Strings Attached ➤ Jay

|| A Quiet Invitation

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The Great Gig In The Sky -

₊˚⊹ ᰔ"No music :p"⋆˚꩜｡

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The bell above the shop door jingled softly, and I looked up from where I was leaning over the counter, reorganizing a tray of guitar picks that didn't actually need reorganizing. I'd been doing that thing again — keeping my hands busy to keep my head from spiraling.

Jay stepped in, pushing his hair back with one hand and holding a small bag in the other. He always carried himself like he was halfway between casual and put-together, like he didn't have to try but still looked like he had. Today it was a plain white shirt under an oversized black jacket, ripped jeans, and that easy smile he seemed to wear just for me.

"Hey," he said, his voice warm.

"Hey," I echoed, trying not to sound like my heart had just done a full somersault.

He set the bag on the counter. "Picked these up for you."

Inside were two cans of peach iced tea — my favorite, the brand that the convenience store near here always seemed to run out of.

"You remembered," I said, surprised.

"Of course." He shrugged like it was nothing, but there was a little sparkle in his eyes. "I figured you'd need them if you're practicing so much for the showcase."

The mention of the showcase made my chest tighten. My secret, quiet plan with Minhee echoed in the back of my mind — tell him, tell him that night.

I swallowed. "Thanks. You didn't have to."

"Yeah, but I wanted to."

We sat at the counter, the shop unusually quiet for a Saturday afternoon. The sunlight filtered through the front windows in soft strips, making the dust in the air glow like tiny stars. Jay opened one can of tea for himself, and I cracked the other, grateful for something to do with my hands.

"So," he said after a sip, "how's the song coming?"

"Good," I said automatically. Then I corrected myself. "I mean... terrifying. But also good."

He laughed. "Terrifying how?"

"I don't know." I traced the rim of the can with my thumb. "It's the first time I've written something like this — something that's... I don't know, honest. Like really honest. What if people hate it? What if I forget the words halfway through? What if my voice cracks and the whole thing just—"

"Byeol."

I looked up. His eyes were steady on mine, calm and grounding.

"You're going to be fine," he said firmly. "I've heard you practice. I've seen how much work you put in. You don't do things halfway, and it shows. The crowd's going to love you."

My throat felt tight. "You think so?"

"I know so," he said simply.

And just like that, the panic in my chest melted into something softer. Something warmer.

We talked a little longer, the conversation drifting from music to random memories, the way it always did with him. He told me about a disastrous attempt to cook ramen with his sister that ended in them nearly setting off the smoke alarm. I laughed until my sides hurt, clutching my can of iced tea like it was the only thing holding me together.

And then, somewhere between laughter and silence, the thought rose again. Ask him. Ask him now.

My palms were sweating. My heart raced. I fiddled with the tab of my can until it nearly snapped off.

"Jay?" I said, my voice smaller than I meant it to be.

"Yeah?" He tilted his head, waiting.

I inhaled sharply, trying to keep my words from tangling. "So... um. There's this showcase coming up at the Echo Room. In a couple days. It's kind of a big deal for me. I'll be performing one of my songs."

His smile widened instantly. "That's amazing. You're finally doing it."

I nodded quickly, too nervous to let myself stall. "Yeah, and I was wondering if you... maybe... wanted to come. You don't have to or anything, but it would be nice. To have you there."

For a heartbeat, the world held still. Then Jay's grin broke across his face like sunlight through clouds.

"Of course I'll come," he said without hesitation. "I wouldn't miss it for anything."

The air whooshed out of my lungs in a rush I hadn't realized I was holding. Relief and giddy excitement mixed together until I thought I might float straight off the stool.

"Really?" I asked, just to be sure.

"Really," he said, leaning closer, his voice softer now. "I want to hear what you've been working on. And cheer you on. You deserve that."

The rest of the afternoon passed in a golden blur. Jay stayed to help me sort some new vinyl records that had come in — though he mostly ended up distracting me by insisting on playing snippets of each one. He said we had to find the "soundtrack" for the day. I pretended to roll my eyes, but inside, every second felt stitched into something I wanted to keep forever.

When he finally left, promising again that he'd be there at the showcase, I stood alone behind the counter, staring at the sunlight on the floorboards and pressing a hand to my chest.

That jittery, nervous feeling was back again — fluttery and breathless and impossible to ignore.

And for the first time, I didn't want it to go away.

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A/N: happy 2nd december and happy UAE national day! who celebrates christmas here?