"Not now, thank you."

-------

"Thank you! Thank you!" JiJi exclaimed. "Please, enjoy the night!"

"That was fun." John commented as Stephen lead them to room at the back.

"Thank you so much for tonight guys, never thought it'll be this much of a crowd that'll come over but hey!" Stephen laughed. "I ain't complaining!"

"It's an honor mr. Li, glad we could do it." Ryan said as he shook hands with the man.

They heard a knock from the door and it opened revealing a brunette waitress looking for someone. "Oh ehm, excuse me, boss, someone's looking for you at front."

"Oh." Stephen gave the kids a look. "Duty calls. I'll see you kids next time, enjoy the night!"

"We will!" JiJi called, waving until Stephen dissapeared from the other side of the closed door. "Well, we'll be heading home in a few anyways so."

"Imma head out and get us some water." John offered.

"I'll come with you." Mika squeaked. "I wanna pee."

John and Mika went out and was met in the small hallway with the sight of a man in a semi-formal attire heading towards them. The two gave each other skeptical looks before John moved a bit to Mika's front when the guy stopped in front of them.

"Good evening." The stranger greeted then chuckled. "Oh, I hope I didn't creep you two with the way I approached but I assure you I ain't gonna hurting anyone here tonight."

"Ah." John let out quietly, still not moving from his spot.

"Okay." The stranger chuckled again. "I saw you guys performed and I gotta say, I was impressed. My name is Karl Lewis and I am gonna go straight to the point and ask: what do you guys say about signing in a record deal?"

"A record deal?" John echoed.

"Yeah, like a label." Karl confirmed. "For your music. Your band. I am the owner of DDR, sorry, not familiar? It's Don't Doubt Records, I know it's going way too fast but what d'you say?"

"Oh." John said quietly. Mika's eyes widened with a small gasp. All her life, she never thought this day will come. Well, she's in a band, that's already a dream come true but for a record label to come over to her, of all people, and offer a contract. Don't Doubt Records of all record labels! The most famous record label of all time! It's crazy! Her entire life has always been evolved around music, even ever since her father was alive. He would always play her a song to sleep. She would love to say yes and accept the label! She thinks the trio would love too as well, I mean, they have talent man, they can't just waste that! "I think, we'll pass, thanks."

What?

"Oh, may I know why?" Karl asked.

"Personal reasons. Can't give you more than that, sorry." John pursed his lips with a shook of his head.

"Ah. I am sometimes turned down because of that, but hey, it's okay, I understand." Karl smiled then handing him his business card. "Though I don't mind waiting. It doesn't have to be today, this week, this month, this year, hell, it can even take many years, I don't care. Just call me. Though don't worry about whether I'm still alive or not by the time you guys have made a decision, the media will tell you, HAHAHA!"

John gave out a dry laugh before breathing deep through his nose. "Sure."

"I'll see you guys next time." Karl gave a salute then he walked away. There was silence until he was completely gone, the two still haven't moved from their spots.

"Why'd you say no?" Mika asked quietly. "I-I thought you guys love music. Having a record label would really take it to the next step, y'know."

"Yeah, well." John pursed his lips again, looking down at the business card before pocketing it in his hoodie and continued to walk. "Yeah I'd say for the three of us that we don't have time for it."

Mika gave him a confused look. John saw it and proceeded to explain. "It's just that, there's more to life that we want to explore and a record deal is kind of a big thing, yes, but it's also a commitment that I think we wouldn't be able to handle very well."

"It's on the house." The waitress whispered with a wink and a flirty smile to John, unbeknownst to Mika, giving the two a case of bottled water.

"Eh, I'm taken, thank you." John whispered back awkwardly smiling, out of earshot from Mika, the waitress's smile fell. Slowly cringing as they walked back. He sighed before continuing. "It's just that, the three of us made a promise when we were very young, and that was to take things minute by minute and we'll have to trust one another's instinct when necessary."

They arrived outside the door of their little waiting room. "I promise, Mika, everything will make sense soon but right now time is such a big enemy to us right now and we can't stop it, only slow it down. There is still so much you don't know about us and I apologize, we're taking it one step at a time even though it feels like it's sky rocketing. But I promise you, everything will be out soon. Didn't you want to go to the toilets?"

Mika just stood there with a mixture of sadness, curiosity and confusion on her face. "I don't feel like going anymore. No offense."

"None taken?" John chuckled. Mika went to open the door for him but John stopped her. "Ah hold on, this might be more useful to you than to us. Maybe not now, but for sure, in the future. Like the guy said."

John laughed, balancing the case on his thigh in mid air while getting the business card from his hoodie pocket and giving it to Mika. She just took it timidly, looking at it with wonder. He then proceeded to opening the door and held it for her to come in as well.