All Strings Attached

Chapter twelve: Harmony lingers, so does love

Steve's Perspective

The hallway outside the rehearsal room smelled faintly of air freshener and stale energy drinks. I was walking beside Kian, and I couldn’t help but notice how calm he looked—at least on the surface.

His eyes scanned the floor like he was planning some strategic escape route, marking places that had possible bomb plates just like in the game but I knew better. He was keeping an eye on me, making sure I didn’t do anything stupid…again.

“Sigurado ka ba na hindi mo na muna pupuntahan yung iba pa nating ka-members sa band bago bumalik sa rehearsal room?” I asked, trying to sound casual, but my voice came out a bit too loud.

“Eh, bakit? Hindi ba magkasama na tayo, band mates din tayo, saka babalik rin naman yung dalawa kahit di mo sunduin?” Kian replied smoothly, shoulders leaning slightly back against the wall, the way he always did when he was trying to appear nonchalant.

"Na para bang hindi ako babalik kung hindi pa sunduin." I muttered as I sighed.

Yeah, Kian was difficult to read as always. But today wasn’t just any day. Today, I had to sort out a lot of shit swirling inside my chest.

My old feelings for Jean were bubbling up the second I saw him again. Warmth, nostalgia, a little guilt…all of it hitting me at once. And then there was Jairus; he was bright, loud, unbothered—he stirred something new inside me, a pull I didn’t know how to name yet.

I shook my head, trying to focus. “Fine. Let’s go in.”

Inside, Jean was already setting up, guitar plugged in, microphone stands aligned perfectly, sheet music spread on the floor. He looked…perfectly calm. He was still as stoic, collected, completely unaware, or maybe he was aware ,of the way my eyes kept darting toward him.

“Kanina ka pa dito?” I mumbled, trying to keep my voice steady.

Jean looked up, eyes scanning me quickly, then back to his guitar. “Yeah, dito na ako kumain kanina. Are you guys ready?”

I swallowed, feeling the old knot in my stomach. Every time I saw him, I remembered…everything. The High school music club, those late afternoons of practicing chords, the notes he’d whisper to himself when he thought no one was listening. Nostalgia hit me like a wave, but there was guilt too—I’d let something unsaid linger in my chest for too long. If I had—

Kian gave me a side glance, eyebrows raised. “Huy, Napapano ka?”

“Ha? Wala! I'm just…reminiscing something,” I admitted, and for once, I let myself feel it. I knew Kian was watching me, aware of the faint tremor in my jaw, the way I kept glancing at Jean’s fingers on the frets.

“Memories… huh?” Kian muttered, smirking faintly. “Better not get lost in them.”

I shot him a look, but he just shrugged. Silent, watchful, always calculating. I should’ve expected this.

The door creaked open, and in bounced Jairus and June, talking animatedly, laughing over some shared joke. The energy shift was immediate. The room felt lighter, warmer, but at the same time…complicated. I could feel it deep down, that weird tug toward Jairus I wasn’t ready to acknowledge.

“Kamusta, mga repa! Di naman kami late 'no?” Jairus called out, still smiling like nothing could touch him. June followed suit, holding his sketchpad like a shield against the world.

Jean’s head tilted slightly, observing them. Kian stiffened just a little. And me? My stomach twisted, caught somewhere between irritation and fascination.