Note before reading: If the scenes feel rushed, that means that the book still needs to be revised after completion. As I said, feedback is highly appreciated if there are mistakes or anything that you want to let the author know. Lovelots! 💕

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Eli's frown made me grin.

Right now, we were at the Central Park Lake and it doesn't seem to hit off with Eli right now since he seems more scared rather than smiling and having fun.

His hands held on to the boat that we were riding on as I paddled. He wasn't the outdoor type so I thought it would be nice to have a change of scenery for once. I knew that a walk in the park wouldn't quite help for inspiration so why not try something else other than that?

Plus, this spot really helps me write and think of a scenario so it's a plus for me.

Eli tried to tap me but as soon as I stopped paddling, his hands went back to both sides and even yelled at me.

“I already regret trusting you!” Ouch, that hurts. I only grinned at his reaction and waved my hands in disagreement.

“Calm down, scaredy cat. You won't fall. Besides, take a look around you. Something might spark in that notebook of yours.” His eyes looked around and even shook his head — even telling me that this wasn't a good idea and that we should go back.

“When you said it was just at the park, I didn't mean you to drag me in the center of this lake,” he replied before trying to see if the boat's stable. Giggling, I tried scaring him by fixing the coat that I got and sitting upright — making the boat rock a little.

Though, it alarmed him.

“Hey! Don't fix your coat while we're in the middle. You can make us fall over,” he warned me as I only rolled my eyes. There was no way that this would let us roll over to the waters. That's just crazy.

Taking his notebook, I decided to remind him why we were here. “Look, we're here for the lyrics. So, I think it's better if we start early.”

He only huffed. “Well, I can't write knowing that there's a chance you'd get us soaked.”

This man.

I could only sigh at this point. “I brought you here to enjoy the scenery, not your coat!”

“I thought it was just a walk in the park!” Most of the people that were there probably heard us screaming since most of them began looking back towards our direction.

I couldn't help but tap on his shoulder as he finally noticed that we were starting to gain looks from the locals. We weren't here much and I only hang out on the park so having two strangers who clearly isn't living in New York and screaming in such place is something you don't see everyday.

I cleared my throat as Eli only looked down — trying not to get caught like the last time. It went downhill when the paparazzi noticed and recognized who he was. It would most likely be chaos if someone sees him here too. We'll likely get stuck in the middle of this lake.

“If only you could've listened to me,” Eli tried to blame me from what is happening but I punched his shoulder lightly.

“Nothing bad is even happening. Look, I think it would be better if you try jotting down your lyrics and looking around than tell me that we should've stayed in the unit.”

Eli pouted but still went with the decision I made. I finally took out my own journal to edit the current chapter I was working on while he tried getting the inspiration he needed for his upcoming songs.

It didn't take long before I noticed how focused Eli became right after, spinning his pen and twirling it in between his fingers. I'm guessing it was a habit of his while I click my own pen as a mannerism while writing my novels.

While I was jotting down some notes for my character outline, I heard Eli ask me a question.

“Have you ever written a book for someone?”

I couldn't help but gaze back at him as I saw Eli's eyes still focused on the notebook he had. Even though he wasn't looking at me, I could tell he was waiting for my response.

“No, not really. You?” He seems a bit shocked at this and finally put his focus on me. “You seem surprised.”

“I actually read your book once,” he opened up. “And I'm just surprised by how you interpret love.”

“Ah, that? It's not all about experiencing it and putting it on your creation, you know? Sure, having to experience it is already a plus," I explained to him about the concepts of being a writer. This time, I saw him trying to listen to what I got to say.

“But don't you think that a novel and a song would be more believable if the feeling is there?” he asked me.

“Yes, and it's not all about experience, Eli. In introducing a human emotion, you must first think what you would feel if you were in that situation. Even without encountering it, you'd be able to think how it works from experiences of others.”

“Think of it as if you're the main character.”

He only pondered more. When I saw that he was still hesitant, I made sure to be the one to ask this time.

“What about you? Most of your songs are quite sad. I heard some of your pieces,” I told him as he put his arms on his knees. I could tell there was a lot on his mind right now by the way he put his pen down on the seat.

“That's the point. I don't think love is a great theme for a new song since I can't seem to make the song alive,” he answered as he ruffled his hair. “I'm stuck and it's been years already.”

“Been years?” I couldn't help but ask as he gazed at me with those sad looking eyes. I couldn't help but trailed off as I pieced everything together.

“Don't tell me...”

“Yes, it's been years since I fell in love.”