All Strings Attached

Chapter twelve: Harmony lingers, so does love

“Good timing,” Jean said, voice calm as ever. “Let’s get started. We have a limited time before the evaluation tomorrow.”

Rehearsal started. Jean began strumming the opening chords, precision in every movement. Kian fell into his lead vocal, his rap lines smooth and consistent. I watched from my spot, holding the mic stand loosely, as the tension, old and new, coiled beneath the surface.

Jairus and June had naturally synced their voices, harmonies flowing effortlessly, their laughter and chatter now settling into rhythm. I couldn’t help but notice the way Jairus leaned slightly closer to June during a playful exchange, hands brushing once or twice. June’s cheeks turned pink, and I realized…he was smitten. I think that they are kind of cute together, and I hated it. But then, my brain shot back to my lingering thoughts. I wasn’t here to analyze them. I had bigger emotional fires to put out first.

“June, you’re off on that note,” Jairus whispered mid-verse, fingers tapping lightly against June’s shoulder.

“Ahh, sorry! I wasn’t thinking! T-thank you for correcting me” June replied, cheeks burning.

I watched. Warmth, affection…chemistry. And suddenly, I felt the tug again. I tried to shove it down.

And Jean…he looked at Kian. Not a lot, just subtle glances. But I caught it. Every time Kian adjusted his stance or his timing, Jean’s sharp eyes followed. Kian’s jaw tightened, his focus never leaving me once as I observed, and I realized the tension wasn’t just mine.

“Steve, you’re breathing too loud,” Kian muttered under his breath as I adjusted the mic stand.

“Excuse me?!” I whispered back, only half-joking.

“You’ll distract everyone,” Kian said, deadpan, but there was that faint edge of possessiveness I knew was there.

“Uh huh, noted,” I replied, trying not to laugh.

Halfway through, I started noticing my own heartbeat. Jairus’ voice had this clarity, warmth, and a confidence I couldn’t ignore. That pull that I’d been trying to label kept growing inside me. Every time he smiled, even when he was just correcting June’s timing, I felt it like a subtle shock in my chest.

I looked at Jean. He was calm, precise, everything I remembered. And then my eyes flicked to Kian. That faint anger in his gaze when I glanced toward Jairus was unmistakable. And me? I was a mess. My emotions were scattered, torn between old familiarity and this unexpected…thing.

“Steve, focus!” Jean said suddenly, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“What?!” I asked, confused.

“Can you not lose focus? Nawawala ka sa timing. At yung dalawa naman na di kona papanfalanan pa, kung maghaharutan kayo, Not now!” he half teased, raising an eyebrow.

Kian snorted. “Yan kase, lulutang lutang ang isip, napagalitan tuloy. Ayaw mag iingat.” he muttered, shooting me a glance that was both warning and amusement.

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t hide my grin. “Yeah, right. You’re one to talk, Mister Observer,” I muttered back, and Kian just smirked faintly.

The energy shifted when Jairus leaned too close to June, laughing at a joke June whispered. My chest tightened without warning. Kian’s eyes flicked there too, subtle, almost imperceptible…yet I caught it. Possessive. Protective. It made me aware of how much I was tethered to all these people at once.

“Guys, let’s focus more. Remember, evaluation na tomorrow!” Jean interjected, calm but commanding, cutting through our murmurs.

I nodded, though my mind kept flipping back and forth between the old warmth I felt toward Jean and this confusing pull toward Jairus.

A short breaktime was given. I leaned back against the wall beside Kian. “You okay? Parang lugmok ka na.” I asked quietly.

He shrugged. “I’m fine, Baka ikaw. So, kamusta ka na?”

“I…don’t know,” I admitted, because it was true. I don’t know what to feel now, on how do I untangle what I felt for Jean and what my heart was bubbling for Jairus. It was chaos, and I hated feeling this unarmed.

Kian’s hand brushed mine in a subtle yet intentional touch. He was doing something silently, I could feel it. And it made me aware of how much I had been pulled into everyone’s orbit without realizing.

“You’re…distracted,” Kian said softly, voice low.

“Yeah…you could say that,” I admitted, because there was no point in lying, I know he noticed it...I just didn't know how to point it out—

Kian smirked faintly. “Don’t let it show too much. Or Jean will notice.”

I froze. “Wait, You know—”

“Because hindi ako manhid and I'm a good observant, duh,” he replied with a shrug, that faint edge of smugness in his voice.

We returned to rehearsal, the music louder, more intense. Every note I hit was layered with personal tension, subtle worries, old feelings, and new attractions.

“Steve, what about that bridge?” Jean asked, looking over his shoulder at me.

“Huh? Uh…let’s try to hold it longer, then hit the harmonies,” I suggested.

Kian gave a subtle nod, approving. Jairus leaned toward June again, whispering suggestions. I felt that twist in my chest, impossible to ignore.

Jean leaned slightly toward Kian, whispering a correction, his lips brushed to his earlobes and I felt a pang of jealousy I wasn’t ready to admit.

My eyes flicked back to Jairus and he noticed my glance, tilted his head, smiled, and winked playfully. My heart stuttered.

By the end of rehearsal, we were exhausted but alive. Everyone packed up, but the tension didn’t leave, It just lingered in the air, unspoken but palpable.

Jean tuned his guitar calmly. Kian leaned against the wall, arms crossed, eyes glinting. Jairus and June laughed over something they discovered in each other, oblivious to the storm quietly building in this room.

Me? I had to sort my head out. Step by step. Note by note. Because in this band, the music wasn’t the only thing that demanded harmony.

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