Chapter 2: Definitely Maybe (2)

The sounds struck deep in his ears, like a prelude to a confirmation he was expecting, and Paul impatiently waited for someone to show up, hoping that the one he expected on his mind would show up behind this door. Tapping his feet and playing with his hand he waited for a minute, the last second felt like eternity for him, every breath and every beat was heard, he was never this focus and expectant in his whole life.

Then all of a sudden the door clicks, and a beautiful long haired girl shows up, head-down bangs, hazel eyes akin to jade, slightly brownish hair and ample face, pinkish lips and clean 'V' jawline and little fatty cheeks, matching her white face. Paul stood in utter shock, like a terrible feeling struck him, he...got back in the past, now his doubt was all clear.  Serina’s face was the confirmation of it, Paul looked at Seri in dumb state, he never even blink once, he was scared to closed his eyes, only to never see her again.

"Hey! You are sooo~ late." She said looking at Paul at the door, her eyes narrowed inspecting this troublesome fellow on the door, weirdly looking at the dumb appearance,Serina sighed and crossed her arms.

"Seri?!" Standing in front of Serina Green, breathing in front of him, Paul tried to control himself but failed only to quickly hug her. It was a joyful reunion on one side, and confusion from the other.

It was warm…

That was Paul thought

"W-what?! Hey idiot! What's with you?" Seri was startled, she couldn't comprehend what her friend was thinking and immediately gave her a big hug, blushing from the unexpected behaviour, she tried to resist but didn't have the force to do it. 

"I miss you..." The only word Paul could say, then Paul felt the beat of the heart, every fiber of her and the warmth that invokes him, the person she was trying to protect but failed once again was given a chance, the person he loved but never had a chance to say, once again had the opportunity.  He wanted to say many words in his head but only tears fell down on his face, and he sobs.

Serina, I can’t tell you. The future might change if I did something different this time.

"H-hey? You are acting weird today, what with 'I miss you'? We just met yesterday." Seri was baffled by his friend's antics, she was bashful.

But seeing Paul cry, she suddenly lifted her hand and gently wrapped her arm at him. It was her way to ease someone. “Stop being a cry baby..”  She whispers.

“It was okay now.” She added.

"I have a really long nightmare." Paul said, like a toddler in embrace,he was very meak, seeking to hold comfort.

"I see…” Serina patted his head, and then realized how awkward they are on the front door, she bashfully says.

“geez what are you, a kid? Come on, stop clinging, you koala!" Seri taps his back telling him if this goes on further she will be out of breath, Paul was also squeezing him too hard, and this embarrassing situation makes them awkward.

"Hmm." Paul slowly let go and watched her. Gazing at her in the eyes, as he watched Seri blinked in silence.

The awkwardness lasted for a while, until both of them coughed, coincidentally both of them cough at the same time.

Due to silence Seri slightly blushed and turned her head, feeling weirdly out by Paul’s behavior.

"L-let's, ummm proceed to practice.." She hurriedly ran into the studio, leaving Paul alone in the door, only the sound of the morning rooster accompanying him.

Paul sighed, and a heavy feeling of what lies ahead in the future bugs him, it will be troublesome and hard, he knew he can’t act too much, it will destroy the future events and prevent him from saving Serina, but he needed preparation, he will never knew if there is a second chances, and the fact that Serina’s death was odd and strange, that even the town tries to cover it up as a suicide case.

"This time." Paul looked at Seri who just entered the small studio in her house, Paul then thought about the events that will most likely happen, he remembered all those things inside his head, permanently planted all of it in his mind, all the pain and goodness till the end of September, this time he will prevent those things from happening again, he mumbled.  "I'll save you."

He planted that word in his mind, he will take Seri alive even after the end of September, no matter how difficult it was, and find out what happened and who killed her, to find out the reason of the happening, the strange responses that the town gave her, and to figure out everything surrounding the case, and also this time, her promise can be fulfilled, at the end of September.

"Hey! What's with spacing out? Dreamworld?"  Seri looked at him with the same weird expression, probably thinking that her friend was having that kind of day, where he had weird thoughts, she just sighed and brushed off the issue.

"Coming." Paul silently followed, while thinking of numerous scenarios playing out in his mind.

Thinking how he was given a chance to replay the time again, he could not help but to thank for this opportunity, maybe singing on the night or even punching the tree work on him.

First, I needed to secure enough evidence about the future, to investigate about this town, why would they cover it up as a suicide case? And the bastard who killed her...I will find you. Secondly, I needed to be careful, there is a thing called butterfly effects and I needed to avoid creating too many scenarios that may affect the future changes, and lastly, the promise to perform together at the September Ends will be needed to fulfill.

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"Hey Paul! I think I know what song I'll perform." Seri said cheerfully, Paul slightly smiled. This familiar line, this familiar event, made him feel the same deja-vu.

"Really? What is it?" He acted smiling and expected Seri to say those words.

"The best song to perform in September." Seri said in all smiles.

"Green day- Wake me up when September ends." She exclaimed, like pointing out the best song that theme the September.

"Wake me up when September ends." Also Paul said in unison.

Seri looked at him in surprise, and smiled. " you mind reading bastard, how did you know?!"

"He he, you are easy to read. And this song was good." Paul smirked, and stated his opinion on the song.

"And it will be better if I sing it." Seri exclaimed proudly.

"Oh? Really?" Paul acted in doubt.

"Really!" Seri affirmed him.

"You know melodic notes? I thought you always sing pop songs." Paul asked in the same line. “You always stick to pop music, you sure can sing it?”

"Geez, you never listen to your friend singing classic, I was good." She pointed at herself and tried to sing in acapella.

"Alright, alright, I believe this madam." Paul admitted defeat, Waving both of his hands in the air.

"Miss, not madam, it was kinda old, hey! Let's stop wasting time." Seri said, pouting on Paul teasing.

"Test Mic." Paul checked the microphone, and the sound adjustments on the mixer.

"Ayayayaya" Serina then tried to tone her voice, the speaker's feedback sounded nicely, and both of them raised a thumbs-up.

"It's done." She exclaimed.

Paul looked at her, and Seri looked at him and nodded. Both raising a thumbs-up again  to let the vibe go on.

"This is Serina Green, Welcome to September Ends, I will be your singer for tonight." Seri introduces herself.

"This is Paul Simons, my partner who will play the guitar, and he will deliver a nice melody for tonight" She pointed at Paul and nodded. Paul slightly raised his common maroon acoustic guitar.

"Sing it out!" Seri said, then the guitar started to play, first it was played slowly. The prelude started, Paul focused himself on the guitar, unlike what he did before singing in hoarse and carrying his heavy voice with emotions, this time she got Seri by her side, although this was a practice he put his heart on it, every string and every strum. 

"A song that means a lot to everyone." Seri smiled and kept her focus.

“And a song that reminds me of the september.” Paul mumbled and nodded to himself.