Pop Rock Love by Raine Koh, Lorraine Koh Read Free Book Online Page A

band members composed the music.

 
    The track they were recording
today was called “White Face” – a mid-paced rock ballad – for their
upcoming album. Shuji approached the mic and started to sing. Rumour has it
that Shuji’s whole family died in a plane crash when he was ten. He never
confirmed it. In fact, he barely mentioned to anyone, even to his own band
mates, about his family. And they knew him enough not to probe. Shuji sang like
a tormented angel, sometimes screaming into the microphone, sometimes
whispering gently. Every note came alive with his voice.

 
    The song ended and Mimi walked
out to find a vending machine but the music still haunted her memory. “It’s
going to be their best song,” she thought aloud.

 
    “Thank you, I think so too.”

 
    Mimi looked behind to see
Shuji, standing just inches away. It took all her strength to stop herself from
screaming like a rabid fan, and asking him for an autograph.

 
    “What is your name?” Shuji
asked.

 
    “Please call me Mimi,” she
said, trying to keep her voice steady.

 
    “Sato’s little sister, eh?” he
said, walking closer to her. He passed his mobile phone to Mimi and said
seriously, “Please call yourself now.”

 
    Despite feeling slightly
confused, she dialed her own number. Filth’s previous single, “Grim Beauty”
started to play from her own mobile phone. She felt her face turn red. Shuji
smiled and said, “I’ll send you our new single once it’s done.”

 
    At this moment, Filth’s manager
Shiba shouted from behind, “Shuji, we need you inside!”

 
    Shuji leaned towards Mimi and
whispered, “I saved my number in your phone. Call me when you feel lonely.” He
left her to stare blankly at the vending machine.

 
    “What the...” she thought
aloud. Her phone started to beep, further startling her. Mimi read the message
with bated breath.

 
    Hi Mimi,
Shina here. Free for a quick lunch?

 
    Mimi sighed in relief and
texted back:

 
    Sure, I’m
at Ginza, at the Niji building.”

 
    Shina replied:

 
    Great!
I’ll pick you up in ten minutes time. Hope your leg is feeling better!

 
    Mimi didn’t really feel like
going back to the studio so she left Sato a text message, informing him that
she had gone off to meet a friend. He didn’t bother replying back.

 
    He probably doesn’t need me
anymore, she thought.

 
    Shina drove up in her sky blue
Volkswagen beetle. “Hi darling!” greeted the fashion editor after getting out
of the car to help Mimi inside. Shina was dressed in a cyan-coloured sheath
dress and flower stockings. Her Japanese friend was exactly how Mimi remembered
her, except her brown bob was now permed and was a light brown shade. She was
all smiles and gave Mimi a tight hug.

 
    “Oh dear, your poor ankle! How
have you been? What are you doing at the Niji Building? Wow, you have so much
to tell me, you need to fill me in with all the details. I still cannot believe
that you’re here!” She was always so easily hyped up.

 
    “Are you hungry? I remembered
you like desserts. Let me bring you to a place that serves up the best cakes!”
said Shina.

 
    “Desserts first?” Mimi asked,
raising an eyebrow.

 
    “Of course! They should make up
the main course as well,” she said. Mimi laughed and remembered why they got
along so well in Hong Kong. Both of them got into the car. “But first I need to
do some work-related matters. I hope you don’t mind coming with me?” Shina
asked as she started the engine.

 
    “Sure, what kind of
work-related matter? You need to pick up some clothes for your shoot?” Mimi
wondered, remembering that Shina was a fashion editor.

 
    The petite girl flashed a
bright smile at Mimi and asked, “Have you ever been to a goukon ?”

 
    “Isn’t that a group date? How
is that work-related?”

 
    “Well, it’s because our
features editor resigned out of the blue, so I have to help out for this month.
You