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14. CHEMISTRY AT THE MUSIC STUDIO

As I streaked through the fluffy clouds, my mind was also speeding. Speeding through thoughts and memories.

What if I said I liked Gina back then? Would things have been different now? How would I hope to stand against Kazar next time he shows up? Would it already be too late?

Then, like the drop of a bombshell, I remembered my promise to June Austere. As much as I wanted answers, I dreaded the thought of disappointing her. "Blitz, what's the time?!"

"It's two o'clock. You just might break your punctuality dry spell this time around. But if I recall clearly, she didn't get the time to tell you which among the fifteen music studios in New Chronos she'd be rehearsing at."

I arched a brow."Is that a challenge?"

*****

It was a big challenge. Blitz had scoured the web for as much info as he possibly could about June's career, and it turned out she was signed under a record label by the name of 'New Neon Records'. But the kicker was that it only owned a recording studio in Canada. So, if June was going to record here in New Chronos, she'd probably have booked a commercial studio. Precisely, her manager– Samson Summers– would have done the booking, and this city had a whopping six recording studios scattered as far from each other as possible.

I was so demoralized.

Now of course I could have zipped through the sky to each and every single one of them and x-ray scanned the walls for June, but since I had already used my creative beams, my power time was down to mere seconds so I begrudgingly had to ditch the suit and trek to the Villa first. Or rather limp there. Once I finally arrived, I took the Lambo out for a spin.

"My legs hurt." I moaned. "I don't think I'll be able to hit the brakes if the need arises."

"If you want to die prematurely, try to reschedule a bit until after we've saved the world from the Alxs." Blitz said.

My face lit up. "That reminds me, you said we were going to do some digging when we got to the Villa. Should I drive back? We're only a few minutes out."

"Eerie that I forgot." Blitz sounded bemused. "The fact that Earth isn't in rubbles yet must mean that Kazar didn't come with the military might of the Alxs. In fact, he might have even come alone. If we get to digging, we'll find out for sure how he arrived."

My grip on the steering wheel tightened as my focus was split between navigating through the highway traffic and pondering the fate of the world. "I had never felt so overwhelmed before." I grimaced. "If one Alx could do that, I don't want to experience what an army can do."

My eyes met the time flashing on my phone's lock screen on the passenger's seat. Ten minutes to 4 pm. June would have to wait. I've got bigger fish to fry.

Suddenly, an unknown number called. I lifted my phone with suspicion as I slowed down my car before picking up the call.

"Hey Jason!" June's voice rang with elation.

I fell back into my seat, stunned. "June?"

Her voice took an inquisitive tone. "You sound surprised. Did you forget that you gave me your number at the NC Pavilion before you disappeared?"

I face-palmed before taking a deep breath. Trying for a smooth voice, I replied. "How could I ever?"

"What's wrong with your voice? Are you parched?"

What? My brows furrowed. I cleared my throat. "No, it must have been the signal or something. Anyway, I'm sorry I left without saying goodbye yesterday. It was really– "

"Oh, you hold that apology for when you see me in person."

"Mmm," I was finding it hard to tell her I wouldn't be showing.

"You are coming to the studio, right? Or did you forget yesterday's promise too?" Her voice had a hint of hurt that made me bite my lips in reconsideration.

"No, of course not. I mean, yes! I mean, I didn't forget, and I'm on my way right now. Though there's only one problem."

Her sigh of relief made me smile. "Wait," she perked. "Did you say there's a problem?"

"Yeah. I gave you my number, but Zen interrupted before you could give me yours or the location of the studio you'd be at."

"Omigosh! I assumed I had given you the studio's location. Sorry, there's just been a lot on my mind lately. I'm really sorry."

"It's cool, no need to apologize. We all forget things sometimes, even the best of us."

Blitz retorted in my mind. "Must you reference me?"

I ignored him as June's voice went inquisitive again. "Hold up, if I didn't call, how did you plan to find me?"

I grinned. "Isn't it obvious? I was initially planning to drive to all the recording studios in this metropolis of ours until I saw your lovely face."

There was a decent moment of silence before she spoke. "You are quite the gentleman, Jason McLean."

I smiled at the mellowness of her voice. "So I've heard."

"Let me text you the directions."

"Aye aye, captain." I teased.

She asked for my location, and I shared it with her. Then, she sent me the fastest route to get to her location. Good thing it wasn't rush hour, so I was able to make it there in twenty minutes.

As I ducked out of my car, I readjusted my beanie and sunglasses, while briefly taking in the view of the gold-painted six-story studio with a huge signboard just below the roof which read 'Super Sound Studios.'

The double glass front door had two ripped men in black suits and shades on either side of it, each wearing a wire. Ornamental plants in pots decorated the ground around them.

Looking around, the coast seemed clear except for them, so I took off my shades as I approached.

"Jason McLean!" The one on the left almost jumped out of his suit.

I grinned. Never gonna get tired of that.

The other one was frantically adjusting his tie as he straightened his back even more.

"What's up, guys." I put the shades back on. "Just came by to see a friend."

"Why, of course." They both pulled the door open.

"Thanks," I said as I walked in without breaking a stride.

"Welcome!" They both chanted from behind.

I was in a white broad corridor, and I barely walked ten steps before June popped out from a corner. Her silver dress hugged her figure as she strode towards me with a beam on her face. The clicks of her heels echoed through the room. "Jason, I'm so glad you could make it."

It looked like she was about to spread her arms for a hug, but she instead stretched out a palm for a handshake. Probably because of the reflex cringing posture I assumed.

I relaxed and shook her hand with a smile. "I try my best to keep my word. How did you know I was here?"

She crossed her arms, returning a grin. "Might sound cliche, but I happened to be passing by when I heard someone yelp 'Jason McLean'. So I backtracked, and...here I am."

"It's hopeless for me to audition for the role of a spy, isn't it?" I wore an exaggerated long face.

She tilted her head sideways with a look of contemplation. Her red ponytail swished as she did so. "I don't think spies audition."

"Oh," I ran my hand through my hair, looking to improvise. "But if they did..."

"If they did," she laughed. "Yeah... you'd be banned from auditions."

"As long I'm banned with you, I don't mind."

"Ha! I'll be among the freaking judges, good luck finding a ban buddy."

My face exploded in shock. "What?! How? Since when are famous pop stars judges in spy auditions?"

She smirked as she brushed my chin with a finger. "Since spies started auditioning. So, wanna come up to my lounge?"

I blinked repeatedly. "Say what?"

She sighed and muttered something like where do I start before speaking audibly. "So I have a manager, Samson, who booked this studio for me while I'm in town. Apart from sweet quality equipment, they also have a private living space available for artists."

"Oh, so you're living here?"

"For a few days, yeah. My lounge is on the top floor, c'mon."

I trailed her along a bright, narrow passageway until we entered an elevator. I was prompted to break the silence. "Wait, does this mean I missed your recording session? I was only a few minutes late, does– "

"Nope." She blurted before yawning with a stretch. "The control room is having some equipment fixed, and it's taking longer than they expected. So I haven't started yet--and I doubt I'll start soon."

"You don't sound in a hurry to record." The elevator dinged and slid open.

"Honestly, I've been having singer's block for a while now." We stepped out into the brightly lit hallway with doors on either side every five steps. Not that we could make many steps before reaching the end anyway. She swiped a card against a card reader in the door.

"Where did the card come from?" I asked.

She paused to take a look back at me before whispering. "You do not want to know."

My eyes narrowed as speculations crossed my mind.

"Well, come in." Her voice called, snapping me out of my head space to see she was already standing inside and holding the door open.

"Right," I stepped inside the bedroom. "Singer's block, huh? You know some people call it writer's block, too."

Sunlight streaked through the windows on the far left of the room. An air-conditioner made sure the heat stayed out. The white wallpaper complemented the bedsheets on the big queen-size bed. There were also other doors at different ends of the room.

Suddenly, I heard the entrance door click behind me. My muscles tensed.

"So," June casually strode from the door to the queen-size bed. Her back was to me as she unbound her red ponytail, letting her hair spread down. "Are you hungry for some steamy s–"

"No, Jesus! We've barely known each other." I stretched out my hand in a stop signal.

She turned to face me with a puzzled look on her face and a white box of pizza in her hands. Steam billowed from the little opening in the box. "Slices of pizza." Her voice was edgy.

Now you've done it. Blitz announced. Here, use these words to answer her next question.

June lowered the box and glared at me, which worsened the brief heavy silence.

"I mean, I have trust issues!" I blurted Blitz's words. "I didn't mean to offend you. It's just that I have a hard time eating food from people I don't know very well.

A look of hurt crossed her face. "Well, I got this down at the canteen, you know." She mused. "But it's fine."

She opened the box wide and drew a cheesy tantalizing slice. "More pizza for me."

My stomach rumbled against my stupidity. I guess if I was a hungry stomach, I would want to detach myself from me, too.

"You sure you don't want some?" She no doubt had sensed my hunger. Crime fighting sure did have a way of burning calories quickly.

I rubbed the back of my head. "Well... I guess I can reconsider. You appear to be more trustworthy than many people I've met."

She sat on the edge of the bed and laid the box beside her, but she didn't speak until she swallowed. "Trust at your own risk."

I walked and sat down on the other side of the pizza box. As my gaze held hers, the slice in her hand froze halfway to her mouth. There was something about those sea-green eyes that set off a spark within me. It's like they had a story they were begging to tell, and I was eager to embrace. They held so many emotions, more than June was letting on. But maybe I was just overthinking. I didn't know I had already begun to lean towards her, but I didn't flinch, just paused halfway as I whispered. "Risk is not a factor to me anymore."

"And, why's that?" she asked subtly.

I smirked before leaning away and averting my eyes. As much as I dreaded the feeling of lying to her, I believed I had no other choice. "Because considering risk is the fine line between living and worrying."

I turned to catch a smile streak her face. "Now I see how you always catch up with Tekeon. You don't consider risk like most people do."

I leaned back with a hand pressing into the bed as the other lifted up a slice to my mouth. "Well, enough about me, tell me something about you."

She raised her eyes in a thinking pose. "Umm, Something other than the fact I'm one of your biggest fans?"

I felt my cheeks warm up. "Well, you're the fan that I fan about. Being with you honestly makes everything better."

She blushed, but almost immediately, her countenance fell. "Too bad I would have to leave soon for my tour."

Like stone to a glass window, my heart felt shattered. "What? How long will you be staying?"

She heaved a sigh. "About four days at most. The major reason I came here was to honor the mayor's invitation. Funny how that worked out."

I swallowed the only slice of pizza I had taken out of the box. "Oh yeah, about that apology. Yeah, I'm really sorry I left you hanging. I-"

"Where did you go?"

My heart panged as I considered another delusion. "I...ran to the upper floor to get away from Zen and his men so I could call the police. But then I got lost and had to wait until they came and found me. That place is just a labyrinth on the higher floors."

"So you didn't get a video of Tekeon?" Her eyes widened.

I rubbed the back of my head. "Unfortunately."

"Darn it. That's why they've been no recent uploads on your blog. Did you happen to catch Tekeon's battle today?"

I listened to the voice of Blitz. "Drones were up and running."

"Yeah, I got a good clip today. I'll be sure to put it up as soon as I get home."

"Sweet. Though I heard the battle was intense, hope you didn't get hurt." She looked at me with genuine concern. No one had ever looked at me that way in a very long time.

"Yeah," I muttered. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Her eyes hinted that she didn't quite believe. She removed the half pizza box from between us by sliding it further up the bed.
"Wanna talk about it? It must have been chaotic out there."

"And why would you want to know?" I didn't realize that I snapped at her until I saw her shrink away. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. It's just... I have a hard time trusting people."

"I think we've already established that." She crossed her arms. "I won't be pushy, okay. I just hope you can open up to me." Her expression turned docile, her voice lowered. "And I'm just saying my mind here, but I think... I think we could work."

She brushed back a loose streak of hair.

My willpower couldn't hold back the surprise from flashing on my face. She wants me too? Like for real?

"Don't look so surprised," Blitz chided. "You'll ruin the moment. Now's your chance!"

Her cheeks tinted, and she turned away. "Sorry, that–that didn't come out as I intended. What I meant to say was–"

I gently cupped her cheeks with my hand, and she stilled. Our eyes locked again, and this time, there was a desire in hers and mine as well. We leaned closer to each other like magnets, and before I knew it, there were barely inches of space between us. She closed her eyes and tilted her head as we came even closer. But right there and then, Gina's beautiful face flashed across my mind, and I felt a pang in my heart, making me hesitate.

Suddenly, a series of knocks came crashing on the door, ending the moment, to my partial relief. "June Austere, the studio is ready." A scruffy voice announced. "And where the heck is Samson? He should have been here hours ago."

June sprang up to her feet and paced towards the door, briefly glancing back at me and mouthing a nervous 'sorry'.
Ironically, I believed those were the words on my lips before the interruption. And that was why I stopped trying to date long ago. Because once again, when I got attracted, thoughts of Gina tore me away. It made it hard for me to commit to a relationship. Deep down, I wanted Gina, and yet deep down, I wanted to be free from the curse. But there was something about June that gave me hope. Nic was right. She did hit differently.

I watched from the bed as June unlocked the door and addressed the brown curly-haired man. "Mr. Andrews, my manager is currently stuck in unprecedented traffic, but be rest assured he would arrive soon."

Mr. Andrews grunted in reply. "Well then, before he arrives, let's get you in the voice booth." He glanced at me and then back at her. "If you're ready, that is."

******************************

Yo, Coolstuff. Hope you're enjoying the ride.

Got any thoughts, suggestions, or questions? Leave em all in the comments.

Now, for the third edition of AUTHOR'S QUESTION

----------------------
{I hope you saw this one coming a mile away.} Are you:

Jana(Jason+ Gina)

OR

Junon(June+Jason)

--------------------------------
Drop your answer in the comments and don't forget to vote if you like it!

Have some more SB (I insist)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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