Chapter 2 Home

The warm glow from the living room , The plush sofa and armchair, adorned with vibrant throw pillows, beckon you to sink in and stay a while. The walls, painted a soothing shade of gray provide a calming backdrop for the wood tones of the coffee table and TV stand and an old piano at the end if the room.

Moving towards the kitchen, the sleek marble countertops and mostly stainless steel appliances, gleaming in the soft light. The aroma of freshly brewed capachino wafts from it's mixer

The bedroom, awaits with a sofa- bed, dressed in crisp linens and a dark blue duvet. The closet,with no doors offers storage for the wardrobe, while the nightstand, with its soft lamp, provides a calm nook for reading

The bathroom, with its dull looking tile , any ways it's fine for a refreshing shower.

"This one-bedroom apartment is a place to call my own"

In the words of Regee

"How do you expect you to grow in your career when you're still using and old piano with missing keys? "

Regee didn't respond because she knew Sally was just being her annoying self.

And she couldn't halt arranging their room to possibly respond to Sally's sentiment.

She sprayed the dark blue duvet and left to the kitchen for a cup of capachino.

"Regee"

Sally screamed running from the room with her phone.

"It's keturah Ama"

Sally blurted pointing to her phone screen

"What Keturah"

Regee asked keeping her mug on the countertop.

Jesus Christ Regee !

Sally exclaimed rolling her eyes

There's just one Keturah Ama whose name has ..........

Keturah Ama?

Regee asked grinning, collecting the phone and smiling even harder while reading it's content.

"So Keturah will be in saint Duke Town ?"

Regee asked jumping and screaming.

" Drrrrh you're making so much noise"

Sally said raising her eyebrows.

" This one- bedroom apartment is a place to call my own"

Regee said returning to a her now warm cup of capachino.

But dropped it almost immediately.

"This is a dream coming true, I have a good feeling about this"

Regee said almost whispering

" I wasn't joking when I said you were going to go places"

Sally said adjust her hair band.

" Meanwhile I'll leave you know, ive got work to do"

Sally announced taking Regee's mug with her.

Regee sitting on the countertop is so worried. Series of overwhelming thoughts sorrounds her mind as she slowly drifted to past memories of failed auditions.

................

Next

A deep baritone voice called out and it was Regee's turn.

For some reasons the confidence she had practiced at home failed her, she lost all the grace she exuded, it seemed it had left her just after the baritone voice Called.

Her fingers trembled as she placed them on the keys, her eyes fixed on the judges' table with a mix of determination and desperation. She took a deep breath, and the music began.

At first, the notes flowed like a gentle stream,and seemed to I ey her every punch on the keys but soon the rhythm faltered, and the melody stumbled. Her pianist's hands seemed to move of their own accord, as if trying to outrun her mistakes. The music swelled, but the mistakes mounted, each one a tiny crack in the dam that eventually burst, flooding the room with discord.

And soon she found herself staring at the Judges and it was happening, she was sweaty

The judges' faces remained impassive, their eyes glazing over as Regee struggled to regain control. Her fingers danced across the keys in a frantic bid to salvage the performance, but it was too late. The music limped to a close, leaving an awkward silence in its wake.

She didn't need any further instructions she just read the room and left with her eyes brimming with tears, and bowed stiffly.

The judges' nods were curt, their smiles sympathetic but unencouraging.

As she gathered her things and departed, the room seemed to exhale a collective sigh of relief, the air thick with the weight of disappointment and unfulfilled potential."

That was 6 months ago.

Just few weeks after that incident, Sally brought a poster of musical audition to Regee, for some reasons she didn't obgnate she just got prepaid with a positive mind.

Sally picked a more free dress saying her instinct stated that Regee's fright that day was as a result of the denim dress she wore,not giving space for free breath and fresh air.

So this time it was a lemon patterned vintage gown with no make ups on just a mild lip gloss.

On that morning as early as 3am

Regee was playing "oh happy day" on the piano with lots of high hopes and didn't even take the breakfast of Mac and cheese Sally prepared.

She just moved to the Audition centre only to find out that they were just for kids.

What a bad day!

Sally exclaimed when she heard about the ordeal.

No more auditions!

Regee said slamming the room door after her

Sally moved slowing to the sofa picked up the flyer

"Jeez! The kids, was just here boldly

Why didn't I see it"

She said shredding the flyer to pieces.

.............

"Hello, wake up princess"

Sally called, trying to wake me from my world of thoughts

"I was saying one more cup of capachino"

Sally repeated, it turns out she has been there and I was in my own world.

So what's bothering you ?

Sally asked sitting on the countertop too.

What if this Keturah Ama doesn't work out?

"Then we will still go for the shopping"

Sally said laughing.

Remember the last auditions we went for and we were told a certain Head of company didn't want anyone dressed like you.

Sally reminded Regee while still laughing.

"Ah! That was the most embarrassing audition, that boss should thank his Stars that we didn't see him"

Sally said pouring the capachino from the mixer.

"Like you would have done a thing ?"

Regee said walking to the living room.

"And you started performing at the bar, that bar"

Sally said with a smirk on her face.

" I think there's someone at the door"

Regee announced.

A chubby fair woman in her early 50s barged in

"This apartment has not paid for it's water and gas"

She said walking to the kitchen

Any pets ?

She asked just before entering the room.

"No ma'am"

Regee answered

No!

She bellowed

" I ain't taking no shit from you, or you leave the residents

Is the no for the pet or gas and water payment."

" It's for the pets ma'am.

And barging on us is not supposed to happen by any law even hers in saint duke"

Sally reprimanded her.

" Alright, now I'll be leaving never be found wanting"

She said leaving the house

Heeeew what a day!

Regee sank on the sofa.