TOUCH THE VIBES

In a modern office in Paris, Aline, Jay's assistant, was intently reviewing the schedule on her computer screen. Around her, the desk was cluttered with documents, contracts, and music drafts waiting for approval. On the nearby sofa, a suitcase remained unpacked, a testament to the busyness of the room's owner.

Suddenly, the phone rang, breaking the quiet atmosphere. Aline glanced at the screen and saw an unfamiliar number, but quickly answered the call.

-"Hello… good afternoon. Yes, but currently, Felix is not taking any new performance requests," she said, maintaining a professional tone. However, as she listened to the person on the other end, her eyes widened with surprise. Aline furrowed her brow, her fingers subconsciously tapping lightly on the desk.

-"What? In Thailand?" she asked, briefly hesitating as she reached for Jay's schedule notebook, as if to verify something.

-"Alright then, I will talk to Felix and get back to you," she added, her voice no longer as confident as before, now laced with some contemplation. Her eyes reflected a moment of deep thought as she ended the call.

-"Yes, goodbye."

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In the small room, Jay sat, focused on the unfinished song. Around him, there was only a guitar, a few sheets of music notes filled with scribbles, and a pencil with a worn-down tip from continuous writing and erasing. Despite not having all the instruments or a professional studio, with his innate talent as an artist, Jay could transform any space into a creative sanctuary.

He ran his hand lightly over the table, as if touching the melodies in his mind. The sound of the pencil tapping rhythmically on the paper, his brown eyes shining with concentration.

-"Ryan said this song is good but not clear… but where exactly is it unclear?" Jay mumbled, leaning back in his chair, his eyes drifting to the ceiling. Ryan's feedback echoed in his mind, causing him to reflect.

He suddenly recalled a moment at the café when Chirawan's gaze accidentally shifted toward Isra. It wasn't just an ordinary look… it held something difficult to describe. A touch of gentleness? A hint of confusion? Or maybe something deeper?

-"That look? …Ah… I get it now!" Jay suddenly sat upright, his eyes lighting up. An idea flashed in his mind like a streak of light across a dark sky. He quickly grabbed his pen, his fingers nimbly jotting down the notes and lyrics forming in his head.

But just as he was lost in his creative flow, the phone rang unexpectedly. Jay furrowed his brows, momentarily interrupted, but when he saw Aline's name on the screen, he couldn't ignore it.

-"Is something up, Aline?" He answered, his voice calm, though his hand still held the pen, tapping it lightly on the sheet of music.

-"They've invited you to perform at a music night in Thailand…" Aline's voice came through the line.

-"And?" Jay replied casually, as if it were no big deal.

-"At first, I declined, but they seem to really like you. And since you're in Thailand, I wanted to check with you before making a final decision."

Jay paused his writing, his gaze lingering on the notes in front of him. A music night in Thailand? He had never performed in his homeland… Even if it was just a small event, the idea stirred a strange feeling in his heart.

-"Then go ahead and accept, I've always wanted to perform in Thailand," he said.

Aline hesitated before adding, "But it's just a small, self-organized event, not as big as the stages you're used to performing on, Jay."

Jay smiled faintly, his voice calm but sincere. "It's okay, Aline. If it's about passion for music, then even a small stage with big passion is worth experiencing."

On the other end of the line, Aline laughed lightly.

-"Okay, I'll get back to them and send you the schedule afterward."

-"Thanks, Aline. Goodbye."

After hanging up, Jay set his phone on the desk, his eyes briefly thoughtful. A performance in Thailand… I wonder what it'll be like?

But immediately, he shook his head, dismissing the wandering thoughts. He still had an unfinished song to complete.

-"Where was I?" He picked up the pen again, pouring his heart into the melodies still left unfinished on the paper.

———————————————

In the afternoon in Thailand, the sunlight streamed through the large windows of an upscale bar, reflecting off the shiny floor. Though it wasn't yet time for the bar to open, the atmosphere was bustling. Staff moved quickly, setting up the stage, adjusting the lights, and testing the sound system in preparation for a grand music event that evening. Standing in the middle of this busy scene, directing everything with seriousness, was Faisal – the owner of the bar.

Although he usually appeared humorous and carefree, in moments like this, Faisal showed his intense passion for music. Every detail on the stage was meticulously examined, from the speaker placements to the stage lights and microphones, all checked carefully to avoid any mishaps. Looking at Faisal in this moment, it was hard to imagine him as the playful guy who joked around and teased everyone.

Suddenly, a hand slapped Faisal's shoulder, causing him to flinch slightly.

-"Oh wow… So good at this… You said you were working, but it turns out you're working here," came a teasing voice. It was none other than Chirawan, standing with her arms crossed and a mischievous smile in her eyes.

Faisal glanced at his childhood friend, raising an eyebrow. "So what? Are you going to tell my parents?"

Chirawan shrugged lazily. "Well, if someone here could arrange a good spot for the beautiful Chirawan, with a nice view and quiet, then maybe I'll reconsider."

Faisal chuckled and threw his arm around Chirawan casually, teasing her back. "Oh, so today you're interested in music? A nice view? Quiet? Planning to bring someone here for a date?"

Chirawan smirked, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Exactly. I'm going to date a younger guy who's really cute."

-"Omg… You've changed your type? A younger guy? Is he even old enough to be an adult? If not, my beautiful Chirawan… tsk tsk…" Faisal shook his head in mock disbelief, teasing her, though his eyes were still full of laughter.

Chirawan didn't hesitate to give Faisal a hard smack on the arm. "You really have a dirty mind! How could I have that kind of taste?"

Faisal laughed loudly. "Then who are we talking about?"

-"That kid Jay. I met him the other day. He just came back here, hasn't had time to adapt to the surroundings, but he loves music, so I want to invite him here."

Upon hearing Jay's name, Faisal furrowed his brows for a moment, as if recalling something. Then, he chuckled lightly. "Jay, huh? Let me handle it. Haven't seen him in a while, he must have grown up a lot by now."

Chirawan tilted her head, her voice tinged with a bit of admiration. "Not only has he grown up, but he's also really handsome."

Faisal immediately turned to her, feigning a pout. "Handsome? More handsome than me?"

Chirawan looked at him with a sly look and then pointed at a blank wall, smirking. "Do you see anything?"

Faisal blinked. "What do you mean?"

-"There's no door there."

Chirawan's cryptic response made Faisal widen his eyes. She laughed in delight, adding another teasing remark, "So don't compare yourself with Jay."

Faisal, unceremoniously, reached out and gave her forehead a light tap. "You're asking for it."

Chirawan winced and rubbed her forehead, pretending to whine. "Ouch… I was just joking."

But suddenly, she became serious, looking at Faisal with a thoughtful expression. "By the way, could you arrange a few more spots for me?"

Faisal narrowed his eyes slightly. "Are you planning to invite anyone else?"

Chirawan let out a soft breath, her voice carrying a sense of depth. "I want to invite Ying. I want us to sit together again…"

Chirawan's words made the atmosphere quiet for a few seconds. Faisal stopped teasing and instead nodded slowly, his voice more solemn than before. "Alright, I'll arrange it."

But then he reminded her, "But Ying's really busy these days. Do you think he'll come? He usually doesn't like noisy places."

Chirawan smirked, her eyes glinting with cunning. "You don't need to worry… I have a way."

Faisal looked at her expression, feeling a slight chill run down his spine. He knew well that when Chirawan had something in mind, she always had a way to make others do what she wanted, without them being able to refuse.

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In the late afternoon, sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the quiet space of a luxurious coffee shop. In a small corner, Jay sipped his coffee, his gaze relaxed as he looked out the window. Perhaps a little bored, he took out his phone and began snapping a few pictures to pass the time.

As he was adjusting the angle to take a good shot, Jay suddenly jumped when he saw another face appear on the screen—Chirawan! She had tilted her head, smiling and posing right next to him without him noticing.

-"Oh my god… You scared me!" Jay nearly dropped his phone, quickly clutching his chest.

Chirawan laughed, thoroughly amused, and slowly walked over to sit across from Jay, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

-"Shouldn't you be happy to take a photo with a beautiful woman? Why are you so startled?" She raised an eyebrow, deliberately elongating her teasing tone.

Jay squinted and smirked, responding playfully, "Where?"

-"Where?" Chirawan frowned slightly, not understanding Jay's question.

-"Beautiful woman?" Jay laughed, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Chirawan immediately pretended to pout, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Jay! You're too much! After I've prepared a whole welcome party for you, this is how you act?"

Seeing this, Jay quickly adopted a regretful expression, though a mischievous smile still lingered on his face. "I'm sorry… I meant, you're not just a 'beautiful woman'! You're not only stunning, but you're also talented, and such a kind-hearted person…" Jay changed his tone, his eyes sparkling as if trying to win her favor.

Chirawan burst out laughing, resting her chin in her hand and looking at him with amusement. "Smooth talker… But I like it! I forgive you."

Jay laughed along, but then remembered what Chirawan had mentioned earlier. "By the way, what party were you talking about?"

-"The welcome party for you coming back to Thailand!" Chirawan replied eagerly, her eyes bright. "Faisal is preparing for an event, so I asked him to arrange a nice spot for us to throw a welcome party for you."

Jay widened his eyes, a bit surprised. "Oh… Do you think this is necessary?"

-"Of course! It's been 10 years since you came back. Besides, I want us to have a chance to enjoy ourselves together."

Jay hesitated at her words, blinking as he felt a sense of nostalgia in what she said. "Us?" He tilted his head, confused.

-"Well, it's going to be you, me, Faisal… and Ying too."

Just hearing that name made the smile on Jay's face falter slightly. A trace of hesitation flickered in his eyes. "But I…"

Before Jay could finish his sentence, Chirawan quickly raised a finger to signal him to be quiet. "Shh… I've already decided! No arguing. Don't worry, I won't disappoint you."

Jay looked into Chirawan's confident eyes and knew that refusing would be futile. After all, he wasn't the type to turn down someone's kindness.

-"Alright…" Jay sighed, shrugging in resignation. "When and where is it, though?"

-"According to the plan, in two days, at Bar Jad. Are you busy?"

-"Upon hearing the name, Jay froze for a moment, then chuckled lightly. "Oh… I have something to do there that day. I can make it."

-"Then it's settled?" Chirawan confirmed happily.

-"Yeah," Jay nodded slightly, feeling a strange sensation in his chest.

—————————————

Leaving the coffee shop after his conversation with Chirawan, Jay didn't head straight home but turned into a nearby supermarket. He picked out a few of his favorite snacks, strolling leisurely while looking around.

After paying, Jay pulled out his phone to browse the news, but just then, he got a call. Seeing the name on the screen, he raised an eyebrow before slowly answering.

-"Hello, Dad?"

Before Jay could ask anything, Mr. Sakda spoke first. Jay listened in silence, but after a few seconds, he frowned.

-"What? You're going on another business trip?"

He frowned, pouting childishly.

-"…You clearly told me to come back to Thailand so you wouldn't be lonely, and now here I am, eating snacks by myself, while you're running all over the place. I'm the lonely one here!"

At that, Jay let out a dramatic sigh, pretending to be sad.

-"…And honestly, I thought singers like me would have the busiest schedules. Who knew Chairman Sakda was busier than me!"

Jay chuckled, no longer sounding upset, but with a teasing tone.

-"Alright, alright, I get it. Take care of your health, okay? If you're too busy, send me your schedule so I can book time with you in advance."

Beep… beep… beep…

The call ended, and Jay put his phone back in his pocket, shaking his head with a light smile. He wasn't really surprised by this—after all, ever since he was little, his dad being busy with work had always been a given. He was used to it.

Taking a bite of the biscuit he had just bought, Jay walked on, thinking to himself:

-"Well, whatever. I'll just find my own fun then!"

........

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In the luxurious office of the corporation, Ying was focused on reviewing documents, his sharp gaze scanning every line of data on the computer screen. The room was silent, only the steady tapping of the keyboard could be heard.

Suddenly, the desk phone rang, breaking the silence. Ying reached out and picked up the receiver, his cold, deep voice immediately responding:

-"What's the matter?"

On the other end, the secretary's voice was polite and careful:

-"Mr. Ying, someone would like to see you."

Without a hint of hesitation in his eyes, Ying coldly replied:

-"Without an appointment, I won't meet. I'm busy."

With that, Ying firmly hung up the phone and resumed his work as if the call had never happened.

But just a few minutes later, a knock on the door echoed.

Ying frowned, slightly annoyed. Hadn't he just said that without an appointment, he wouldn't meet anyone? Who could be so inconsiderate?

He walked over to open the door, and as soon as he saw the person in front of him, his gaze darkened slightly.

-"Heh…"

Chirawan stood there, her face full of excitement, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. Without waiting for Ying to respond, she casually stepped inside as if it were her own home.

Ying crossed his arms, leaning slightly against the door, watching her without saying a word…

End of Chapter 4.