The rehearsal room was alive the beat of the drums shaking the floor, Michael's voice echoing through the mic, laughter bouncing off every wall. It felt like us messy, loud, and alive.
I should've been overjoyed. We were finally in sync, preparing for the Battle of the Bands that was just around the corner. Every chord felt electric, every note filled the air with promise.
But somehow, Kevin's smile didn't reach his eyes.
He was quieter than usual, strumming his guitar like it was the only thing keeping him anchored. Every now and then, I'd look at him hoping to catch that spark, that familiar teasing grin. Instead, he'd just nod and look away.
Michael cracked another joke, and I laughed because it was easier than asking why Kevin wasn't laughing with us.
"Perfect, guys," Michael said proudly, pushing his messy hair back. "We're gonna kill it."
Kevin's voice was barely above a whisper. "Yeah… kill it."
Something in his tone made me look up, but before I could say anything, Michael started another riff, and the moment passed.
When practice ended, exhaustion hit everyone at once. Dinner was noisy jokes, chatter, plates clinking the usual chaos. But when I glanced at the table, one chair sat empty.
Kevin's.
I frowned, scanning the room. No sign of him.
Without thinking, I filled two plates chicken, rice, and a scoop of ice cream that was already beginning to melt. "He didn't even eat lunch," I muttered, balancing both plates as I slipped out of the room.
The air outside was cooler, calmer a relief after the heat of the lights and laughter. The sound of waves reached my ears, and that's when I saw him.
Sitting by the shore. Alone.
Right where we used to sit and talk about everything and nothing the stars, the music, the dream.
I smiled softly. "You planning to eat the stars for dinner, Kev?"
He looked up, startled, then smiled that small, tired smile that made my chest tighten. "Maybe they'd taste better."
I sat down beside him and held out the plate. "Try this instead. Stars don't come with ice cream."
He chuckled but it was quiet and heavy. Like the sound of rain against glass.
"Is everything alright?" I asked, studying his face in the dim light.
He hesitated. "Yeah… yeah, just tired."
I nudged him lightly. "Tired of me or the endless guitar solos?"
That earned another smile but it wasn't real. It felt forced, fragile.
"You? Never," he said.
Something in my chest twisted. He wasn't telling me something. I could feel it — the weight, the silence between us, louder than any song we'd ever played.
After a while, I leaned my head on his shoulder. "Don't overthink, We've got this. You've got this."
He nodded, but I could feel how tense he was beneath my cheek. I wanted to ask again, to dig deeper, but something told me he didn't want to talk not yet.
When we walked back to the dorms, the night was quiet. Everyone went to their rooms, but I couldn't sleep. Something about his eyes haunted me like he was saying goodbye without words.
Hours later, I passed by the hallway and heard it faint, raw, beautiful.
Kevin's voice.
I peeked through the open door and saw him sitting by the window, guitar in his lap, moonlight painting him silver. His fingers moved gently across the strings, and his voice trembled as he sang:
"If I lose you in the crowd,I'll still find your voice somehow.You're my rhythm when I fall apart,But fear plays louder than my heart…"
The song was soft but the pain in it wasn't.
I stood there, frozen, watching him pour his heart into every word, every note. My throat tightened. I didn't know if he was singing about me… but deep down, I was scared to find out.
When he stopped, he wiped something from his cheek a tear, maybe and I quietly stepped away, not wanting to be seen.
That night, I lay awake, replaying his song in my mind.
the voice couldn't get out of my mind,the pain in his voice but after awhile I saw Kevin approaching me,so I closed my eyes pretending to sleep
he examined without touching me then he cupped my face
and my heart started racing fast but gladly he didn't kiss me but he said "i'll fight for you until my last breath"
he went back to his bed I was too lazy to turn to see him so I also fell asleep and snored badly just kidding I don't snore