Ethan didn't like questions.
Especially not the kind he couldn't answer.
And lately…
There were too many of them.
---
"Okay, I'm asking one last time."
Ethan didn't look up from his phone. "Then don't."
His bandmate sighed loudly, clearly frustrated. "Where do you keep going every night?"
Silence.
Ethan scrolled lazily, pretending not to care.
"You disappear right after rehearsal," the guy continued. "No calls, no texts, no nothing. And don't say 'nowhere' because I literally followed you yesterday."
That made Ethan pause.
Just for a second.
"…you what?"
"I didn't see where you went," he admitted quickly. "You lost me near the back of the arena. But still—what are you hiding?"
Ethan locked his phone slowly, his expression unreadable.
"Nothing."
"That's a lie."
"Then believe whatever you want."
His tone was flat. Final.
The conversation should have ended there.
But it didn't.
"Is it a girl?"
Ethan's eyes snapped up instantly.
Something dangerous flashed in them.
"No."
Too quick.
Too sharp.
His bandmate raised an eyebrow. "That didn't sound convincing."
Ethan stood up abruptly, grabbing his jacket. "I'm done here."
"Ethan—"
"Drop it."
And just like that, he walked out.
But his heartbeat wasn't steady anymore.
Because the question lingered.
Is it a girl?
He didn't answer it out loud.
But his mind did.
---
That evening, he got to the stairwell later than usual.
Not because he didn't want to come.
But because he had spent too long trying to convince himself that this—whatever this was—didn't matter.
That Lia didn't matter.
That this wasn't becoming something real.
But the moment he opened the door…
And saw her sitting there—
Everything in his chest settled.
Like it always did.
"You're late," she said softly, glancing up at him.
Ethan shrugged, walking down the steps. "Had things to do."
"Important things?"
He sat beside her, leaning back casually. "…not really."
She smiled faintly. "Then why are you late?"
He didn't answer.
Because he didn't have one.
Or maybe…
He didn't want to say it out loud.
---
They sat in comfortable silence for a while.
Lia flipped through her notebook, occasionally scribbling something down. Ethan watched her without meaning to, his gaze softer than usual.
"You're staring," she said suddenly, not looking up.
He frowned. "I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
She glanced at him, amused. "You are."
Ethan looked away, slightly annoyed. "…whatever."
But his ears were faintly red.
And she noticed.
---
"I almost didn't come today," she said after a while.
Ethan's head snapped toward her. "Why?"
The reaction was immediate.
Unfiltered.
And that…
That didn't go unnoticed.
She blinked slightly. "Just… stuff."
"What stuff?"
"It's nothing serious."
"Then tell me."
His tone wasn't harsh.
But it was intense.
Like he needed to know.
Lia hesitated, then sighed softly. "My dad."
Ethan's expression shifted slightly. "What about him?"
"He doesn't think singing is… important," she admitted. "He says I should focus on things that actually matter."
Ethan frowned. "Like what?"
"Business. School. Image. Anything that fits into his version of 'perfect.'"
Something dark flickered in Ethan's eyes.
"Sounds familiar," he muttered.
She looked at him, surprised. "Really?"
He shrugged. "Yeah. Everyone wants something from you. No one actually asks what you want."
She smiled softly. "You get it."
"Yeah."
And for a moment…
They both just existed in that shared understanding.
---
"I told him I like singing," Lia continued quietly. "He said liking something doesn't mean you're good at it."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"That's stupid."
She let out a small laugh. "Maybe."
"No, not maybe. It is."
His voice was firmer now.
Protective.
And it caught her off guard.
"You haven't even heard me properly," she said.
"I don't need to," he replied. "I know what I heard."
Her cheeks warmed slightly.
"You always say that," she murmured.
"And I'll keep saying it until you believe it."
The words hung between them.
Soft.
But strong.
---
The stairwell door creaked open again.
Both of them froze.
But this time…
The footsteps didn't pass.
They stopped.
Right at the entrance.
"Well, well…"
A voice echoed down the stairs.
Slow. Curious.
And far too familiar.
Ethan's entire body went rigid.
He knew that voice.
And he didn't like it.
A figure stepped into view.
One of his bandmates.
Arms crossed. Eyes scanning the scene in front of him.
Ethan.
And Lia.
Sitting together.
Close.
Too close.
"Oh…" the guy smirked slightly. "So this is where you've been disappearing to."
Lia's breath caught.
Ethan stood up instantly, stepping slightly in front of her without thinking.
"What are you doing here?" he asked coldly.
"Looking for you," he replied casually. "Didn't expect to find you hiding with…"
His gaze shifted to Lia.
Slow. Assessing.
"…her."
Something sharp snapped inside Ethan.
"Don't."
The warning was low. Dangerous.
But his bandmate just raised his hands slightly. "Relax. I'm just curious."
His eyes stayed on Lia.
"Who is she?"
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Tense.
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
Because suddenly…
He didn't know how to.
A friend?
A stranger?
Someone who mattered?
Someone who didn't?
But one thing was clear—
He didn't like the way his bandmate was looking at her.
Didn't like the curiosity.
Didn't like the attention.
Didn't like…
Anyone else knowing about her.
"She's no one," Ethan said finally.
The words came out cold.
Sharp.
Too sharp.
And the moment they left his lips—
Lia froze.
Her fingers tightened around her notebook.
Her expression didn't break.
But something in her eyes…
Did.
Ethan felt it instantly.
But it was too late.
His bandmate smirked slightly. "No one, huh?"
Ethan didn't respond.
Because suddenly…
The tension wasn't just outside anymore.
It was between them.
And it hurt.
More than he expected. 💔