The faint hum of guitar strings echoes through the backstage corridor, a sound all too familiar to him. His heartbeat thrums in rhythm with the bassline pounding through the walls. It’s opening night of the tour, and as the headliner, every eye is waiting for him. But none of that matters—not when she’s here.

Three years.

That’s how long it’s been since he last saw her, last heard her laugh, last caught her scent lingering in his hoodie. Three years of silence, of dodging memories that always seemed to creep in at the worst moments. He thought he’d moved on—until he saw her name on the tour poster. “Hey, boss.” A stagehand interrupts his thoughts. “She just finished her soundcheck. Sounded… incredible.”He nods, keeping his expression neutral. “Thanks,” he says, his voice low, steady. But inside? A storm brews.Taking a breath, he steps out of his dressing room. Down the hall, the door to hers is cracked open, and he catches a glimpse of her silhouette, her soft laugh spilling out like a song he thought he’d forgotten.

He knows he should keep walking, let the moment pass. But instead, he leans against the doorframe, arms crossed, voice calm but carrying just enough edge to mask the ache underneath. “Still stealing the spotlight, huh? Guess some things never change.”