MELODY

MELODY 07

┏ 𝚒 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝚒 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 ┐

Lectures were terrible and he had a headache by the time he was allowed a break. Squinting his eyes, he walked to the cafeteria. While he was sure there wouldn't be anything appetising there, he needed to eat something. Taking out his phone from his back pocket, he scrolled through his recent messages, his headache intensifying at the nonsensical demands being thrown at him by Adam about the festival.

'Dude, need your help with the sound check later on!'

Typing out a furious response, he said, 'No. I'm a secretary. Not whatever that is.'

Adam's quick respond made him pause before he sighed. 'I'll buy you that expensive curry you like.'

Damn him and his bribes with food. Surely he couldn't keep walking all over him like this, right? He contemplated on an answer, when he walked past the benches located in front of a basketball court. 'What do I even need to do?' he said.

Just as he was about to walk to his right and head to where his best friend's classes were, a high-pitched voice calling of the same name that been seared into his mind all this while made him stop in his tracks.

"Jackson!"

Snapping his head up, Bryan scanned the area until he found the person he had been looking for. Jackson Star was sitting at the bleachers of the basketball court, a guitar in his hands. He was talking to a girl, a smile on his face. While he was sat under the cool shadows casted by the roof of the court, Bryan couldn't help but to think that he was shining radiantly, almost competing with the sun.

His throat dry, he took a step towards him, heart picking up speed.

The last time he had seen the lead guitarist, it was yesterday night when he had been drunk out of his mind, broken into pieces and unconscious by the time Bryan had gotten him into his room. And now, he was anything but. Wait, this was the opportunity he needed!

He had been taking the bracelet with him the whole day in hopes that if he didn't get to see the guitarist, then at least he could hand it over to Adam and make him give it back to Jackson. This was his chance to get rid of the jewellery at last. He quickly opened his bag and searched through his laptop, miscellaneous papers and pencil case until he found it. The guitar pendant glinted when it caught the sunlight, black surface looking darker.

Curling his fingers around it, he took in a deep breath.

While Jackson had made it pretty clear he didn't want it back, Brian didn't know what else to do with it.

Before he could think twice, he was standing before him and the girl. Their conversations stopped, both pair of dark eyes landed on him. His breath hitched in his throat when Brian realised they were meeting eye-to-eye. All this while, he hadn't realised just how much power the other man held with just his gaze alone. It warmed him from the tips of head to his toes. Jackson stared at him for a few seconds before he sat up straighter, the guitar tight against his body.

"Yes?" the girl said, her smile was cautious. Careful.

"Uh." Bryan's face turned hot. "Sorry to disturb. But..." He then opened his fingers to show the bracelet in his hands.

Jackson's stare turned into a glare as Bryan noticed the very second he recognised him. The girl stood awkwardly for a second before she nodded, patting the lead guitarist on his shoulder. "So, yeah, Al's Drinks, okay? Please come! Leah will be there," she said with a wink.

The guitarist glanced at her before he nodded once. She smiled, slapping his shoulder once more. She tossed a look at Brian before she left, leaving Brian alone under the scrutiny of the lead guitarist of MELODY.

"I told you to keep it," Jackson said, his voice deep and rough, but less emotional than it had been last night.

Bryan cleared his throat, placing the bracelet on the bleachers next to the taller man. "I don't like holding onto things that aren't mine."

A few strum of the guitar was the only response he got for a couple of seconds.

"You can leave me alone now," Jackson said, plucking a few strings and playing a melody.

A melody that Brian recognised. Instead of doing what was asked, he said, "You're playing 'Keep the Distance', aren't you? The song you wrote."

The strums stopped, regrettably taking away the melody that Bryan loved. His face heated up when the mesmerising dark eyes landed on him, scrutinising his facial expression. The silence felt heavy. As if it weighed on him all of a sudden. Breaking the gaze, he took a small step back.

"Who're you?" Jackson asked, his voice quiet.

Bryan hesitated before he said, "Bryan Ito. Adam's friend."

"Adam's friend?" The guitarist moved his guitar to place it next to him. "That pink-haired dude?"

"Well," Bryan said, shrugging. "He's my best friend."

Jackson hummed, placing his forearms on his knees, leaning forward. Bryan couldn't help but to lean back, his heart skipping a beat when he found those dark eyes again. Keeping him rooted to where he was. Not letting him escape.

"Bryan Ito, Adam's friend," Jackson said, pronouncing each word with a drawl. "Stay away from me."

Stunned at the quick dismissal, he couldn't retort when Jackson stood up, grabbing his guitar and the bracelet. Without another glance at the shorter male, the lead guitarist of MELODY walked away. Bryan stood there, staring at his retreating back. A sigh escaped his lips, rubbing the back of his neck as he analysed their interaction.

Jackson Star wasn't who he thought he was.

While his voice sent his heart racing, his attitude was another thing entirely.

A little regretful he had met him in person, Bryan wondered if Jackson had always been so quick to dismiss someone.

He had met him only to wish he didn't.

┏ 𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝙼𝙴𝙻𝙾𝙳𝚈 𝟶𝟽 ┐