As he made his way toward the stage, my heart raced, and sweat began to form in my palms. In a hurry, I tried to puff out my hair and adjust my posture, hoping he wouldn't sense my nervousness.
He strapped the saxophone around his neck, and I couldn't help but fix my gaze on him, awestruck that the person who had been occupying my thoughts just moments ago was now here to perform with me. Though I was focused on the stage, the mere knowledge that he was behind me, and the possibility that he might be watching me, made me feel more self-conscious than usual.
He lifted the saxophone to his mouth, and I gripped the mic tighter as we began to perform Sining - Dionela I raised my mic and started singing, and when our eyes met, I couldn't help but smile. In that moment, it felt as though the bar, filled with an eager audience, had faded away, and it was just the two of us, lost in the bliss of discovering his incredible talent.
The moment for his solo arrived, and he raised the saxophone, facing both the band and the audience. Everyone was in awe as the notes flowed from the sax, inviting the crowd to dance along to the music.
"Can we get a big round of applause for Tyler? What an amazing performance! I'm sure everyone agrees. Thank you so much for sharing your talent with us! Now, we have something else to look forward to here at Redwood Cocktail Bar! Once again, let's hear it for Tyler!"
The party finally wrapped up at three in the morning after I sang a few more songs. I made sure everything met the client's expectations and thanked the guests for being such a wonderful audience. I also expressed my gratitude to the venue for their generous hospitality and for serving the guests' requests non-stop.
I gratefully accepted the water from Bernard, taking a long sip to hydrate my parched throat. The night had been a whirlwind of music, energy, and nerves, but now it was finally winding down. I glanced around the bar, watching the guests trickle out, their laughter and chatter lingering in the air. The night had been a blur of music, but now the weight of exhaustion was settling in.
Tyler appeared at the edge of the table, his saxophone hanging casually from his shoulder. He looked calm, but there was a quiet satisfaction in his posture, like he'd done exactly what he came to do.
"You were great out there," I said, offering him a genuine smile. I didn't want to overthink it, he had been, after all.
Tyler glanced at me, a slight smile pulling at the corner of his lips. It was soft but genuine. "Thanks," he said, the words crisp but without hesitation. "You sounded great, too."
There was a beat of silence between us, comfortable but purposeful. He wasn't the type to fill the air with unnecessary words, but his presence was enough. After a moment, he lowered himself into the seat across from me, his fingers drumming lightly on the body of his saxophone as he sat. It was clear he wasn't one for small talk, but there was a quiet connection between us that didn't need constant chatter.
"You know," he said, his voice steady but measured, "it's not every day you get to play with someone who actually makes the music feel better."
I blinked, surprised by his compliment, but I could see that it was genuine. Tyler was the type who couldn't find the words easily but you could tell he meant it.
"Yeah?" I leaned back slightly, a small smile tugging at my lips. "I'd take that as a compliment."
He nodded, his eyes scanning the crowd for a moment before meeting mine again. "Yeah. You've got... good energy. Keeps the whole thing alive." His words were simple, but there was something in the way he said them, an appreciation that wasn't lost on me.
I could tell he wasn't used to saying much about how he felt, but it was obvious that, for all his walls, he was letting me in just a little. And that was enough.
"I'm glad you think so," I said, my smile a little softer now. "Maybe we'll get another chance to play together soon."
Tyler didn't answer right away, but his expression softened, just a fraction. "Yeah, maybe," he said, as if the possibility lingered in the air between us, unspoken but understood. "I'd like that."
Bernard appeared at our table with a wide grin, "Alright, you two," he began, voice teasing. "Incredible performance tonight. You both killed it. But, Tyler" he looked at him, then shot me a playful glance, "I think it's time you give your sax a break. You've done enough for one night. You deserve some rest."
Tyler shifted slightly in his chair, a faint flush creeping up his neck as he looked away for a moment. "I'm fine. Really. I—"
"Let him be," Bernard interrupted with a wink. "He needs some rest before the next gig, right?" He chuckled softly, then leaned forward, looking directly at us both. "I have to say, I don't think I've ever seen such good chemistry on stage. You two... it's something else."
His words hung in the air, a playful implication behind them. Tyler's eyebrows shot up, and his usual composed demeanor faltered for just a moment. He looked at Bernard, then at me, and I could feel the heat rise to my cheeks.
Bernard's grin only widened at the reaction. "I mean it. You two have this... thing. I'm not sure what to call it, but it's undeniable." He paused for a beat, letting the moment hang in the air, before finally breaking the tension with a chuckle. "You know, I almost thought you two might start writing your own songs on stage. Wouldn't be a bad idea, right?"
I could feel my face turning warmer, and I shot a quick glance at Tyler, who was visibly flushed now. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, clearly trying to play it cool but failing just a little. He cleared his throat before speaking.
"Gramps, you're reading way too much into it," Tyler said, but his voice was a bit quieter than usual, and I could see the slight embarrassment in his eyes.
I let out a small laugh, trying to ease the awkwardness I was feeling too. "Yeah, we're just here to perform the music, Bernard."
Bernard waved us off, clearly enjoying the moment. "Oh, sure, sure. Just remember, if you two ever decide to take that 'chemistry' off the stage, let me know." He shot us both a wink before turning to leave, leaving us to stew in the awkward silence that followed.
As soon as Bernard was out of earshot, Tyler exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, that was... something."
"Yeah," I replied, a nervous chuckle slipping out. "I think he likes to push buttons."
Tyler managed a small smile, though he still looked a little flustered. "He's good at it."
For a moment, the silence between us felt different. The air was thick with unspoken thoughts, and even though neither of us wanted to acknowledge it, the moment had shifted. I cleared my throat, trying to regain my composure.
"Well, I guess we better get some rest like Bernard said," I said, offering a small smile. "You did a great job tonight. Really."
Tyler looked at me, his gaze softening just a bit. "Thanks. You were amazing too."
There was a quiet understanding in his eyes, and for a moment, I almost forgot how awkward things had gotten. But that was the thing with Tyler, he didn't need to say much to make an impact. The simple, quiet moments between us felt like enough.
As the night came to a close, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation stirring within me. Whatever this was between us something about it felt different, and I'd like to think of that in the best way possible.