Her

V O I C E

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Ever since he was admitted into one of the most renowned universities of his country, Malik has found himself a quiet, empty yet calming corner of the school where he could play his guitar without fear of being bothered by noisy roommates or curious students. It was his own few minutes of peace and an effective spell to get rid of the stress and clear his mind.

He is known as being sociable and quite a bit of an extrovert, however, everyone knows that even the most open of them all would need a few moments to recharge their batteries. And that's what he does every day. Music was his escape, his comfort, his essence in its purest form. He needed it as much as a living creature needed air to remain alive.

While taking in the quietness of his surroundings, he inhaled deeply before pinching a string. Then another. Yet another. His hands smoothly handled the guitar with great skill as each vibration produced a note. The succession of sounds created a faint, soft melody that lulled the silence into a comfortable harmony. For a while, Malik had forgotten everything about his surroundings as only his sense of hearing remained awake, sharper than ever.

However, he managed to quickly sense a new accompaniment to his music, other than the breeze and distant sounds of the city. It was sweet, soft, yet deep and powerful. Strong enough to send shivers down his spine. Embellishing his music was a voice, a singing voice.

The voice? He recognized it. He would recognize it anywhere as long as he lived. That voice had picked his interest the first time he ever heard it. However, the singing was something new. Something he didn't know he needed until the first few notes tickled his ear. Something he knew would now become one of his rare cravings. 

Acknowledging the fact that someone was singing nearby, Malik continued playing with more passion than usual. That person has always been on his mind the first time they set foot on the campus. From her clear eyes to that small, faint birthmark on her clavicle. Her soft, kind voice. Her excitement while talking as she tightened her grip on that book he decided to try someday.

Everything about her gradually engraved itself into his memory. Every single detail, unconsciously registered. In this instant, he knew why. He understood why. The realization brought a smile to his face and surprisingly, relief. 

With one last motion, the last note melted away and everything fell into deep silence once more, as if it were just a simple and fickle illusion. 

Malik remained quiet a few seconds, mindlessly tapping the body of his guitar. He was somehow waiting for her to step or make her presence known but somehow, he felt like she only sang out of reflex. In the end, he let out a chuckle and said: "Did someone ever tell you that you sing divinely well?"

He heard a small gasp before the sound of hesitant footsteps approaching him. She seemed unsure about getting near him. Probably feeling guilty for eavesdropping and singing along. "I...I didn't realize it was you—Sorry..." she answered meekly.

Malik turned to face her and gave her a smile as he patted the spot beside him. Without saying anything, she obeyed and sat next to him, her gaze never leaving the guitar in his hand, eyes a bit filled with curiosity. "I....I didn't know you played guitar." she finally managed to comment. "You play so well..." Malik didn't miss the shy smile that graced her small face as she complimented his skills. Today, however, he discovered that his music felt so bland without her singing to magnify it. "Thank you Ambra." he muttered, "I hope that next time you hear it, you will sing for me." Ambra quickly avoided his gaze as a blush painted her cheeks "Uhm...Probably...Yes..."

Truly, he was relieved to have fallen in love with her.