I hope I didn’t keep him waiting…
Aster trudged towards the bus stop outside school. He was not looking forward to this, especially after spending eight hours with a group of people he had never met before. He was also dismayed that he did not get the chance to talk to, or even sneak a glance at Calix after initially spotting him in the morning.
Aster had already resigned himself to the fact that Calix would not recognise him, but he was still optimistic about his chances of interacting with him. Right now, it was time to refocus on what was about to happen.
The vivid orange rays from the evening sun bathed the area in a warm amber. Nothing could escape the shafts of light, except a small, sheltered area at the empty bus stop, which Aster approached.
A lone figure, which was ominously suffused in shadow, inhabited the bus stop. It sat motionless upon one of the benches at the bus stop. Upon spotting Aster, it hurriedly rose from its seat.
“What kept you so long?”
The figure stepped forward forebodingly into the light, revealing an ash-haired male with grey snake-like eyes and an earring on his right ear. He was clad in a brown overshirt and a white undershirt, and his frown was exemplified by the gleaming radiance that had enveloped the vicinity. Aster took a second to formulate a careful reply.
“Hi Ash. The dean kept talking and tha-”
"Did you tell anyone?"
"Tell anyone what?"
“Yknow, that you're… nevermind. You wouldn't believe the day that I had though. The hotel was swarmed with guests and there was this one who was was being a complete stick up my ass. Like she kept asking for stuff again and again! It's not like it's my fault that she doesn't know to keep her legs closed, and decided to travel while seven months pregnant! I mean god! Whatever, I’m just excited to spend our first monthsary together. Oh, but there was this guest who was a complete bi…”
As usual, the serial yapper cuts me off but expects me to listen to him complain…
Aster and Ash spent their first monthsary eating at a restaurant. Well, Aster was eating. Ash just continued complaining.
It’s been an hour, and he’s still going?? I need to stop this.
“Hey, are we doing anything after dinner?” Aster asked.
“I feel like singing. Let’s go for karaoke.”
“Sure, why not, I guess.”
***
Aster usually loved going to karaoke, but as with most things that he did with Ash, Aster found it hard to enjoy himself. He couldn't really identify one specific reason why, but deep down, he knew that their relationship would not work out eventually. Ash was absorbed in his own world, belting away into the mic.
He’s always so narcissistic. He hasn’t even cared that I've been browsing social media for the past hour and have yet to sing anything.
As Aster scrolled mindlessly, something caught his eye. It was a repost from Calix.
"Central Crew auditions are happening soon! Sign up at our booth at the club fair from 26 to 28th February! Tap the link to find out more!"
He hasn't posted a single thing since I followed him. This must be the club he's in!
Aster hastily tapped the link, which led him to a music-themed site. Several words caught Aster's eye immediately.
Auditions required. Ugh. I've never sung in public before, but this might be my only chance of meeting him again. How am I ever going to pass it, though?
"I want to choose a song next." Aster said.
"Go for it." Ash replied
Aster picked up the other microphone and started singing. His mellifluous, velvet-smooth voice gelled in flawless musical harmony with the song he had chosen. What Aster lacked, however, was self-confidence.
Gotta practice a lot more if I want to stand a chance of passing…
Over the next two weeks, the thought of the audition loomed over Aster. Countless futures would play in Aster's head round the clock. Every day after his lessons, he would rush home and practice singing or warm-up exercises that he found on the internet.
Aster found that time was passing by in a flash. Soon, he was at the club fair, and Central Crew's booth was just in the near distance.
Dammit, he's not here. I don't know if that makes this easier or more difficult.
Instead, there was a lone girl who stood with her back facing Aster. Her sienna coloured hair reminded him of the leaves that fell from the trees near his childhood home. Aster cautiously approached the booth and started scanning through the photos that were placed on it.
"Hi! Would you like to find out more about Central Crew?"
The girl turned around with a beaming smile. Her yellow-green eyes filled Aster with a sense of warmth, and he immediately felt more at ease. He nodded and returned her smile.
"Well, we are CUA’s singing club! We meet up weekly to sing, jam, and write songs. We perform for school events too! Our auditions are next week!"
She brandished a clipboard with a single name on it.
"Just write your details on the clipboard!"
Here goes nothing.
Aster wrote his name down.
"Nice handwriting! I'm Hazel, by the way. Nice to meet you!"
"Aster Lux, it's a pleasure."
As Aster walked away, he could not help but celebrate that little victory in his mind.
I can't believe I actually did it! And it was easier than expected!
Aster's positivity kept him going through the last class of the day. As class ended and he was leaving the room, Aster looked forward to preparing for the audition over the weekend.
Finally, the week is almost over. Just one more day and…
Aster exited the room and walked down a long corridor, shielding himself from the blinding rays of the evening sun. As his eyes acclimatised to the bright environment, they locked on to a distinct figure in the distance. Aster could not believe his luck. It was Calix. The sunlight from the windows exemplified his flawless features, which were clear to Aster even though Calix was standing an ocean apart from him. He stood out so easily from the crowd around him, towering above the girls.
It was the first time Aster had gotten a proper look at Calix in so long, and he looked even better than Aster remembered.
Oh my god. It's him.
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