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Five minutes later, I was booth-bound once more.

Things only got even stuffier and rowdier during my brief but eventful absence. It’s as if everyone’s confidence level had received a spike – and you can tell by their faces, not a single flicker of reluctance... just full-blown intent.

Then again, you go and stuff working-class adults in a small room continuously replenished with alcohol and snacks – what do you even expect? It’s two plus two at that point.

Even the more reserve members of our posse were post-inebriated-ly bellowing their hearts out into the mic, and wobbling to the beat, all to the rigorous fanfare of their equally inebriated peers.

But not me though, I held out. Like the holy and pure boy that I was, I’ve abstained myself from partaking in the devil drink... and honestly, maybe I really oughta have. I mean, drunk and intoxicated was the only I could ever see myself doing something like this.

I sat in my seat, watching the featured artists take turns stumbling into the spotlight, slurring lyrics, and singing acutely off-key. Halfway through ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ sung like a true tragedy, I let my focus wander away from the music briefly, turning far to the right of me... always to the right of me.

.....

It was Kevin now from forensics. Before him was Christopher, and even before him was Markus. All bold enough to occupy that vacant seat beside her, daring enough to actually strike up a conversation with her.

All brave, fearless individuals – the three of ’em.

But sadly, no matter how sharp the wit, how clever the pick-up line, or how charming the smile – the ice-cold detective wouldn’t crack.

And Kevin truly was giving it his all – polite, sophisticated, funny. A trifecta of fine qualities that could easily send any girl’s heart a-flutter. It’s only too bad Irene had clipped the wings off of hers.

“Anyway, you haven’t really done much since we got here, I noticed...” Kevin said, putting the moves as best he could. “So, how about it? Care to sing a few with me?”

Irene silently plopped a few ice cubes into her glass, giving it a slow swivel before raising the rims to her narrowed lips.

Such an obvious sign of disinterest, yet alas, Kevin refused to admit defeat, instead opting to chuckle at its face – the chad he was.

“Obviously you aren’t the social type – that we all know. But c’mon, Irene,” as smoothly as he could, he tried clasping his fist around her wrist, but she leaned away in time, and Kevin only barely grazed her. Quickly, he recovered. “Look, all I’m saying is: we came here to have fun, didn’t we? No point coming if everybody doesn’t participate, right? No ‘I’ in ‘Team’ and all that.”

Well, I hadn’t participated either – so do I count? Guess not... it’s likely ’cause I’m not gorgeous or pretty enough for that argument to apply.

Sad.

“Officer Monroe, I distinctly remember you intentionally withholding forensic evidence in your keep a year ago – do you remember that?” Irene finally met his eyes, the bitter cold of her gaze momentarily stiffening his. “Had me coming down to your department multiple times until you finally gave me everything I wanted. No ‘I’ in ‘Team’, you say.”

Kevin’s expression was as frozen solid as the ice cubes in her drink – I suppose that means he remembers the incident just as vividly.

“Well, er, that – yes, well that was because...” He began to stammer. “It was a tough analysis, so...”

Alas, Irene would hear none of it.

“You’re particularly exceptional at your job – and so I felt no urge to have you admonished then. I still don’t, I still think you’re exceptional... and that’s why it’d be such a shame if something you did were to change that in any way, don’t you?”

And just like that, the seat beside her quickly turned vacant once more.

Irene, now unpestered, happily went back to sipping her drink... leaving Kevin to lick away at his wounds alongside his other fallen soldiers.

I didn’t realize how long my focus had strayed until I heard the thunderous applause exploding from all around me, then, before I knew it – someone else had already emerged into the limelight.

Y’know, I never had a color that I outright had a distaste for – but blue only keeps getting unflattering by the minute, I swear.

Everyone cheered as blue took a curtsy, the microphone tightly in her grip, and a number one smile shining on her face. Even I managed to clap for her – which was definitely something.

“Oh, uh – hold up, hold up! Seems I’m Going to need some backup for this piece,” she declared, scouring the audience in front of her – a bright glimmer in her eyes. “Well – do I have any willing volunteers?”

Many hands shot up in unison, but only two instantly jumped at the opportunity – and within seconds, green and red thrust themselves onto the stage, ultimately completing the color trinity.

“Still missing one more,” blue remarked, intensely eyeing the crowd again.

“C’mon, any takers?” green added, joining the search.

“Just one more...” softly pleaded red.

And although many hands were still outstretched and eager, the rookie trio seemed blind to their call.

Goddamn... was I seriously about to do this? Really? For real? Really for real?

Slowly, painfully, I felt arm muscles cramping upwards, reaching to the skies.

Deep breaths, big breaths... I took my hat off.

“I-I’d like to give it a whirl...” I swallowed – hard. “If that’s alright.”

Three pairs of gleaming eyes, and three pairs of smiling lips, simultaneously turned in my direction. To the quiet, unassuming young man, they tossed a microphone his way – and promptly gave the all-go.

Now, whoever claimed that public speaking was the number one fear in humans has clearly never tried public singing – shit’s terrifying. But... if for love, if for cuteness, I shall remain forever fearless.

I stood up from my seat, feeling the sinking weight of the microphone around my fingers – behind me sounded cheers, and echoed applause, but once upfront and spinning around, my gaze only drifted towards a single one.

For the first time, I saw Irene with her stare totally affixed to the front, sifting through the bright colors – finding its way towards me. It was a boiling, bubbly mix of emotion on her face.

Bewilderment? Check.

Shock? Check.

Confusion? Check.

“Alright!” blue blurted, giddy with excitement. “Everbody ready?” and in her question, I saw the look in her eyes.

That’s the signal.

Then on cue, the song track began to play, the speakers above and below, ushering in the first few notes gently plucked from the strings of a guitar... and that’s when it happened.

Realization? Definitely check.

Irene looked at me.

I looked at her – and right then, I threw away all my cares, I didn’t care anymore.

This was for her.

The guitar strummed once more, and I began.

<>

Holy shit kill me, please.

<> My voice warbled and shook, I wanted to die so bad, but I clung to life still, marching on. <>

And from there, the rookie idols took charge – thank God. Any more solo performances, then consider me six feet under. Every now and then, I’d chime in to harmonize... but in general, I was mostly on standby for my lines.

Standing there, singing there, I seriously thought I had it bad until I looked at the crowd again.

Irene was red. So, so red – her face partly hidden beneath her palms, watching in horror and in terror as I meticulously butcher the Backstreet Boys before her very eyes.

But the more I sang, the more a peculiar feeling came over me – the melody, the lyrics, it was as if I could feel them... like I was really hearing them for the first time.

Two worlds apart, can’t reach to her heart... tell me why, Irene... why do you want it that way?

<> green proclaimed.

<> expressed red.

<> Blue stepped away to the side, leaving me at the center, and leaving me to say, <>

Irene’s drink was left forgotten and dribbling droplets at this point – utterly mesmerized, whether in fright or in wonder, either way... she couldn’t take her eyes off of the scene in front of her.

Or me, in particular...

From the first chorus to the second verse, all the way to the bridge – it was as if the trio had coordinated this whole thing for weeks now. Flawless choreography, seamless timing – I felt like I stumbled into a professional live performance or something.

Their confidence bolstered mine, and gradually – I started having fun. I joined the dance, the fervor... and most importantly, I joined in the smiles.

I noticed the detective’s lips were clamped again, and her hands, fidgeting, had returned to her sides. Though I didn’t have a badge, I didn’t need to be an astute detective to detect hints of jealousy.

Blue, green, and red noticed it too – watching with their own eyes, their strict and stern detective quickly unraveling at the seams.

To them, it was mission accomplished.

To me, I just continued singing.

Then when we got a third of the way through the song, the music faded, and the instruments paused for but a brief moment... it was my cue again.

My song again.

Or so I thought.

<>

A silky voice.

<>

A heavy gulp.

The music began to rise again, an echo of background voices building louder and louder... and Irene was up from my seat, holding a microphone in her grip as steady as she could with both hands.

.....

She looked at me.

I looked at her.

And I smiled.

<> And then together as one. <>

She didn’t notice herself getting closer, and I didn’t notice that I was walking toward her. Our words, our voices, in harmony. Together we guided ourselves to the end of the song. In our own world, in our own place.

It took me way too long to realize that the trio wasn’t even singing anymore.

Just the two of us, as the song came to a tender close, <>

There, in that moment, lost deep in the browns of her eyes, that’s when I knew we were no longer good friends anymore. After all, good friends don’t sing duets together, do they?

And then that’s when I can finally say...

Mission accomplished.