Chapter 1 •Once upon a time •

~Some people just come back to your life like a miracle~

Alex's POV:

This was my dream. I always wanted to be here. I wanted to stand in front of these many crowds and hold a mic, string my guitar and sing a song, a song that will make each one of them, to feel the same emotions I am feeling right now.

The large crowd was shouting out my name with laughter, excitement and cheerfully. The rhythm of my name was tuning perfectly with their voice and I was loving it so much. It was warming my heart and soul.

This day was what I dreamt years ago. This was why I was left alone still I believe my dreams and continued.This was where I wanted to stand and shout out to the world that I, Alexander Anderson is not a useless fellow like someone thinks of me.

"Finally, you are here Alex. Finally, you are living your dreams,"I talked to myself as I assured myself and felt proud of myself.

"Alex, you're going to give entrance  next. Are you ready?"my assistant Brad asked me as he arranged the mic that was hanging beside my lips.

"You can do it. Listen, brother this is your dream, so just break the leg and make people out there go crazy," he said as he patted gently on my shoulders.

I looked around.My eyes were nervous to see that lots of crowd in front of me. It wasn't my first time to stand in front of that crowd but it made me sudden  nervous without a reason.

"They are the people who loved my music. They are many. They made me the one I am today," I said with my a my lips curled and stretched as my  gleeful eyes eyed the crowds in front of me who were surely overwhelmed with my presence.

"Yes, Alex. This isn't your first time doing the concert, why are you so much, happy and more of nervous today," Brad, my assistant inquired.

"This was where I started my journey as a musician and as a singer. This was where I did my first concert. Though, people were less compared to this that time, this stage was where I stood proudly and excited for the first time. This is the mother of my stages and  I don't want to upset her," I said as I spun my head towards him with a pressed smile on my lips.

Both of my assistants smiled widely as they heard my explanation.

"Okay, fine hurry up,"Both of them pushed me to stage.

I jumped up to the stage. My nervousness was left after I saw the crowd cheering me, encouraging me and became  excited with my presence in there.

The music started at the background which made me feel that peaceful silence within me even in that crowd.

As the music hit the start note, I finger reached out to my guitar and my voice elevated according to notes.

As I finished my song, I could see the same cheers shouting for me and this time more louder than before. This scene warmed my heart and made it gleeful.

And after nearly ten minutes of my performance, I walked down to my dressing room.

I plopped down on my chair and drank the water from the bottle which was laid right in front of me on the table.

I was just startled when my assistant did an emergency landing of his both palms on my shoulders from behind.

"They want to hear more from you," he said as he gasped for the air. He had been running .

"But, I already did," I said as I kissed the too of the bottle into my mouth.

"Just one more time. I request you. No, I am begging you. Please, my hero do this just one more time," he kneeled in front of me with his pleading eyes which were obviously cunning.

"Did you possibly agreed to them for the extra performance? "I asked as my brows were knitted.

" They offered a handsome sum,"he smiled coyly.

"You did. You are really greedy fellow Brad," I said as I threw the bottle of water to him and he caught it in an instant.

Holding the bottle on his hand he smirked as he said,"You are a celeb now. Your expenses are more than you can even imagine and  I need to comply to that bro. "

"You.... you are really voracious being. I'm afraid someday you're gonna sell me off to," I said as I wink to him and he gestured he would never do that.

"It's for your own good. I do everything that is good and beneficial for you," he said as he handed me a mic one more time and I heartily accepted it.

"I know. That is why I like you," I wink at him.

"What? You like me. Alex, are you.... are you," he closed his mouth with his palms as he widened his eyes just to act funny in front of me.

"Keep on dreaming. I am a guy and a perfect guy. I like girls. Don't make your wife hate me, dude," I said as he left out a hearty giggle.

We laughed together before I headed back to stage.

I held the mic.

"What do you want me to sing? "I shouted to the crowds.

And that was when I saw an old grandpa in my concert. I was touched with his appearance. I could completely understand why youngsters were there but old grandpa?

I walked to him with my mic and asked him," What do you want me to sing, grandpa?"

"The tune that made you musician," he said straight.

Nobody had asked me that. Seniors are obviously always seniors, they can feel more things that even we cannot imagine.

"Sure,"I grabbed back the mic as I ran to the stage.

I clasped the mic harder and then sang, the song that lead me to become a musician, to become a singer.

"When I am down, and Oh my soul so weary;

When troubles come and my heart burdened be;

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence;

Until you come and sit a while after me;

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up to more than I can be;

Yes, this was the song, or I would prefer it to be called my inspiration, the hymn that made a singer out of me today.

I came back to the dressing room.

"I am sorry, Alex for the trouble but  thank you so much," he hugged me.

"I liked today's program. Now, follow me. I am going back to hotel. I just feel so much tired," I said as I walked ahead of them to the parking lot.

The basement parking lot was dark but I was hearing some sorts of noise over there.

Some boys were bullying a girl.

She was helpless and out of energy. Her face was covered with her long brown hair.

I immediately called the police and then, walked to them.

"What the hell are  guys doing? What the hell is going on over here? " I inquired.

They glared at me with irritate filled eyes.

"It's none of your concern, just get yourself away and  walk away from here, "one among the three spouted.

"Hey guys, do you call yourself a man?It's a one woman versus three man, this is unfair dude. Moreover she is not in her sense, "I said as I tried to advise them.

"Do you know her? Don't pretend to be a knight who saves a girl? just walk the fuck away from here, it's our matter, " one of then said.

That was when both of my assistants arrived.

"Did you call the police?"he asked.

"Yes, they will be here soon," Brad answered as he put down the phone.

After hearing the word police they ran away from there.

I sauntered to her direction as I hold her in her shoulders. She was circling her head with her hair falling off on all over her face mumbling something I wasn't able to understand.

"Miss, miss.... "Oh my God, she was drunk and I guess drugged as well.

"Miss, do you know where you live? I can drop you home.Miss... ," I said tried to lift up her face to see her face.

She didn't answer but continued with her unclear mumblings.

I stood up to look back to my assistants.

"Risa, inform police about her. She needs to get back...," I stopped as I felt something.

Oh I feel something crawling on my legs, is it a snake?

I stared down but I was awestruck when I actually realized why it was. It was her!

"What the hell are you doing?Leave my leg, " I shouted trying to free myself from her.

But she crawled up to my body and hugged me placing her head on my chest.

"This...this crazy fan... Alex... shake her off, " Brad said.

"No,.... let me see him.... "she murmured in whisked voice.

"I missed you dear... you promised to marry me..... I am here to marry you... But..," she said as she pouted her lips, to kiss me.No woman was this close to me.

"This crazy girl, what does she thinks of herself, crazy fan.... "my assistant walked to me and tried to shake her off from me.

Her head shook but she was still holding me tight.

While her head was rounding , I saw her face. That face...!!

"I should call the police... she should be sent to prison, "my assistant said.

"Wait, " I stopped him.

I stroke the lock of her hair from her face. Her face was...!!!

I picked her up from the ground as soon as possible  and held her on my arms.

"No, what are you doing Alex? She is your crazy fan.. You cannot take her like that... It will harm your reputation... You know you have to return after a week and you can't cause any ruckus in here," warned.

I carried her without listening to his warnings.

"Stop, Alex, "he shouted behind me.

"You don't even know her, "he shouted.

I turned back.

"I know her, "I answered with an intense voice continuing to walk.

"When? How? " he started his questionnaires.

I stopped my feet and turned back my head to answer him as I grasp her tightly.

"Once upon a time. I met her once upon a time. So, now open the door of the car, quickly! " I cried out.

( HYMS : YOU RAISE ME UP BY JOSH GROBAN)