Why You? [Brandon Arreaga]

16 | the studio*

The studio was a lot larger compared to their nap rooms. In fact, there was no need for nap rooms since they already had couches and beanbags in the studio anyway. It even had a coffee machine at the back of the room. And surprisingly, it was pretty clean too.

Like most studios, it was split into two sides; one where you would record and another where you would control and listen to the recordings. It was very typical, but also very chill. I expected a stressful atmosphere but it was as if the boys were just having fun. Which is admirable, because they were also clearly serious with their music.

Before I entered the room, Nick made me swear an oath to not share to anyone or secretly record what they were about to let me hear.

"Repeat after me. I, Beth...whatever your last name is," Nick started.

"I, Beth Wallace," I repeated, whilst striking my palm on my heart.

"Solemnly swear,"

"Solemnly swear,"

"To not spread the unreleased content of PrettyMuch,"

"To not spread the unreleased content of PrettyMuch,"

"And to love Brandon till death do us part."

I narrowed my eyes at Nick and playfully shoved him. "Haha, very funny."

The rest of the guys, except Brandon, were sniggering alongside Nick. I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help but let out a chuckle at Nick's efforts for humor.

I'm sure the guys knew nothing actually happened in the elevator. Though it didn't make them stop teasing us relentlessly for the whole afternoon.

It wasn't too bad (ehem) - just every time Brandon was within a metre radius from me, one of the guys would yell "ship!" or "stan!". Or if we began talking, the rest of the four would start giving each other the side eye and elbow each other until the all started laughing.

And Brandon and I would just yell "shut up!" back at them.

For the first hour of us being in the studio, the boys were very active and alert, sorting out so many things I didn't understand before they could actually start recording. I was quite impressed, mostly because it was only us in the studio. I envisioned either a control guy or two, or a couple of managers, or even just Simon Cowell. Though, they were very independent. And especially with Brandon on their team, they could probably make good music with just a laptop and their voices.

Brandon and Zion started recording together first and as expected, they sounded amazing. Like one of their other songs, it started off with Brandon doing an acapella tune which then introduced a beat to which Zion would sing to. Whenever Brandon was singing, he would look up every so often to grin at me through the glass. And of course, with the rest of the band taking notice, they'd turn to me and exaggeratingly 'aw' before going back to doing what they were supposed to do - that being Edwin and Austin manning the controls while Nick videos the process.

Towards the end of the song, Brandon echoed parts of the song and the song would fade away a bit, like the delayed sounds a karaoke microphone leaves.

There is no proper adjective to describe how good (and attractive) his voice sounds.

I mean, sure, Zion's is amazing too but with Brandon in the room - let's be honest - all I was focused on was him.