[MYLO]
I stood, holding my breath. The air chilled my lungs, and sweat dripped down my face. We had poured our heart into this song. It didn't start well, I chuckled internally, but we made it through…somehow. I spared a glance at Cali beside me, her eyes blazed with competition to win this competition as she nodded at me. 'Let's do this!' I thought, much like her, I want to win this.
"Our song is not your usual romance song, we're singing on the topic of love. I hope that this song isn't one you just listen with your ears but your heart." I glanced back once more at Cali. She gave a quick, readying nod as she held her guitar.
I nodded, turning my head back to the mic.
"I carried silence like a stone,
An echo chamber, all my own.
My truth was written in the minor key,
A symphony of history."
[CALI]
Softly, I strung my guitar as I sang into my mic.
"I thought the music had to bleed,
To satisfy a soul's deep need.
You were the sudden, sunlit chime,
A strange disruption to my time.
And I resisted that bright sound."
[THIRD]
As Cali's part ended, the two sang out together, merging into a beautiful rising melody that captured the crowd.
"The friction burns, the chords reject,
We're two lone forces, retrospect.
We argue tempo, bend the beat,
Admitting pain is less defeat.
But every time the notes collide,
There's a single place we cannot hide."
Their voices raised higher, reaching the climax of the song. There spared a glance at each other, smiles on their faces as the song flowed.
"You are the major chord that breaks the dark apart,
The one true language of my guarded heart.
You're the baseline digging deep into the ground,
The steady pulse beneath the fragile sound.
Oh, I remember how I fought the change,
Now you're the perfect discord that rearranged
My whole soul's orbit, word by word,
The single message I was meant to have heard."
Then growing low, there turned, gazes locked on each other as they sang in a low humming melody.
"I used to build my verses tall,
A fortress waiting for a fall.
I spoke in codes the world ignored,
The painful notes I had explored.
But you, you simply sat and listened,
Saw the places where my heart glistened.
You don't try to tune my fear,
You just drew closer so you could hear.
We found the truth in the overlap."
Silence reigned, as the song came to end. The audience were in a trance. The song, like a heavenly melody that touched their souls. Some cried, some sat just with expression of awe on their faces. That wasn't just a song, that was something more magical. Mystical even.
Stargate's eyes locked on the duo with burning interest. That song was theatre, true theatre. He knew among all the contestants, this two, this two would be quite interesting going forward. Though his eyes rested on Mylo, a brief memory from long ago resurfacing. 'Just like her.' He gave a small, inward laugh.
Standing up, he clapped. That seemed to break everyone out of their daze as soon the theatre followed; breaking in a resounding applause.
Mylo's shocked eyes gazed through the crowd. The sound was…foreign. He didn't truly register that there were clapping for him. A pure and happy grin made way to his face. He glanced to his side, the round of applause faded into the background as he stared at her. Cali smiled back, a genuine one—one that seemed to take his breath away.
"Wonderful, just absolutely wonderful. Such passion, such thought put into the song really moved me." Stargate complimented, "You've given me quite a tough time now." he chuckled lightly,
"You can go on, we'll announce the results shortly after."
***
In their practice room, Cali busted into the room. "Wowww, that was awesome." She said excitedly. "We're for sure to win this challenge now."
Mylo smiled, also unable to contain his excitement he felt. "Yeah, it was…amazing."
He plopped down into his chair, a pure childish grin on his face. The two had put their heart and soul into the song, this was music to him and oh how he missed this feeling.
Cali stared at Mylo, seeing his gentle, satisfied smile. He looked like a child given the most wondrous gift in the world. She chuckled, he probably did. 'He really does love music.' She smiled.
The radio system cackled to wake as a familiar voice spoke up once again. "Well contestants, the results have been tallied. These songs today have been nothing short of lovely, all of you performed quite extraordinary, but alas, there can only be one winner." He paused, letting the tension tighten the air, "The winner of this week 'Romance Duet' challenge is….
…Mylo and Cali."
Cali sprang up, "Fuck yeah let's go." She pumped her fists in the air.
"We did it, we did it." Mylo spoke excitedly, as the two shared a hug together.
Moments passes as the two separated slightly, realizing the position there were currently in. Mylo blushed furiously, "Oh, sorry, I didn't realize, I should…"
He was quickly cut off by a kiss. By this point, Mylo was as red as a tomato; Cali slowly pulled away, her eyes staring at Mylo though she had a noticeable blush on her face. "W-what did I say about apologizing."
Mylo couldn't speak, his heart threatened to break out of his chest with the way it was rapidly beating. "I-i-I"
Cali chuckled, "Don't think too much about it."
He could only dumbly nod. Just as he was about to calm down, the next voices spoke up.
"Well I'll be, that didn't take long."
His head snapped to the door, Mary and Jake stood there, teasing smiles on their faces.
"How long were you guys standing there?" Cali asked bashfully.
Jake's grin widened, "Oh, long enough." He admitted.
Mary beamed on the side, "Oh, I'm so happy you two are finally together."
Cali groaned slightly, but not truly upset. She just nodded a small blush on her face. The three were soon interrupted as an object landed on the floor. Turning their heads to the source, Mylo had fainted. With the overflow of emotions at the moment, his heart couldn't take it and so the boy fainted. You will be missed Mylo.
The three sweat dropped at this
***
After Mylo awoke, he was immediately bombarded with teasing from Jake, and Mary being her Mary self, was just excited at her brother finally getting a girlfriend.
The hearty atmosphere halted as the TV turned once again, Jonathan appearing once more. "Well, that's it for today, get some rest everyone, the next challenge will be announced tomorrow. Tata~" The TV shut off.
Mary smiled as she hugged the two, "This calls for a celebration, let's eat out."
Cali hesitated, "Uhm, no I'm good; I don't want to be a bother." She rubbed her hand awkwardly.
"You won't." Mylo blurted out, "Y-you won't be a bother, so let's go…Please." He held her hand gently. Cali blushed at the touch.
Mary beamed at the side, 'Ohhh they're so cute!!!'
Jake grinned, 'Oh, I'm so gonna tease him about this forever.'
Cali grinned, "Well sure, let's go eat then."
Mylo smiled at her response.
The four made their way out of the theatre, going to a nearby restaurant and celebrating the two. As Mylo smiled at Cali, a brief, cold thought of the next challenge—and how much he now had to lose—flickered in his mind, but he quickly pushed it away. For now, he just held her hand.