All Strings Attached

Chapter Five: Chords Between Strangers (1)

I will be the Main Rapper, Lead Vocalist, and Songwriter. We will use my original.

Steve raised a brow. "Gano katagal mo na tong pinaplano, huh?"

"I've been planning this for the last 3 weeks," I replied. "I just didn't have the right team until...you two came. You are the perfect piece that I needed."

I walked toward the acoustic guitar case by the wall and pulled out my original song sheet.

"We're performing 'Love Goes'. I rewrote the arrangement last night for five vocals and one guitar."

This is exactly what I want.

June took a breath. "Y-yan ba yung pineform mo nung nakaraan...the one you said wasn't finished?"

I nodded. "It's finished now. Because this group finishes it."

[Rehearsal]

We broke the song into sections.

Kian and Steve took the intro. Their voice-light, almost weightless-floated on the chords like mist. They sang as if the lyrics lived inside their body, their voices were deeply different, but they complemented each other...they were a match.

We don't ever want to say goodbye
But love goes, love goes, love goes
There's no answer to the question, "Why?"
Love goes, love goes, love goes

I watched kian-The way his eyes followed Steve, like he was hearing him for the first time. And maybe... he was.

I took the first rap verse with a sharp delivery and clean rhythm. I spit the words like they burned on my tongue.

I've been to many places
And everywhere I go, I can see all the traces
The happiness written in both of our faces
Presume, embrace the fact that reality made this-erase this!

It was followed by Jairus' voice which carried the pain like a secret too loud to silence.

And I hate this. Oh God, I hate this!
Every time I close my eyes, all I see is your face
I miss your kiss, the warmth, I'm in bliss
I feel the pain and it's insane, Help me! Won't you take this?

The first line was taken by kian, June picked up the last two lines for the pre-chorus. His voice was soft-honest, with a quiet ache that made everyone still.

Ever since my love has gone away, away
Every single thing has turned to gray
Still, I don't wanna say goodbye

Then came the chorus, and the full sound bloomed as Steve took the lead again. I played the chords on guitar with everything in me.

'Cause I can still feel you
You took my heart with you
Now, I can't live without you
All I need is your love

I came in on the post-chorus and show tenderness in my voice, the kind that pleaded, almost desperate.

So won't you take me with you?
'Cause I don't know what to do
You're the one I love
The only one I'll never say goodbye

We let the last chord hang in the air. We added some adlibs and hummed a small "oh-oh, woah, oh-oh".And then June brought us back in with Verse 3, his voice was steadier than I expected to be... He had improved from just 2 weeks of practicing.

I don't even have to wait 'til the sun hides
'Cause the brightest stars are the ones that live in your eyes
But love dies with hope, I look up to the sky
And both of my knees on the ground
I keep on asking why?!

I didn't look at anyone. I just focused on the guitar in my hands, on the rhythm of my breath and on the weight of the words we sang together. Then I nodded at Steve, who stepped up with me for Verse 4, his voice more impactful, more serious now-his persona was momentarily gone, it was replaced by something...

Why did she have to leave? The only one that I love
I'm hoping he's still listening-the man above us
'Cause I'll never get better
I will love her forever
No one's gonna be enough

He closed his eyes as he sang the last line, like it wasn't just a performance-it was a memory. Kian followed Steve with his gentle, aching Pre-Chorus. The room felt still, breathless.

Oh how could you leave me here? No way, no way
I'll take the pain but I'll never say
I'll never ever say goodbye

And then I, slid back into the Chorus naturally.

'Cause I can still feel you
You took my heart with you
Now, I can't live without you
All I need is your love

Steve once again took the post-chorus, and this time, the tremble in his voice was barely hidden.

So won't you take me with you?
'Cause I don't know what to do
You're the one I love
The only one I'll never say goodbye

Oh-oh, woah, oh-oh, woah

We all joined in that final echo-our harmonies scattered, raw, and real.

Then came the Bridge. Kian took the firs line, then I shakily but beautifully followed and it was I was followed by Steve.

No, this can't be true
Why did I lose you?
I keep loving you
I don't wanna say goodbye... Never say goodbye

Then we hit the Final Chorus-every voice layered in. Steve led, his voice rising, cracking just slightly with emotion:

'Cause I can still feel you
You took my heart with you
Now, I can't live without you
All I need is your love

We finished it off with one last breathless pleading

So won't you take me with you?
'Cause I don't know what to do
You're the one I love
The only one I'll never say goodbye...

I let the final chord ring, my fingers still on the strings, refusing to move. No one said anything.

Steve slowly exhaled. "Damn, It hits!"

Jairus whispered, "Every line, I-I felt it."

Kian just nodded, even he who always looked nonchalant looked shaken.

I looked around and felt it-this wasn't just a band now.

It was a wound we stitched together, a story we all somehow lived.

And tomorrow... we'll tell the story to the world.

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