What if?

Chapter 44: Totally different

Nick

“This is the place right?” I asked to make sure even though I can actually see the name on the door saying that the room inside is the music club.  “Yes! Can’t you see what is on the door?” Michael said, trying to annoy me as he always does. “I can see. Ugh! Is there something wrong with asking?” I asked Michael in a little irritated voice. Well, in fact I am really irritated now though so I am just being outspoken. 

“Oh no! Don’t tell me, you can’t read.” Michael said, acting as if he was shocked. “This jerk really knows the timing.” I said to myself. I really want to strangle his neck sometimes, especially whenever he is acting like this. “Shut up! Go now! Thank you for walking me until here… and also for the snack and drink.” I said and acted as if I was walking inside. “Okay! We will meet here after the club okay? Do not go anywhere.” Michael said while smiling. 

“Wow! His expressions changed easily.” I said to myself. Why don’t Michael apply for acting? He will be very good at it. I wonder the reason behind why he did not pursue such great talent. “Noted, thanks!” I turned to look at him and said. After it I slowly walked to face the door of the club. 

I am sure Michael and John went to their club. I was about to knock at the door but I noticed my hand shaking. It is shaking because I am excited not because I am afraid or what. I am so excited that I can even hear my heart pounding really hard. 

“Hi!” Moira, the president said. I was about to knock on the door for the final but I was startled when it opened. “Hello.” I replied back. “s**t! That was awkward.” I said to myself as soon as I finished replying to Moira, the president of the club. 

“Get inside.” Moira said while smiling really wide. I obeyed what she said and went inside. “Have you been outside for quite some time?” Moira asked curiously. “Not really. I was actually about to knock when you opened the door.” I replied to Moira while smiling. 

I know that first impressions last so I need to act as if I am a positive person so I can work well with these people. 

“Oh I see good. We were actually waiting for you for quite some time. And you have another guy with you.” Moira said and pointed to the person next to me. I turned to look at the person with a big smile but my smile slowly perished as soon as I saw the person next to me. “What the hell? Of all the people that I will meet, why should it be him?” I said as I saw his face. 

“Okay! Introduce yourselves please.” Moira said to the both of us. I looked at the person next to me because I am still not in the right mind to think well. He did not look at me but I think he knew that I was staring closely at him. “I will go first.” The person beside me said. “Hi everyone! My name is Jake. I am in fourth Grade Class A. I started to like music when I was 3 years old. That is the reason why I wanted to be part of this class. Please take care of me.” Jake smoothly said. 

So he likes music too. But I think he likes it more than I do. “Hi! My name is Nick. I am also in fourth Grade Class A. I want to know more about music that is why I want to be part of this club. Thank you for letting me and please take care of me.” I introduced myself while trying not to be awkward. 

“Whaa! Same class! So are you two close?” Moira said curiously. “No!” Jake and I said at the same time. “I see. HAHA you two look cute. I hope that you will get closer and closer with each other.” Moira said while smiling. Her smile was great but what she said was not. She is saying the most impossible thing of the impossibilities. 

“Hmm…” I replied with a nod and a fake smile. Jake on the other hand did not say anything. When I turned to look at him, he just presented his usual expression. That is showing people the NO EMOTION face of his. "s**t! This is really awkward." I said to myself over and over again. 

"Okay! So since the both of you are classmates, please help each other here." Moira said after she placed each of her hands on our shoulders. "Yes." Jake said shortly. Interestingly, he said something. But too short. "What am I even expecting from him?" I said to myself as I look at Moira. 

I know I am looking at Moira but my mind is thinking about Jake. “Anyone who plays the guitar?” Moira asked the both of us. “I can play the guitar.” Jake answered immediately. “Are you good at it?” Moira added another question. “Yes! I can also play the bass, electric guitar, drums, flute, violin and the piano.” Jake said without any emotions. 

“s**t! He seemed so confident while saying those words. He is a freaking music nerd. How was he able to play these instruments at the age of 10?” I said to myself while looking at him in shock. “Woah! You must be from a family of musicians?” Moira asked in surprise. “Not really. My dad and mom own a theater and both of them love music but are not musicians so they decided to continue their dreams to me.” Michael said without stopping. “Oh? I see. That is why you know how to play a lot of instruments. Do you like it?” Moira asked Jake. 

That was also the question that I wanted to ask Jake. Since he said that is not actually his dream to be a musician, it was his parents because they were not able to become one. There is also a possibility that he is here because his parents told him too. 

“I don’t like it…” Jake said which made me furious. I held Jake’s arm and made him turn to my direction. “Then why are you here? Why are you pushing yourself to please your parents? If you don’t like it, you should tell them. You will not be happy if you continue to do this. There is nothing wrong of saying no and being true to your parents.” I burst after hearing his words. I was so mad that after saying all those words, it made me breathe hard. 

Jake is now looking at me with his blank and emotionless eyes. “You got it wrong. I was going to say that I don’t like it because I love it. At the age of three, my parents saw that I have a love of music too so they started to let me engage in music as soon as I turned four years old. Although they are not good with music, I was able to inherit their love for it. Music is my best friend.” Jake said while closely looking at me.

“s**t! What did I just do? I feel so stupid. That was freaking embarrassing!!!” I shouted to myself. I can feel my body heating up. I can’t even reply while looking at Jake because he is still closely looking at me.

After a few seconds, Jake turned his attention back to the people in front of us. I forced myself to speak up. “Sorry. I thought it was the other way.” I said to Jake after forcing myself. My inner thoughts are saying that I am a very stupid person. 

“It is okay to misunderstand things. But you could have avoided it if only you listened well.” Jake said without looking at me.”Ugh! I forced myself to say sorry for misunderstanding and this is what I got to you?” I said to myself. “And… your apology is accepted.” Jake added. “He is freaking unbelievable.” I said to myself with eyes wide open while staring closely at him. I really want to choke him now. “Thank you.” I said and faked my smile.

“O..kay! Good. How about you Nick?” Moira said. I can feel that she asked me that question because she can feel the awkwardness already. 

“I don’t know how to play any instruments and I just learned that I like music for a while, that is why I joined this club. I am hoping that I will grow as a musician in here.” I said softly. I am still embarrassed about what happened a while ago. That is why I did not have the courage to speak. 

I am the total opposite of Jake but I don’t want them to compare both of us. Although, we cannot neglect the fact that what I just said was true. “Oh?!” I heard the people inside the club beside me and Jake. 

“Why are they all shocked?” I asked myself after seeing their reactions.