first performance

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The night after the blow-up, I laid on Navira’s couch like a broken doll—silent, motionless, staring at the ceiling while the echo of Eazy’s voice played over and over in my mind.

His words didn’t just sting—they clung. I kept hearing him say I was acting “brand new,” like I had betrayed him just by trying to live in my own light.

“He really told me to get the fuck out his house,” I whispered, almost like I was trying to make sense of it all by saying it aloud.

Navira sat at the foot of the couch, rubbing my ankle gently. “I know, baby. That wasn’t okay. That was low.”

I blinked up at her, eyes glassy. “You think this is the end? Like… maybe it’s really over between us.”

She looked at me carefully, with a kind of patience only your real ones give you. “Korina… relationships ain’t just highlight reels. Y’all been close for a while, and sometimes things break before they rebuild. Every couple goes through at least one ugly fight—one that makes you question everything. This might be that one.”

“I don’t know if I want to rebuild, Navira,” I said, voice cracked. “I don’t wanna keep getting smaller just to make him feel bigger.”

Navira pulled me up so we were eye to eye. “Then don’t. You’re in your era right now. Your movie era. Your main character era. If he can’t rise with you, that ain’t your weight to carry.”

My phone buzzed—Ren texting about the meet-up we were supposed to have. I completely forgot about it. I sighed, debating whether I should even go.

“You still goin’ to that thing?” Navira asked, watching my face.

“I guess,” I mumbled. “Don’t feel like it. But it might be good to get out.”

“You sure? ‘Cause I’m down to chill right here, order pizza, and watch trash TV.”

I let out a tiny smile. “Let’s go. If I sit here any longer, I’ll drown in my own feelings.”

The event was at this lowkey lounge, real chill but packed with creatives. Ren was already there, posted up near the bar. But what I wasn’t expecting was for him to be standing with Eazy and DJ Yella—all three of them mid-convo like nothing ever happened.

The second I walked in, I felt the shift.

Eazy looked up, saw me… and the disappointment in his face wasn’t aimed at me—it looked like it was aimed inward. His shoulders slouched a bit, like he didn’t even have the energy to play cool. But that didn’t mean we were good.

We didn’t speak at first. I stood by Navira, sipping a soda just to keep my hands busy. My outfit was a little more daring than usual—a sheer black top layered over a lace bralette, baggy jeans hanging low, showing off a sliver of my waistline. Confidence in cloth form. Or so I hoped.

Finally, he broke the silence.

“That what you wearin’ now?” he asked, just loud enough for me to hear over the music.

I turned my head slowly. “Excuse me?”

“I mean, you tryna make a statement or somethin’? You wearin’ that like you single.”

I felt my stomach turn. Here we go again.

“I’m not about to do this right now,” I said softly, not looking him in the eyes.

“Oh, you not about to do this?” He raised a brow. “Funny how you got all the time in the world for everybody else but me.”

“Eazy, don’t.” My tone was calm, but underneath it, I was shaking.

“You barely said a word to me since you walked in,” he went on, louder now. “But you smiling up in everybody else’s face.”

Navira stepped in between us quick, hand on my wrist. “C’mon, Korina. Let’s bounce.”

I looked at Eazy one last time, saw the storm building in his face again, and I knew—if I stayed, it would only spiral.

So I left.

We got into Navira’s car and sat in silence for a minute. The soft hum of the engine was the only sound until she reached over, turned down the radio, and looked at me like she was tired of holding back.

“You know what I think?” she said.

I turned to her, wiping my eyes again. “What?”

“I think you’re scared of letting go of what’s familiar. And I get it. But being familiar don’t mean it’s good for you.”

“I loved him,” I whispered.

“I know you did,” she said, voice softer. “But you can’t keep setting yourself on fire to keep him warm.”

I swallowed hard, staring out the window. The city lights blurred with my tears. “I just want to feel like me again.”

“You gon’ find her again,” she said. “Hell, she might be waiting for you on that stage tonight.”

I blinked. “You still performing?”

“Damn right,” she grinned. “And you getting on stage with me.”

“What?”

“Yeah, you heard me,” she said. “You gon’ get up there and let that hurt pour out of you. You gon’ sing with me tonight. I need you up there.”

I hesitated. “I’m not ready.”

“You are. You just don’t know it yet.”

The stage lights felt hotter than usual, but something about being up there next to Navira brought me a tiny sliver of peace. She stepped to the mic first, confidence radiating off her, crowd vibing with her every word.

Then, halfway through her second song, she turned to me and extended her hand.

“Y’all mind if I bring my girl Korina up here?” she shouted. The crowd cheered. “We got some real emotions to spill tonight.”

I stepped forward, mic in hand, breath trembling in my chest.

The music shifted—slowed down. A soft, moody instrumental crept in. My voice cracked a little on the first few lines, but then… something happened. The lyrics started flowing like they were straight from my chest.

“I gave you my soul, you held it too tight…”

“Now I’m stitching my wings back in the moonlight…”

People in the crowd went quiet. Some swayed. Some even teared up. I could feel them feeling me. And when Navira joined in—our harmonies like healing—the moment turned into something magical. Our voices wrapped around each other like vines, like they were holding each other up.

By the time we hit the final note, the room was quiet for a split second… then erupted into applause.

And for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel broken.

I felt alive.

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Eazy’s POV

The glass clinked against the countertop, ice swirling around the brown liquor like it had its own rhythm—slow, unbothered. Not like my thoughts. Those were frantic. Loud. Drowning me.

I sat in the kitchen of my house, lights dimmed low, the silence heavy and judgmental. I couldn’t even listen to music. Every track reminded me of her. Every beat, every line—it all brought me back to Korina. Back to her voice. Back to her eyes looking at me like I was someone she didn’t even recognize anymore.

“You wearin’ that like you single.”

Damn. I really said that?

I tilted my head back and took another sip. The liquor didn’t hit right no more—it burned like truth sliding down the wrong way.

The front door creaked open. Ren. Of course. He had a key. Always did. He was like that brother who never asked permission but somehow always showed up when you needed someone, even when you swore you didn’t.

He stepped in, took one look at me slumped at the counter, and raised a brow. “You look like shit.”

“Appreciate it,” I muttered, pouring another drink.

Ren dropped his backpack near the door and walked over. “You good?”

I didn’t answer. Just stared into the glass like it could tell me what the hell went wrong.

“Okay,” he said, voice low, “what happened?”

I exhaled sharply. “Man… she was wearin’ this outfit. All eyes on her. Had the nerve to act like I didn’t exist when she walked in.”

Ren tilted his head, giving me that look. The one that said, go on, I’m listening… even though I already know you’re the one who fucked up.

“So what’d you do?” he asked.

I leaned back, scoffing. “I said what I felt. Told her straight—she look like she tryna let the world know she available.”

Ren’s silence was louder than anything.

“What?” I snapped.

“You serious right now?” he asked, folding his arms. “Eazy, you been actin’ insecure as hell lately.”

“I’m not insecure,” I shot back.

“Nah? Then what’s all this?” He gestured around the room, the half-empty bottle, my hunched posture. “You drinking like you at a funeral. You barkin’ at a girl who just got a major movie offer like she cheated on you. You scared, dawg. Admit it.”

I didn’t say anything.

Ren sat down across from me, calm. Too calm. “You scared that if she starts shinin’ too bright, you won’t be able to stand next to her without fading.”

I clenched my jaw. He wasn’t wrong. But hearing it out loud felt like someone twisting the knife.

“I just…” I started, then stopped. I couldn’t even finish the sentence.

“You just what?” Ren asked.

I looked down at my hands. “I just didn’t expect her to leave like that.”

“She didn’t leave ‘cause she wanted to hurt you,” he said. “She left ‘cause you hurt her. You made her feel like bein’ herself was too much for you to handle. Like she had to pick between her happiness and your ego.”

“Damn, man,” I muttered. “I ain’t mean it like that.”

“Doesn’t matter how you meant it. It’s how she felt.”

I stared into the distance, mind drifting back to the stage, that moment she and Navira sang together. I didn’t even wanna admit it, but it moved me. She looked… free. Heartbroken, but free. Like the weight I used to help her carry was now mine alone.

“You gotta apologize,” Ren said firmly.

I rolled my eyes. “Nah.”

“Eazy—”

“I said no.” My voice cracked sharper than I intended. “I ain’t about to chase after nobody who walked out on me.”

Ren leaned back. “So that’s it? You gon’ sit here, drink yourself stupid, and act like it’s all her fault?”

“I didn’t say it was all her fault,” I snapped.

“You just don’t wanna be the first to fold,” he said quietly. “That pride’s gonna be the death of this shit, bro.”

I sat in silence, the anger simmering low now, replaced with something worse—regret.

“I don’t know if she’ll even listen to me if I tried,” I said, softer this time.

“She will,” Ren said. “You just gotta mean it. Be real. Drop the act. Let her see Eric, not Eazy.”

I looked at him for a long moment.

“Think she done with me?” I asked.

Ren shrugged. “I think she tired. But tired ain’t always the end. Sometimes it’s just the warning sign.”

I nodded slowly, rubbing my temples. “Damn.”

“Yeah,” Ren said, getting up and patting my shoulder. “Damn.”

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Korina’s POV

The sun had just started to dip behind the skyline, casting a burnt-orange hue over the city as I stepped out of Navira’s car. My heart was still heavy from everything, but there was this quiet calm in the air… like something was finally about to shift.

As I made my way to my front door, my phone buzzed.

A message from someone I didn’t expect—not him directly, but from someone who worked with him. “Eazy would like to meet. At the mansion. If you’re open to it.”

I stared at the screen for a long moment, my fingers frozen. I wasn’t sure if I should feel annoyed, anxious, or… relieved. I still loved him. No matter what. That love didn’t just disappear overnight. Even when he was being a complete asshole, a part of me was still fighting for the version of him I knew—my Eazy.

Navira stood by the car, looking at me. “Everything okay?”

I nodded slowly. “He wants to see me.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You gonna go?”

I didn’t answer right away. I just walked toward the door. But instead of unlocking it, I turned around.

“Yeah,” I whispered. “I’m gonna go.”

—

His mansion stood tall like it always did—gated, quiet, intimidating. I had been here so many times, but today felt different. I clutched my keys tighter as I stepped inside, greeted by the familiar warmth of the place I once called home for eight long months.

I found him in the living room, seated on the couch, a glass in his hand. The lights were dimmed low, and music hummed faintly in the background—some old soulful track that tugged at every part of me.

When he saw me, he stood up slowly, like he wasn’t sure if this was real.

I didn’t say anything. Just looked at him. My chest felt tight, and all the hurt was still in there, but there was love too—so much love.

He cleared his throat. “Thanks for comin’.”

I nodded, eyes still locked on him. “You wanted to talk?”

“Yeah,” he said. “I been thinkin’. A lot.”

He walked over to me but kept just enough distance to show he wasn’t trying to push anything. His eyes were softer now, not full of ego or pride—just honesty.

“I messed up, Korina,” he said quietly. “I let my fear and pride talk for me. I disrespected you. I doubted you when you needed support. And then I pushed you away when all I really wanted was to hold on.”

I felt my throat tighten, but I stayed silent. I needed to hear all of it.

“I saw you up on that stage,” he continued, voice a little cracked. “You looked like… like everything I fell in love with in the first place. You were shinin’. And I was too blind and insecure to appreciate that.”

He took a breath. “I can’t take back what I said, or how I made you feel. But I want to make it right. I’m not tryna beg you—I just want you to know that I see you now. Like, really see you.”

The tears welled up in my eyes before I could stop them. And for a second, I hated how easy it was for him to get to me. But it wasn’t weakness—it was love. Raw, bruised, but still there.

“I didn’t want to give up on you,” I said, my voice shaking. “I was starting to think you gave up on me.”

“I didn’t,” he said immediately, stepping closer. “I swear I didn’t.”

I could feel his warmth now, the way I used to. I wanted to run into his arms and scream at him all at once.

“I love you, Eric,” I said, my voice barely a whisper.

He looked at me like he was hearing his name for the first time.

“I love you too,” he said, and his arms finally wrapped around me like they used to—tight, like he was scared I’d slip away again.

We stayed like that for a long time. I cried against his chest, and he just held me, stroking my back in slow circles.

“I wanna do better,” he murmured into my hair. “I wanna love you right this time.”

I pulled back, brushing my cheeks, trying to smile. “Then let’s try again.”

He nodded, holding my face in his hands like I was something fragile he finally learned to appreciate. “Let’s try again.”

Oh let's wait and see what happens