I woke up to the sound of piano and I picked up my mobile to check the time. It was four in the morning and even though the music was audible only if concentrated it somehow woke me up. Putting my feet in the slippers I slide open the room door and walked straight towards the music room in the house.

The melody started getting louder and better. The melancholy in the tone was undisguised and something about the music touched the heart. Undefined sadness resonated through the alley which led to the music room of the house.

The glass panel outside gave me a clear view who was playing the piano, Ross.

He was the only one I dared not approach on my own, he had that mind of vibe. So I just stood there and listened to him play which was so relaxing and beautiful that I didn't even bother that it was four at night.

His fingers stopped on the piano and I saw him sigh. I might have been staring intently because I saw a tear escape his eyes and that was all to finish my intimidation and walk in the room. My unannounced entry surprised him as he looked up wide-eyed at me. There was no hiding the tears now even though he turned away and hurriedly tried to wipe them off.

"What is wrong?" I asked sitting down making a point I was not going anywhere.

"Why are you awake?" He asked avoiding my question.

"Can't miss a live performance from on of my favorites," I stated simply and shrugged.

He sighed and re-started playing and I sat there for a good ten minutes where he tried to ignore my presence.

"That is beautiful by the way," I stated carefully before he kicks me out.

He stopped and looked at me, "You are not going to leave?" 

I shook my head in a slow no and gave him innocent eye look.

"Then let's get some caffeine at least." He said and got up before I could.

He made coffee from the machine in the music room and offered it to me. I took it without complaining even though I hate black coffee.

"It's my brother." He finally said and I waited for him to explain.

"He has a competition in school, singing competition at that and he wants me to come," Ross said and sighed as if making up his mind whether he should continue or not.

"So?" I prodded him to talk.

"My mother asked me, not actually begged me to come."

"How old is your brother?" I asked to keep him going.

"Nine." And he smiled at this, "He loves to sing."

"So we go and hear him sing," I answered for him.

"I am a celebrity, I can't just go anywhere I want." He was making excuses it was clear.

"I can take you undercover don't worry about that." 

He thought carefully thinking about other excuses.

"Tell me the actual problem Ross." I was not backing down not matter how deadpanned he looked.

"My dad." He answered shortly and felt him tear up a bit.

Being almost the same age as these guys I instantly got the point. His dad was not supportive of his career choice.

"For how long you guys haven't talked?" I asked the obvious question which surprised him.

"For as long as I have joined this place." He answered still surprised at my question.

"He doesn't like your job choice, isn't it?" 

He nodded looking mildly relieved that I said the words out loud.

"Neither does my mother, she doesn't approve of me being a photographer." I shared my own little problem.

But my mom was not severe like Ross' dad.

"Tell me Ross, is it your brother's fault that your dad is being a jerk?" I said rather bravely.

"No."

He was about to say something else when I added, "Is it your mother's fault?"

"No."

"Then why are they paying the price for your silence?"

This made him wince lightly.

"My father said my family will not support me if I do something so lame."

"And does your mother never call you on a big win or platinum sales?" I asked contradicting his every excuse.

"She calls me regularly."

"And does your brother hate you?" I asked.

"No, he says he likes singing because of me." He answered as if puzzle pieces clicked in his head.

"And I had to be the one to spell it out for someone genius as you what to do?"

He looked at me and then tilted his head slightly arching his neck back as if making a strenuous decision.

"Let's make you a white bearded old man like you boring personality," I said excitedly clicking my fingers as the idea clicked in my head.

"My personality?"His eyebrows raised but he did not look angry.

"And I never said yes." I rolled my eyes at his words of hesitation.

"I bet your brother- what's his name?" I asked.

"Marvin."

"Yes, Marvin will be singing the Moonlight Walk." I picked up a slow melodious song by VICTOR.

"Fine, we are going. What if my father is there?" He asked looking vulnerable for the first time.

"Ross, then we will handle him. We handled Skyler's parents, didn't we." I reminded him how cool we look as he left the house leaving the residents starstruck.

"I am insane." He mumbled more to himself.

"Aren't we all?" I said happily walking out of the room my sleep all gone now.

***

I was walking like a zombie in the house when boys woke up at seven since I barely slept after I talked to Ross. Ross, on the other hand, was drinking juice when I walked out of the room.

"what's the schedule today?" Brent asked sitting next to me on the couch.

"Go away Brent I look hideous," I grunted in a sleepy voice.

He laughed and I heard Ross chuckle lightly.

"I think that is a totally sexy look on you." Michelle mocked me and I glared at him.

"We are going to the company first for concert practice, Zaidan and Skyler are the guests on a singing show. And then Ross and I have to go somewhere." I ended this with a yawn.

"Where are you and Ross going?" Zaidan asked rather sharply and everyone turned to look at him.

I looked at Ross but he was looking at Zaidan with amusement, " That is a little secret, Dan, why is there a problem?"

The hardness was Zaidan's face was evident, yet he said in a dull tone, "no, no problem."

"We might be late," Ross added and made it sound like a date.

"Where exactly are you going?" Skyler asked sounding curious and I felt need to answer.

But Ross has taken some kind of role here and answered for me,  "Just some place Zee and I decided when we were having coffee at four this morning."

What the hell was he doing here I had no clue? Zaidan's head turned a little too sharply while Michelle and Skyler had their mouth agape.

Brent just shook his head like we were all nutcases here.

"Okay, I need to get ready," I said dragging myself from the awkward environment.

Before I was about to go inside, I went to the kitchen sink to keep my juice glass and Zaidan came as well.

As we placed out glasses in he whispered, "I thought we were going to an arcade gaming zone."

He sounded offended for some reason.

"I will be honoured, whenever you are free I am ready to go," I whispered back slightly panicking.

"But you are going with Ross." 

Did I- no not possible? It was a freaking impossible dream, my bias, sounding jealous.

"That is because he needs my help like Michelle and Skyler did." It was not my place to tell Ross' secret.

And Zaidan sighed as if in immense relief which made me even more curious.

"Yes, his father is kind of ..." Zaidan was looking for a word.

So he knew and I nodded in agreement.

"What are you helping with?" His tone was lighter now, happier even.

"Taking him to meet his family after three years because his brother is performing and I nudged him the right direction."

"How do you do this? Make people talk to you and become close to them. Ross is a hard person to talk to, he doesn't open up easily. And he never agreed when we asked us to take him." He complained like Ross just betrayed him in love which made me chuckle.

"Boys usually have a complex way of talking since they don't share their emotions, girls, on the other hand, can be persuasive and I sat there with puppy eyes till he shared his problem with me. And he misses his younger brother, someone needed to remind him." I said cheerfully.

He looked awed and I felt the heat rise up my cheek.

"Can I go now?" I asked feeling a little flustered.

"Sure. Just don't drink coffee with other members." I thought he was joking but his sincere expression threw me off guard.

I wanted to ask why. Is there a reason or he just being Zaidan and bossing around.

But the way he looked at me, I felt tremble pass through me and I nodded agreeing with something ridiculous. 

***

The sound of school children talking animatedly made me feeling nostalgic. I missed this phase of life when I didn't have to worry about earning money. Ross, on the other hand, looked a little out of the place with a tweed jacket and loose grey pants accompanied by a fake white beard and sunglasses.

It felt oddly satisfying to see him undercover and only me aware of the fact. And even now he looked cute, at least to me he did.

We entered the hall where the performance was supposed to be held and sat down on the most inconspicuous seat. Ross buried himself further making me laugh at his paranoia.

The performance started and I immediately got engrossed at the show clicking pictures randomly keeping an eye out for Ross' brother. After twenty minutes of the show came Marvin walked in. I could tell by the excited clap from Ross who had now shed his glasses and staring at stage intently.

"Let him know you are here,"  I whispered to Ross.

Ross looked conflicted at this but he did the unexpected being the good brother that he was and stand and shouted, "Hakuna Matata."

I had no clue why he did that and the rest of the audience was shocked as well as they gave him a disapproving look but a wide smile spread on Marvin's face.

"It's code word between two of us," Ross explained as he sat down his eyes sparkling with unsaid joy.

And Marvin sang a VICTOR song as I said while I acted oblivious to the sentimental Ross since knowing him he would be embarrassed to be seen tearing up. As the performance ended Marvin returned his brother's favor, "I dedicate this song to my brother who is a musical genius."

"Come on, we have to leave," Ross said as soon as Marvin got down the stage looking both pleased and perplexed.

"Why, let's meet Marvin backstage?" I asked.

"No, I don't want to meet my dad." He said in a strained tone and looking around the crowd my eyes found the people Ross was looking at, his parents.

The hard look on his face didn't force me to make him stay.

"You did well today." I praised him like he deserved.

"So did Marvin." His face glowed with pride.

"Go wait in the car, I will be back," I said one thing left for me to do.

"What?" He asked.

"I got some chocolates for Marvin from your side," I said a little scared that he might be offended for making my own decisions when it came to his family.

But a soft smile spread on his face and he shook his head, "Why didn't I think of this?"

I shrugged not sure how I should answer this. I was a dutiful fan here.

"Thank you, Zee, really." He muttered shyly as he walked back to the car.

This was a start for Ross and his family.

---------------------------------------

A little insight on Ross' character, he is the kind I could relate to most with his silent sarcastic ways.

Don't miss the Zaidan/Zee moment in the chapter  xD How was it?