"Luna, what a coincidence. I was just about to look for you." Dayo walked calming towards Luna.
She raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh really? And why is that?" Her tone was teasing, but even she noticed the slight shake in her voice. Why am I flustered? she thought. He's younger...
Dayo leaned in slightly, maintaining eye contact.
"Because I don't usually meet people who can hijack a beat and still leave it begging for more."
Luna blinked, caught off guard. She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out.
He grinned and added, "You know, I was warned not to look too long into your eyes. Apparently, it's how you trap producers into rewriting whole albums for you."
That earned him a soft laugh.
She shook her head. "You're dangerous and way too smooth for your age."
"Age?" Dayo tilted his head. "Please… greatness doesn't wait for grey hairs."
He winked. "Besides, you're only older if I let you be."
Luna folded her arms, fighting the smile forming on her lips. This wasn't supposed to happen—he was a rookie, technically. Yet here he was, handling her like someone way matured. Not forcing anything. Just being… magnetic.
And worse? It was working.
Dayo smiled before saying, "Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that you'll need to make a video with the song. I ran a contest, and this will help build the hype. Urich will give you more details. Bye for now."
With that, he winked at her and turned back. He had gotten what he wanted—and he was amused.
"He's smooth," a voice came from behind, startling Luna.
"Ah, Amada, don't do that! And what do you mean?"
"Duh, don't play dumb. I heard the whole convo, and you just kept blushing. You're not acting like Luna." She paused, her face lighting up with sudden realization. "Oh, shit. Don't tell me you're feeling him."
"Ah, AMADA!!!" Luna screamed in a playful manner, chasing Amada.
***
After telling her what she needed to know and teasing the mature lady who had half-fallen for him, Dayo walked out, a faint smile playing on his lips.
He was absentminded, but when the elevator doors slid open, he froze just for a second.
He saw someone he wasn't expecting—Vivian. And by her side, with an arm casually wrapped over her shoulder, was Philip.
Vivian's breath hitched the moment her eyes landed on him he looked different. The Dayo she once knew wasn't this… this version of himself. He felt different—and it intimidated her. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around Philip's arm.
Philip noticed the sudden grip, confusion flashing across his face. He was about to ask Vivian what happened until he followed her gaze. The moment he saw Dayo, a rush of emotions—anger, insecurity, and something else he couldn't name—hit him all at once. He remembered his father's words: 'Avoid any confrontation with that boy. He's trouble.'
But pride wouldn't let him walk away he had heard what Dayo did and how much it took from the company which caused him to receive scolding from his dad since he was the one that hit Vivian.
"Oh, look who we have here," Philip sneered, stepping forward. "If it isn't the rising star—JD, right? That's your stage name?" He chuckled, loud enough to draw glances. "Such a wack name. JD. What a joke."
Dayo didn't flinch. He just smirked, taking a deliberate step back, his eyes calmly scanning Philip from head to toe.
"You know," Dayo said in a calm voice, "for someone your height, you talk way too much."
The words cut straight through Philip's pride.
"What?" His voice pitched higher, anger written all over his face.
"Oh, you heard me," Dayo replied, his tone slower, deliberately antagonizing. "You. Are. Short."
The crowd around them went still, the tension thick in the air. Everyone knew Philip had a tendency to snap whenever someone mentioned his height.
Philip snapped. His fist clinched and he shot out with a wild and clumsy punch.
Dayo didn't even flinch. He tilted his head slightly, dodging the punch effortlessly, and with a flick, knocked Philip's hand hard enough to leave a stinging mark on his fair skin.
Gasps rippled through the small crowd that had begun to form, watching the commotion.
"You'll pay for this!" Philip barked, his face flushed with rage as he stormed back into the elevator.
The commotion died down, but the tension still lingered in the hallway. Vivian stayed frozen, her eyes locked on Dayo. There was something different about him now—something that hadn't been there the last time they met.
"So…" Her voice was quiet but sharp, almost trembling. "So you could sing all this while, huh? And you just… what? Played games with me instead?"
She asked the question that had kept her awake for weeks. She couldn't figure out how he'd hidden something so big from her—especially when she'd always felt like she was in control.
Dayo looked at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable, before letting out a humorless chuckle.
"That's none of your business anymore." His voice was calm, but there was a trace of malice in it. Then his eyes flicked briefly toward the elevator Philip had stormed into. "But honestly? I pity you. Look who you're stuck with. And from the mark on your neck…" He tilted his head slightly. "…I can guess he still hits."
Her breath hitched, but before she could say a word, Dayo turned and walked toward the staircase, unwilling to linger near her any longer.
***
Inside the elevator, Philip was agitated—angry and frustrated. His hands formed into fists as the doors opened to the parking lot. He stormed to his car, kicking a stray bottle out of his way, muttering curses under his breath.
"Bastard," he muttered, yanking the car door open and slamming it shut. "Thinks he can embarrass me? Me?"
From the passenger seat, Vivian tried to calm him, her voice soft but firm, though she herself was still in shock.
"Philip, stop it. It's not worth it. You're just making a scene—"
"Not worth it? I'm making a scene, you say?" He snapped, his voice sharp. He almost raised his hand at her but clenched his jaw tight instead. "He humiliated me in front of everyone, Viv. Everyone. You think I'll just let that slide?"
Vivian flinched but said nothing, her eyes dropping to her lap.
Philip slammed his hands against the steering wheel. His anger simmered down after a while, leaving him quiet and cold. Then, without a word, he pulled out his phone and scrolled furiously.
Moments later, a man's voice came through the speakers.
"Philip," the man said. "I wasn't expecting your call."
Philip's tone was now low and dangerous. "We need to talk. Now."
Thank you Ra_Gee_1250 for the power stone 🙏
Please spoil me with power stones