Chapter 21 between the storm and song
Zarya's POV
Finally, nakakain na rin kami. She's just minding her food, wala syang kibo.
I decided na umalis nalang siguro sa dining area and lumipat sa sofa, she might be uncomfortable around me after many times I tried to ruin her peace.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"Sa sofa na ako kakai–"
"Stay." that made me re-think my decision at napaupo nalang ulit ako.
The room is still covered in silence, wala mi isa saamin ang gustong magsalita. but I can feel something, parang may gusto syang sabihin.
I take a slow step closer, my voice low, and careful.
"You were crying earlier. Outside. In the rain."
She lifts her head quickly, eyes sharp, instantly putting that familiar guarded mask back in place—the attorney, the woman who never lets anyone see her break.
She lets out a short, dry laugh, shaking her head like I just said something ridiculous.
"Crying? Don't be dramatic, you know how heavy it is. Water gets everywhere."
"Okay, if you say so. But...but i'm here if you need someone to talk to." I hesitantly said. "Ahmm...Check your body temperature–"
"What have you heard?" I couldn't move when she asked that question.
If I tell her the truth, she would probably get mad for eavesdropping their conversation.
"Heard about what?" I played along, trying to dodge the question.
"nothing." She just continued with her meal.
"What are you doing in there? Ang lakas ng ulan and you were outside." I asked para hindi naman ako mahinalaan dito.
"Mom called me, my dog died." She explained. but I didn't bought it. I know everything, I heard every bit of their words. "And what are you doing outside?"
"I was about to go home, pero umulan ng malakas and I saw you." I explained, kahit hindi yun ang totoong nangyari.
"Whatever you saw earlier...leave it as is. I was just upset about my dog. Don't make a big deal out of it."
"I am not, what are you talking about." My voice suddenly became defensive without realizing it. so I fixed my composure. "I mean, I just wanna help you out, that's it."
Then we became silent again,
She walked silently toward the table near the couch. When she got closer, she saw Zarya clearly. Zarya was trembling violently now. Tears were silently streaming down her face. Her skin was pale, and she was hugging herself tightly as if she was cold, though the room was warm.
"Zarya" Iris called softly.
Zarya jumped in surprise, gasping. She quickly wiped her face, looking up with wide, frightened eyes.
"I... I'm fine. Okay lang ako" Zarya stammered, her voice shaking badly. "It's just... the rain. It's loud."
Another loud thunderclap shook the whole room. Zarya flinched and squeezed her eyes shut. Her whole body shook harder. She looked like she was about to break down.
Iris didn't say anything more. She stepped closer and reached out, agad nyang hinawakan ang kamay ni Zarya. Her touch was warm and firm.
"You are shaking," Iris said simply, her voice soft but serious.
She helped Zarya stand up. Zarya's legs felt weak, and she was still trembling.
"The couch is uncomfortable. You won't be able to sleep there," Iris said, pulling her gently toward the bed. "Dito ka na sa bed, it's enough for both of us."
"I don't want to disturb you...matulog ka na" Zarya whispered, looking down, embarrassed.
"You won't," Iris replied. She pulled back the covers on the empty side of the bed. "Get in."
Zarya hesitated for a moment, then climbed into the soft bed. She was still shaking. Iris got in beside her, keeping a little distance, but staying close enough so Zarya could feel her presence.
When thunder roared again, Zarya couldn't help it. She moved closer to Iris, pressing her back against Iris's side. She held onto the edge of Iris's shirt tightly, her hands gripping the fabric. She was breathing fast and shallow, still terrified.
Iris didn't move away. She turned slightly and placed her hand on top of Zarya's head. She started running her fingers softly through Zarya's hair, stroking it slowly and gently. Her other hand rested on Zarya's shoulder, rubbing it in slow, comforting circles.
"It's okay," Iris murmured quietly near her ear. "It's just sound. na...nandito ako. Just breathe... slowly... that's it."
She kept whispering soft, calming words. Her hand never stopped moving—brushing through her hair, touching her face, rubbing her back. Her touch was steady and warm, slowly calming the fear away.
Slowly, the violent trembling stopped. Zarya's breathing became slower and deeper. Her grip on Iris's shirt loosened. She leaned her weight fully against Iris, feeling safe and protected. The fear in her eyes faded away, replaced by exhaustion and peace.
Little by little, Zarya's eyelids dropped shut. She drifted off into sleep, her body relaxing completely beside Iris. A soft, quiet sigh left her lips as she finally fell into a deep rest.
When Iris was sure Zarya's was fast asleep, she stopped talking, but she kept her hand resting gently on Zarya's hair. She shifted her position just a little so she could look down at the girl sleeping next to her.
In the dim light, Zaria looked so peaceful. Her face was relaxed, no sign of fear or worry anymore. Her hair spread softly on the pillow. Her long eyelashes rested gently against her cheeks. Her lips were slightly parted as she breathed slowly and evenly.
Iris stared at her, unable to look away. Her heart felt heavy and light at the same time, beating in a strange way she couldn't understand.
She is so beautiful, Iris thought silently, looking at every detail of her face. She looked so soft, so innocent, so breathtaking even while sleeping. Iris found herself admiring everything about her—the way her hair fell, the curve of her cheek, the way her face looked so calm and angelic.
Iris wanted to touch her skin, to trace the line of her jaw, just to feel if she was real.
She stayed awake, watching her closely, guarding her while the storm continued to rage outside.
She knew this was complicated. She knew this was dangerous.
But right now, looking at Zarya sleeping peacefully beside her, Iris didn't care about anything else.
She just stayed there, watching over her, thinking that she had never seen anyone as beautiful as her.
Slowly, almost unconsciously, Iris lowered her head.
She rested her face gently on top of Zarya's head, burying her nose softly in the thick, silky strands of her hair.
She closed her eyes as a soft, sweet scent filled her senses.
..something fresh and warm, purely Zarya, a scent that felt strangely familiar and safe.
It was supposed to be just her comforting Zarya. She was supposed to be the strong one, the one giving protection. But as Iris breathed in deeply, holding this girl close, something shifted inside her chest.
Instead, she felt comforted. Comforted by her.
......
Zarya's pov
I woke up slowly, feeling warm and safe, wrapped in a comfort so deep I didn't want to open my eyes just yet. For a few seconds, I just lay there, confused but content, because I could feel another body pressed close against mine. It was warm, solid, and familiar.
My head hurts, but my body felt comfortable.
As my senses cleared, I realized our position.
We were cuddling. Actually cuddling.
Iris was lying facing me, her arm thrown heavily and securely around my waist, pulling me so close that there was almost no space left between us.
Her legs were tangled gently with mine beneath the blanket, and her face was buried right at the top of my head, her breath fanning softly against my hair.
My own hand was resting unconsciously on her chest, right over her heart, while my body was turned completely towards her, fitting perfectly into the curve of hers like two puzzle pieces made to match.
What makes this worst, we were fully clothed—still wearing the shirts and pants we had on yesterday, no skin touching, nothing inappropriate or revealing—and somehow... hindi ko alam, but this felt much, much scarier.
It scared me more than if we had been bare or exposed. Because this... this was innocent. This was pure. It was intimate in a way that went beyond physical and that realization hit me harder than anything else ever could.
My heart was pounding wildly against my ribs, beating so fast I was afraid she would feel it against her chest. I didn't move an inch.Natatakot akong magising ko siya.
I stared at her face, so close to mine. She looked so peaceful now, gusto ko nalang siyang titigan buong araw. all the sharp edges and guarded expressions gone while she slept. Her hold on me was firm, protective, like she had held me this way all night long to keep me safe from the thunder.
I was frozen, overwhelmed by everything I was feeling, my mind racing with a thousand confusing thoughts—Does she know she's holding me like this? Did she do it on purpose? nararamdaman niya kaya ako?—when suddenly, a loud, heavy banging sound echoed sharply through the room.
"ZARYA WAKE UP! GISSINGG NAA!"
It was Kiro's voice, hindi ako nagkakamali. Why is he here??
"GISING DOC! ANONG ORAS NA, SAYANG VIP TICKET OH! "
The loud knocking and their voices boomed through the quiet room, startling me so bad I almost jumped out of my skin. Nagising rin si Iris sa pag galaw ko, Iris stirred immediately, her eyes fluttered open, hazy and confused from sleep.
For a split second, we just stared at each other, both realizing exactly how close we were, exactly how we were tangled together.
The air between us grew thick and heavy again.
I saw the flash of something in her eyes,surprise, panic, or maybe something else—before she quickly pulled her arm away and shifted back, putting distance between us so fast it almost hurt.
But it was too late. I already felt everything. I already knew.
"Zarya?" That was a different voice... it's Xylla's.
I scrambled to sit up, fixing my hair and the blanket, my face burning hot, my heart still beating like crazy from what just happened—and what we just shared all night.
I glanced at Iris one more time. She was sitting up too, looking away, trying to act calm and composed, but I saw the way her hand touched her chest, right where mine had been resting just moments ago.
I stood up shakily and walked to the door, my mind spinning. Whatever this was... whatever was happening between us.
Agad kong binuksan ang pinto, and was shock to see these 4 mosquitoes outside my door.
"Ano meron?" I'm confused, bakit nandito sila?
"Sabi sa inyo, hindi niya na naalala e." Aisle proudly said to Kiro.
"brO!? sabi na e nandito ka e. Attend tayo concert diba?"
Concert?! oo nga pala, I almost forgot!
They called me about this last night.
"So, hindi mo ba kami papapasukin Doc?" Pamilosopo ni Ralph.
I was about to open the door widely when I realized... nandito pala si Iris sa loob.
But it was already too late, pumasok na si Kiro at sumunod naman sina Xy, Aisle, and Ralph.
"Ang ganda talaga ng–uy......"
All of them were stunned to see Iris in my bed, lahat sila natulala. But Xylla remained calm.
"Attorney, nandito ka pala hehe" kiro left out an awkward laugh.
"I'm just gonna get my things, and I'll leave." Iris explained, her typical Iris composure was there.
"Ay, saktoo! Hindi pala makakapunta si Mica e diba Doc Xy?" Tumitingin naman agad si Kiro kay Xy
"T-try daw–"
"Eh, scam naman 'yang si Mica. laging sasabihin na t-try nyang makapunta pero hindi talaga 'yan." Aisle added, pinagkaisahan na si Mics e.
"attorney, ikaw nalang sumama samin! Sakto oh" kiro invited Iris, that made both of us flinched.
"well, if that's fine with Zarya then I'll consider it." Iris looked at me.
Kiro and Aisle stared at me with pleading eyes na nakakainis, while Ralph and Xylla are low-key giving me death glares. Iris on the other hand is just waiting for my response.
"ye-yeah, sure."
"THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT!"
..........
It was exactly 3:00 PM in the afternoon when we arrived at the venue.
The sun was still bright and high up in the sky, but there was already a huge crowd lining up outside, excited and noisy.
But because we had VIP tickets, we didn't have to wait like everyone else.
We had special access—meaning we get to go inside early, witness the soundcheck, and see the band up close even before the actual show starts.
The energy was already electric even at this time.
Thousands of people were moving around, laughing, and talking about how excited they were.
Pero pagpasok namin sa loob, parang ibang mundo na agad ang bumungad sa amin.
The air was cool inside the arena, smelling like fresh paint, equipment, and that distinct scent of excitement.
We walked past the long queues, straight to the front section—our spot was literally right in front of the stage, so close na parang pwede mo nang mahawakan yung mga instruments nila.
But amidst all this noise and chaos, parang wala akong ibang makita kundi yung babaeng naglalakad sa tabi ko.
Iris looked stunning. Wala naman siyang suot na sobrang fancy, just a simple black top and jeans, her hair loose and falling softly over her shoulders, pero kahit simple lang, she stood out more than anyone else around us.
She looked relaxed too, something na bihira ko lang makita sa kanya her guard was down, and there was this small, genuine smile on her lips habang pinagmamasdan niya yung malaking stage at yung mga crew na nag-aayos ng gamit.
Ang ganda niya talaga, at yung pinaka-worst part?
I couldn't even tell her that. Hindi ko masabi sa kanya na parang lalong bumibilis yung tibok ng puso ko every time na lumalapit siya sa akin, or how I kept remembering the way it felt kaninang umaga nung nagising kaming magkayakap sa kama.
Naghanap kami ng pwesto sa harap, at doon na nagsimulang magbago ang takbo ng lahat.
Si Kiro, na medyo tahimik simula pa nung umalis kami sa hotel, stepped closer to Xylla.
Napansin ko kasi na simula pa kanina habang nasa biyahe kami, parang wala sa sarili si Xylla.
Hindi na siya yung usual na maingay at masiyahin, nakasimangot siya, hindi tumatawa nang totoo, at laging nakatingin sa amin ni Iris na parang galit o naiinis.
Maybe she's upset, I'm not sure to whom. Maybe seeing me and Iris together coming from the same hotel room after everything had happened between them. pero anuman yung dahilan, malinaw na wala siya sa mood.
So Kiro, being the observant guy that he was, immediately moved to stand right next to her.
Yumuko siya at bumulong ng kung ano-ano kay Xylla, parang nililibang ito, at doon na sila nag-partner.
Inabutan niya ito ng inumin, tinuro yung stage, at buong atensyon niya ay kay Xylla lang ibinigay, sinusubukang pasayahin ito para mawala yung tampo.
On the other side, Ralph casually slid next to Aisle, inalalayan ito habang sumisiksik sila sa gitna ng tao, tumatawa nang malakas sa mga kwentuhan nila, parang wala nang ibang nakikita kundi ang isa't isa.
And just like that... naiwan kaming dalawa na lang. Just me and Iris.
Nakatayo ako nakaharap sa stage, pero buong diwa ko ay nasa pagitan namin ni Iris.
We were shoulder-to-shoulder, surrounded by hundreds of early fans, yet parang kami lang dalawa ang nandoon, parang naka-isla kami sa gitna ng dagat ng tao.
The air between us felt thick and heavy, may halong awkwardness na wala naman nung nasa kwarto pa kami kagabi, o kaninang umaga.
Ngayon, dahil maliwanag, dahil kasama namin sila, dahil magkatabi kami.
.. mas ramdam ko kung sino siya sa akin—at kung sino ako sa kanya—at nakakapanlambot ng tuhod.
Iris shifted slightly, her arm brushing against mine, at parang kuryente ang dumaloy sa buong katawan ko.
Sumulyap ako sa kanya. She was looking straight ahead at the stage, mukhang seryoso at walang emosyon, pero napansin kong mahigpit ang pagkakadikit ng mga kamay niya sa harap niya, medyo naninigas ang tindig.
She was nervous. She was feeling it too.
"You okay?" tanong niya bigla, her voice low, barely audible over the noise of the crew setting up. She didn't look at me when she said it, keeping her gaze fixed on the drum set.
"Yeah," sagot ko agad, medyo mabilis at parang kinakabahan pa. "Just... excited. Ang swerte nga natin kasi may soundcheck pa. I've always wanted to experience this."
"Me too," she replied softly. Then she added, quieter still, "It's been a long time since I just... went somewhere to have fun. Not for work, not for family obligations. Just... this. Just being here."
Tiningnan ko yung mukha niya. Her perfectly shaped jaws, her long wavy hair, that perfect glossy lips of her...
Before I could say anything else, the band members walked out onto the stage. The crowd around us cheered loudly, excited na excited na kahit practice pa lang ito. They started playing some songs, testing the instruments, laughing and talking casually on stage. The vibe was so chill and fun.
They played song after song, upbeat tracks that made the whole crowd sway, dance, and sing along even if it wasn't the real concert yet.
Kiro and Xylla were singing together now, but I only saw Xylla got invested when the band sang the "Here Is Gone" and "name".
Ralph and Aisle were jumping around, laughing, enjoying every beat.
The energy was incredible kahit soundcheck palang, nakakahawa talaga.
But me? I was barely listening to the music. I was too busy feeling Iris beside me.
Every time the beat dropped or the crowd surged forward a little, she would instinctively step closer to me, her hand lightly touching my arm or my back to steady herself.
Every time she did that, my breath hitched.
I would look at her, and sometimes, she would catch me looking.
Our eyes would lock for a second...deep, searching, confused, and then we would both quickly look away, pretending to be focused on the band, pretending that the world wasn't spinning just because we were standing next to each other.
It was torture and heaven all at once. Gusto kong hawakan yung kamay niya. Gusto kong tanungin kung ano ba talaga ang nasa isip niya. Gusto kong malaman kung naaalala niya rin ba nang malinaw yung nangyari kagabi, tulad ng pagka-alala ko.
Hours passed quickly, and the soundcheck ended. The crew cleared the stage, and we had a few hours break before the actual concert starts. We ate snacks, took pictures, and just hung around, pero kahit anong gawin namin, the magnetic pull between me and Iris never went away.
Then night came. The arena filled up completely, lights dimmed, and the real show began.
They played hit after hit, loud and amazing, everyone screaming and jumping.
Then, suddenly, the atmosphere changed. The band slowed everything down.
The electric guitars faded into a soft, gentle melody played on an acoustic guitar.
The lights turned from bright strobes to warm, golden spotlights sweeping over the audience.
The crowd quieted down, sensing the shift, waiting.
And then... the first few notes began.
Soft, distinct, heartbreakingly familiar.
And you bleed just to know you're alive...
My heart stopped beating entirely.
I knew this song. Everyone knew this song. But for me... right here, right now, standing next to her... this felt like it was written solely for us.
[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]
"Iris."
The realization hit me hard, making my knees feel weak.
I froze, my eyes widening as the melody filled the entire arena, wrapping around us like a heavy blanket.
Hindi ako nakagalaw. I stared straight at the lead singer, but I wasn't seeing him.
I was hearing the lyrics, every single word cutting right through me, straight to my chest.
Nakatayo kami doon, sa gitna ng libo-libong tao na kumakanta nang malakas, and it felt as though the rest of the world had dissolved into nothingness. It was just her and me.
My chest felt tight, punong-puno ng damdamin na hindi ko maipaliwanag.
Confusion, fear, longing, affection, guilt.
.. lahat magkakahalo. Naisip ko ang lahat, our past, what she's been through, si Ryan, ang kagabi, yung paraan ng pagyakap niya sa akin buong gabi, yung pagdampi ng mukha niya sa ulo ko dahil doon ako nakahanap ng kapayapaan.
Iris's eyes dropped to my lips for the briefest second, then snapped back up to meet mine.
It was a small movement, halos hindi mapansin, pero nakita ko.
And it sent my mind reeling. I saw the conflict in her face.
I saw her wanting to say something, wanting to do something, but being held back by everything she thought she had to be.
She looked away first, breaking the intense contact, staring forward again, but I saw her hand tremble slightly at her side.
She took a deep breath, her shoulders rising and falling with it.
But then, very slowly, very carefully, her hand moved closer to mine.
Her knuckles brushed against the back of my hand.
..accidental? Or on purpose? and she didn't pull away.
She kept it there, touching me, just barely, skin against skin, sending sparks shooting through every nerve in my body.
Yung linyang 'yun. I just want you to know who I am.
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes.
That was us. That was exactly us. Siya yung matapang, matalino, at respetadong abogado na kinakatakutan o hinahangaan ng lahat, pero nakita ko yung kabilang side niya.
I had seen the girl who was scared, who was hurting because of her past, who was lonely, who needed comfort.
And she... she saw me. Nakita niya lagpas sa mga inaasahan ng iba, lagpas sa pagiging "perfect" na tingin nila ay ako. She saw me.
Tiningnan ko ulit siya. Her profile was illuminated by the warm lights, and I saw a single tear glistening at the corner of her eye, quickly wiped away before anyone else could see. She was feeling every word just as deeply as I was.
This song was her name. It was her. And listening to it while standing next to her felt like listening to our story told in lyrics.
It spoke of wanting to be seen, wanting to be known, wanting to be loved despite the walls we build up to protect ourselves.
It spoke of being different, of not fitting in, of a love that people wouldn't understand.
People wouldn't understand, God. They really wouldn't.
But standing here, with her shoulder pressed to mine, with the music wrapping around us, I realized I didn't care anymore.
The awkwardness was still there thick and heavy, but it was mixed with something else.
Something stronger. A connection that no family history, no arranged marriage, no jealousy, and no storm could ever break.
The song built up to its crescendo, the chorus repeating louder, more emotional, the whole arena singing it like an anthem.
Iris finally turned back to me. This time, she didn't hide the softness in her eyes.
She looked at me with so much intensity, so much unsaid emotion, that it took my breath away.
She leaned in just a tiny bit, her voice barely a whisper, drowned out by the music but perfectly clear to me.
"I know this song is overused," she said softly, her eyes searching mine. "But right now... it feels like–" she didn't continue, she looked away.
What I can do is to nod slowly, unable to speak. I couldn't say yes, and I couldn't say no. I could only feel.
The music swelled one last time, the final lines echoing out into the venue:
As the last note faded into a soft echo, the crowd cheered wildly, screaming and clapping, but the silence between us remained heavy and loud. The spell wasn't broken. If anything, it felt stronger now.
The rest of the concert passed in a blur. They played more songs, more hits, more upbeat melodies, but nothing—nothing—compared to that one moment.
Ni hindi ko na nga napansin sila xy, but they seemed to be having fun. But Iris and I... we stayed exactly as we were. Close. Silent. Glancing at each other every few seconds, only to look away immediately when caught.
Every time our hands accidentally brushed, or our shoulders bumped, or our eyes met for a fraction too long, I felt that same rush of heat and nervousness. We knew. We both knew exactly what that song meant. We both knew that the line between us had been completely erased.
The concert was nearing its end. We've been singing along to almost every song Slide, Name, Sympathy, and the energy was still high, pero parang ayaw pa rin naming matapos ang gabi. Then, the lead singer spoke into the microphone, his voice echoing across the whole arena.
"Alright everyone! Before we finish tonight, we want to do one last special thing," he announced with a smile. "We'll pick three people from the crowd. You come up, tell us your favorite Goo Goo Dolls song... and briefly tell us why. Are y'all ready?!!"
Everyone screamed excitedly, raising their hands up high, hoping to be chosen.
First, they picked a girl from the middle section. She ran up, so happy and nervous. She said her favorite was "Better Days".
"I love this song because it always gives me hope," she explained briefly, smiling. "Every time I feel down or like giving up, the lyrics remind me that things will get better. It's just a song that makes me believe everything will be okay."
Everyone clapped and cheered as she went back to her spot.
Then, the singer looked around and pointed straight to our direction, right at the VIP front row.
"You there! The girl in blue, right in front! Come on up!"
My eyes widened. It was Xylla.
I saw her freeze for a second. She glanced at Kiro, then at me, before standing up slowly.
She walked towards the stage—calm on the outside, but I knew her enough to see the sadness in her eyes, the same sadness she had been hiding all day.
She took the microphone, stood in the center, and took a deep breath.
"Hi... I'm Xylla," she said softly but clearly. "My favorite song is... 'Here Is Gone'."
The crowd murmured softly as they recognized the title. The singer nodded, gesturing for her to share.
"I chose this song because it perfectly describes the kind of love I know," she started, her eyes scanning the crowd below. For a split second, her gaze locked with mine... then drifted slowly to Iris standing right beside me.
"It's about loving someone so much... being there during the lowest, youwere always there—their safe place, the one who knew all their secrets, all their pain, all their stories.
You thought that because you stayed, because you loved them the purest and the hardest..
. maybe one day, they would look at you and see more than just a friend. "
Her voice was steady, but there was a deep ache in every word. She looked back at the band, smiling sadly.
"But then you realize... no matter how much you give or how long you wait... their heart belongs to someone else. Someone who changed everything for them. And when you see them genuinely happy... happy in a way they never were before... it hurts so much, but you realize what you have to do."
She paused, swallowing hard, her voice getting quieter but stronger.
"You let go. You step back. You stop hoping. You let them go to where they belong, even if that place isn't with you. You stay silent, you stay in the shadows, and you just watch them be happy... because their happiness is more important than your own.
The lyrics say... 'You were my everything, but here is gone.' That's exactly it. My feelings are still here... but I let them go. Because sometimes... loving someone means letting them find their home... even if it's not with you.
The crowd cheered loudly, touched by her words.
Xylla handed back the mic, bowed, and walked down. As she passed by us, she didn't look at Iris. She just looked at me, gave a small, sad but genuine smile... and went back to stand beside Kiro.
"That was beautiful. Thank you, Xylla!" the singer said, emotional. "Okay, last one! You, the lady in black right there! Come on up!"
It was Iris.
She looked surprised, glanced at me, and I nodded gently, pushing her a little. "Go," I whispered.
She walked up calm, composed, elegant, just like always. She took the microphone, stood straight, and looked out at thousands of people. But immediately, her eyes found mine in the crowd, and stayed there.
"Hi... I'm Iris," she said simply.
A few people cheered and laughed because of her name.
"My favorite song... is definitely 'Iris'."
The crowd roared in approval.
She smiled softly, shifting slightly, holding the mic with both hands, her gaze never leaving mine.
"Of course, first reason... obviously, it has my name," she said, making everyone laugh softly.
"But honestly... it holds something very special deep in my heart.
This song talks about being someone who always has to be strong, always guarded, always building walls around themselves because you're afraid of getting hurt, or afraid that no one will understand who you really are inside. "
Her voice softened, becoming lower, personal, like she was speaking only to me.
"It says... 'I don't want the world to see me, 'cause I don't think that they'd understand.' That was me for the longest time. I kept everything inside. I never let anyone get close enough to see the mess, or the fear, or the broken parts of me. I thought I had to be perfect, or tough, or alone."
She took a small breath, her eyes glistening under the bright lights.
"But then... you meet someone. Someone who doesn't care about the walls you built.
Someone who doesn't care about your past, or your name, or what people expect from you.
Someone who looks at you... and sees everything.
The good, the bad, the messy, the hidden parts.
.. and they don't run away. They just...
stay. And suddenly, all you want... all you ever ask for.
.. is for that person to know who you really are. "
The lead singer nodded, smiling warmly, and spoke softly into his mic, "Wow... that's really deep and beautiful. You found that person, right?"
Iris looked at him, and for a second, her expression shifted completely. The softness was replaced by something painful, something heavy and cold. She looked back at me, straight into my eyes, and continued speaking, her voice trembling slightly, low and heartbreaking.
"... But that was a long time ago."
She paused, and the atmosphere changed instantly.
"Now... everything can change in just a second. You realize... no one's going to stay forever. Sometimes... the people you thought would give up the world for you, were actually the one's who gave you up...for the world.
Her words hit me like a punch in the chest. It was painful.
It was direct. It was like she was saying it to me.
Like she was reminding me that even though we were here now, even though we felt this way.
.. there were still things holding us back, things that could make me leave her, things that could make me choose the "world" instead of her.
"People change. Feelings fade. And promises... promises are just words until someone proves them true. This song... it's still my favorite. Because it reminds me of what I wanted. What I hoped for. Even if... maybe... it was never really meant to be mine to keep."
She finished speaking, her voice quiet and heavy.
There was a moment of silence, mixed emotions hanging in the air, before the crowd clapped this time softer, more understanding, feeling the pain behind her words. The lead singer looked at her with respect, nodding slowly, no more jokes, no more happy comments.
"Thank you... for sharing that," he said gently.
Iris bowed slightly, handed back the mic, and walked straight back to me.
She stood beside me again, shoulder to shoulder, just like before.
But now, there was a distance between us that wasn't there a minute ago.
Her words kept echoing in my head: "The ones who you thought would give up the world for you. .. gave you up for the world."
Xylla looked at us from a distance, beside Kiro. She just looked... sad, but understanding. She knew exactly what Iris meant.
The lead singer spoke again, his voice warm and grateful.
"Thank you to everyone who shared their stories. This last one is for all of you... for the love you let go... and for the love you hope stays."
They started playing Iris again, but this time, it wasn't just sweet. It was full of pain, full of reality, full of the truth we were both too scared to say out loud.