, Chiquita swore she saw something—felt something.

Not indifference. Not irritation.

Something else.

But it was gone as fast as it came.

The song picked up, shifting into something raw, something that clawed at Chiquita’s chest.

And when the guitar solo hit, she played like she was bleeding.

Like she was screaming every unspoken word through the strings.

Like she was saying, Look at me. See me.

And for a moment, she thought maybe—just maybe—Ahyeon finally did.

---

After the performance, the energy in the green room was buzzing.

“You killed that solo,” Asa said, slapping Chiquita on the back. “Seriously. That was insane.”

Chiquita forced a grin. “Gotta give the fans what they want.”

Ruka raised an eyebrow. “And what about you?”

Chiquita blinked. “What about me?”

Ruka didn’t say anything. Just gave her that knowing look.

Chiquita sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I’m fine, Ruka. Can we not do this right now?”

Rora, who had been quietly tuning her guitar, finally spoke. “Ahyeon was watching.”

Chiquita froze.

Asa’s expression darkened slightly. “Yeah. She was.”

Chiquita let out a short laugh. “So what? She’s student council. She probably had to be there.”