Bab 6: Lennox
As he navigated through the bustling streets, the glow of neon signs flickered in his periphery, blending with the vibrant energy of the city. Pulling into the crowded café parking lot, he felt the pulse of the place—a mix of laughter, clinking cups, and the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air. With a quick glance at his reflection in the rearview mirror, he adjusted his hair and stepped out of the car.
The café's entrance was framed by large windows, allowing sunlight to spill onto the sidewalk, where patrons chatted animatedly. He pushed open the door, the bell above chiming softly, and immediately felt enveloped by the warm atmosphere. A bustling barista moved deftly behind the counter, and the attendant at the front greeted him with a friendly smile.
"I'm here for someone named Lennox," he said, his voice rising slightly above the café's lively chatter.
"Right this way," the attendant replied, leading him through the maze of tables, their surfaces adorned with half-drunk lattes and forgotten pastries. After a brief wait, they approached a table tucked in a cozy corner, where a man with tousled hair and an easy demeanor sat, a notebook open before him.
"It seems you've arrived," Lennox said, a smile breaking across his face as he reached out his hand in greeting.
"It seems so," Ariana responded, glancing at Lennox's outstretched hand before finally shaking it, feeling the warmth of his grip.
"So, I know you said you wanted to master a song over the forum, but 'master' is quite a strong word," he began, his tone half-teasing, half-serious. "You did say you just started yesterday, right?"
Lennox nodded, his smile fading slightly as he met Ariana's gaze. "That's correct."
Ariana sighed, the weight of the reality settling in. "Things won't be easy, you know that, right?"
The lightness in Lennox's expression dimmed, a flicker of uncertainty passing through his eyes. "I get it. But in life, you have to open every door available. Otherwise, how will you arrive where you want to be if you don't exhaust every option? In the end, all you'd be left with is uncertainty and regret."
The weight of this truth hung in the air, and Ariana looked at Lennox in silence for a few moments, taking in the conviction in his eyes. The café's ambient noise faded into the background as he pondered the significance of those words.
Finally, breaking the silence, Ariana smiled. "You're entirely right. I apologize—let's start over."
Lennox's eyes lit up with excitement. "I'm Ariana, and I'll be teaching you, it seems."
"I'm Lennox, and it seems so," he replied, a grin spreading across his face as they shared another handshake, both of them now feeling the spark of a fresh beginning.
After a whirlwind of the last two hours, he found himself reflecting on how fast the day had unfolded since meeting Lennox. The first hour had been filled with easy conversation, laughter, and shared stories that felt oddly familiar. They had grabbed some food, their banter flowing as naturally as the drinks they shared. Then, they arrived at the karaoke booth, where the atmosphere shifted to one of focused anticipation.
Now, they sat on opposite sides of the small room, the neon lights casting a colorful glow around them. Lennox wore a serious expression, his brow furrowed as he scrolled through the playlist on his phone.
"Which song do I do?" he asked, his face stone-cold.
"When I said pick a song, I meant just click a song, not study the scientific essence of the entire playlist," Ariana deadpanned, unable to suppress a smile.
Lennox sighed, finally clicking on a random choice. As the first couple of notes filled the air, their eyes lit up in unison. "Perfect!" they both exclaimed, excitement bubbling between them.
The song that played was called "Still Here," a soft melody that required a delicate balance of dynamics. He couldn't help but think how fitting it was for Lennox's current journey. This was exactly the kind of song he needed to learn, one that would challenge him while also allowing his emotions to shine through.
Ariana paused the music and turned to Lennox, a mix of encouragement and seriousness in his tone. "Okay, recite the first verse."
Lennox began, his voice filled with eagerness, but halfway through, he stopped at Ariana's command. "Stop. You're just copying what the original is doing," Ariana said, a frown creasing his brow. "Of course, it sounds bad. If you use someone else's technique—especially a female's—while being a male, it's impossible for it to sound as good as the original."
The light in Lennox's eyes dimmed, and his expression shifted to one of disappointment. It was clear he had assumed he was doing well, but he needed to understand the harsh realities of the industry.
"I know it feels tough right now," Ariana continued gently, "but it's better to set you straight now than let you struggle later. You have to find your own voice, your own style. This is about you, not imitating someone else."
Lennox nodded, the weight of the feedback settling in. Though it stung, he could see the truth in the words. And as they prepared to dive deeper into the song, he felt a flicker of determination ignite within him.
"Now try it again, but just relax and have fun. It will help if you close your eyes and think about what you want to do with the song," Ariana said, leaning back in his chair, his tone encouraging.
Lennox nodded, taking a deep breath before starting over. He closed his eyes, letting the music wash over him, and began to recite the first verse of "Still Here."
"Late nights, scrolling through our memories,
Every laugh and every dream feels bittersweet.
You say it's just a phase, but it's more than that,
How do I move on when you're still so close, still so attached?"
Ariana clapped, a broad smile spreading across his face. "That was much better. Way better than before! Now I could tell you actually enjoyed it instead of trying to impress me, and that inadvertently accomplished what you were originally trying to achieve—congrats!" He smirked, pleased with the progress.
Lennox rolled his eyes, a soft "tch" escaping his lips, but if one looked closely, they could see the smile breaking through.
"Now, let me help you a bit. I noticed you slowed down the flow of the song and gave it more ballad aspects, so try this…"
The night continued in this way, with Ariana guiding Lennox through each part of the song, offering tips and encouragement. They laughed and joked, building a sense of camaraderie as Lennox reworked certain lines and refined his delivery.
Finally, Ariana said, "Alright, let's try the entire song now."
Taking a deep breath, Lennox nodded and launched into it, his voice gaining confidence with each note:
"Late nights, scrolling through our memories,
Every laugh and every dream feels bittersweet.
You say it's just a phase, but it's more than that,
How do I move on when you're still so close, still so attached?
You're laughing like it's nothing, but I feel the weight,
Every inside joke reminds me of our fate.
I wear a smile, but it's just a mask,
Hiding all the feelings that I can't help but ask.
How do I let go when we're still friends?
Pretending like this isn't where the story ends.
I'm holding on tight, but it's tearing me apart,
How do I move on when you still have my heart?
Yeah, how do I move on when you still have my heart?
So I'll laugh and I'll smile, but it's all just a show,
Hiding all the feelings that I wish you could know.
In this tangled mess, I'll just play my part,
But how do I move on when you still have my heart?
Yeah, how do I move on when you still have my heart?"
As he finished, Ariana's excitement bubbled over. "Wow, you've come so far! Seriously, that was impressive!" He couldn't help but think how Lennox had specifically reached Beginner by the system's standards. His talent was monstrous, and it felt like he was on the verge of something big.
But then Lennox glanced at his watch, a hint of regret creeping into his voice. "I have to go now, but this was amazing. I feel like I've really made progress."
"Thank you." Lennox spoke softly, stepping towards Ariana, with his arms outstretched.
"No problem" Ariana returned a whisper.
They shared a warm hug, a moment of camaraderie and encouragement before stepping back. As they turned to leave, Ariana called out, "Don't forget the money!"
With a final laugh, they walked down separate parts of the karaoke building hall, each heading to their respective cars.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone