Chapter 10 - Music That Brought Us Together

A week ago, me and Tiere had a small fight regarding to her secret. However, it was just a misunderstanding after all, I know her very well. She won’t do anything stupid that risks her whole life.

I tilted my head, taking my headset off as I was waiting for my game to load, my eyes staring at the open balcony. I stood up about to close it, can smell an earthy scent permeate the air. People call it musky, fresh -generally pleasant. The smell that actually comes from the moistening of the ground. It is the moments before a rain event and I’m happy for it. I close the fiberglass door shut and turned the air -conditioner lower, heard my phone pinged at the same time which startled me. I lifted my phone, stare at the blank black phone screen waiting for the screen to turn back to normal and my computer screen a while after, checking the loading bar as it still filling slowly a little by little.

Tiere: Babe, I’m on my way

A text from Tiere popped up.

DING DONG DING DONG DING DONG

I put my phone away and walk towards the door. That’s pretty quick.

“BABE!” she hugged me tight, she’s in thick sweater today.

“Coming here by Go-Car?” She nodded, “Yap”

“Eh, I bought you your favorite ice cream! See!”

She lifted a box of Baskin –Robbins ice cream. Tiere didn’t forget every single thing about me. I remember that time, when I forced my mom to buy me one when I was six, dropped my knees to the ground, insist until my mom agreed.

“Thanks” I smile.

I clicked the door lock and she’s taking off her shoes, arranging them on the shoe rack.

“Help me with this” she said, lifting the box of ice cream.

I carry it and walk towards the kitchen, put it inside the fridge. “Do you want to take it now? The ice cream?” I reassure.

“No” she yelled, “I’m full” she added.

“Okay” I replied, shut the fridge close.

She walks through the hallway looking for me inside my bedroom, throwing herself on the mattress “Hey, do you have mixer or a blender maybe?”

I paused my game, taking off my headset and tilted my head.

“Inside the closet, just pull out the handle behind the box, above my shoe -rack” I pointed straight to my closet. I remember my mom put it there before she left, I haven’t touch the mixer since they moved, cause I don’t need them yet in my kitchen, it must be still very new.

“Oh okay” she said as she rose from the bed, walking towards the closet. “I just realized it is very wide here”

I don’t even need them actually, but my mom designed them for me, just in case if I get married, my future wife might need it more than me.

I put my headset back to my ears, gazing back to my computer screen, continue playing games.

After 5 minutes, she appeared with a guitar on her hand.

I turned my head. “Guitar? Yes?” I take my headset off. Tiere is no longer with sweater, she is wearing a black tank top right now, salty drops streaming from her forehead.

“Do you still play guitar?” she asked. “Or piano? Cause I noticed your piano in the living room”

I nod my head, “It’s been a long time actually. I just play piano recently”.

“Oh..”

Tiere took off the guitar’s case. It was dusty but still new.

“Tell me when you’ve done playing game”

“Okay” I said.

A moment later, I finally stop playing games. “Done?” Tiere tilted her head, leaving her phone on the bed. She stood up and pulled my arms, bring me to the living room. Then she sat down on the sofa, smiling at me.

I nod my head slowly, “Yes...?” looking at my piano and guitar in turn, “Do you want me to play a song for you?” I give her a smile, since she hasn’t heard me playing for years. I often play for her during high school.

“OF COURSE!” she answered, nodding in excitement.

I remember when I was 13. My mom hired a piano teacher to teach me the basic of piano until Advanced. The first music instrument I play was guitar all by myself. So, I learn both musical instruments at the same time. When Tiere knew I played both piano and guitar, she took her father’s guitar and learn by herself too. I bet she still plays guitar and Thai –boxing? I have never got the chance to ask her about the Thai –boxing stuff. I mean I was kind of curious, she used to have bruises all over her body after practicing, Tiere is the tough one.

“What song do you want to hear?”

Tiere took a long mumble,

“Nice one? Maybe? I forgot the title of the song I used to listen”

“By My Side?”

(David Choi - By My Side)

“Ah you remember!”

“Of course” I get my fingers ready on the sticks, ensuring myself in a proper

posture. When I perform the stick, a symphony flows from me. Tiere leaned her chin on the sofa facing me, watching my back.

I’m just listening to the clock go ticking

I am waiting as the time goes by

I think of you with every breath I take

I need to feel your heartbeat next to mine

You’re all I see in everything

The melody brought me to the loudest beat of my heart. I start to realize how meaningful this song is, especially to her.

All the fears you feel inside

And all the tears you've cried

They’re ending right here

I’ll heal your heart and soul

I’ll keep you all so close

Don’t worry; I’ll never let you go

You’re all I need

You’re everything

At some time I turned my head checking her, glad she still enjoys the song. Tiere always love this song since she heard it from the radio, and that was the reason why I practiced so hard, and never forget a note ever since. She gives me a lot of loving moments, which makes me hard to forget.

No one else would ever do

I’ve got a stubborn heart for you

Call me crazy but it’s true

I love you

I didn’t think that it would be you who made it clear to me

You’re all I need

I love being with her like this all the time, when she leaned her head on my shoulders, closing her eyes comfortably by my side. Sometimes I think this is all I want, cause she is the light, the sunshine of my world.

I just wanna hold you

I just wanna kiss you

I just wanna love you all my life

I normally wouldn’t say this but I just can’t contain it

I want you here forever right here by my side

As the song ended, I changed my sitting position towards her, smiling, “Do you still like it?”

Her lips lifted upwards, Tiere smiling, “Do you still practice every day?”

I shrugged my shoulders, “Not every day”

“I see..” her smile hasn’t fade away, my heart melts when I see her nowadays. I still admire the loving looks Caroline has, but Tiere has become someone more special to me. Pretty doesn’t always amazing, but amazing always pretty.

I slapped my hands on my laps and stood up, “So I challenge you” talked as I carry the guitar. “Can you still play my favorite song?”

“Do you want me to play a song with your expensive guitar?” she sneered. Well, yeah speaking of expensive guitar, it was my dad’s gift.

“Are you trying to make fun of me, Tiere?” I quirked an eyebrow. “Yes, maybe” she stood up and grabbed the guitar. I didn’t see guitar in her apartment or maybe she was keeping it in some hidden place, I don’t know. Does she still play guitar in her leisure time like she used to be?

She sits down and get ready with her proper posture, bend her head down as wisps of her hair falling from her ear. “I still love music and still have my dad’s guitar” she played once, shaking her wrist, practice smooth up and down motions, then affixed the tuning pegs rotating it to tighten and slacken them, and the bridge, where they’re fixed to the guitar’s body. She holds the guitar correctly, playing the guitar by strumming about halfway between the sound hole and the bridge with her right hand and fretting the strings on the neck with her left hand. Tiere is a left handed person, but she plays right handed guitar very well, she’s able to draw and write with her right hand too, but get more comfortable with her left hand.

“Chivalry is Dead, right? That was your favorite and mine too. Do you still like it?” she asked before she start.

(Trevor Wesley - Chivalry Is Dead)

I nodded my head, sitting on the sofa waiting for her to start with chin resting on my palm “Alright get ready” she inhales a breath and start playing. She still plays very well, her eyes looking down at the string while the other fingers busy pressing down the strings in the middle of the fret. My eyes locked on her face, and when she caught my glimpse, she smiles as it was a compliment to her. She plays as she smiles widely, shines brighter like a star in my heart. Instant chill down my spine, she’s still a very good player.

Girl, just let your hair down

Let’s paint the whole town

Life is our playground, yeah

But I’m not a kid no more

So I must open doors and make you feel like the lady you are

My momma raised me to be classy, not flashy

I'm happy to please you

Though I can tell that’s not what your use to

When she looked at me it’s as if every ounce of my breath was taken from my lungs floating into the air like midnight breeze.

Every time she kiss me it felt like the world stops, leaving just the two of us to wander the earth together.

Every time she held my face between her hands it feels like she’s untying all of my knots.

And you don’t have to love me

Love me, Love me

You don’t have to love me

Love me, Love me

Just cause I’m a gentlemen don’t mean

I ain’t taking you to bed

I love holding her for eternity in the arms I’ve grown so accustomed to. Is this love? This feeling is so strange, she never leaves my mind, she’s always there -mentally if not physically. It’s overwhelming, yet makes me feel complete. It feels like I am in dangerous fire yet completely safe at the same time, feel as tough as she gave me peace.

It feels as though my heart is dancing around my chest –and a hole filled by two women at the same time, I was never aware she was there, been filled inside to create dilemmas in my heart.

Ahhh, baby let me buy your meals

I see your head over heels

I feel like you deserve it

There’s no pressure

We can do whatever makes you comfortable, yeah

I could float your boat

If your cold take my coat

I’ll Sing a music note from a song that I just wrote

Girl just take my hand

And let me be your man

Though that’s not what your use to

I suddenly remember how you react whenever I stand in front of your apartment with a bag of your favorite food. That day when you cried on my chest saying how hard is your life. But the rays that you radiate bring blessings to my life, even the gloomy barging clouds couldn’t bear with it.

Tiere put the guitar aside when she finished, bend her body and say “Thankyou…thankyou” like completed a stage performance. I chuckled and pull her arms closer to me, she sat down beside me nervously..

“Oh” she lifted her finger,

“Do you remember our game song?”

“Yes? What game song?” I barely remember about our game stuff, because I play a lot of games every year. Tiere has a strong memory about her past.

“Here” she grabbed the guitar, this time she looks more delighted.

“Listen carefully” she reminds.

“Okay” I said as Tiere starts shaking her wrist on the string, making a beautiful music as the opening. She stopped and fixed the tuning pegs again, then the music turns out familiar. She cleared her throat and start singing, with her high unique –tone voice, she is actually a good singer.

“Set fire to your hair

Poke a stick at a grizzly bear

Eat medicine that's out of date

Use your private parts as Piranha bait”

Wait, too familiar.

“Dumb ways to die

So many dumb ways to die

Dumb ways to die-ie-ie

So many dumb ways to die”

I laughed as I heard the words “Dumb ways to die” cause it was really our childhood games. The song is actually nice to hear. I honestly love the song, besides the horrible lyrics.

“Remember right?” she smiles happily.

“Yes, I remember that”

Tiere puts the guitar away.

“So” she stood up, stretching her arms in the air.

“Wanna try oreo shake and ice cream by Tiere?”

“Are you sure?” I teased, about to criticize her.

She looked away and pouts, “Cih, fine. Made it for myself” and walked away.

“Hey! Make one for me!”

Tiere turned her head and pulled her tongue out “Eat the glass!”

I leaned my body on the sofa, at the same time my phone pinged. I stretch my arm and found Caroline’s text popped up on my screen.

Caroline: Are we going to meet our lecturer today?

OH! I FORGOT! SHIT!