RUN WITH ME
CHAPTER 37: DON'T EXPECT

The second break is usually used by students to gather with friends in the cafeteria, play in the field, to just stay in class; now everyone gathers at the school hall to watch live music. The break time had not gone up to ten minutes yet but the room had been filled with disciples, they seemed to be really impatient with this event.

Right in the tenth minute from the break time, Fernando and Bianca went up on stage while speaking in a loud voice. "Good day everyone!" they said it along with one hand held high. Their greeting was also met with screams by the spectators.

"Welcome to the event .." said Brianna paused her sentence slightly while glancing at Fernando.

"Live Music Valentine's Day WG Senior High School!" In accordance with their practice, the two agreed to say this sentence simultaneously, fortunately it can be executed well. Fernando and Brianna's applause came in return.

"Brianna, it looks like we don't need to linger here because everything is very excited about the performances that will be given today" Fernando said as he looked at Brianna who was standing next to him.

Brianna nodded softly at that and then replied, "really, especially the tick-tock-tok-tok-tok this also continues to chase us. So, without further ado, let's welcome our first performer ..."

"TNW Bands!" Fernando and Brianna said it again. TNW Band is the name of their school band and stands for There's No Tomorrow. This band was created five years ago and continues to survive until now because it is passed on to the younger siblings of the class. Had experienced a crisis of lack of members, but finally able to survive and resume activities as usual.

When the two MCs called the band, Arunika, who worked as a behind-the-scenes organizer, told the band members to immediately go on stage. The girl also appreciated her two friends who had been MCs for a few minutes.

"Good job, good job," praised Arunika as she gave her palms to the two people, inviting them to the tos. Fernando and Brianna understood the gesture so they put Arunika's hands together, Fernando in the right and Brianna in the left. After that Arunika called Whitney, the next performer, and asked her to prepare.

On the other hand, the band began to play the musical instruments that became their specialty and the vocalist also gave their independent sound. It seemed that the entire audience was enjoying the short performance as they were singing along with bodies swaying leisurely to the right and left. Unfortunately, three minutes had to go quickly and the TNW Band had completed their task. Now it's Whitney's turn to come forward to entertain the audience.

The appearance of the fifteen-year-old girl raised a loud cheers from the audience, happy and excited to hear the beautiful voice of Whitney again. Meanwhile, the band members have returned to the backstage and Arunika welcomes them as enthusiastically as she welcomes the two MCs. He also did the same, inviting one member at a time tos.

"It's a shame, but it's not my favorite song. Try it again next time," said Arunika regretfully when the band's turn tos hand with him. Yes, at the sound check yesterday, Arunika did not tell the vocalist her favorite song and instead asked him to guess. The challenge was accepted and this is the result of his conjecture, wrong. The band's vocalist laughed and spoke Arunika's words, then walked away.

After her departure, Arunika turned her eyes to Gavin who had been standing next to her. "Are you ready?" ask the girl in a soft tone. The tall man answered him with a casual nod, showing how accustomed he was to this kind of situation.

"Professionals are different, yes," Arunika replied with a chuckle, while Gavin only smiled hearing that.

If before Gavin a little fire beard due to interaction between Arunika with vocalist TNW band who clearly likes Arunika, he now tries to be more relaxed and ignore the feelings that he thinks are excessive. After his conversation with Archie this morning, he also realized that Arunika is not that easy to like someone, so he must be calmer. The fear of his woman being taken by others should be reduced.

"Well, get ready, in a minute you'll be performing," Arunika recalled looking up at the stage, at Whitney who had arrived at the ******* song. Gavin nodded in understanding.

Then Arunika looked back at Gavin and asked, "if you may know, to whom is this song you are playing?" The question was so unexpected for Gavin that he fell silent. Yet both of his blue-green neutrals continued to stare within Arunika.

Gavin smiled and raised both his shoulders indifferently, "guess what." Arunika had already opened her mouth to protest, but her ears caught the thank you Whitney made her realize, this was not the time to joke with the man in front of her.

It's just that it still feels a little annoyed in Arunika's heart so with a smile made-up—of course joking—ia give to Gavin. "Please go up, Mr. Gavin Kanagara," he said, which left Gavin chuckling. But before the man actually went up on stage, he uttered a full sentence of ambiguity at Arunika.

"My father said, my whole feeling would be clearly imprinted on my facial expression while playing the piano. So, maybe from there you can realize who I'm playing this song to." After saying that, Gavin again moved his legs to climb the small stairs that became the link between the backstage with the stage. On the other hand, Arunika was speechless hearing him.

When Gavin had only seen a little bit of his body, excited cries immediately filled the spacious room. The disciples already knew Gavin would give his performance there and this stage was what they were waiting for the most. When else can they watch piano performances from world-class players for free?

With a faint smile engraved on his lips, Gavin took his seat in front of the piano and moved small to secure his position, then he placed his ten fingers on the white keys. His eyes he closed while taking a deep breath, while silence occurred as long as Gavin prepared himself as if ready to be swept away in that soothing melody

Shortly after, Gavin began to move his right index finger and was followed by the movements of his other fingers. At first many thought Gavin would play a mellow song, but in fact not, this song even feels very cheerful and light with the impression of a strong love. Some members of OSIS who stood on the sidelines invited the audience to turn on the smartphone flashlight and swing it along with the tempo of the game Gavin. Fortunately the signal was captured so that now the room was filled with a small glow from the flashlight.

Just like before, Gavin plays while imagining the girl who somehow fills his empty heart. When his eyes closed, the memories of his friendship with Arunika were twisted back to paint a wide smile on his handsome face. When the blue-green net opened, he would immediately look at Arunika who stood on the small stairs that became the connecting path between the stage and the backstage. Gavin could see the woman leaning her back against the wall and smiling gently. Aware of looking at each other, the two widened their smiles.

Arunika is unwittingly swept away in Gavin's game. He was really comfortable with the foreign feelings that spread his heart when Gavin played. Especially after realizing that they contacted the eyes several times, Arunika even felt relaxed and calm. Can a piano melody really make a person this calm?

Here's three minutes that almost everyone in the room seems to want to repeat, unfortunately they can't. They could only regret that the show had to end by giving a standing ovation to the pianist who had stepped up from his seat and stood in the middle of the field. The man bowed a little as a thank you for enjoying his performance. A smile again adorned his face as he left the stage.

When Gavin set foot on the backstage, he was immediately invaded. Arunika, Hera, Maverick, Floyd, and several other members of the event board gave various sentences full of praise without pause. Maverick repeatedly hit Gavin's hand slowly while making a proud speech to him, while Floyd hugged Gavin once. Hera also gave a reaction that is not much different from Maverick.

"Good job, Vin, that game was so beautiful." Gavin turned his body when he heard that familiar voice. Unlike the three friends who tend to be excited, Arunika even seemed calmer when saying the words of appreciation, but also implied a strong sense of pride in it.

"Of course," Gavin replied with a confident smile, making Arunika shake her head slowly with a smile. Then Gavin's attention was diverted again because there were some OSIS members who approached and invited him to speak.

Arunika looked closely at the man who was laughing after hearing the praise from the members of the OSIS, then exhaled slowly while bowing his head.

"Don't expect Arunika," the girl muttered in a very small voice, almost like a whisper.

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