CHAPTER FIVE- THE DAY YOU SAID GOODNIGHT

THIRD PERSON POV

It's been a week after Joanabe's birthday after she dreamt that dream. She seats in quietly while the other students are busy chatting, vocalizing, and getting ready for their recital.

Her thoughts can't help but dive deeper.

That fog dream etched in her head that she cannot keep herself calm. It's intriguing her.

"UGH! THIS FEELING IS SO WEIRD!" Joanabe claimed, shaking her head, frustrated

.

"You are weird, your running thoughts. You have a recital for today." Her mother said, sitting beside her in the backstage. She shot glares at her mother's comment.

*WHO WAS THAT MAN IN MY DREAM?*

Joanabe's mind keeps thinking about her dream, but her imaginations are interrupted by the sound of an opening door.

**CREAK**

She stares blankly at the person who gets inside in the preparation room.

"Hello students, are you all prepared for this year's recital?" Professor Melissa, the head of the music club, asked happily to the students, clapping her hands together with a confident smile while holding her excitement in her chest.

"YES!" The students that are present in the room said in unison except for Joanabe, who is busy maintaining her poker face.

"Best of luck to all!" Professor Melissa said before leaving the room.

"I'll go cheer you on, don't lose your focus, okay? You got this." Her mom gives her a warm smile, holding her shoulders in a sign of believing in Joanabe.

"Thanks, Mom, do not worry. I got this." Joanabe tells her mother in a calm voice, which reliefs Alexandra's nervousness for her. 

Her mother turns away and walks out of the backstage to exit and watch her daughter in the audience area.

She sighs heavily, rubbing her hands together, creating heat of the cold pressure inside her.

"Are you ready, Joanabe?' A girl student asks.

Joanabe turns her face to the girl who had asked her the question.

*SHE LOOKS FAMILIAR. I THINK I'VE SEEN HER BEFORE. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE AND WHEN?*

She smiles and nods in response to the question. The girl patted her shoulder before walking away.

Joanabe sighs heavily to relieve some of her stress.

She decided to go to the restroom.

There she closes her eyes, vocalizes her voice, and shakes her nerves to prepare herself for the stage.

Joanabe did not even notice the time is running fast. She missed the entrance and opening number. The professor and the others were looking for her, but sadly no one knows where she goes.

The moment she opens her eyes. She feels better. Her heart calms in her chest while her face pales.

She smiles in front of the mirror.

"YOU CAN DO THIS!" Those are the words escapes from Joanabe's mouth as an encouragement to herself.

She walks out of the restroom and rushes to the center stage.

*SHOOT! I MISSED THE OPENING! IT LOOKS LIKE THE FIRST PERFORMER IS PREPARING.*

The show has started. The girl who had asked her a question earlier hurriedly run to her while panting hard and said, "Joanabe! Where did you go? We were looking for you. You got us so worried. The first presenter is called and now is preparing to perform. We should take a seat."

"I am sorry, I went to the restroom, busy calming my nerves." She reasons out honestly. 

The girl was panting and sweating hard for Joanabe, but she is not interested in responding to the girl's feelings. Instead, her attention is on the first performance for this day.

"Let's take a seat here," Joanabe said, pointing to the empty seats near them. The girl nods in agreement.

They sit together in the audience chairs.

"Hello, Everyone! I hope you like this song. This song is about loving someone when it is not the right moment is you need to set them free."

The man strums the strings of his guitar and started opening his mouth to sing the song.

His voice is deep, low, and tone voice sends a familiar feeling to Jonabe's heart as he sings the first line of the song. 

Joanabe can't help but stare at the man. For an unknown reason, they catch their eyes and lock it to each other. There is a spark in her eyes.

The burning sensation in her chest together with the butterflies on her stomach, makes her feel comfortable. Her melt in the music as well as to the person who sings it for her?

She feels like the song is dedicated to her. The music is for her. She thinks of that way.

Their eyes never leave each other. Their emotions are building up in their brain. 

The boy finishes his song this particular line with a strong strum on his guitar.

"The day you said goodnight."

The man whisper in the air, "Joanabe."

Those brown eyes that shine were like the sun that's warily watching him afar. Those stares remind him of Joanabe's. His guts are telling him to go after her because it is Joanabe.

He quickly leaves the stage and goes to the audience chairs. He sprinted, avoiding the cheers of the crowd and people that block him from running away.

On the other hand, Joanabe stands up from her chair after the man finishes his performance.

Her mind thought of Kane, the kind man she wants to see again.

She pulls out her lucky mint green handkerchief in her pocket.

"It's him, right?" She asks herself in confusion.

"It's him!" She exclaimed loudly.

"It is me, Joanabe." A deep voice of a man confirms it to her. She slowly faces the man.

She smiles weakly, "Kane!"

"That's me. The one and only, Kane, you know." He proudly says yet breaks a little chuckle on his face.

Joanabe grabs him and pulls him closer to her.

"I-i miss you." She blushes while saying those in front of Kane, but this time she did not look away to hide her red cheeks. She lets Kane see it.

Kane's lips curl, "How have you been?"

"I am doing okay, you?" Joanabe's smile is extending to her face.

"Here, performing for Mother's sake. It looks like you've got no tears left to cry." Kane was about to scratch his head, but Joanabe is gripping them firmly.

"Pfft, you never change. You can let go of my hands." Kane sneered while looking at his hand's clasp together, by Joanabe.

"Oh-oh! Sorry, I did not mean to hold them." She let's go of his hands.

Kane smiles at her claims mischievously.

"Really?" Asks Kane.

Joanabe pinches his nose cause him to flinch away from her.

"You do not have to hurt my nose for that, Joanabe," Kane says while rubbing his nose to soothe the pain.

"Really? Because I think so," She giggles at his hurt face.

Kane could not bring himself to be upset by her because her giggles are enough to make him feel better.

"Um... Kane..." Joanabe speaks his name softly. 

"Yes?" Kane looks into her brown fondly.

"Kane, watch me sing," Joanabe said confidently. Then she swift her face away from his eyes to look at the platform.

"Watch me sing in that stage." She continues to inform.

"I will." Kane nods with approval, which encourages Joanabe to do her best in the presence of Kane.

"You change a lot, Kane," she said under her breath while looking at change appearance. He now towers Joanabe and is sweeter to her.

"Ehem! Excuse me for ruining your sweet and intimate reunion. But don't forget about me, Joanabe."

*WHO IS THIS FAMILIAR GIRL?!*