Attending his concert

It was one week after that,

Dante is over the incident that happened some days ago. He was on the way to the University.

While walking past the flower shop, he felt the sudden urge to buy the fresh red roses decorated at the front of the shop.

He had enough money to buy them. So he stepped inside the shop. The woman greeted with a smile.

'' What would you like today?''.

'' Nothing special, just...'' he plucked one of the red roses from the bouquet present in front of him.

'' Give me ten of them. That will be enough.''

He came outside with a bouquet in hand.

It was a fine day, the sun was hiding behind the clouds as if playing hide and seek. He took the pedestrian street and walked in the shades of the buildings and trees.

The road was crowded with people rushing past each other to go to work. But Dante was not in a hurry. He was watching and observing the faces of others while walking.

He took in the scent of the fresh roses quite so often. It brought him joy and relaxation. The tall buildings and cars walking past him, made him realize how much slow he was walking all this while.

He could recall the assignment given by his professor. But for now, he didn't want to think about it.

All of a sudden his phone beeped. He searched for it everywhere as he couldn't recall where he kept it, only to realize that was in his bag.

The name on the screen was 'Mom.'

'' Yes, mom, how are you doing?'' he kept walking as he talked.

'' Son, do you remember something important coming up?''.

'' Important? What?''.

His mom heaved a sigh. '' It's your birthday. How could you forget that? It's next week. Did you plan anything on how you will be celebrating it?''.

Dante stood in the middle of his walk.

''You know very well how much I hate it. Then why reminding it?'' he clenched onto the roses with strength.

'' Look, it's no one's fault that your father left us. So stop blaming your birthday for that. I know that you discarded music for that also, but it's enough. You shouldn't blame yourself for anything any further. From now on, you will only look forward with your head held high.''

'' So, I won't hear any more excuses. There's this friend of yours right? What was her name again?''.

'' Lilian, how long do I have to remind you her name?'' he added, starting to walk again.

'' Yes, Lilian, tell her to prepare for your birthday. Even if it's two of you celebrate it together. Or else I will feel bad. You will keep my request won't you?''.

Dante paused for a moment, gathering up his thoughts in his mind.

'' Son?''.

He was back to reality again.

'' Fine, I will tell her about it. You win.''

'' Thank god, and think about what I said, 'Move forward, the world won't wait for you forever. You have to catch up to what you have lost. Time and tide wait for none. Now if you think I am nagging too much then hang up.''

'' Come one, I would never say something like that. Yes I know, I had-'' he turned from the other corner to arrive in front of a hall.

The banner at the front was none other than 'Musician and artist Hugo Lawrence'.

Dante went speechless seeing that. His heart beating rapidly in his chest.

'' Son? You were about to say something?''.

'' I'll call you later mom. Sorry.'' He hangs up right away. Dante could hear the sounds of the crowds cheering outside.

He stood there for a while. Then some girls pushed him away to get inside the hall.

He stared at the banner and looked at the pendant he was wearing.

'' I promised myself I won't involve myself in something music-related. Then why did my feet bring me here without my knowing?''.

He gulped, his throat felt very much dry back then.

When he was about to turn away, his feet were not letting that happen.

'' Maybe, I should do what mom had said. Move forward. Maybe this will help me to take up a new direction in life.''

So he went inside at last.

The crowd inside the hall was squeezing up one another.

He bought the ticket. The crowd was waiting in anticipation. Hugo managed to stand in front of the second row. The first row was booked by VIP seats.

After five minutes of waiting, there was the announcement,'' Your favorite artist and musician are here. Please welcome, HUGO Lawrence.''

The crowd went crazy right away. Dante could feel his heart beating in his chest very well. This is his second time watching Hugo's performance all by himself.

The lights went out, and the spotlight fell onto the star of the evening.

Hugo waved at others with a bright smile.'' Everyone, thank you for coming today. My ladies, are you ready to rock the show?''.

He was wearing a white jacket with a black shirt underneath with black jeans making him look much sexier than how he usually looks.

'' Yeah,'' the girls shouted. Dante was able to feel in his skin, how much popularity did Hugo had.

'' Let's begin the show without further ado. The first song is' You are my start.''

With a round of applause the song started.

How long did we spend the nights in each other's arms?.

How much love did you say you will give?.

Now that you aren't here, I am back in the same place again,

Tell me, why did you leave,

My sky is so empty now.

There are no stars in there, There's no star, cause the star is gone,

And you are gone as well,

Where is my light? Give it back to me,

As he sang Dante was able to feel something through the lyrics and the expression on Hugo's face.

'' I don't feel excited at all. Why's that?''.

'' My feelings are becoming numb second by second.''

'' I can't seem to like this music anymore. Why can't I feel anything in his song and voice? Why's it not setting my heart on fire? Why's the heat gone all of a sudden?''.

'' I feel cold and bored. Why's it so boring?''.

He clenched his fists hard, feeling angry within himself.

He watched the face of Hugo with a long face.

The first song was over, it was time for the second song.

Hugo took a break of two minutes and was back on stage again.

'' The second song is a bang, 'Loving you'.'

Hugo held the mic in front of his lips and closed his eyes while singing.

I want to love you,

I want to touch you,

I want to share my feelings with you,

But why?

Why do you always push me away?

I want to keep you closer to me, but why do you walk away?.

Is this a game that you are playing?

But I hate this game, now stop it.

I Want to have you for real.

I want to kiss you for real,

Come, baby, jump into my arms,

When he was singing the lyrics, he opened his eyes.

I have built this castle for you,

When he was looking at the crowd he saw their smiling faces. But then the face of Dante came into his view.

He almost stopped in the middle of the lyrics, but then add lipped.

Come, baby, this is a game of run and chase,

Hugo's P.O.V.

Why's he looking at me with a boring look? Isn't he here to enjoy the show?.

Then why does he look so unmotivated, without his spirits? Could it be? That he's bored by my performance and songs?.

No, no that's not possible. Maybe he's feeling bad, that has to be the case here.

I should just sing like I always do. He's affecting me too much. I almost forgot the lyrics as a result of it.

Dante looked down at his feet. Then at the face of Hugo.

I almost gasped as the result of his stare. It's so sharp that it's penetrating me. What's up with his stare?.

What does this guy want anyway?.

I should move away.

Hugo moved to the corner while singing, to shake hands with fans.

Dante still looked at his face.

He almost sang the wrong lyrics while thinking about him.

'' I'm sorry, maybe, I am not in good condition. Forgive me,'' he apologized to the audience.

'' Oh, cheer up Hugo,'' they said to him.

'' I'll sing the next lines, baby, let me love you...''

The more he tried to get him out of his head the more he was taking over his mind.

He couldn't stop staring at Dante.

He's taking over my head.

With the last line, Dante sighs and makes his way out of the crowd towards the exit.

Wait, where's he going? The show's not over yet. Doesn't he know?.

He's leaving even after knowing that? How can he leave my show in the middle of it? Who allowed him to leave?.

Wait, is this his way of telling me that my songs are boring? This performance is not up to his standards?.

This is my first time seeing him. Maybe became in to just check it out. But how could he leave in the middle of the performance?.

I can't allow him to leave.

'' Baby, I want you to heal me,

My heart is broken into pieces,'' his voice grew louder.

He wanted this to reach him but Dante didn't look back.

'' Don't-'' Hugo almost forgot the lyrics to his song.

But Dante left the event place in the middle of the performance. Seeing this, Hugo stopped singing.

The crowd went silent over this. His manager called via the earphone,'' Why aren't you singing? Hey? Can you hear me?''.

'' Sing, why are you standing still? Hey? Hugo, can you hear me?''.

Hugo was back to his feet again.

'' Sorry, I almost forgot the lyrics. Can we start with another song ladies? I'll talk with you for ten minutes extra.''

'' Yeah, we love you.''

Dante walked away from there towards his home.

'' Why did I even go to attend the show? It was so boring. Why was he performing like this anyway?''.

He heaved a deep sigh, thinking the crowd was the poor one, have to pay for that.

''Who was that guy? If I see him again, then I'll ask him why did he left halfway insulting me like that.''

'' I hate his guts. My whole performance became trash because of him. I'll find him out someday.''

'' How could he insult me like that? Who does he think he is?''.

When Dante reached his house, he turned on the news, while sipping onto his tea.

'' This is on the headlines, one of the Hugo Lawrence fans noticed something about his unusual behavior in his concerts today. Let's hear what it is?'' asked one of the reporters.

Two women stepped forward,'' Yes, I am Kyle, and I had noticed that Hugo was not in his mood today. I am waiting out to see him after he's done with his rest.''

'' But still, we love and support him and want him to get well and be cheerful again soon. Love you, Hugo, we want to see you grow even more.''

'' Thanks for your response. And we will catch up with his live interview after ten minutes. Don't go anywhere and keep watching.''

Dante turned off the TV right away.

'' Everywhere it's the same news. I hate seeing this. Better call Lilian.''

When he searched for his phone he noticed the image of his dad on the wall.

'' I am back dad.''