Suci's POV
After the festival, everything changed.
I used to be just Suci—the girl who played guitar in the garden, sang for small events, and quietly admired her parents' musical legacy.
But now?
People were stopping me in the halls.
My inbox was flooded.
Strangers were tagging me on TikTok clips of our performance.
We had gone viral.
And not just locally. Some music bloggers picked up our video. A YouTube creator even did a reaction video titled:
> "This DUO from the PHILIPPINES just MELTED MY HEART 😭🎨🎶"
Our phones wouldn't stop buzzing.
> "SUCI!! Can I get a selfie?"
> "Is it true you're dating that artist guy?"
> "Giiiirl, your vocals gave me CHILLS!"
At first, it was exhilarating.
Like finally being seen.
Heard.
Recognized for the art I loved.
But the attention came with a heavy echo I hadn't prepared for.
---
One Week Later
I was in the cafeteria when a group of girls sat near my table, whispering loudly on purpose.
> "I heard she only got in because of her parents."
> "Right? Born with a microphone in her mouth. Not fair."
> "That guy, Artum? He deserves better. He's serious. She's just riding the wave."
I stared down at my lunch.
Their voices stung more than I wanted to admit.
I wasn't asking for all this.
I never claimed to be better than anyone.
And yet, here I was—targeted just for doing something I loved, and doing it well.
---
Artum's POV
Suci was glowing on stage—but I could see the cracks forming behind her smile.
She didn't say it aloud, but I noticed the way her shoulders hunched when people stared too long.
The way she paused before opening her messages.
How she hesitated before posting anything online.
Fame came at her like a wave, and she was still learning how to swim.
> "You okay?" I texted her that night.
> SUCI: "Yeah. Just... weird. Good weird. But also scary weird."
> ME: "Want to disappear with me for a day?"
> SUCI: "Where?"
> ME: "Anywhere that doesn't have a signal."
> SUCI: "Deal."
---
Saturday – Escape Plan
We drove two hours to a small lake hidden in the mountains—one he'd visited as a kid.
No cameras.
No questions.
Just trees, sky, and water so clear you could see the clouds in it.
I took a deep breath and smiled for the first time in days.
> "You really remembered this place?" I asked.
> "It's my thinking spot," he said. "You needed space. I wanted to give it."
We sat by the shore, dipping our feet into the water.
> "Is this how it's always going to be?" I asked. "People turning on you the moment you step into the light?"
> "Sometimes, yeah. But you're not alone in it."
> "It's just... I finally feel like I'm doing what I love. And now I'm being told I don't deserve it."
He picked up a small flat stone and skipped it across the water.
> "You know what I do when that voice creeps in?"
> "What?"
> "I remind myself why I started. I wasn't born to impress. I was born to express."
I laughed. "That was deep, professor."
> "What can I say? I moonlight as a quote machine."
---
Back in Town – Sunday Night
Coming back felt harder.
The comments were louder online now.
People debated whether we were dating, whether I autotuned my vocals, even whether the painting was staged.
But the worst?
A music producer sent a public offer—to ME only.
> "Suci, you're the real star here. Let's work together. Solo deal. You don't need a sidekick."
Sidekick?
I reread it twice.
It felt like betrayal. Like they were trying to divide us before we even defined who we were.
I didn't reply. But my thoughts were already in chaos.
---
Monday – Music Room
I told Artum.
I showed him the message. My hand trembled slightly as I passed my phone over.
He read it in silence.
Then looked up.
> "Are you considering it?"
The question pierced me.
> "I don't know. It's a big opportunity."
> "I know," he said, his voice unreadable. "And you deserve it."
> "But I didn't even audition alone. We're a team."
> "Doesn't mean you owe me anything."
There was a pause.
> "Are you upset?"
He shook his head. "I'm proud. Honestly. But I'd be lying if I said the thought of losing our bond doesn't scare me."
That made my heart ache.
> "You won't lose me," I said softly.
> "But if you rise without me, will you still look back?"
> "Always."
We stood there, in the space between dreams and doubt.
And he did something unexpected.
He took my hand and placed it over his chest.
> "Feel that? It beats differently when you're near. Whether you sing solo or with me, I'll still be your biggest fan."
My throat tightened.
Because I believed him.
---
Three Days Later – The Interview
I was invited to do a short interview on a youth radio segment. Artum came with me.
The host smiled brightly. "We're here with SUCI! Viral sensation, stunning voice, and rising star. So tell us—solo career incoming?"
I smiled politely. "Actually, I'm focused on growth—collaboratively and individually. I started with someone I deeply respect, and I'm not forgetting that."
> "So... are you two dating?" the host pressed.
Artum grinned. "You'll have to wait for our next performance to find out."
Everyone laughed, including me.
But I caught the silent glance we shared.
It was like we knew the answer.
We just weren't ready to name it.
---
That Night
We sat on my porch after the interview, sipping hot choco.
> "You handled that well," he said.
> "My hands were sweating the whole time."
> "Did you mean it? About not forgetting?"
> "Every word."
He was quiet for a moment.
> "They'll keep coming after you," he said. "People. Offers. Pressure. They'll want to mold you."
> "I won't let them," I said. "I'm not just a voice. I'm a person. And I want to be someone I can live with, not just someone they clap for."
He smiled. "That's what makes you powerful, Suci."
I smiled back.
> "You make me feel braver, you know?" I admitted.
> "And you remind me why I started loving music in the first place."
---
Final Scene
Before bed, I opened my notebook and wrote in the back page:
> "Fame is loud. But your truth should be louder."
Then I turned to a fresh page and wrote:
> "Chapter 6: Things We Don't Say Yet."
And just like that, I knew.
This story wasn't over.
Not even close.
---
To Be Continued...