Nothing A Few Drinks Can't Fix (IV)

Canary Sue's was a small venue that had opened a few years ago, within a renovated industrial neighborhood. Most of its success came from the fact that it capitalized upon a cross between eastern and western style karaoke.

Inside there were individual rooms that people could rent out, some even with rooms large enough for giant parties. All the private rooms were on the second floor, while the first floor hosted a giant room with tables strewn in front of a stage with an open mic. People would sign up at the front counter with Sue, taking turns to perform on stage, in the rotation in which they had signed up.

Chang always came to rent a small room for two hours, there she would sing and drink her heart out solo. Usually Chang would find herself coming once a week to every two weeks, but on some weeks she would come to the place twice in a week. As such Sue recognized her upon entering.

"Ah Miss Dumont! Welcome back! Unfortunately I'm booked full on rooms right now, care to take your chance on the stage?"

Chang paused for a moment hearing that. "Uh, I think we're just gonna hit the bar first and watch."

"Well I'm here if you change your mind. I always look forward to when you come and always secretly listen at the door when you come."

Chang was embarrassed hearing that and scurried into the bar room with Justin, not caring to comment. He quickly ordered the two of them a few shots of rum to start with, and a couple of mai tais for them to sip as they watched. Tipping his glass against hers with a cheers, Chang soon felt her cheeks warming and herself loosening up. As soon as she had finished her first mai tai, Justin brought another another with a wicked grin.

"So, how was your first day, I mean besides the whole drama before you got there"

"Mm I like it," Chang elaborated more under his endless questions on the various aspects including the coworkers. When Brandy came up, Chang frowned a little to herself, wondering how to word what she felt. "Uh she's friendly, I mean really, really friendly."

Laughing at her response, Justin gave her a playful nudge with his elbow. "You probably should be careful with that one, I think she might be in love with you, at least if she wasn't before, those jeans just about sealed the deal."

"The last thing I need is someone else chasing after me..." Chang was only grumbling to herself, but Justin still heard.

"Hey, hey, hey! Tonight's a good night, we're gonna have fun. What happened earlier is nothing a few drinks can't fix!" Putting his hand on hers, Justin tried to pull her out of the unhappy thoughts she was slipping into.

"You're right, we're here to have fun, and we're going to!"

"Yeah, that's the spirit! Congrats on your new job, I can feel already you are going to fit right in."

"Thank you! Thank you for hooking me up with it!"

"Any time!"

After unnecessarily clinking their glasses together multiple times in celebration, Chang giggled and sat back, sipping on her mai tai. Sitting there, she watched others come up to perform, including Justin, but stayed seated the entire time.

Since that day Chang had not performed in front of others or for another. Since then, she had tied singing in front of others to him, and felt like somehow it might make him appear again, like last time. That it would draw him out like a siren call.

As she continued to sip her drink, Chang felt her nervousness gradually started to wear away. With her friend keeping her drinks flowing like an everreplenishing spring, the alcohol fully worked into her system until she felt completely free and uninhibited. Standing she did the unthinkable.

Returning to her seat beside Justin, Chang felt herself immersed in the emotions of the song until it was her turn. Even with all the alcohol she had consumed, Chang still felt a little jittery, and took a few sips. Yet when the giant screen displayed her name, and she found herself on stage before the microphone, Chang felt herself naturally fall into her element.

Since they had entered, both Justin and Chang had been unaware of a man who had been discretely eyeing them. Leaning against the side of the wall, he had been hurriedly messaging his boss of his success, ever since the two had entered. As soon as Chang stepped onto the stage the man, stopped typing and began to record, so that he could diectly convey what was happening.

As the intro came in with a long violin note, then the tinkling of a piano and a bass drum, Chang kept her eyes closed. Only when the first words flew freely from her lips, did her eyes flutter open. Chang did not see the crowd below her with their eyes fixated on her, but instead him. His beautiful smile that hid lies.

"I wanna be with you, gotta be with you, need to be with you

I wanna be with you, gotta be with you, need to be with you

Ooh

Chemistry was crazy from the get-go

Neither one of us knew why..."

His mouth hanging open wide, Justin at that moment felt like he was finally getting a peek more into her hidden romance.

The crowd below was shocked by this woman who suddenly came on stage for the first time. Her song touched everyone's heart with the emotion of longing, and her velvety strong voice captured everyone's ears and attention, leaving them riveted.

The man holding the phone himself was blown away. Working to keep his hand up and steady, he wondered how his boss, Mr. Liang would react when he saw this.