Saff had planned to take her out tonight as he wanted to celebrate their achievement together, he wanted to tell her how proud he is not just about her remarkable singing voice but because she let his hopes for this special song to come alive.
"He liked you a lot…" Manager Tim finally spoke breaking the silence between him and Emy as they are inside the car now, heading to where Emy's house is.
"Who are you talking about?" Emy asked trying to deny when in truth she clearly understood him.
"You know who" he smiled glancing at her while driving, noticing how she quickly averted her eyes, avoiding the topic.
Manager Tim continues to say "I wonder now if I could stand a chance against him?" his eyes fixed on the road.
Emy quickly turn to look at him, her eyes slightly widen and her eyebrows rise, thinking if she heard it right. But then, she doesn't want to open and entertain the topic, feeling this will only cause her another trouble again, she try to ignore his words, good thing that they already reached the main entrance of her village.
"Ah I will get off from here Manager Tim" Emy said trying to still be polite towards the man.
"Are you sure? I can drive you at the front of your house" he insisted only to see Emy who already open up the car door and get out of his car.
"It's alright Manager Tim! My house is just near the main gate of our village, I could do some short walks to exercise my legs" Emy smile and wave her hand at him before she closed the car door and start walking towards the main gate.
Once Emy passed through the main entrance of their village, she looked back to see Manager Tim's car already gone from where he stopped awhile ago, she deeply sighs as she walks feeling relieved that she was finally out of his car.
Every second was tormenting for her as this was her first time riding his car, with the closed windows, popping disco music at his car stereo, Emy's hands were sweating the whole travel time, she can barely breathe as she felt suffocated inside.
Emy was confident though that Manager Tim haven't noticed her reaction as the man seemed to be relax and somewhat looked happy humming the beat of the song as he drove his car, while she on the other hand had to gather up the little courage that she has to concentrate on not fainting at her seat.
Emy couldn't help but compare the two men as it just hits her realization on how it was completely different with Saff, unlike the manager who seemed to be immersed with his own world and too comfortable that he missed to notice her discomfort, the young man seemed to be more attentive and thoughtful with his surroundings particularly when she is around.
Although it was just a wild try for Emy when she accepted and considered his offer awhile ago, she would not dare to try it again.
Suddenly she hear her phone rings, as if expecting it to be someone, she hurriedly scan her bag to search for her phone inside, she slightly frown to see that it is not that someone she had assumed.
"Hey Ada…"
"You sounded sad? Is something wrong, dear?" Ada worriedly asked on the other line.
"Ah! No, nothing's wrong, what's up?"
"I called because I wanted to ask you if you already knew about the upcoming alumni party."
"Oh…I think I had received an electronic invite but I didn't find time to look into it yet? Why?"
"I see, we are one of the organizers and the committee is planning to have a meeting to finalize the details for the party"
"Is that so? When will be the meeting then?"
"They plan to have it this weekend, are you interested?"
"Yes, Of course, let's go together then"
"Alright, I'll pick you up"
"Ada, what about Harry?"
"What about him?" Ada's sweet voice awhile ago was now replaced with deadpanned tone upon hearing the man's name.
"Is he one of the organizers as well? Have you talked to him if he is interested in going too?" Emy curiously asked her voice worried.
"I think he is included in the committee as well, but I don't have plans on calling to a ghost, Emy" her voice holds an irritated tone.
Emy sighs before she speaks "Alright Ada, see you then", and they both hang up the call.
Finally reaching her house, Emy immediately went inside heading towards the kitchen to where she already hears her Mom and daughter's voice.
"I'm home!" Emy excitedly says that got the attention of the two as they seemed to be in the middle of a conversation.
"Oh! Good timing dear, Come join us for dinner" Mrs. Prim said as she prepares the food, smiling at Emy.
"Hi mom…" Amy greeted as she stand up from her seat to walk towards and kiss her cheeks.
Emy notices her daughters frowning face, she immediately asks "Why are you sad my love? Something happened at school?"
"It's about the school music fair, Mom…" Her voice trailed off as she looked down on her hands that are clenched together.
Noticing her being tense, Emy sits on one of the dining chairs facing her daughter before she says "What did Mr. Austin said about it?" she carefully asked as she hold her daughter up to sit on her lap so she could have a closer look at her.
"He said that I should still perform and show everyone my talent, he said we will try a solo performance" and the little girl lets out a deep sigh with her shoulders down as if saying she doesn't like the idea of it.
"And…you don't like it?" her voice gentle almost like a whisper to her daughter's ears, noticing she didn't respond, Emy continue to asks "Do you want me to talk to him about it?"
"I don't know Mom…I heard Mr. Austin and the other teachers talked that there would be more sponsors attending this year, and they are looking forward on our performance. You know how important it is Mom…but without Dad, it felt different now"
Emy saw the pain in her daughter's eyes who is staring directly at her, she understands it very well when she said how it is different now that her father was gone.
Seeing her daughter's gloomy eyes, it crashes Emy's heart into pieces that she couldn't do anything to lessen the pain, but to just hold her into a tight embrace to let her know that she is going to be here for her no matter how difficult life would be.
Amy is a member of the music club in their school since she was only five year-old, and Mr. Austin, their head couch has really grew fondness on the little girl because of her remarkable talent in singing and being the fast learner among the others when it comes to playing instruments, particularly the guitar.
It's as if the old man was rooting for the little girl's talent that it appeared as if she was his favorite student and member of the music club, so since then, Amy was given the slot to perform for the school fair with her father playing the guitar at the stage with her while she sings and plays the guitar as well.
Every year, their school – Heritage Academy and Conservatory, holds a school fair that mainly focuses on music and arts performances, in which sponsors from different affluent society whom supports their school in terms of advertisement, scouting talents, and donating expensive and most innovative instruments that the school would have a huge benefit, will come to attend and witness the performances.
This year would be the second time for Amy if ever she would decide to perform for their school music fair, but like her mother Emy, the little girl has a little problem when it comes to performing solo on stage, that is why his father decided to accompany her with last year's first stage performance.
The school fair will be held two months from now and by then Amy should be ready for it as what the little girl had mentioned before that there would be more sponsors who will attend this year.
Thinking about it, Emy doesn't want their current situation to be a hindrance for her daughter's growing talent, besides as they were also working on building up the little girl's confidence, it won't help if she decided to not perform this year.
However, this year would be a lot different for the both of them and it worries Emy a lot as to how she would convince and encourage her daughter to perform solo, without pressuring and making the little girl uncomfortable. If only there is someone who can assists her with that like a personal mentor, maybe someone like Saff.
That young man would absolutely fit the criteria of being a personal mentor with his genuine talent, charisma, and confidence, Emy is sure that her daughter would learn a lot from him, but that would be impossible like saying that she will never go to the moon.
Besides, with his full schedule and not to mention their argument earlier, it would be completely unworkable for someone as famous as him. Besides, it's not like she has even the little courage to ask him in person about this as it would be very awkward between them.
'Wait! Why am I thinking of Saff now?' Emy thought at herself.