Chapter 15

Galene shivered as the pounding in her apartment door got louder. She covered herself with piles of comforters and pillows and buried the earphones deep in her ear to block out the noise. 

She stared at the new wound she got on her left arm. Tears ran down her eyes as she quietly muttered a sorry to Drystan.

She couldn't keep her promise of not getting hurt again. In the end, all she did was run away. In the end, everything she told Drystan was just empty promises.

 ...how lucky will I be if you were mine 

Galene couldn't help but smile sadly at that thought. She remembered how vivid she felt that moment was. And how in her mind she answered him back with a... 

... I could already be yours and you won't even know it 

Because she would never tell him about how she truly feels. 

Because as the pounding and shouts outside her apartment door get louder, reality comes biting back at her and all the fantasy-like life she was living up until now felt like a dream. 

It's been three weeks. That was how long she was enduring this torture. 

The torture of her past comes back to haunt her. 

🎙🎶🎙

"You think she's fine?" 

"She's got a new wound" 

"This has been going on for weeks now"

"Reni, you really don't know what's going on with her?" 

Serenity shook her head at Malkiel's question as they stare at Galene's direction. Serenity held her boyfriend's hands tightly when she saw another bruise on her arm and another wound on the other. 

Drystan gritted his teeth as he stared at Galene talking to the pub manager. Tonight was their gig and for weeks she would always come to school with a new bruise or wound. 

Everytime they would try to ask her about it, she would just say nothing. Drystan tried pressing the topic further but Galene would always flip out whenever he tried to. After that day at the infirmary, Galene hadn't kept her promise and arrived the next day at school with a new bruise.

Drystan finally had enough and pressed for answers but it only ended with an argument. Now, he can't even talk to Galene and this cold war with her had been going on for days now.

Galene never told them anything, not even to Serenity. When they tried asking Quincey, her only answer was... 

...just give her some space for now 

Drystan turned his attention to Quincey who was silently staring at Galene too. 

"Can you please at least tell us something?" 

Quincey only looked at Drystan briefly before shaking her head.

 "It's not something I could tell you guys, she didn't even want Serenity to know and she had been our friend far longer than you guys" 

It made sense somehow. If it was something that Galene hadn't told Serenity herself then it was something serious that she wouldn't want anyone to know. 

"If it's such a secret then how come you know?" 

Kenzo's question made everyone look at Quincey again. 

"Because I grew up with her since we were little" 

"Then it does have something to do with her family" 

Quincey flinched at Drystan's statement.

 "You know, I hate how you're too perceptive about things that involve Galene" 

"Can you blame me?" 

No, they can't. They knew that Drystan was madly in love with Galene now that even just the slightest scratch would make him a madman. 

They were just thankful that he was still composed up until now. 

Galene stole a glance from the group and quickly averted her gaze when she saw Drystan still staring at her. 

She quietly pulled down the sleeve of her shirt before saying her thanks to the pub manager. 

She knew that Drystan was controlling himself from getting mad and confronting her. Since the last time he pressed the topic of her wounds, they got into an argument. They hadn't talked properly since then and a cold war was still ongoing. 

If they were going to talk, the topic would all be about the band's activities. That was all to it. But it wasn't like she was mad at him or anything, she just really wanted to avoid the topic of her bruises.

She took a deep breath before smiling lightly when she walked to the group. 

"They said you can just perform one song, you can say no to the encore too" 

The team's silence made Galene shiver, she was starting to feel anxious again. She was scared that her current state was putting the band to a standstill. If she was becoming a burden to them, then the guys might hate her. 

Quincey clapped twice bringing Galene back from her reverie.

 "You heard her, just go kick some butt out there" 

"Quincey when you say it like that it sounds so perverted"

 "Idiot you're the only one who is being a pervert here" 

Drystan glanced at Quincey and Kenzo who were now bickering. He knew that they just lightened up their mood. 

"Alright well we'll be upfront" 

Galene stared as Serenity gave Malkiel good luck along with a kiss on the cheeks. Her gaze suddenly went to Drystan to whom she found was staring right back at her. 

His eyes showed how worried he was and Galene couldn't take it. She felt like she would cry if she stare at him any longer. 

Quincey dragged Galene and Serenity out of the backstage. Quincey lightly pinches Galene's arms to get her attention. When she did she whispered... 

"You need to tell them before things get worse" 

Galene knew what she meant.

 "Won't they hate me?" 

"Idiot, did I hate you when I knew it?" 

She didn't. Galene felt her tears trying to escape from her eyes but she looked up and tried her best to not let it show. 

"Galene"

 Serenity's worried voice was so clear that Galene knew she could cry any minute now. She sniffled before looking at Serenity and Quincey. 

"I'm fine" 

It was half the truth. She was fine as long as she was with her friends. That was all that mattered. Serenity somehow got the message and just smiled at her. She didn't dare hug Galene for she knew that if she did, she really would cry. Instead, she nodded at her with a smile. 

"Hey Drys" 

Drystan's attention flew back to the guys who were all looking at him worried. He let out a sigh and just huddled them all together. 

"I know this isn't one of our greatest times and it's because of me but I want you guys to not drag your feet because of it. I won't let you down so just do your best." 

Koa, Kenzo, and Malkiel simultaneously smiled at him. They knew what he meant. Even during their toughest time, Drystan never broke down, he always held the band together.

 "That's why we're the greatest aren't we?" 

The boys smiled when they saw how confident Malkiel asked it. Koa put his arms around Malkiel's shoulders. 

"Somehow after being in a relationship with Serenity, you become a man huh?" 

"Huh? I was always like this idiot" 

They laughed it all off and like every performance they had, they shouted the only name that the audience should be shouting and cheering for. 

"PHOENIX HARMONY LET'S GO!!"

Drystan inhaled deeply as the curtains started to slowly unfold the band. The moment they were up, Malkiel hit the drums and he and Koa started their guitars. 

I'm so tired, but slept all-day

Maybe I'm just crazy, 'cause I'm not okay

Baby you've expired, you're out of date

You left me waiting, never to return again

The loud cheers went silent the moment Drystan sang and yet his attention was focused on one person only, Galene.

Now I'm in a million pieces scattered all over the floor

And I'm feeling confused because you said you loved me more

There's only so much that l can take, oh

He made sure that Galene knew beforehand that what he wrote wasn't pertaining to her and by the way she looks at them, he knew that she understood and yet…

I'm looking for a good time girl

A beautiful world to come home to

Who's by my side when it all falls down

Is it too much to ask for?

Someone who don't care about the money in my pocket, or the car that drive

Want to look into her eyes and say

You are, you are, you are, you are

My good time girl tonight

And yet Drystan didn't like how down Galene still seemed. 

I would buy her flowers but she'd throw them away

I'd drive for hours, wondering who's to blame

And l'd stay up all night long

Didn't know what was going on

I'd stay up all night 'cause just couldn't wait for the light to come now

I'm in a million pieces scattered all over the floor

And I'm feeling confused because you said you loved me more

There's only so much that can take, yeah

How, she didn't seem to enjoy their performance now when normally her cheers would always be the loudest.

I'm looking for a good time girl

A beautiful world to come home to

Who's by my side when it all falls down

Is it too much to ask for?

Someone who don't care about the money in my pocket, or the car that I drive

Want to look into her eyes and say

You are, you are, you are, you are

My good time girl tonight

Yeah, he didn't like it at all. He stopped singing when it was Koa's part. He gritted his teeth when he saw that Galene had no emotions right at this moment.

I need someone who

Likes doing the same shit as me

Who likes going to the movies

Who makes me feel like l'm the only one

I need a girl who knows how to be fun

Who won't expect me to pick up the bill

But if she's good then she knows that I will

A girl who just can't wait to be

My good time girl

Drystan could feel his blood rushing, when it was his turn to sing again. He poured his all that even the guys were surprised.

I'm looking for a good time girl

A beautiful world to come home to

Who's by my side when it all falls down

He was singing his heart out and it made Galene surprised. He stared at her surprised face but he didn't stop.

Is it too much to ask for?

Someone who don't care about the money in my pocket, or the car that I drive

Want to look into her eyes and say

You are, you are, you are, you are

My good time girl tonight

He didn't want to stop and that was why when the song had ended and the crowd asked for an encore, he didn't stop.

Drystan turned around to talk to the guys who were now all ears with his plan. 

"It's a simple cover song, will you listen to my selfish request?"

Drystan didn't even need to plead, they all knew why he was doing this.

"Hey, you guys are great! It's such an honor to be here".

The cheers grew louder as Drystan smiled through the microphone.

"So, we're doing a short cover song for an encore I hope that's okay with you guys"

As if uniting as one, the crowd shouted yes altogether. Galene's eyebrows creased, they hadn't told them that they were planning to do an encore. And a cover song? She hadn't heard anything about it.

Galene was about to ask Quincey and Serenity when she heard the light strumming of the guitars.

I remember tears streaming down your face

When I said I'll never let you go

When all those shadows almost killed your light

I remember you said don't leave me here alone

But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight

Galene instantly froze, she knew the song they were covering all too well. It was then that she met Drystan's soft gaze. 

Just close your eyes, the sun is going down

You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now

Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound

Drystan remembered it, when the guys had asked the girls before about their comfort songs. He remembered how Galene answered that this specific song was her comfort song. He knew he should've done this to her sooner.

If she was suffering from something and she couldn't tell anyone then he should've just done this instead of arguing with her or pressing her for answers.

Don't you dare look out your window, darling, everything's on fire

The war outside our door keeps raging on

Hold onto this lullaby even when the music's gone, gone

Galene felt herself losing it. All the composure, all the acting of being fine and tough crumbling down. She felt herself opening up until the point where she could no longer control it.

Just close your eyes, the sun is going down

You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now

Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound

Drystan's whole attention never left Galene, that was why he saw everything. From the moment where Galene's first tear fell, to the worried looks both Quincey and Serenity gave her, up until the moment she covered her whole face and ran outside the pub.

"Koa take over"

"I got it"

"Sorry"

Drystan didn't even lose a second and instantly handed his guitar to Koa before jumping down the stage.

"Well, sorry for that there has been some kind of emergency…"

"I'll go after her"

As Koa reassures the crowd, Drystan gave a light tap to Quincey and Serenity as he ran past them. He ran outside trying to find where Galene was but he saw no sign of her. He breathed heavily as he roamed around the area.

He fished out his phone from his back pocket as he stare at the message Quincey had sent him. It was Galene's address. He didn't even have to think twice and hailed a cab.

He was anxious, he didn't know that Galene would cry like that. It was a first. He never saw her cry before, but the fact that she cried because of her comfort song meant that what she was carrying right now was far too heavy and he was worried for her.

Galene's apartment was in fact near to the pub where they just performed. He instantly found it and immediately pushed the elevator button to the floor where she was at. 

The moment the elevator opened, Drystan froze. Even from afar he could make out Galene's silhouette. Sitting in front of her apartment door, head buried on her knees as her shoulders start to shake. 

It broke his heart to see her like this. It broke him even more when he realized that Galene was trying very hard to stifle her cries.

He walked towards her and kneeled in front of her. 

"Astraea"

Galene flinched upon hearing his voice but she didn't look up. Her face was still buried on her knees.

"Let me see you please?"

She didn't want to. She felt incredibly weak for not being able to hold her tears back. 

"Wh— why did you have to sing that song?"

"Because I thought you needed it"

She would be lying if she said she didn't, and she really couldn't blame Drystan.

"I made everyone worry, you must hate me now don't you?"

Drystan couldn't understand it, what happened to her, why she was feeling this way. He moved closer to her and kissed the top of her head.

"I could never hate you. I would never hate you. I told you, didn't I? I'm so in love with you that I'll go insane if I'm not with you"

He thought Galene would stop crying but instead, her sobs just got louder. It was then that she looked up at him and Drystan could feel himself breaking. Galene's tearful face was not a lovely sight for him, he hated that she was crying.

"I…"

Galene couldn't find her words, she didn't know where to start all she knew was that her heart still felt heavy even after all the crying.

"Why don't we go inside first? Or do you want to go somewhere else?"

Galene wanted to risk everything. She still couldn't put it into words but maybe she could atleast show Drystan. 

Drystan saw how Galene tried to calm herself down just enough for her to ask him.

"Do you want to spend the night?"