The Unfinished Melody

STEVE'S POV

Steve stared at his phone's darkened screen, his breath still caught in his throat. Viona had just called him. After all this time, after everything that had happened—that voice had slipped back into his life like a sudden gust of wind. Only three words had escaped her lips, yet they were enough to send his world spinning backward.

"I miss you."

Steve tried to ignore the frantic pounding of his heart. His hand still gripped the phone tightly, as if holding onto it longer could somehow rewind time. But before he could even reply, the call had ended.

Viona had hung up.

She had hung up.

Steve groaned softly, frustrated. Why had Viona contacted him after all this time? Why now? Why in that way? And why, out of all the possibilities, did he feel an overwhelming urge to call her back immediately?

But he didn't.

He just sat there, motionless on his bed, staring at the ceiling with his thoughts racing. Beside him, his phone vibrated softly. A message from Sharone.

Sharone: "Honey, are you asleep? Don't forget we have dinner plans tomorrow, okay? I miss you! ❤️"

Steve sighed deeply. Sharone. The woman who had been by his side all this time. The woman who was always there for him. The woman he loved—or at least, that's what he'd always believed.

But tonight, everything felt chaotic. Viona's voice still echoed in his head. I miss you. That voice, once so familiar, the voice he had once longed to hear every day. Memories flooded back—Viona at the piano, her nimble fingers dancing across the keys, her eyes sparkling with excitement when she conquered a difficult composition, her little laugh when she failed to play a note perfectly.

Steve rubbed his face with both hands. He couldn't sleep. Even after trying to close his eyes, Viona's image remained. Leaving her hadn't been easy. It was a decision he thought was right at the time, something he had to do for himself, for Viona. But had he really forgotten her?

The phone's ring filled the silence. Once again, he hoped it was Viona. But of course, it wasn't. It was just another notification, a message from his band's group chat. Steve sighed, tossing his phone onto the side table. He got up, walked to the window, and looked out at the city lights below.

He wanted to call her back. He wanted to hear her voice again. He wanted to know what made Viona contact him tonight. Was it just the effects of the wine? Or was there something deeper?

He didn't know. All he knew was one thing: tonight, he wouldn't be able to sleep. Not with Viona haunting his thoughts again.

The next day, he still couldn't ignore the feelings that lingered in his mind. He went through his day as usual, but every moment felt empty. He hoped his phone would ring, hoping Viona's name would appear on the screen. He hoped for a continuation of the conversation that had been cut short last night. And in the deepest part of his heart, he began to wonder: had what he felt for Viona truly ended all this time? Or had he only been trying to convince himself that their love was in the past?

And even more than that—was his feeling for Sharone really what he thought it was? Or had he only been trying to love her as an escape from something he'd never finished, or simply because Sharone was his first love?

In the afternoon, Steve went to pick up Sharone at her house, according to their plans.

When he arrived in front of Sharone's house, his hand froze on the steering wheel. He was about to get out of the car when his eyes caught a figure he knew so well in the garden of the house. Viona. Along with another girl he recognized as Theresia, Sharone's younger sister. They were sitting on a wooden bench, looking so relaxed, chatting as if the world around them didn't exist.

Steve's heart felt like it leaped into his throat. Reflexively, he ducked down and took a deep breath. He wasn't ready. Not for this. Not to see Viona in this state—so close, so real, so unattainable.

His hand clenched on his thigh. His mind was a mess. What should he do? Should he get out and pretend everything was fine? Should he try to avoid this meeting? But how could he? He was here to pick up Sharone, and sooner or later, he would have to get out of this car.

His chest felt tight. This was crazy. This was stupid. Why was he like this? Why did just seeing Viona make him feel like he'd been hit by something invisible? This shouldn't be a big deal. He should have forgotten those feelings by now.

But the reality was, he hadn't forgotten.

His hand moved toward the steering wheel, but he didn't know if it was to get out or to turn around and leave. His eyes were still fixed on Viona, who was now giggling with Theresia. The same laugh. The laugh he used to hear so often. The laugh that used to make him fall in love.

Was this all just a coincidence? Or was fate playing tricks on him?

One thing was certain—he couldn't go on like this. Sooner or later, he would have to face Viona.

But was he ready?

Suddenly, Theresia's voice sounded from a distance.

"Steve, why aren't you getting out of the car? Come on in, sis is still getting ready!" she shouted.

Steve froze. Panic surged through him. Before he could move, Theresia shouted again towards the house. "Sis, your boyfriend is here! Hurry up and come out!"

Steve gripped the steering wheel tightly. There was no way out anymore. He had to face this—and face his own feelings.

But was he ready?

VIONA'S POV

Viona was engrossed in a conversation with Theresia, trying to distract herself from the brief call she had just made. Suddenly, she remembered what she did when she was drunk. Calling Steve and saying "I miss you". She cursed in her heart. She felt like she'd gone crazy. Why did she do that? Why did she call Steve after so long? Just because of the wine? Or was there another, stronger urge? Ah, she felt so stupid. She remembered everything when she was telling the story of her romantic night with Frans. Instead of telling her romantic story, suddenly she remembered what she did when she got home, when she was half-conscious. Why did she call Steve? And hung up the phone right away? Should she call Steve again to apologize? Or just forget about it like nothing happened?

She looked at Theresia, trying to smile as if nothing was wrong. But suddenly, Theresia's voice broke her concentration.

"Steve, why aren't you getting out of the car? Come on in, sis is still getting ready!" Theresia shouted.

Viona froze. That name... Steve? Was it... Steve that she knew? The name was too common, of course. But her heart was beating faster than usual.

When Theresia shouted again, "Sis, your boyfriend is here! Hurry up and come out!" Viona could no longer deny it. Sharone's boyfriend's name was Steve. And somehow, her intuition told her that it was the same Steve.

She turned, following Theresia's gaze, and her eyes widened. Inside the car parked in front of the house, a man had just gotten out of the car, his gaze fixed on them. The man... Steve. The Steve she knew. The Steve she missed. His face, though more mature, was still the same as she remembered.

Viona was shocked. The world seemed to stop spinning. Why was Steve here? What was his relationship with Sharone? Was this all just a coincidence?

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She had to act calm. She had to look normal. But her racing heartbeat made it difficult to control herself.

Theresia turned to her, her facial expression full of curiosity. "Viona knows Steve, right?"

Viona nodded slowly, trying to smile. "Yes, I know him."

Sharone came out of the house, a wide smile adorning her face. "Honey, sorry I'm late!" She stopped, her gaze shifting to Viona. "Viona, you're here? Wow, perfect!"

Viona could only nod, looking at Steve who was now out of the car. Their eyes met, and the world seemed to freeze again. That look. The look that had once made her fall so deeply in love. The look now laden with a multitude of questions.

A meeting she had never imagined before. A meeting that would change everything.