#STILL LOVE | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

xoxorealitygalore · 6 months ago

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Still Love

Solo Sikoa x Black OC

Summary: When he is asked by a cousin, who is a music producer, to record a song, he doesn’t expect to find his ex-girlfriend there. What he doesn’t anticipate is being asked to record a duet—one that unexpectedly captures the deep emotions and unresolved feelings he still carries from their past relationship.

Sefa stepped into the recording studio, his worn sneakers lightly tapping against the concrete floor. Behind him, his older brother Joshua followed, his tall frame filling the doorway as he glanced around, scanning the familiar space.

They were here for business, but Sefa couldn’t shake the sense of unease stirring in his chest. Music was a family affair for them. His family, aside from their wrestling careers, had deep roots in the musical world. A good number of his relatives were talented musicians. When his cousin Marcus, a well-known music producer, had asked him to come record a track, Sefa had agreed without a second thought. He never expected this, though.

As soon as he entered the room, his eyes scanned the faces of those already inside: Marcus behind the soundboard, the mix of wires and equipment surrounding him; and next to him, someone unfamiliar—until Sefa caught a glimpse of the woman seated beside him.

Tayari.

Her presence hit Sefa like a tidal wave, and his breath caught in his throat. It had been eight years. Eight long years since they had parted ways. High school sweethearts, their love was a whirlwind of first kisses, stolen moments, and the kind of passion that only teenagers could know. But life had its way of pulling them in different directions. Their future, once filled with endless possibilities, had crumbled when they realized they were on different paths. Sefa had gone to one college, Tayari to another. The distance, both physical and emotional, had proven too much. Their love, however strong, had not been enough to overcome the separation, and they had ended things with no bad blood, only the quiet ache of things left unsaid.

The air in the studio suddenly felt thick with unspoken tension. Tayari, sitting with her back slightly turned to Sefa, had her face buried in a notebook, the pages rustling as she flipped through them with distracted precision. She wasn’t paying him any attention, and for a moment, he wondered if she even remembered him.

Sefa’s heart beat loudly in his chest as his mind tried to process what he was seeing. The years had been kind to her. Tayari still had the same expressive eyes—eyes that had once seen all of him. Her posture, though casual, radiated a quiet confidence. She was the same Tayari. Yet, so much had changed.

Marcus glanced over at Sefa and grinned, the glint of mischief in his eyes unmistakable.

“So, we’re doing a duet,” Marcus said, his voice smooth but tinged with amusement. “I think you two will do great together.”

Sefa’s gaze flickered to Marcus, then back to Tayari. His mind was still scrambling to catch up with reality. “What do you mean, ‘duet’?” he asked, trying to keep his voice steady, though it betrayed the surprise he felt.

Marcus’s grin widened. “Exactly what I said. You and Tayari are singing together. I think it’ll work perfectly for the track. You both have the emotional depth this song needs. Trust me, it’ll be fire.”

Before Sefa could protest, Marcus handed him a sheet of lyrics. Sefa looked at the paper in disbelief, his hands shaking slightly as he unfolded it. The words were simple but powerful, capturing a love that had been lost, found, and lost again. It was a song of reconciliation, of acceptance, and of enduring feelings, despite the passage of time. The lyrics mirrored something deep within Sefa—a part of him that he had buried for so long. He hadn't expected this.

Tayari stood up and walked past him, heading toward the recording booth without so much as a glance in his direction. Marcus nodded toward Sefa, signaling for him to join her.

Sefa hesitated, a battle waging in his mind. Every part of him wanted to pull away, to escape this moment, but the part of him that had once loved her so deeply was drawn to her. Slowly, he made his way to the booth, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on him with each step.

Joshua, standing by the door with a knowing look on his face, shook his head as he watched his brother. He followed Marcus to the control panel, taking Tayari’s vacant seat next to him. “Why would you blindside them like that?” Joshua asked, his voice low, but tinged with curiosity.

Marcus simply shrugged. “Because the chemistry between them is undeniable. This song needs the kind of authenticity they can bring. They’ll convey it better than anyone else.”

Joshua shook his head again, a smile tugging at his lips. “I’m just saying, this could go either way. You sure about this?”

“I’m sure,” Marcus replied with quiet confidence. “Trust me.”

Sefa entered the booth and slipped the headphones over his ears, the familiar buzz of static and music filling his mind. Tayari had already put hers on, her posture rigid as she focused on the lyrics in front of her. She didn't acknowledge him, but her presence was undeniable. He could feel the pull of their shared history between them, a tension that hummed in the air like the quietest storm.

The music began to play, soft at first, then swelling into a gentle rhythm. Sefa’s heart raced, his fingers gripping the microphone. He could feel the weight of the song, of the memories, of the history they shared. Tayari, when she began to sing, her voice was the same—smooth and rich, a warmth that wrapped around the lyrics and carried them with grace. It was as if no time had passed between them at all.

Their voices, once so familiar, blended effortlessly. The first verse filled the space between them, and Sefa could feel the years of silence melting away.

This is it, guess we ran our course

No more wandering now, I’m sure

All them days feel like wasted time

And they no longer serve me

Their voices echoed together, two halves of a whole, and Sefa felt a lump in his throat.

Guess we both were on different pages

But on both, love was never lost

And I will hold you down

Still love

Her voice soared on the next verse, the words carrying the weight of her own reflection. Sefa closed his eyes for a moment, his memories flooding back. He could feel her presence beside him, the way they had once held each other so tightly, afraid to let go.

Tayari's voice cut through the silence, raw and vulnerable:

To have ever even shared a single page

Even if the ending never stayed the same

I'm so grateful for the memories we made

There's nothing I would change

The words felt like a balm, soothing the wounds of the past, but also reopening them, exposing the hurt that had never quite healed. Tayari’s voice, so full of warmth and sincerity, tugged at his heartstrings.

And though the chapter’s finally over, yeah

I can hear you saying in my mind

Gotta give it time, give it time

Till the wounds are healed and closed

Don't know how we feel inside

They don't understand a ride or die

Never turn back the pages I wrote

They both sang the chorus again, their voices entwining in a haunting melody, each note heavy with the weight of their shared past. Sefa’s eyes met Tayari’s for the first time since they had stepped into the booth. Her eyes glistened, the faint shimmer of tears catching the studio lights. His heart ached. He wanted to reach out, to tell her everything he had kept locked away all these years. But the song—this moment—seemed to say everything for them.

As Sefa sang his solo, his voice cracked with emotion.

The way you loved me

Is what turned me from a boy into a man

Even though it didn't work out how we planned

Still gotta thank you for the way you let me in

For the way you held me down, I'll never understand

No matter what road we chose

No matter the highs and lows

Still need to let you know

To count on me, I’m here for you

Now that the page is turned

We both had to learn

I don’t gotta say too much

There ain't no bad blood

It's still all love

By the time they reached the final chorus together, there was no separating their voices, no dividing the history they had shared. The music, the words, their emotions, they all wove together in a tapestry of love, loss, and understanding.

When the song ended, the studio fell into a heavy silence. Sefa and Tayari stared at each other, their eyes searching, aching, and yet, full of something deeper, something unspoken. Tears welled in Tayari’s eyes, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps. Sefa reached out instinctively, brushing the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs, his fingers trembling slightly.

Tayari placed her hand on top of his, her touch warm and grounding. For a brief moment, it felt like time had rewound, taking them back to a place where everything had seemed so simple. But the years had changed them both. They weren’t the same people they had been before, and yet, in this moment, they were.

The voices of Marcus and Joshua broke the silence, their words low but filled with awe.

“I told you,” Marcus said with a grin, “the chemistry between them is perfect for this song.”

Joshua, his voice thick with emotion, nodded. “Got goosebumps... that was something else.”

Sefa’s eyes remained on Tayari, the world outside the booth blurring into nothingness. There was still so much left to say. So many years, so many unspoken words, and yet, for a moment, none of it mattered. All that was left was the music, the rawness of their connection, and the undeniable truth that some things, especially some feelings never truly fade away.

“Still love,” he whispered, more to himself than to her, but Tayari heard it, her hand tightening around his.

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