Sina

Everything was loud.

A glass broke against my door.

"You're drunk again--"

Thump.

"Get lost woman!"

Slap.

I clasped my hands on both my ears, my broken guitar staring back at me as I fit myself into the corner of my room.

This sound is unpleasant.

Without much of a thought, I grabbed my scarf and jumped out of my window.

It was raining when I made it out. My steps are splashing, everything sounded like a radio on static, leaving the world abuzz. And somehow, I found myself by the garbage dump where I used to pet a cat.

It was still there, staring at me. It's eyes glowed in the darkness, it's orbs luminescent like the full moon.

It stepped out of the heap reluctantly, it's tail brushed everything on it's way; until it got caught on something.

The sound of a string.

My eyes grew wide.

And that's the day I came across it.

-----

Viane.

I'm bored.

I was just sitting inside the clubroom. It was hot outside even though it's already near sunset. I was left drooling on my desk. My hand supported my head as I stare mindlessly at my club members doing "club activities" for the day.

The Sina girl walked in carrying a big guitar case. She's late but no one cared. She went to her usual spot and opened the case, looking at the instrument inside.

Adam, the only ever present "life of the club" approached her.

"Do you always carry that case with you?" he asked not too nicely.

The girl shooked her head.

"I don't always carry it. I just brought this today because I had a new guitar," she replied meekly then proceeded on showing it to him.

I moved my head to get a better look. My face scrunched in confusion. She call that new? It looks...brown. I mean-- it's paint is brown but it's a lot browner due to grime and dirt that's stuck to it. It was also littered with scratches.

"You call that new? That guitar is old as hell."

Exactly.

She just turned away and he shrugged it off.

I sighed.

So much for trying to strike a conversation. Since the club had been established, Adam has been the only one who had made compromises of getting us to open up, getting us together per se. But I've already watched different attempts and I'm getting tired of it. The nice rich girl had been no help either. She was just contented on reading a book on her table and laughing occasionally. And the Lindelle guy had done nothing but sit with his arms crossed and glare at us. Just by his looks I can already tell that he doesn't wanna be bothered so there's no use to tr--

"Here's the pen you've been bitching me about." Adam suddenly dropped a pen on my desk.

My eyes brightened.

It's a minion pen, a real one.

"Be grateful that I got you a real one, the one you had looked tacky,"
he said while looking down at me.

I glared back.

My previous pen happens to be yellow and I happen to love minions so I doodled on it to atleast make it look like one. I know it's not beautifully drawn but he doesn't need to rub it on my face.

I scoffed.

"Thanks. But don't think that I'd forgive you that fast." I whipped my head sideways.

"Whatever," he said then started walking away.

"Wait!"

He looked back.

"Uhm.." I unconsciously pulled at my newly cut hair. I just made up with my mom yesterday and I talked to her like how a customer would talk to their barber. "I didn't get to ask this earlier but... how do I look?"

My hair isn't poorly cut anymore. The sharp, uneven edges we're gone and my bangs were fixed too. It sat at the same level as my eyebrows and my hair is well-combed today, no cowlicks sticking out. I also dropped the make ups and stick to my natural looks.

He looked at me up and down.

"You looked..." he paused. "Cleansed."

"What?! Is that it?!" I slammed my hand on the table and everyone stared at me.

He looked at me with hard eyes.

"I'm serious. You're hair is well polished." Polished? "You look less pale and that look in your eyes is gone. You look like you've been cleansed out of something."

I looked away, I can feel my face heating up.

His wording is not desirable but the meaning behind it is sort of sweet.

"Thanks, I guess. I hope next time you could give better compliments."

He blinked.

"Who said that's a compliment?"

-------

Sina

"Mr. Wae!"

I ran through the darkness until I could make out his silhouette.

There he is!

"Oh, Miss Sina, welcome bac--"

"Look!" I raised my guitar up his face so fast that it almost hits him.

He subtly moved his head away.

"A guitar?"

"Hmm, hmm," I nodded.

"You got it from..." He tilted his head "The dumpster?"

"Yes! I came across it last night but I only got a chance to show it to you after school. And now that you're here you're gonna help me clean it!"

He looked at me confusely.

"Do audiences do that?"

"Not really, but a good one would surely do," I affirmed.

"Like a fan?"

"Yes, like a fan."

He smiled.

"Well, I do remember saying I'm your biggest fan so I'll do it."

A damp cloth appeared on his hand and I readied a handkerchief. A light engulfed the whole place and we were back at the music school I used to attend.

I smiled to myself.

Mr. Wae surely know what I wanted.

I sat on the shiny floor with a guitar in hand. He did the same.

"Miss Sina."

"Yes?"

"I won't be much of a help. Would that be okay?" he asked, his eyes looked apologetic.

Hm? What does he mean? If he only managed to clean a small spot that's okay with me. I don't see any problem with that.

I removed my scarf and smiled at him.

"Yes, it's absolutely alright."

He laughed.

"I'll do my best to assist you."
-----

After a few scrub and wipes, the dumpster guitar was almost sparkling.

"Wow! It's looking great, Mr. Wae!"

"It is," he nodded.

I stood up and smiled at him.

"I'm gonna have to go home now, I'm gonna finish it up there. "

"This is a goodbaye then," he said and he stood up too. He accompanied me through the dark alley, and see me off by the entrance.

It has become noisy again. Tapping of shoes are constant by the passers by and the cars are blaring as always.

Before I stepped into the light of the outside I looked back at him.

"Thank you, Mr. Wae."

"You're welcome as always, Miss Sina."

I nodded then finally stepped out, waving as I stride farther.

He waved back as he was swallowed by the darkness. Once his features were gone, I looked at the guitar in my hand to marvel it's newfound beauty.

I raised it up and it was illuminated by the different colored city lights.

The lights reflected but there was something not quite right.

My brows raised.

"I won't be much of a help. Would that be okay?"

"Mr. Wae, your spot weren't clean anymore."