Chapter 31: Chapter 31

"WHAT HAPPENED?" Jeff asked curiously. He stepped closer to us.

"Her dad passed away." His voice seemed powerless as he answered.

I saw his limbs tighten due to intense emotions. The man that idolized by many and full of self-confidence suddenly gave up just because of one call.

Who is the lucky girl? I softly asked myself.

"Let's finish this first, so we can be there together," Skye said to him.

He did not answer but went back to his seat.

"Where the hell is Dawson? He's the one who should be responsible for this. Especially now that he needs her as his wife!" Jeff's jaw inevitably tightened as he spoke.

I remained standing in front of them. My mouth fell open at the conversation I witnessed. Again I said nothing because I knew I had nothing to say.

"So let's get start this now to finish, the number of albums we will sign." Skye was already on the drum set.

"Okay, let's go!" Zach shouted as he sidestepped the Organ.

I suddenly backed away when Rexon returned his bag pack to me. "Keep this," he ordered. He quickly glance at me before he turned to face the crowd.

I didn't mind going down to the stage to fit in watching them, which was the beginning of playing the guitar.

They just starting to tune the guitar. their fans start chanting, some almost fainted because of the excitement and joy.

"Hello, are you okay there?!" Rexon's voice was loud but gentle.

"Y-yes!" They answered back.

"I just want to thank you all guys for coming here this morning. We appreciate your presence and your heartwarming welcome of our very first album." He spoke into the microphone again.

"I love you, Logistic!"

"I love you, Rexon!"

That was the crowd’s response to him.

"To all the fans out there who didn't get in, I'm sorry! Next time, we are surely preparing a big dome for you guys!" His loud shout surely be heard on the screen TV outside the building

I heard the chanting and the growling of the ecstatic crowd. In a few moments, the sound of his guitar, accompanied by Jeff, Zach, and Skye, became louder.

"This is our first song, written by our very own Skye!" he said loudly into the microphone. Again the crowd is getting wildly exaggerated.

At that point, they began to sing to the accompaniment of melodious music. His voice was melting my heart surely. What I wanted right now is to lay my head and listening to his song all day long with a cup of steamy coffee and a slice of chocolate cake. That was the impact of his voice on me.

I slowly shut my eyes and feel the calm of his voice.

"Very impressive voice, huh?" I looked up at the man speaking next to me.

"He captured the heart of the sea." He remarks, then glances at me.

"Am I right?"

The redness immediately rose to both my cheeks and I adjusted to my seat. I don't know why but I feel like I'm caught in the act.

"I don't think so." I averted my gaze.

"That's what I see." Then he just shrugged. I looked back at the stage and just ignored what he said.

"There's a lunch party after the event you want to come with?" He opens again the small conversation. He's now sitting on the monoblock next to me.

"No thanks, I'll go with Rexon," I answered and didn't bother to look at him again.

"Is that so? Maybe next time, I'm sure that will come?"

I looked at him and now a wide smile can be seen on him.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not sure..." I openly denied it.

I don't want to be rude. I want to be friendly. But after Rexon said to me earlier, it was as if I wanted to avoid those who wanted to approach me.

"It's alright. I have many chances to invite you for lunch. We are the ones who secured the Logistic event, I have been in this job for a year now."

I nodded, that's right then, I'm sure we still have a lot of opportunities to ask me.

"Cherry, right? Are you new here?" he asked again.

"I just started my job today," I said in my most polite voice.

"Great, it's better that you come with us after this event?"

With a sigh, I turned my attention back to Rexon. There's nothing wrong with letting Rexon know.

"All right, I'll ask Rexon about this," I said.

"Hmm, much better," he replied.

When the song was over, they went straight to signing their CDs. I thought it would end early, but by the time lunch arrived the queue was barely exhausted.

I glanced at them. Rexon was sitting and continuing with what he was doing. And that point I felt pity for them. Working in a long hour was not very easy, it was like depriving their personal lives as well as eating they could not do on time.

So I didn't hesitate to approach them.

"Guys, why don't you take a break first? It's past twelve, aren't you hungry?"

"We're okay, Cherry just give us some water," Rexon replied while bowing to the signed CD's

"But, you look so tired and–"

I couldn't continue what I was supposed to say when he looked up at me. His eyes are darker than earlier. How many times have I also seen this stick to me?

"I said, we're okay! Look at them? Those are hungry too but patiently lined up and wait for them to call!" he said as he pointed to the fans that patiently waiting.

I bit down my lower lip. I want to be ashamed of myself for what he said. He stared at me for a moment before speaking again.

"Alright, guys! 30 minutes break!"

After he signed a few CD's he finally stood up. I quickly followed him with a look that went straight down backstage.

"Let's have lunch?" I felt Jeff's palm on my shoulder, so I had no choice but to follow him inside.

We went straight to a room where some staff was also there. I roam my eyes around but I couldn't see Rexon.

"Cherry!" Jeff called out to me as he was sitting in a chair next to Skye and Zach.

"Where's Rexon?" I asked shyly.

"He was talking on the phone earlier, maybe he come out," Skye answered.

My eyes turned to the glass door where the small veranda was. I dared to go to open it and I didn't make a mistake that Rexon was there while talking to someone on his cellphone.

He was sitting on a bench with his cellphone in his ear. He turned slightly to notice my approach. He dropped the call and gently squeezed between his eyes.

"Ah, lunch is ready," I said softly.

He did not speak and remained his eyes closed so I dared to step forward to sit next to him.

I could feel his heavy breathing so I wrapped my hands tighter over my lap.

"I'm fine Cherry, you go eat first." I heard a deep sigh coming from him.

I glanced at him whose staring from afar. This is a different version of him. A quiet and a cloudy one. It’s not what I’m used to seeing in him, so I don’t know how I’m going to talk about it now.

"No, you are not. Come on!" I bravely tapped his shoulder. And then he looked at me over his shoulder and I smiled.

He smile back, but there was a faint smile written on his lips. I can do nothing but accept that.

"I'll follow you inside," he whispered gently.

I thought I would be able to get up from sitting but why do I feel like my heart stopped beating because of the closeness of the two of us?

I could almost smell his breath as if it was running out of air in my chest.

My body flinched as he suddenly rubbed the trunk of my hair and grinned at me. "Damn, you're blushing, " he chuckling said.

I immediately averted my eyes and sat up. "No, I'm not!" I refused.

I even heard a little laugh, so I couldn't help but smile. I thought I would never hear her laugh again because of the heavy news he heard today.

But all of a sudden he stood up and pulled my hand so I immediately followed him.

"I know you're hungry, let's have lunch together... Privately." The corners of his mouth lift into a smile.

My eyes widened at what he said. My heart starts pounding. He invites me to have lunch together?

I have mixed emotions. I can feel the redness of my two cheeks because of his tight grip on my hand. I also didn't understand my heart that beats so loud.

"Come on don't take it seriously." A soft grin spread on his lips.

"Yeah, I know." I cleared my throat and look away effectively.

"Good." he nodded