THE BAD BOY OF MANHATTAN
Chapters 80. If It Is So.

When he came out of the manager's room, Erlic saw Lily struggling with her guitar in the living room. The short-haired girl repeated the tone she made many times. And finally, the girl placed the guitar violently beside him. Then, he covered his face with both palms.

"Hey, Lily .. Is there a problem?" elric asked as he approached the girl.

"Oh, hi, Elric." Lily smiled wryly. "Yeah, I'm in big trouble."

"What's wrong?" Elric took a seat beside Lily. Looking at the girl who seemed to be struggling.

"The next two hours I have to take and I'm not very good with the keys yet."

"Why not just take a guitarist to accompany you? Do you have to play by yourself? Or, you can just play rhythm" suggested Elric.

Lily took a deep breath. "I gota play guitar my self (I have to play guitar myself), El. Or people will laugh at me."

Elric frowned. "Why indeed?"

Lily lifted her chin. He glanced at the ceiling of the studio living room. "My father is Brandon Boyd, my mother is Mia Boyd. They are the brains of Funerapolis. You know, don't you?"

"So?"

"And I don't want to be called a loser. I don't want to embarrass my parents."

"You're not embarrassing anyone, Lily. You've got a booming single this year" entertained Elric.

"But I don't contribute any instruments, Elric."

"really? Aren't you the one playing the guitar? Everybody knows that."

Lily shook her head slowly. His face looked sad. "I can sing, but I'm not very good at playing music."

"So, in your song, you just sing, right?"

Lily nodded. The half-Asian face look increasingly moody. "From childhood, my parents taught me a variety of musical instruments. But, there's none that I'm good at."

"You can sing. That's enough."

"No, Elric. I want to look different from other female solo singers."

Elric breathed. "You still have time before the recording, don't you? How about I take you for a walk around the studio. To make your head cold."

Lily smiled at her. It was clearly visible twinkle in his eyes. To be honest he was a little surprised, Elric wanted to talk at length with him, listen to his complaints, even take him for a walk. It felt as long as he knew Elric, they only greeted each other at a glance then.

"Teach me play the correct guitar, El," Lily pinta as the two browse the sidewalk around the studio.

Elric chuckles. "You're not gonna like my lesson."

"Why? Is it too hard? Ah, I forgot that you're the genius guitarist. My song's not your level" Lily joked.

"That's not what I meant. I'm not gifted to be a teacher."

"Oh, so." Lily nodded. His eyes were on a chocolate shop across the street.

"Can you accompany me to a hot chocolate? People say chocolate can calm a restless heart," said Lily.

"Sure," said Elric.

The two teenagers crossed the street and entered a chocolate bar. After ordering two cups of hot chocolate, the two sat face to face near the glass window.

"Thank you, Elric. You've taken the time to accompany me."

Lily smiled at her. He then cupped a cup to warm his palm. "It turns out you're not as arrogant as I thought you were, Elric," she said.

"Oh, so you think I'm arrogant, huh?"

"Kind of."

"Actually I'm not arrogant, Lily. Sometimes I'm just, too preoccupied with my own business" Elric said. He threw a glance out the glass window, on the crowded street of four-wheeled vehicles.

"But I used to be arrogant" Elric continued. "Until I meet someone ...." Elric's chest thumped as he recalled the one name imprinted on his heart. "Ah, forget it," he chuckled then.

***

James occasionally glanced at Emma beside him, as he drove his car on the crowded streets. After eating at a restaurant, the girl kept quiet. James had to go to great lengths to open up a conversation between them.

"Emma," call James.

"Yes?"

"May I ask you something?"

"Okay."

"How big are my bullets?"

Emma frowned as she turned towards James. "Opportunities?"

"A chance to get your heart back" James replied.

"Owh," said Emma Short.

"Yes, how big is it, Emma?"

Emma took a slow breath. "Don't I tell you that I want to focus on my work?"

"yeah. I just want to know how big my debt is. Just to encourage yourself," James chuckled.

"I don't know."

James smiled happily. "Not knowing better than impossible" he lapsed.

Emma smiled wryly. He could not open his heart to anyone. There is one name that is still imprinted in his heart. Even though he tried to let go and move on.

And unfortunately, James' car passed through the studio building owned by Elric and his band. His heart is getting restless. There was a sense of longing that rattled his chest.

However, the longing faded away, as his eyes caught the figure of the long curly-haired youth sitting behind the glass window of a brown tavern.

The young man is not alone. Sitting in front of him, a short-haired girl, who of course he knew. Both look familiar. Laughing and having a nice conversation, it seems.

"James," call Emma down.

"Yeah, what's up, Em?"

Emma closed her eyes for a moment. Then look towards James who is still focusing on driving.

"Maybe your chances can be I level up."

***