Festival : Part 2

As Gizem stepped into the music room that evening, her heart quickened. The small room in the school's basement was filled with old wooden desks, worn-out music posters, and dim lighting. In the corner stood a red drum set—its pedals rusty but sturdy, drumsticks resting on the table. Yiğit was tuning his black acoustic guitar, the strings vibrating under his fingers, his dark eyes focused on the instrument. Kaan slung his bass guitar over his shoulder, his long fingers gliding over the strings, setting a steady rhythm. Ece powered on her keyboard, her short blonde hair shining under the light, fingers testing a melody on the keys.

Gizem approached the drums, picked up the drumsticks, the cool metal touching her fingers. The old days… I used to perform on stage in Istanbul, and now I’m here. I can do this, right? A wave of excitement surged within her, but so did a flicker of fear: What if I’m not good enough?

Yiğit lifted his head, cradled his guitar in his lap, and spoke in a calm yet inviting tone. "Let's choose a song. Everyone suggests one, and we’ll draw lots." As he tuned, the soft hum of the strings filled the room.

Ece leaned forward, played a few notes on the keyboard, and let a gentle melody spread through the air. “I say ‘Hallelujah,’” she said, her voice filled with enthusiasm. “The Leonard Cohen version.” Her gaze returned to the keyboard, fingers gliding over the keys as the melody echoed. Emotional, Gizem thought, admiring Ece’s choice.

Kaan shrugged, plucked a deep riff on his bass, the vibrations filling the space. “I’d go with ‘Somewhere Only We Know,’” he said, his voice calm but firm. “By Keane.” He played the riff again, his eyes locked onto the bass. It fits the town, Gizem mused, once again surprised by Kaan’s quiet demeanor.

Yiğit nodded, strumming chords on his guitar, a familiar melody rising. “I suggest ‘Wonderwall,’” he said, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. “Oasis.” The chords filled the room, his fingers dancing across the strings. For a moment, Gizem studied him. How would his voice sound on this? she wondered, her heart skipping slightly.

Gizem tapped the drumsticks on the table, testing a rhythm, the sound echoing. “I say ‘The Scientist,’” she said, her voice hesitant but resolute. “Coldplay.” It reminds me of Istanbul… of lonely nights. She tapped the sticks once more, getting lost in the beat.

Yiğit raised his eyebrows, a small smile forming on his lips. “Good choices,” he said approvingly. He found a piece of paper, scribbled down the song titles, and folded them. “Ece, you pick.” He placed the papers on the table, his eyes shifting to Ece.

Ece shuffled the papers, her fingers trembling slightly with excitement, then unfolded one. “‘Somewhere Only We Know,’” she announced, grinning. “Kaan wins.” She played the song’s intro on the keyboard, the notes drifting through the room.

Kaan nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Nice,” he said, relaxed. “Fits the town’s vibe.” He played the bass riff again, its deep tones resonating in the space.

Yiğit grinned, tuning his guitar, his fingers effortlessly moving along the strings. “Alright, let’s begin,” he said eagerly. He struck the first chords, the sound filling the room:

"I walked across an empty land…"

His vocals were calm yet strong, spreading to every corner of the room, sending shivers down Gizem’s spine. His voice… is it really this good?

Ece joined in on the keyboard, her soft notes adding layers to the song, her fingers dancing over the keys. Gizem raised the drumsticks, counted the rhythm in her head—one, two, three, four—then entered with the kick and snare. The drums echoed in the room, the tempo set, her hands trembling at first but gradually finding their flow. Kaan deepened the sound with his bass, and Yiğit’s vocals soared:

"I knew the pathway like the back of my hand…"

As Gizem maintained the beat, she glanced at Yiğit—his effortless focus while playing, the way his fingers danced on the strings, caught her attention. He’s playing and singing at the same time. His voice… deep, yet soft. Yiğit briefly lifted his gaze, meeting Gizem’s eyes. Her heart stopped for a second, and she quickly dropped her gaze to the drumsticks, her cheeks heating.

Ece looked up while playing, her voice gentle yet guiding. “Gizem, slow down a little,” she advised. “Let the vocals stand out.” Encouragement gleamed in her eyes, a small smile on her lips.

Gizem nodded, a flicker of panic in her chest, but she quickly adjusted. “Got it,” she said, her voice unsteady. She lowered the tempo, softened the rhythm with the hi-hat, her hands sweaty but regaining control. Yiğit entered the second verse:

"I felt the earth beneath my feet…"

His voice rippled through the room, sending chills through Gizem. How does he do this? His voice… It’s pulling me in.

Kaan interjected, plucking his bass with a firm touch, the vibrations shaking the room. “Should I speed up the bass here?” he asked, his voice suggestive, eyes shifting to Yiğit.

Yiğit paused, cradling his guitar in thought. “No, keep it steady,” he decided, his voice firm. He played the chords again, the soft strumming spreading tranquility. “The song is stronger this way.”

Gizem thought to herself: Calm yet powerful. Yiğit understands that well. She emphasized the beat with a crash cymbal, the drumsticks hovering in the air for a split second. Yiğit nodded, a small approving smile on his lips. They reached the chorus:

"And if you have a minute, why don’t we go…"

Yiğit’s voice rose, and Gizem struck the drums with passion—controlled, yet filled with energy, her rhythm syncing with the beat of her heart. Ece held a long note on the keyboard, Kaan prepared the closing bassline. When the song ended, the room fell silent for a moment, leaving only the last echo of the drums.

Ece grinned, lifting her hands off the keyboard. “That was good,” she said, her voice light with relief. “Again?”

Yiğit nodded, pulling his guitar closer. “Yeah, let’s run it from the top,” he said, excitement in his tone. “Gizem, hit the crash a bit earlier in the chorus—make the transition smoother.” His gaze landed on Gizem, steady but expectant.

Gizem’s heart pounded, Yiğit’s words echoing in her mind. He trusts me, she realized, a sense of pride swelling inside. “Alright, let’s try,” she said, her voice soft but determined. She raised the drumsticks, counted the rhythm once more, and the song restarted.

"I walked across an empty land…"

This time, she hit the crash perfectly on cue, the transition seamless. Yiğit glanced at her, a small smile forming on his lips. Gizem quickly lowered her head, feeling her face heat up. He noticed… Did he like it?

Kaan plucked his bass firmly, the riffs trembling through the air. “Should we speed up here a little?” he suggested again, his eyes seeking Yiğit’s approval.

Yiğit shook his head but remained resolute. “No, keep it steady,” he said, strumming his guitar. “That’s the essence of the song.”

He transitioned into the chorus:

"Oh simple thing, where have you gone…"

Gizem held the rhythm, the drums reverberating through the room, her hands still slightly sweaty but her confidence growing with each beat. I love this, she thought, stealing a quick glance at Yiğit.

And I love playing with him…

It had been hours, and the rehearsal was progressing. By the third attempt, the song had become flawless, with every instrument finding its place. Yiğit raised his voice during the chorus, Gizem strengthened the emphasis with the crash cymbal, Ece added emotion with the keyboard, and Kaan deepened the layer with the bass. When the song finished, Yiğit placed his guitar on the table, his breath slightly quickened. "This is it," he said, his voice filled with satisfaction. "Gizem, good job. You filled out the drums."

Gizem dropped the drumsticks, her hands trembling, but she felt a wave of happiness inside. "Thanks," she said softly, her eyes drifting to Yiğit. "You all... are amazing." Especially you, she thought to herself but didn't say, her cheeks turning pink.

Kaan took the bass off his shoulder, stretching his shoulders. "I think we're ready," he said, calm but content.

Ece nodded, turning off the keyboard. "Yeah, we'll carry it until Saturday," she said, a sense of relief in her voice.

Yiğit stretched in his chair, his dark hair falling across his forehead. "The band feels complete now," he said, his eyes briefly resting on Gizem, a smile forming on his lips.

Gizem thought to herself: Complete... and I'm a part of it. Her heart raced, but she stayed silent, placing the drumsticks on the table.

Gizem stepped out of the music room and onto the dark garden, the stars shining in the sky. She didn't take her bike, deciding instead to walk along the coastal road, the wind hitting her face and the scent of the sea filling her lungs. Her steps were slow and thoughtful, her mind in turmoil: I played the drums, I worked with Yiğit. Why do I feel this way? After walking a few steps, she noticed a shadow, a familiar silhouette. It was Yiğit, with his guitar case slung over his shoulder, walking calmly.

Gizem paused, her heart racing for a moment, then gathered her courage. "Oh, are you leaving from here too?" she asked, her voice surprised but filled with joy, a shy smile on her lips.

Yiğit turned, a bit surprised, then smiled, his dark eyes shining in the dark. "Yeah, coincidence," he said warmly. Their steps synced, and they began walking side by side, the sound of the waves blending with their footsteps.

For a moment, they were silent, only the sound of their shoes on the asphalt and the rhythm of the sea could be heard. Gizem thought to herself: What should I say? I shouldn’t sound foolish. She took a deep breath, her eyes moving to the road. "The song turned out nice, didn’t it?" she said, her voice shaky but eager, waiting for Yiğit’s response.

Yiğit put his hands in his pockets, tilted his head slightly, and smiled. "Yeah," he said softly. "Kaan picked a good one. Your rhythm was... solid." His eyes briefly met Gizem’s, then returned to the sea. He complimented me, Gizem thought, warmth spreading inside her.

Gizem smiled, her fingers playing with the edge of her jacket. "Thanks," she said, her voice shy. "I used to play drums in Istanbul, but here... It’s my first time playing with a band." She paused, her eyes lowering. With Yiğit, she added silently in her mind, but didn’t say it out loud, her heart racing.

Yiğit nodded, fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Was it different?" His voice held curiosity, his eyes flicking to Gizem, shining in the dark.

Gizem thought for a moment, the sound of the waves echoing in her ears. "I don't know..." she said softly. "The town, the band, everything..." And you, she thought, but kept silent. "Did you always do music?" She gathered courage, her eyes meeting Yiğit's.

Yiğit shrugged, a smile on his lips. "Since I was little," he said with nostalgia in his voice. "I started with guitar, then I sang. I just spent time in the town." His eyes moved to the sea, lost in thought for a moment. Gizem looked at his face, his calm demeanor even in the dark caught her attention. I love this, she thought, and I love... his voice.

Gizem gathered courage, her heart racing in her chest. "Your voice is beautiful," she said, her voice trembling but sincere. "It fits the song... perfectly." Did I sound silly? Her cheeks flushed, and she lowered her gaze.

Yiğit paused for a moment, then grinned, his dark eyes sparkling. "Thanks," he said, a hint of shyness in his voice. "Your rhythm was the same. The band feels complete now." His eyes met Gizem's for a moment, then paused.

Gizem’s cheeks turned even redder, and she lowered her head, a smile on her lips. "I hope Saturday goes well," she said softly, a mix of excitement inside her.

Yiğit nodded, calm but confident. "It will," he said, his eyes turning to the sea. "It'll be better with you." His voice was sincere but shy.

Their conversation progressed with brief pauses, both of them smiling shyly, the sound of the waves filling the silence between them. When they neared home, Yiğit stopped, adjusted his guitar case on his shoulder. "I'm turning here," he said calmly. "See you." He waved and turned the corner.

Gizem opened the door, retreated to her room, and lay on her bed. She wrote in her diary: "It’s been a few weeks since I came to the town, and now it’s festival time. I picked three things: writing, volleyball, music. I played the drums, worked with Yiğit. His voice, his gaze... I’m confused. I’ll be on stage with him on Saturday. Is my heart racing?"