Nuriel is an eighteen-year-old senior in high school. Together with his friends Noah, Lucian and Caden, he has formed a band. He yearns for some change in his life, though he wouldn't know what; he gets what he wishes for when he meets Jerah, who turns his life upside down and makes his heart and brain contradict each other. Will he ever give in to what his feelings tell him, or will he allow his senses to deny them forever?

Sing For Me

Now it is time for stage 3 of a fun event: the empty feeling that comes after. I don't have a lot of time to dwell on it, though, because I also have to make my 'final test' today: if I fail, Jerah will stop teaching me. I have been dreading this day, focusing my thoughts on yesterday instead of putting my mind to it. 


It is Wednesday, 11 AM. The temperatures are getting warmer every day, but the difference is still too small to notice. The air feels cold, so going outside is something most people would rather avoid. I, too, would rather be inside. I am more of a summer person. I can stand warmth better than cold, and I find myself having an easier time cooling down than warming up. 


Once again, I arrive at Jerah's doorstep, almost as nervous as I was on Monday. I ring the bell, the sound echoing through the air. Not too long after, a ton of footsteps running down the stairs replace the silence, just like last time. 


When the door opens, I am greeted by a lot of smiles. Aki and all the younger siblings stand in the cramped hallway. "Ah, hello! Come on in!" His smile grows. 


"Thank you, uhh.." I take off my shoes while answering his smile with one of my own. The young ones, still a bit shy, stay behind their big brother as he steps back to let me in. 


"Ah, please, call me Aki!" he tells me cheerfully. 


I feel my shoulders get lighter. This man is so friendly and easy to read. It's way different with Tsukishima. I feel at ease. So, why do I feel disappointed that it was Aki that opened the door? 


To stop my thoughts, I try to introduce myself to one of the little ones. "Hi there. What's your name?" I sit on my knees as I approach a young girl, holding onto her brother's pants as if it's a lifeline. 


"..." The girl stares at me blankly, then hides her face. I sigh in defeat. 


"Go on, you can tell him. Don't be scared. He's a friend of Jerah." Aki encourages his sister. It warms my heart, seeing this big brother act. The other adult in this household, however... 


"Jexie...?" the girl answers hesitantly. She looks like she wants to die just because she had to talk to me. 


"Jexie?" I ask when she falls silent. "That's a cute name!" I show her my friendliest smile, hoping she'll warm up to me. 


"Oh, no," her big brother chuckles. "That's what she calls Jerah. Don't mind it. Her name is Hope." 


Jerah's nickname is what now? I have to take a few seconds to make sure I don't laugh. "Hope is a really beautiful name, too! It fits you." 


Her face brightens. "Thank!" she answers. It's not correct, but that makes it even more adorable. 


"Nice to meet you." I extend my hand to her. She looks up to Aki, who nods, then she slowly grabs it. After a short giggle, she goes back to hiding behind her brother's legs. 


"I'll go get Jerah. He hasn't woken up yet, it seems..." The blond man sighs as he picks up the girl I now know as Hope. He walks up the stairs, the crowd of kids following right behind him, some slower than others. 


This is it. No turning back. It's all or nothing now. A cruel man is going to give me a hard time. I put my hand over my heart. Calm down... 


"Sorry for making you wait." A sleepy voice sounds from the top of the stairs. "I'll be there soon." Jerah is standing there, in dinosaur pajamas, without his glasses on and with his hair looking like a mess. The heartbeat I just successfully slowed down reaches new heights as I look down to the floor quickly. 


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