I fell face-first on the bed after I threw all the shopping bags at the corner and shrieked at my fullest in the pillow.

Mum dragged me to shopping as she came to know that I didn't use even a bit from that bundle of money she gave for me to go and shop.

The whole journey was tiring.

Starting from me and mum choosing a pile of clothes and then me, trying them on and doing a good exercise as I did so.

I was tired.

A soft knock came on my door. I asked the person to come in and then, there was a click of the lock and the door opened. I imagined this all scenario cause my head was still dug in the pillow.

'Hey kiddo, how was shopping?' Ian's voice came rambling in my ears.

I groaned in answer as Ian chuckled. 'Told ya to shop for yourself.' Ian said.

I immediately lifted my head up as I sucked up some oxygen. I glared at Ian with my eyes narrowed that clearly said "shut-up".

Ian chuckled. 'Hey, it's cool now. Let's go and have lunch.' He poked me in the arm. 'I'm hungry and I need to talk to you too.'

'Talk about what?'

He scratched the back of his neck. 'Just some ... random stuff.'

'Where's mom?' I asked Ian desperately.

He was about to leave the room but turned back at my question. 'She'll be joining us too.'

'I've got to do some homework.' I ambled to my desk and cracked open a random book.

'No you're not,' Ian closed the book. 'Come on, get up, you're having lunch now. And don't try to make any excuses.'

'Ian I—'

'—I've got your back. Okay?'

I nodded my head and looked up at him. 'What's up with you?'

'Nothing,' he looked down. 'I'm just concerned about what might've happened that night,' his eyes were still fixed on my bruise.

'You don't have to. I'm telling you, it was just a slight slash.'

'Let's hope this is the only part of the story.' Ian said. 'And you need to eat now. You're getting so skinny and I know you don't like smoothies.'

'Oh god Ian, stop being my mother.' I groaned.

Ian chuckled. 'Yeah, now I feel like it too.'

Ian and I both chuckled as we headed downstairs and settled on the table. Mom joined us in a while, all dressed up in a classic knit fit and flare white striped dress. Her hair pinned half up and half down adoring elegant earring in her ears lobes.

She didn't say a word until we were in the middle of the lunch that she spoke. 'How's studies going Ian?' She asked as she sliced the beef.

'Fine.' Ian answered.

Mum hummed at Ian's response and placed the piece of meat in her mouth. 'And you Jane?'

'OK.' I replied.

'I don't think so,' Mum said coldly. 'I've seen quite changes around here.'

'What changes?' Ian pursed.

'You, filling up your room with pages and Jane,' she diverted her gaze to me, 'continuing her job and quitting her diet.'

I stiffened. 'Mum it was ... '

'What sweetheart? What is the excuse you'll give me this time?' Mum asked me calmly. 'You know fat is what you should be staying away from.'

'Mum, she barely eats.' Ian protested.

Mum arched her eyebrow to Ian 'I don't remember addressing you Ian.'

'I'll be sending you the diet plan and would expect you to start following it. Try on those dresses if they require any alteration then make sure you tell me and get a hair cut. I don't like fat girls with unruly hair.' Mum said as she placed down her fork and knife deliberately across the plate making a perfect cross, dabbed her face with the handkerchief, pushed back her chair, picked up her black Gucci handbag and strolled out.

Without any goodbye. Without any glance.

I clenched and unclenched my jaw. Three days, it's been since she came here and I'm already imprisoned. 'Jane,' Ian called me but I simply pushed back my chair and stormed out of the house.

Mum never liked my auburn curly hair and that was the reason I was gifted a straightener at my tenth birthday at which I was expecting a Barbie doll. Ian gifted me bar of chocolates that I'd eat sneaking away from mum. Once, at my daily checkup, the doctor informed mum that I had gained more weight than I should have at my age. That was the day, when I was gifted a book that'll motivate you to lose your weight. I was my thirteenth birthday.

I had no idea where I was walking until I focused and found myself in The Lovely Garden. Again.

Boarding The Wandering Train.

I sat on the bench and focused on my ragged breathing. To clear my mind off the unwanted thoughts and to get numb from the deplorable feeling. And the nature never failed to relax me with those melodic cries of lullaby in the atmosphere.

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I picked it up. It was unknown until I heard the voice and it wasn't anymore. 'Hello?'

'Is Âme available?'  Ryan greeted.

'Nope.' I said.

'Oh, ok then. I just wanted to inform that I've received the date for my audition on The Forte and if she is interested then I'd tell her but you just said she isn't available.'

'Really?!' I squealed. 'What is it?'

I heard Ryan smile. 'Hold on grasshopper. Tell me where you are and I'll be there.'

————

'OMG I can't believe!' I squealed again and I put on my seatbelt.  'Like they accepted you and it's on 15th. Today's 5, you have ten days!'

'They just accepted me. I haven't even performed yet.' Ryan turned on the ignition and hit the gas without informing me where he'd be taking me.

'Oh I know you'll do well.' I confessed.

Ryan averted his gaze off the road to look at me. 'How can you be so sure? I could just mess up or forget or my throat could get soar.'

I cut him off. 'This,' I pointed my finger at him, 'negativity will take you down at the speed of light. The sun is still in the sky Ry boy. Look up, not down.'

'OK.' Was Ryan's reply with a dimpled smile. 'I'll look up now and if we get crashed into something then don't blame me.'

'Ryan!' I exclaimed and Ryan shrugged.

'It's what you just told me.'

'How's your grandma?' I asked him about her.

'Fine. Like before. But better.' Ryan answered.

'That's good then.' I looked outside of the car window and it bestowed upon me that I was still ignorant of the place I was being taken to. 'Where are we going?'

'You're coming home with me Âme.' Ryan said. 'For I guess, I need to practice and ...' he trailed off.

'And ... ' I pursed.

'You'll be helping me out.' Ryan said and turned his car to the path going left.

*****

'This doesn't feel right.' I told Ryan who had issues with breathing. 'Listen, try to breathe trough your diaphragm not your chest.' 

Ryan tried again. He could breathe through it, but sometimes, he couldn't. His pitch was shaky and times would come when he'd go out of the tune. The falsetto needed a lot of practice and might I say, the only thing in which I found no flaw is his guitar skills. They were fluent and melodic.

Ryan rubbed his forehead. 'Okay, listen, If this is better.' Ryan sang the verse but all the time, my head was shaking no. Ryan furrowed, a bit disappointed, but tried again that verse.

To his encouragement, I shook my head a bit in a approving manner but it was all the same. 'You know what,' I stood up and poured him some water, 'drink this, relax your vocal chords.' I handed him the glass.

Ryan's room was a typical boy's room but messier than I had ever seem probably because Ian was really tidy and Ryan was just the opposite. Pieces of clothes trailed around the floor that he pushed away with his feet when he invited me in. Music records and CD's were stacked at the corner of the room and trophies from his baseball competitions lined his counters. His study table was filled with binders stuffed in papers I had no idea why there were so many.

His house wasn't that big as I had expected but I felt it more cosier. More warmer. His grandad was at the hospital.

I just started hearing to Ryan's voice that's was a gorgeous combination of deep and clear voice. He had some cracks but all the same, I could get lost in it.

He placed his black guitar with fire flares drawn on it at the corner and rested his back against the back of the couch. 'I suck.' He said.

'You don't.' I shot back.

Ryan questioned me. 'How are you so good in vocal coaching?' As he turned off his phone that he used to see lyrics and keys.

'Dad taught me and Ian.' Was what I said. 'He loved music.'

'You're really good than I expected.' Ryan remarked.

'I know.' I said. 'When you texted me that night, you said you wanted something from me if you pass.' I remembered. I had reread the text a few times trying to comprehend what he could want.

'Yeah. I remember.' He smirked.

I titled my head to my side. 'What is it then?'

'Why don't you guess it?' A flick of amusement settled in his eyes. I stood up.

'I'm getting late now to work. I should be going.' I said but before I could walk even a step forward, Ryan pushed me down as he was sitting and I saved myself by just mere inches from falling on him.

'Don't you want to know it Âme?' Ryan crooked his eyebrow and spoke in a jagged tone. I just noticed a chain he wore around his neck.

'I ...' I trailed off not really know what to expect. I pushed down the lump that began forming in my throat.

He moved closer that his lips touched the brim of my ear. Blood drummed in my ears and my heart beat picked up.

I closed my eyes as he whispered. 'A kiss.'

————
Hola Afarthers! So here's the chapter that took me years to write. I don't even know why probably I was too busy with my school. Keyword : probably.

So, now that it's here, I want you guys to give me your reviews that could help me improve and motivate me to write more and those who read it so fondly, thank you so much for this and I know you already know who I am talking about.

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