Ch. 30
The Stranger with the Drumsticks
The music room was quiet, save for the faint hum of the air conditioner. Dust motes drifted lazily through the golden light pouring from the window, falling like soft glitter on the piano keys.
Selene stood near the center of the room, holding the silver key Ms. Rivera had given her earlier. She'd been staring at the instruments for several minutes now, the grand piano gleaming in one corner, and the violin resting neatly inside a glass cabinet.
She pressed her lips together.
"Piano or violin..." she murmured under her breath.
"Which one should I even bother with this time??"
Her reflection on the polished black piano lid almost looked amused at her dilemma.
She carefully took out the violin, brushing her thumb over the smooth wood. The faint smell of varnish filled the air. The bow felt light in her hand, familiar almost like an extension of her fingers.
And then she began to play.
The sound rose and fell, graceful and haunting. Each note carried weight her hesitation, her longing, her hidden frustration with this new life she'd been thrust into.
But halfway through, she stopped, her eyes sliding toward the grand piano.
"...You'll never change, will you?" she whispered to herself, standing up.
She eventually sat at the piano bench, her fingers hovering uncertainly above the keys.
When she pressed one — C — the sound echoed, pure and resonant. Another key, then another. And then she switched to a melody she used to play out of habit something soft, melancholic, but strangely calming. Her body remembered it before her mind did.
For a few moments, Selene forgot everything.
Until,
The door creaked open.
She froze mid-bow.
Standing there was a tall boy probably her age with fiery red hair that looked like it had been kissed by the sun.
A drumstick twirled casually between his fingers.
A faint bruise marred his bottom lip, still fresh.
His shirt collar was loose, his posture lazy yet confident the type of boy who probably lived for chaos and late-night fights.
"...Oh," he said, tilting his head slightly, an amused smirk forming.
"Didn't know someone was here."
Selene lowered her hands instantly, her expression calm but guarded.
"You should've knocked."
He raised an eyebrow. "Door wasn't locked."
"Still," she said, tone clipped, "there's something called manners."
That made him chuckle.
"Right, princess."
Selene blinked once, unimpressed. "Princess?"
"Yeah," he shrugged, stepping further in, his boots clicking lightly on the tiled floor.
"You play like one graceful, proper, and... kinda scary if I get too close."
He leaned against the wall near the piano, spinning his drumstick again.
"Didn't mean to interrupt. Just needed to get my stuff."
Selene's eyes darted toward the drum set in the corner.
"You're in the music club?"
"More like... forced to join," he replied, flashing a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Name's Raze."
Was he one of the characters in Love Illusion?
The kind with a dark backstory and loyal heart? Or was he the delinquent rival who caused trouble for Ethan?
She doesn't know.
That alone was enough to put her on edge.
"I didn't think anyone serious used this room," he continued, voice low and teasing. "Usually just empty during this hour. Guess, I got lucky."
"Then you've seen enough. I was about to leave." Selene ignored his tone and stand up.
"Hmm." Raze's eyes lingered on her for a moment sharp and observant.
"You play like someone who's trying not to enjoy it."
That made her pause. Raze tilted his head.
"You've got talent. Not many can switch from strings to keys like that without messing the tempo."
There was a moment of silence, filled only by the faint hum of the piano wires. Selene gathered her things, her movements deliberate, graceful. She stood up and walked toward the door, keeping just enough distance between them.
But before she could leave, Raze spoke again his tone quieter, more sincere this time.
"You should keep playing," he said. "Whether it's violin or piano. You look like someone who's still deciding if she deserves music."
Selene paused. Her expression didn't change, but something in her eyes flickered surprise, maybe.
"Uh..thanks"
And with that, she left the room the faint echo of her footsteps mixing with the quiet rhythm of his drumstick tapping against the wall.
The next few days passed quietly Selene finally made her decision.
"I'll play the violin," she told her music teacher, her voice steady but firm.
"But please...keep it confidential. I don't want any unnecessary attention." Her teacher smiled, clearly pleased.
"Understood, Miss Valen. Your name won't be mentioned until the actual performance."
Good.
The last thing Selene needed was her face trending again on the school forum.
That same day, she officially joined the music club.
It wasn't for the social aspect she just wanted access to the room, to play whenever she wanted without anyone poking into her business.
Her afternoons became her quiet escape: soft melodies, empty halls, and no drama.
Or so she thought.
That Friday, classes ended early.
The sky was pale orange as students rushed home, their chatter filling the campus. Selene stood by the gate, phone in hand.
Her driver texted:
She tucked her phone into her bag, straightened her uniform, and began walking down the quiet street that led away from the University.
The road was lined with trees, their shadows stretching long under the evening light. That's when she noticed a familiar head of red hair crouched by the sidewalk.
"...Raze?" she muttered.
Sure enough, it was him sitting on the curb, a small plastic bag beside him, feeding stray cats. There were three of them, meowing happily as he tore bits of food for them.
Well, that's... unexpected, Selene thought. The dangerous drummer turns out to be a cat feeder.
Cute.
She was about to turn away she didn't want another conversation with someone who attracted chaos when his head tilted up.
"Hey," Raze called, grinning when he saw her.
"Didn't expect a princess to see here."
Selene gave a polite nod, already walking past him.
"I was just passing by."
He chuckled, still tossing food to the cats.
"Cold as ever."
But before Selene could reply, the sound of revving engines echoed from behind.
A group of motorcycles swerved into the street, their riders wearing mismatched uniforms and leather jackets the unmistakable look of academy delinquents.
Oh, great. Here comes the cliché, Selene thought grimly.
The motorcycles came to a stop right in front of her, blocking her path.
"Oi, Raze!" one of them shouted, pulling off his helmet.
"Didn't know you got yourself a new chick!"
The rest of the group laughed. Selene froze, blinking slowly.
...Excuse me?
"Watch your mouth." Raze's grin disappeared.
The thugs sneered.
"What, you gonna act all protective now? She's your girl, right?"
Selene pinched the bridge of her nose, exhaling sharply through her nose.
"For the record," she said, her tone calm but cutting, "I'm not his girlfriend."
The leader tilted his head mockingly.
"Yeah, sure. That's what they all say."
Selene's patience was thinning.
First, she was mistaken as Jaxen Montclair's girlfriend by the police. Now she's some gangster's girl?
Seriously.
What kind of plotline am I living in?!
Her glare was icy, sharp enough to make two of the guys shift awkwardly.
But before she could say anything else, the group began to move closer. Raze stood up instantly, stepping between her and the thugs.
"Touch her, and I'll break your arm." His expression darkened.
"Oh really?" one of them snorted. "Six of us, one of you. I'd like to see you try."
Selene's brows furrowed.
"Raze, don't—" she started, but it was too late.
The fight broke out in seconds.
Raze moved fast his punches were sharp, deliberate, and brutal. The first thug went down after a single hit to the jaw. Another tried to grab him from behind, but Raze twisted, driving his knee into the guy's ribs.
The street erupted in chaos the sound of fists, grunts, and shoes scraping against the pavement. Selene quickly backed away, pulling out her phone. Calm and focused as she dialed the local station.
"Hello, yes. There's a fight happening near Limerick Street, behind St. Atheline's University. Please send officers immediately."
Her tone was smooth, her expression unshaken as if she was reporting a broken traffic light instead of a street brawl. By the time the flashing lights appeared at the end of the road, Raze was already bleeding slightly from his lip, but all six thugs were down or groaning on the ground.
Two officers rushed out, breaking up the fight. One of them spotted Selene standing there, her uniform pristine.
She pointed elegantly.
"They're the ones causing trouble. And he," she nodded at Raze, "was defending himself."
The officers exchanged looks impressed by her composure.
The air smelled faintly of disinfectant and coffee.
Selene sat inside the police station, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. Raze was beside her, head slightly tilted back against the wall, looking amused despite the small cut on his cheek. She exhaled slowly, glaring at the ceiling.
Of all the ways to end my day...
Raze glanced at her.
"You know, for someone who says she's not my girlfriend, you do look good sitting next to me like this."
Selene turned her head sharply. "Don't push it."
He laughed softly, eyes glinting. Selene groaned and covered her face with one hand.
"Why," she muttered under her breath, "am I in the police station? Can someone explain this absurd plotline to me?"