Chapter 164 154 - Wayne Side

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3rd POV

Inside Luminous Studio, instruments filled the air with a melody they had practiced countless times. The repetition was tiring, but it was also polishing every note into perfection.

No one complained, though exhaustion was written across every musician's face. They all knew the grind would pay off someday, whether it was seeing their faces on TV or standing under the spotlight before thousands of fans who were eagerly waiting for them.

"Georgie!"

The voice cut through the glass panel, breaking the rhythm inside the soundproof room. It came through the speakers, jarring enough to throw everyone off-beat.

Georgie glanced around at his bandmates with an awkward smile. "Sorry, guys," he muttered before turning toward the glass. "Yeah?"

"Your dad's on the phone." Fenley's face appeared on the other side, her expression a little stiff.

Georgie gave a quick nod, then turned to the others. "Alright, let's take a break."

"Huuuhh….finally!" Kayla groaned dramatically, flopping to the floor without waiting for permission. The others also sagged in relief, though none as shamelessly as Kayla. Her childish antics had long stopped surprising them.

Truthfully, Georgie was just as drained and bored as the rest. But he kept it in, with no complaints, no whining. If he wanted them to push through, he had to lead by example.

Still, he couldn't help but chuckle at Kayla's theatrics before slipping out of the booth. Meeting Fenley in the hallway, he asked, "What's wrong?"

Fenley didn't answer. She just led him into a side room and pressed the telephone into his hand.

Georgie frowned, suspicion prickling at the edge of his nerves. Something about her silence made unease crawl up his spine. He pulled back slightly, hesitating. "…Okay, you're kinda scaring me now."

But Fenley shoved the telephone into his palm anyway, refusing to meet his eyes. "....Just take it," she said quickly and before he could press her further, she bolted out of the room, not once looking back.

Georgie watched her walk away, then turned his eyes to the phone in his hand. He pressed it to his ear at last. "Hello?"

"Georgie…" George Sr.'s voice came heavy through the line, dragging like a weight in his ear.

"...What's wrong, Dad?" Georgie asked quietly. His voice was calm on the surface, but there was a tremor hiding underneath, his lips tight as if bracing for something he didn't want to hear.

"Hufft…" George Sr. exhaled slowly. "...Actually, it doesn't matter. Just focus on your thing right now."

That only made Georgie's chest twist tighter. His thoughts raced.

"Hold on! You need to tell me what's going on right now! I can't focus if you leave it like that!" His voice rose with frustration, the half-spoken words clawing at his mind like a parasite.

"…It's not your fault, Georgie," his father finally said. He went quiet again, then repeated, softer, "Yeah… it's not your fault."

Georgie stared down at the receiver in disbelief, then pressed it harder against his ear. "What the hell are you talking about, Dad?! Just tell me now!"

There was another pause, another long breath.

"…They're getting a divorce."

The words made Georgie's head swim.

Not because of any misunderstanding—George Sr. wasn't speaking about Mary, or about their family. It was the way he spoke, broken, heavy, leaving Georgie unsettled.

"...Who?" Georgie forced the word out, steadying himself.

George Sr. Keep silent but replied at last. "Don't worry about it. It's not your fault, Georgie."

Georgie exhaled, the sound rough and tired. "…Why would that ever be my fault?" he muttered.

So on the night of the Cooper family barbecue, a few days ago, between laughter, music, and the sound of people swaying to Careless Whisper, another ripple of chaos quietly unfolded.

—-

A few couples swayed together, their bodies moving slowly to the rhythm. Those without partners sat back with beers in hand, sinking deeper into Georgie's voice and the pulse of his guitar.

George Sr. and Mary. Wayne and Darlene. Pastor Jeff and Selena. Even Miss Sheryl, surprisingly, with Mr. Givens.

One by one, they all gave themselves over to the moment.

And Georgie—lost in it himself—never realized the honesty pouring out of him. Every word, every note, carried something raw, and the people around him absorbed it without even knowing.

Foreheads touched, eyes closed, bodies swayed gently to the sultry strum of guitar, and the air grew warmer, softer.

They felt it, All of them.

The looseness in their bodies, the pull of the rhythm.

"…I love you."

Whispers slipped between couples, quiet confessions meant only for the one in their arms. Three pairs, moving as one, breathing the same air, confessing what words couldn't always say.

Wayne held Darlene close. She giggled softly at his smile, and he felt it…the faint spark that maybe, just maybe, this could work again.

No.

He wanted it to work.

Georgie's voice filled the spaces where Wayne's doubts lived, covering them in melody. Doubts he hadn't spoken to anyone, not even to George Sr., about the cracks in his marriage.

He'd tried counseling. He'd even gone to a psychiatrist, searching for answers about what he really wanted.

And now, in this moment, swaying in his wife's arms, he knew.

He wanted her. He wanted it to work with Darlene again.

"…Darlene," Wayne whispered, his voice soft, his gaze gentle as he looked into her eyes. His smile was warm, almost boyish.

Darlene looked back, waiting for him, for his words.

"...I know I haven't been a good husband," Wayne admitted, pulling her closer. "…But I'll try."

His voice cracked with quiet sincerity. "…I want to try harder. To be a better husband. For you."

The guitar kept flowing around them, Georgie's melody weaving an invisible current that everyone could feel, even if they couldn't see it.

There was honesty in Wayne's words, raw and fragile. In that moment, it felt like the world had shrunk to just the two of them, alone together in the Cooper backyard. No, not even the backyard. In Wayne's mind, it was the whole world.

"…I know this can work," he whispered. "I'll try harder. I'll be there for you…." He pressed a slow, tender kiss to Darlene's forehead.

Her eyes closed, warmth flickering there. Words trembled on her lips, words Wayne longed to hear, the kind that might have sealed this moment in love.

Wayne pulled back from the tender kiss on Darlene's forehead, his eyes fixed on hers with a rare seriousness. "Darlene… let's have a—"

But before the words could leave his mouth, Darlene stopped him—cutting through the warmth that had lingered between them.

She shattered it into pieces.

"I sleep with someone else."

"….."

The words froze Wayne where he stood. His eyes widened, his mind stuck like a broken reel, unable to process.

Her confession cut like ice, the warmth of a second ago ripped away.

"…what?" Wayne finally croaked, reaching desperately for the thread of warmth and honesty that had bound them just moments before.

But no.

There was no warmth anymore, only honesty that lingered.

"I'm sorry…" Darlene said, her voice soft but steady, her eyes still locked on his. "I've been cheating on you."

Her words stabbed deep, each syllable driving into his chest.

"What?!" Wayne's voice rose this time, loud enough that other couples turned their heads.

Darlene slipped her arms from around him. "This… doesn't work anymore, Wayne."

Cold water crashed over him, reality slapping him harder than any hand could.

"…But why?" His voice cracked low, still clinging to the faintest scrap of hope.

"I…" Darlene swallowed hard, her lips trembling as she faced him. "I love someone else, Wayne."

Wayne staggered back, his breath stolen. He tilted his head to the sky above, the stars burning bright and cruel.

The spark he thought they shared tonight… had only ever been his alone.

Darlene looked at him softly. She had felt the warmth that flickered briefly from Wayne, but she knew—it was only temporary.

Guilt.

That was all she would feel if she let herself fall back into his arms.

The whispers would come eventually. Not from her lips, but from the mouths of others.

Now or later.

So Darlene spoke. She let the truth slip free—the truth that had been burning inside her.

Georgie's voice carried in the background, soothing yet piercing, giving her the courage to say what needed to be said.

She knew it broke Wayne. Shattered him to pieces. But it was the truth.

The truth was that she loved someone else.

She embraced it now.

She couldn't keep pretending. Pretending to be happy with Wayne when she wasn't.

She knew divorce was already on its way, creeping closer to their marriage. And strangely, she felt calm. She didn't know why, but she knew she had to say it.

'There's no comfort in the truth, huh…' she whispered to herself. But yes, truth. No pretending anymore.

Darlene lifted her eyes to Wayne, waiting for words, for anger, for something.

Maybe even a slap.

But no slap came.

Wayne only stared at her, as if already accepting the reality between them. He believed her words. One hundred percent.

The strum of Georgie's guitar faded, but his voice still lingered in the air, carrying across the backyard like a whisper no one could escape.

All eyes already turned to them now, like an audience in a theater, waiting for Wayne's response.

"…Thank you," Wayne said at last, his voice low. He looked at Darlene, his eyes burning with anger, but he held it back. He refused to explode here.

Georgie's smooth voice seemed to clear his vision, grounding him back to reality, no dreamy vision like he hoped. "Thank you for being honest with me."

He wanted to scream. He wanted to strike the woman in front of him. But deep in his heart, he knew.

The end of their marriage was only a ticking bomb.

Better to hear the truth now than to wait for the blast.

Angry, but relieved.

He didn't even understand how those two feelings could exist in him at the same time.

Darlene only nodded. Wayne slipped the car keys into her hand.

"…You can go home. I'll…" He turned his gaze toward George Sr., who gave him a solemn nod. "…I'll sleep here tonight."

Darlene looked at the keys, then nodded once more before turning toward Mary. "I'm sorry… for ruining this night."

Mary gave her an awkward smile and a slow nod. She wanted to offer sympathy…but how could she? Everyone had heard the truth.

Even Pastor Jeff.

"…I'll walk you to the car," Mary said gently, slipping an arm around Darlene's as she guided her away.

—-----

George Sr.'s voice faltered at his son's words.

Yeah… Why had he tried to blame Georgie for someone else's family fight? All he had done was sing. Sing and spark a lively moment.

"…Yeah," George Sr. finally admitted, his voice low. "…You're right."

He couldn't blame Georgie. Not now. Not when his son was standing there like a rocket on the launchpad, ready to take off into the sky for his career.

"…Is Coach Wayne alright?" Georgie asked at last, his voice steady, showing his empathy. "He can sleep in my room. I think… I'll be here for a while, Dad."

Yeah. Georgie already knew. Of course he knew how that night would end. Or he already knew what happened to Wayne's marriage.

"…Alright," George Sr. said quietly. But why did he feel so calm?

Veronica had already gone home. Yeah. There were more scenes that night. But Georgie had calmed down, focusing more on his career right now.

"…Sheldon wanted to talk to you," George Sr. said, handing the phone over.

"Hello, Brother…" Sheldon's voice came through, high-pitched and serious. And without giving Georgie a chance to answer, Sheldon continued in his childish tone, "What procedure do I have to follow with Veronica in school?"

Georgie could only sigh, the weight of the night pressing down as his little brother's question buzzed in his ear.