Author : CandyOnn
Translator : Haruhi
Proofread : Wendy
♫
"They really look suitable with each other na"
P'Soda mutters to herself when she sees Saifah and I sit on the long sofa together. It's not really muttering to herself since I can hear every word she says, exactly.
Be it suitable, adorable, or even seems close to each other, when the fact is that both of us are sitting completely far away from each other on the opposite side of the sofa.
“And you guys, here I already prepared the club's key for you. Anyway, do keep it securely na. As for the part of your practice session, there won't be many people around, since I already informed the president. Wait, let’s stick the label on once again"
After P'Soda has finished talking, she lends out the keys to me and Saifah. Both of us take it and put it inside our own bag.
“Ok then, let's see... before I leave, I want to ask to take your pictures together, maybe around 3 to 4 pictures na"
"Khrab/ can P'..." Ai'Saifah and I answered at the same time before we turn to look at the camera P'Soda held.
"If you understand it, do smile a bit. This picture will be on the page na woie, not taking a picture for ID card. Come on, smile a bit!!!"
I nod in response to P'Soda and then put on a wide smile for her.
"Continue to smile and move closer to each other"
"..."
"What with the silence? Move next to each other quickly"
After being asked to get close quickly, Saifah and I also decide to shift closer to each other like how P'Soda asked.
"Excellent. But, can P' ask you guys to get closer, more than this ka?"
What the- Just this much and I am almost sitting on his lap already
"Please, just a little bit closer than this"
"If you want us closer like what P' wants, you should just let me sit on his lap then, isn't that so P'?" I ask P'Soda with an unamused tone.
"Can you?"
"Absolutely not! I'm just kidding!"
"(Giggle) Meh~ I also thought that he could" He still dares to put a smiley expression on his face.
"Is P'Soda damn trying to be funny? Who would want to sit on ai'Saifah’s lap?" I mutter to myself, but then there is someone next to me who slipped out a soft giggle. "What the heck are you laughing at?"
"I'm not"
"I just saw you laugh, how can you say you're not"
"Laugh where? I'm just a person who is in a good mood, that's all"
"What fucking good mood? Only from your look, I know you mocked me"
"Who's mocking? It's only your thought isn't it Zon"
"This, did you just say that to me huh?!!!" I yell at him loudly and act like I am about to stand up, looking for anything so that I could hit his damn face for once.
"Enough!!!"
However, the first person who speaks to stop us from acting up is P'Soda. She even sighs exhaustedly when she saw me glaring at ai'Saifah with the previous look.
"Can't you guys calm down? Do not fight with each other"
"I didn't want to start a fight na P'Soda, but this guy, he's laughing at me"
"Saifah," P'Soda tone goes low with her eyebrows lifted, questioning the person next to me.
"Okay krub, I'm the only one wrong. I admit that I really laughed. So, I'm sorry krub"
In the end, ai'Saifah agrees to confess that he really did it.
"When Saifah says sorry, then Zon needs to forgive this friend quickly"
Who's the heck is my friend?!
I'm sure I have no friend whose name is Saifah.
"Zon" P'Soda calls for me once again. She might think that I refuse to accept it so she sends me a gaze, which I return back.
"P' asks na, right now please stop quarreling with each other first, can you?"
"But, I never started it na P'Soda"
"Whoever started it first, after this both of you really need to stop. Can you stop fighting only for these next two months? When the football club project is finally done, you can hit each other or whatever, P' will never stop you guys"
"..."
"..."
"I ask, can you?"
"I don't have any issue with it, but this person might have..." Said Saifah while glancing at me, mockingly.
"I also don't have any problem woie. Don't you try to make a wild guess"
"Okay. If that’s the case, both of you don't have any problem with each other. Now, let's make a promise to stop fighting first, okay na?"
"..." I turn quiet for a while, but after some time I turn to look at Saifah's face for a second before both of us are staring at each other, almost like asking one another how to go along with this.
In the end, when I thought there's no longer a look of denial from Saifah, he and I turn to P'Soda once again before we nod at her simultaneously.
"Great! Now, hold each other’s hand to stop fighting. P' will take pictures onwards"
"Krub" I answer lifelessly before turning to shake hands with the person next to me.
Afterward, I'm feeling okay but I hope he will no longer irritate me and I will also try not to easily get my mood affected by him.
When I promise, I will make sure of it.
"So nice" P'Soda beams widely. "This time, can Zon lean your body closer to Saifah?"
"Krub, can krub"
I nod and lean my body closer to meet Saifah, as P'Soda requested. Meanwhile, the person who I leaned closer to, has his hands embracing my shoulder as well.
"What's wrong with you? Do you have to hug my shoulder?"
"Hugging will make it a little bit closer to one another"
"But, I don't want to be close to you, not even a bit. Plus, P'Soda doesn't give out any order yet"
I then reach for Saifah's arm, about to push his arm away, but P'Soda’s loud voice interrupted me, which makes all of the action stops at once.
"Wait a minute, Zon. Let Saifah embrace you like that, it's nice"
"Really krub?"
"Yes~ Just like that"
"See? I told you already" Saifah turns, stressing his previous point with his eyebrows lifted high at me.
"Huh!" There, I could huff my frustration out before I let Saifah hug my shoulder like he did before.
"So nice ja~ So cute~ Can you change your pose to na?" P'Soda orders me and Saifah to change our pose for the photograph session, which lasted quite a while.
I'm not sure how long has passed, but I realized right away that after the photo session, right now, the wall I made between myself and him has lowered more than half.
"Okay~"
Finally, P'Soda brings down her camera. "Thank you na both of you. Anyway, after this do intend to practice na Zon"
"Krub"
"Saifah too, fighting na"
"Sure P'"
"If that’s so, P' don't want to bother you two anymore" P'Soda then puts the phone she used to take some pictures into her bag and walks toward the door, getting ready to step out.
"Good luck na kids"
"Krub, will try our best"
"Not just try, try to fight too"
"Krubbb~"
"(chuckle) P' will leave then"
P'Soda waves her goodbye to me once again before she walks out from the club room. I follow her until P'Soda walks away in order to shut the door when after, I notice the other guy already getting the guitar out and placing it on his lap.
"Ready to learn how to play guitar or not, Khun?"
"..."
"You turned silent... are you ready?"
"I'm ready"
But, I'm confused as to why we are talking to each other nicely. Calling me 'Khun' just now causes me to feel completely confused.
"So, where should I start?"
"What about here?" Saifah doesn't respond to me, he just beams and begins to strum some songs that I personally listen to as well.
Honestly, without any prejudice na, when ai'Saifah plays the guitar, damn he looks so cool. I just know that playing guitar would look so cool, especially when it is played and letting me listen to it.
Seeing it like this, I recall the time when I flirted with someone and couldn't be asked about my hobby. Maybe because my hobby is writing a novel when I was being asked at that time.
And it just so happens that I always got questions back, like why didn’t I do anything that is much cooler than this, like music or sports.
Of course, I never understand why it is only playing music or sport which makes one look cool. However, after witnessing ai'Saifah play the guitar for real, I now get why people said it like that.
Okay then, at least if I start to play guitar, there's another hobby to show off to girls.
"Doing a face like that, what are you thinking of?" Ai'Saifah asks.
"Huh?"
"I ask, what are you thinking about?"
"Nothing, I'm not thinking of anything" I respond to ai'Saifah with a normal tone. "And you, do you want me to play guitar?"
"Come" Said Saifah while handing out the guitar on his lap to me.
"And where should I start first?" I take the guitar and place it on my lap. The posture I had didn't seem skillful like how ai'Saifah played just now, until after, when Saifah reaches out to correct the way I hold it.
"Thanks"
"It's nothing"
"..." There's a long silence when Saifah and I share a stare. The strong wall which I set up to block me with him is being smashed, destroyed gradually.
Right now, I can only hope that it will get better in a way that I will feel pleased and happy.
No matter whether it is about the issue of not wanting to get along with the oath made to Sol, or the matter about the relationship between me and Saifah, still being just a friend and a person who teaches guitar, if it is only that to me, then I'm okay.
"If that’s so, I will start to teach an easy chord first" And it is Saifah who breaks the silence.
"For someone my level, there’s no need to teach an easy chord. Just proceed with something difficult, go on"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Do not compare me with the level you learned when you first studied it. It's a different level"
I raise my eyebrows to the person before me, confidently. If I cannot play, it is okay as long as I feel confident first.
"You..." Saifah shakes his head at me, in a way like he wants to laugh. "Then, let's start from Cmaj7 (C major 7)"
“Be it Cmaj7 or 10, just bring it on. I’m totally okay”
After I say it, ai’Saifah reaches out for my hands and holds them to press onto the guitar chord right away. This damn ai’chord is really difficult!
My hand nearly rips apart. I don’t know why I have to spread my fingers from one another to this extent.
“Saifah” “What”
“Is it a must to spread fingers like this?”
“Yes” Saifah nods, responding.
“This one is just a very basic chord, I told you. Therefore, you really need to press your fingers down tightly too”
After Saifah said this, he pressed my fingers down onto the chord immediately.
“Oii!”
“What is it this time?”
“I don’t want it anymore” I place the guitar down and hold my fingers dearly, checking them back and forth at once.
“My fragile hand surely can’t hold this damn chord on the guitar”
“So what?”
“It hurt my fingers too”
“You surrender so easily, are you one of the crazy gang?”
“Who said I’m quitting?”
"Well, what’s with placing down the guitar then?"
"I just said that I don't want this chord anymore. I want another chord first. Can I have the easy chord in the beginning?"
I ask him once again and it feels good as Saifah just beams, and doesn't continue to tease me more.
"If that so, let's start with chord C first... it's easy”
“…” Let’s have it as easy as you really said ai’Saifah, because the moment I learn it, I feel that it’s not easy at all.
“Why are you quiet? Will you learn it or not?”
“I will. Come on, whatever you want to teach, just teach it” I try to breathe in a relaxed manner and begin to learn the new guitar chord once again.
I do not know whether it will survive or not, but I’m confident that a person who is a quick-learner like me, will pass it for sure.
♫
Ting!!
“Wrong”
I don’t know how many times Saifah muttered this word to me this entire day.
“Try it once again”.
“Ermm” I nod soullessly before I try to flick it once again.
“Still wrong”
“Then, like this”
“Wrong”
“What the? It can just be like this”
“You have to press down tightly”
“Can’t you see that I’m pressing so hard that my fingers hurt?”
“I do, but it still not tight enough. Have to press it like this” Said ai’Saifah while shifting to sit closer to me.
His other hand is brought up, overlapping my hand in order to hold the guitar chord. After that, he begins to press onto my fingers, pressing the chord even harder.
“Does it have to be pressed this hard huh?” I ask the person behind me.
“Yes. Press them down tightly and as for the backside of your thumb at the neck of the guitar, do not let it contract like your other fingers”
“I can’t control it to not become contracted because I have to press on the chord… Oiiii”
I cry out right away as ai’Saifah presses my fingers to increase the pressure once again. You carelessly press to increase the pressure till my fingers are all bruised already.
“It is only in the beginning na Zon. When you begin to get used to it, it won’t feel hurt anymore. Why don’t you try to flick it once more”
I nod and give it a try once more like how Saifah told me. And this time when I really flick it, there’s no longer the quaking sound from the guitar. It could be because Saifah’s fingers are on the chord string too which makes the quaking sound finally disappear.
“And as for the way to strum the guitar, you can’t strum it up and down like that”
“Then, how am I supposed to strum it?”
“Let’s divide the number of rooms into four, in each room there are four rhythms. The timing should be counted like… one, two, three, four. Why don’t you try, I will help with the counting”
I try to strum like Saifah taught me, which it seems to be better like I really begin to play it. It’s just that Saifah’s fingers are still pressing onto mine.
“Can you remove your fingers first Saifah? I would like to try pressing on the chord by myself to see how it goes” After I say it, Saifah pulls his hands away and I test pressing onto the chord, by myself. However…
“Damn it, it is still wrong. Why is it that when I press onto the chord, it is not the same as how you did it? This, only the chord, it is already hard to this extent. Wouldn’t I be dead first when later on I need to move my fingers from one chord to another?”
“You this... all complaining”
“It is the truth though” I reply with my end tone sounding bored.
“Such things like this, it needs to be taken gradually, and it will slowly become better”
“Then, can you strum something for me to hear, any song maybe? Like to be an example to me”
“Sure”
After Saifah nods to me, he reaches out for the guitar from my lap and plays some music.
But excuse me, can you play the guitar normally, like as normal as a person who only knows a little in playing it.
There is no need to play it in advanced skills to the point where you have to knock on the guitar, it makes me feel it’s too difficult.
“Why are you making such a face?” Asked Saifah along with a soft cackle escaping his mouth.
“How can I not make a face like this, when you are strumming while knocking on the guitar like this, all new guitar players will feel totally discouraged”
“I’m sorry. Just now, I’m slightly too absorbed with it”
“That’s absolutely not ‘slightly’”
“Why are you so good at arguing na Zon?”
“It’s you who is good at teasing me”
“Alright” Saifah shakes his head at me like he’s accepting it. “Let’s have you play it once more”
The person in front of me gives the guitar back to me, I take it and place it on my lap in an awkward manner. Inside my head, I’m actually recalling something which is used to strum the guitar, but I couldn’t think of the name.
“You, I think I remember there is this thing that is used to strum the guitar, am I right? This small piece… if use that to strum, it will help me to strum much easier right?”
“Pick?”
“Yes. Do you think that if I have a guitar pick, I can strum easier? I don’t know if this club keeps one here”
“It will be easier and as for the matter if anyone left a guitar pick around here somewhere, I don’t think so, because it is small and it’s a personal belonging on top of that”
“Is that so? I’m thinking of getting myself a guitar pick so that I can strum easier. Where can I get one?”
“You can get one at any guitar shop. There are some in Siam area. Try looking online on websites as well”
“Okay, later I will try to visit one and look around” I nod and try to strum the guitar again, but there is still that quaking sound due to my fingers which aren’t pressing hard enough on the chord and it happened anyway.
In the end, ai’Saifah interfered, pressing on the chord instead. Meanwhile, as for my part, I strum on the guitar, following the rhythm he once taught me and like this, it is really good. It feels like I’m the one who plays the song by myself.
The next moment I realized, I already leaned my back against Saifah’s chest. His other free hand is embracing my waist which seems to fit perfectly, for real. It really doesn’t feel anything when we are not lifting up our heads and staring at each other when the song ended.
“Errrr”
“…”
“Well, it is about 8 p.m. already. My van is about to go too. So, I will go home na. See you on Monday”
I, out of nowhere press my lips together and move myself away from ai’Saifah. He nods puzzled before receiving the guitar from my hands which I hand out to him.
“Well, see you later”
I turn to pick up my bag, heading out and shutting the door of the club with a fast-beating heart.
I don’t know why but out of nowhere, I could recall the kiss that happened that night. Thinking about that atmosphere, including Saifah’s lips which moved at the time our lips touched.
“It’s nothing Zon” I say to comfort myself.
“There is no way it is going to go the way you promised with an oath. Because at least, there’s no way your heart can be controlled. No way”
My mouth might be saying it that way, but my heart feels extremely anxious until I couldn’t express it.
Right now, I’m just hoping that there will be no problem at all.
♫
T/N: Comments are appreciated ^^
