Strings Attached

~Chapter 2~

The people, especially girls, are ecstatic with my song choice. I think it fits me well. Anyway, 'Break Your Heart' by Taio Cruz has been one of my favorites ever since I heard it the first time some years ago. Not to mention the boost it gives to my ego. Of course, I'm the best! Got a doubt about that? If you have, you must be living under a rock all these years!

Music... is my getaway. It makes me forget my hell-ish life. My jackass father, and my f***ing step brother. I don't wanna think about them on such a beautiful evening though. Music makes me let go of the pain, and just remember the present. Coz that's what matters. I don't wanna be f***ing tied to anyone. The past is too much of pain for me.

But my guitar makes it all good. Whenever I play it, it feels like somebody's lifting me up and away into a beautiful dream land, where it's only me and my music. Without it, I can't breathe. It's that necessary for my survival.

Well, I sign off with a few 'woa----hs', and get off the not-so-elevated stage. And it feels as if I've crashed back into the reality once again. As much as I wanna sing some more, they only asked me to sing one single, so I get off, letting the others have a chance to show their talent. A few girls throw themselves at me as I get past them, and Seth, my best friend, shoves them away. These girls have no self-respect. I mean, how low can they get?!

I motion Seth to collect the money from the manager for me, as I exit the place. I don't know why, but every time I leave that place, I feel extreme anger radiating from inside myself. However large the crowd maybe.

It feels like somebody has cheated me. At one moment, I'm free and soaring above all my problems, and the next instant, I remember that I'm still tied down. It's extremely frustrating and nerve-wrecking. But I've decided. The moment I finish this senior year of high-school, I'm gonna leave this place, forever. And never look back. It's not like anybody's gonna stop me. Except... maybe, Seth. I'm not really thoughtful about these things, but the situation makes me review my options.

Like if I ever let go, whenever I have enough money, Seth might be the only one who'd be sad to see me go. He'd even stop me from going. Seth Backwater has been the only right thing to happen to me. He's been the only person I've trusted and believed in all these years. And while I'm thinking about the guy's loyalty meter, he comes jogging towards me. The devil is never far away, is he? He all but throws at me a heavy bundle of currency notes.

A bundle of pounds! Seriously?! These people don't know how to do things formally. A cheque would've been just the right thing. But then, it's a huge temptation. It means I can enjoy myself with some of it. And on that thought, I begin counting them. Although my anger has dissipated a little, but it's still there. I don't know why but I feel cheated every time I come out after a show. "Hey, you okay? Dan, just calm down, will ya, bro? You need to take deep breaths," Seth tells me, eyeing me like I'm some specimen under a microscope.

"Those girls won't trouble you, believe me!" And I burst out laughing. "What?! Did you think I was angered due to those f**king crazy girls?! Daniyal Hasan, troubled because of a handful of girls??!! You're not serious, are you?" But he keeps looking at me with a straight face and doesn't speak a thing. I mean, okay, I may look a bit scary. And I have some issues... but it doesn't mean I'm completely off my rocker... yet.