Ring!...Ring!!...Ring!!!
Mylo jolted awake to the sound of his alarm. Blinking off the sleep from his eyes, he glanced at the alarm clock. His eyes widened, as the grogginess from sleep immediately disappeared.
'Shit!, Shit!, Shit!' He threw the covers of his bed, stumbling to the bathroom to get ready.
Minutes later, he shot out of the bathroom. His hair still wet as he quickly threw on some clothes.
He dashed downstairs, ignoring his sister's greeting as he raced outside. His heart thrashed in his chest. He frantically looked at the street before hailing a cab.
Almost shouting the destination, he jumped in.
'Shit!, how did I wake up late?' he berated himself.
His leg bounced uncontrollably as he took quick, panicked glances at his watch. He glanced at the cab driver, "S…sorry sir, can you hurry up."
The cab driver nodded, increasing the speed.
Moments later, Mylo noticed there hadn't moved for a while. "Sir, I have to be somewhere. So please can you hurry."
"Look kid, I can't exactly hurry with the traffic." He replied.
'Shit, I'm almost late. I can't wait.'
"Sir, I'll drop here." Before the man could say anything, Mylo threw the man the cash and dashed out the car.
Mylo weaved through the traffic, whilst simultaneously glancing at his watch. His chest thumped loudly in his chest. Legs burning and his somewhat hasty wear were now sweaty. But Mylo paired no mind to them, as all on his mind was that he was late.
***
Mylo groaned out, running a tired hand through his hair as he stepped out of the exam centre.
'I barely made it!' he thought. Thankfully, he wasn't too late, but there told him he had to change due to his sweaty clothes. Thinking back to the papers, Mylo bit his finger nervously.
'Dammint, I think I made mistakes in No. 47 and 49. What of No. 34?' he asked, each thought making him more anxious than the last.
"Dammint!" he cursed once again.
***
Reaching the warehouse, he was once again late. Various arguments reached his ear, Mylo groaned once again. 'Not today again.'
Entering inside, Mylo stared at the figures of Noah and Cali barking at each other.
"You two can't seem to never shut up, and I've damned had it with you." Cali shouted.
"Huh, me." Noah scrunched his face, "Look missy, I don't care what you think."
The argument went on once more, only Risu noticed his arrival. But Mylo didn't say anything. The only sounds dominating the building were the heated arguments between the two. Mylo gritted his teeth, head aching with a sharp migraine. Finally,
"Can you all just shut up! Just shut up!" He snapped.
The room felt silent as the three stared at Mylo's frustrated form.
"Day after day, argument after argument. I can't take it. It's shouting all you idiots can do." Mylo pointed to Risu, "All you know is to run your mouth? Please shut up for goodness sake!"
He glared towards Noah, "I don't know why you don't get along with the others, sleeping all the time, lazying around. I've had it with you."
He turned towards Cali, ""Why do you always join them? Must you always act like a thug? It was a problem just getting you to practice here in the first place, wasn't it?""
The others stayed quiet. Mylo huffed as he finished pouring out his frustration. A wave of regret immediately hit him as he realized what he had just said.
"C…Cali, I'm—"
She cut him off, her voice low and dangerous. "Save it.", she spat, not meeting his eyes. She slung her guitar over her shoulder as she marched past him.
Noah yawned, stretching slowly. "Nice one, leader. I'm done," he drawled, walking past him.
Turning towards Risu, a pleading expression on her face. "R…Risu, I'm—
She stepped back, "I…I" she began, but shut her mouth, tears at the edges of her eyes. She ran past him.
Mylo just stared at the ground, his fists clenched, his teeth gritted. "Dammint, Mylo, why, why did I say that?!" he shouted to himself in frustration, tears brimming in his eyes.
He trudged outside, his eyes vacant as he constantly muttered. "It's my fault."
Risu glanced at the retreating Mylo, a sudden thought. 'I hope it isn't because of me he left?' She hoped not. Risu shook her head of the thought, 'Maybe he's just tired.', she concluded. The thought of a new friend being bothered by her twisted a knot in her stomach.
Noah just glanced, too lazy to be bothered. Though the slight guil
Cali huffed. She was annoyed. Annoyed at those two for causing a ruckus. And annoyed at her goddamn self for joining in on the argument. He was clearly stressed from today's exams and it was showing. 'Great Cali, just fucking great.'
Unknown to him, a man watched his retreating figure. The man's pristine suit standing out in contrast to the surrounding area. "Hmm, Mylo fletcher." He said, "Seems the brat did the job. All alone now, no group, no nothing."
***
The next day, Mylo left the exam hall once more. The stress of the days exam filtered to the back of his mind as the events of yesterday dominated. He had tried calling Cali numerous times to apologize, but the girl never picked up. Neither did the rest of them.
It was already clear that there wouldn't be practicing, so Mylo didn't bother going to the warehouse today. It was a relief that there weren't any exams tomorrow.
He didn't go home, he didn't want to really be around anyone at the moment. So he went to the place he usually went when in distress. The park
In the park, Mylo found a quiet place to sit, just opposite the pond. Flopping down, he felt deflated. His mind recalling every action, words, statements he said yesterday. Each shouted word burning his throat. The guilt was a cold weight, sending him deeper and deeper into abyss.
Mylo felt the presence of someone sitting beside him. Normally he would immediately greet the person, but he had no energy to do so.
"Young man, are you okay?"
Mylo glanced up, his eyes opening slightly in recognition. "O…oh sir, it's you."
The gentleman from before just smiled. "Yes it's me once again, I hope you don't mind me sitting here?"
Mylo gave a week smile, "No, not at all."
"So what's wrong you man, you don't seem alright. I hope all is well?"
Mylo sighed, his form slouching. "N…no, no it's not."
"Hmm, why don't you tell me about it?"
Glancing at the man, he hesitated.
Seeing the expression, the man chuckled softly. "Just think of me as an old friend. Besides, there say it's much easier talking to a stranger. So young man, I'll ask again. What's wrong?
Mylo thought about it, though hesitant to tell a random elderly man who he's only met once. But at the moment, talking to someone else might just be better. So he recalled everything that happened the previous day.
After telling him, Mylo felt like a small weight was lifted off his chest. He was still guilty, but now more relaxed.
The man nodded slowly, "I see. Quite a dilemma you're in Mylo. What you did today was not appropriate, not at all."
Mylo nodded, his head dropping.
"But, you're not fully in the wrong Mylo."
Mylo's head snapped up, staring at the man in disbelief. "B…but I shouldn't have shouted at them like that. We're a team."
"Yes," the man nodded, "But there shouldn't have also been arguing all the time. And there should've also been knowing of your exams as well, so there should have understood."
Mylo remained silent, but his clenched fists slowly loosened. A small, dangerous seed of agreement began to grow.
The man grinned internally at Mylo's thinking.
"Young man, you shouldn't be guilty of your reaction. If it was I in your shoes, I would have snapped much earlier."
Mylo felt himself slowly nodding.
"Young man, you shouldn't be around people that don't value your talents. Talents like yours should be revered and not shunned in such a small group."
Mylo turned towards the man, wondering where he was going.
"Young man, how about an offer."
"An offer?"
The man nodded, "Yes, that's right. A place where you can show your talents, and is not hidden in such a small place. Not just in the state, the whole country." He handed him a card, "How about working for Oliver albums?"