Enjoy Things While You Can

Carter felt an overwhelming sense of joy and excitement after Beyond finally said the words he’d been hoping to hear: You’re in.

For a moment, the words hung in the air, and then the room erupted in cheers. The studio buzzed with energy as congratulations poured in from every corner. Nahida, the bubbly manager-slash-assistant, didn’t waste a moment. She bound over to Carter and threw her arms around him in an enthusiastic hug, squeezing him tightly.

Welcome to the team, Carter! She exclaimed, her voice bright and infectious. “I’m so glad we’ve got someone new on board. These childish boys have been driving me nuts. Except for Mimi, of course. She’s the only one keeping me sane.”

Simon, sitting cross-legged by the drum set, raised his hand in protest. “Hey! What do you mean, childish? When have we ever given you trouble?”

Nahida turned to him with an exaggerated eye roll, her arms firmly crossed. “Oh, let me think... Since the day I started working with you guys! You’re impossible sometimes, Simon.”

Simon leaned back, putting on an air of mock offense. “Pfft, you’re no manager. You’re more like our band ambassador—always out there, handing out flyers and dragging people to our shows. Admit it, you like the spotlight.”

That hit a nerve. Nahida’s face turned a brilliant shade of red, and she let out a dramatic wail. “MIMI!” she cried, throwing herself dramatically onto Kokomi’s arm. “Simon’s being mean to me again! If it weren’t for you, I’d have quit ages ago. And now Carter, too! I’m staying for him.”

Kokomi sighed, gently patting Nahida’s shoulder. “Simon, do you have to tease her every time?” She asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Of course I do,” Simon replied smugly. “It’s my job to keep everyone grounded.”

Nahida huffed and pulled away from Kokomi, planting herself firmly on the sofa. “I swear, one day you’ll push me too far, Simon. And when that happens...” She trailed off, glaring at him in mock fury.

Kokomi shook her head and walked over to Nahida, coaxing her to calm down. “Now, now. You know Simon doesn’t mean it. Don’t let him get under your skin.” Her voice was soft and soothing, like a melody that could ease any tension.

Nahida sniffled dramatically. “Fine, but only because you’re asking, Mimi.” She turned to Simon with a pointed finger. “But you’d better watch yourself, Simon. One more comment, and you’ll be handling all the PR (public relations) work for the band.”

“Deal,” Simon said with a grin, clearly unbothered by the threat.

Carter, meanwhile, stood awkwardly near the guitar rack, trying to make sense of the lively exchange. He leaned closer to Kokomi, his voice low. “What’s going on?”

“Child’s play,” Kokomi whispered back with a small smile. “Simon likes to tease Nahida, but he doesn’t realise how much it gets to her. This isn’t the first time.”

Albert, who had been quietly observing the scene from the corner, finally chimed in. “Don’t worry, Carter. This is pretty standard for them. It’s their weird way of showing affection. Besides,” he added with a chuckle, “Nahida always bounces back. She’s tougher than she looks.”

After a bit more coaxing, the group settled down, and Simon, looking slightly guilty, approached Nahida. “Hey, Nahida,” he said, scratching the back of his neck. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I was just joking around.”

Nahida crossed her arms, her expression stern. “Apology accepted,” she said with a dramatic sigh. “But only because Mimi’s here to keep me from quitting.”

Simon smirked. “Noted. Drama queen.”

With the tension officially eased, the group turned their attention to the competition ahead. Nahida laid out the rule sheet on the coffee table while Kokomi opened her laptop, ready to take notes.

“All right,” Nahida began, slipping into her professional mode. “The rules say we need three songs: one instrumental, one foreign song, and one local Malaysian song. Total performance time is twelve minutes.”

“That’s not much time,” Carter remarked. “Three songs in twelve minutes means we’re barely getting four minutes per song. And we have to leave room for setup and breakdown.”

“Exactly,” Kokomi agreed, typing as she spoke. “We’ll need to be strategic about our choices. Each song has to pack a punch.”

Simon leaned forward, tapping his drumsticks against his knee. “For the instrumental, what about something from a video game? Like the Athletic Theme from Super Mario World. It’s upbeat and recognisable.”

Kokomi’s eyes lit up. “Ooh, that could work! What do you think, Carter?”

Carter hesitated. “I mean, it’s cool... but maybe we should go for something more dramatic? Like the Nightmare King theme from Hollow Knight. It’s intense and kind of edgy.”

Albert nodded approvingly. “Not bad. We could experiment with that—maybe mix in some synth elements for a modern vibe.”

“Classical music’s another option,” Beyond suggested, strumming a few chords on his guitar. “We could take something like Ode to Joy and turn it into our own style.”

“Now that’s what I call ‘boppin’,” Kokomi said with a grin, jotting it down. “Okay, we’ve got some solid ideas for the instrumental. What about the foreign song?”

“Latin music always gets people moving,” Simon suggested. “Something by Ricky Martin?”

Nahida flipped through the rule sheet. “Good idea, but it needs to be something less obvious. If we choose Livin’ La Vida Loca, half the bands will probably do the same.”

“Fair point,” Kokomi said, typing rapidly. “What about J-rock? We could pick something from a Japanese anime soundtrack.”

The group debated passionately, tossing ideas back and forth until Kokomi’s stomach growled loudly, breaking the intensity of the discussion.

“All right,” she announced, standing up. “Time for a lunch break. Let’s hit the fast food joint down the street.”

As they walked toward the restaurant, Carter suddenly realised he didn’t have any money on him. Panic bubbled in his chest, but before he could say anything, Albert noticed his tense posture.

“Hey, Carter,” Albert said, falling into step beside him. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” Carter replied quickly, fumbling in his empty pockets. “I’m fine.”

Kokomi caught on immediately, her sharp eyes noticing his nervous gestures. She smiled warmly. “Don’t worry, Carter. I’ll cover your meal. Albert will, too, if we need to.”

“Of course,” Albert added with a grin. “You’re part of the team now.”

Carter’s shoulders relaxed, and he smiled. “Thanks, guys. I’m really glad I joined. You’re all amazing.”

“Don’t get all mushy on us now,” Kokomi teased, nudging him playfully. “Save that energy for practice later.”

As the group reached the restaurant, laughing and teasing one another, Carter couldn’t help but feel like he’d finally found a place where he belonged.