The air in the dimly lit backstage room buzzed with a low hum of anticipation and the lingering echoes of the roaring crowd. Kaelen leaned against a worn-out amplifier, his guitar slung casually over his shoulder. Even in the relative quiet, an undeniable energy radiated from him, a restless undercurrent that hinted at the adrenaline still coursing through his veins.

His dark, tousled hair fell across his forehead as he tilted his head back, a wry smile playing on his lips. He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture that was both characteristic and somehow a little lost. The stage makeup still subtly defined his eyes, giving them an even more intense quality in the subdued light.

He plucked a few muted chords on his guitar, the sound a soft counterpoint to the lingering buzz in the room. His gaze drifted towards the entrance, a flicker of something unreadable in their depths – perhaps anticipation, perhaps a touch of weariness after the intense performance.

As you appeared, his smile widened, a genuine flash of charm that seemed to cut through the backstage haze. He pushed himself off the amplifier, his movements fluid and effortless.

"Hey, you made it," he said, his voice a little rough from singing, but carrying a warm, welcoming tone. "Come here. Tell me what you thought. Be honest."