Kai, Kaya, and Eva sat down on the comfy chairs facing the windows. The two girls looked rather excited to see the show while Kai had an aloof expression that hid all his thoughts.
He had no heart to enjoy this show as he neither wanted to see the woman singing near nor hear her full-blown voice. He didn't care if it was beautiful or not, it was none of his business.
However, there was only one single reason he didn't refuse to attend this concert and it was rather simple. It was because of the two girls sitting next to him. After what happened in the past few weeks, he could see that they were stressing out greatly.
Hell, even he was starting to overthink too much himself. That's why, he decided to let them enjoy a vacation for the first time especially when things were still calm and quite peaceful.
"Kai, do you want a drink?" Kaya asked as she tapped his shoulder.
"Hey! Saggy Breasts, we're minors, unlike your old ass!" Eva said with a snort.
"You're the only kiddo here, Kiddo. My Kai can drink. Besides, alcohol won't affect you or him. I can give you some warm milk instead if you want."
"You bitch!"
"What do you want brat?!"
The two girls glared at each other angrily. However, they quickly realized that Kai was there, listening to them.
"I don't want a drink." Kai diffused the situation with an answer as he tapped Kaya's shoulder to sit down.
As the three conversed between themselves, the light of the arena suddenly died down, catching their attention.
"Oh, it's about to begin," Eva murmured as she adjusted her position.
Outside, on the stage, a huge highlight focused on the center. Then, out of nowhere, smoke rose in the air, covering that spot.
Gasps of surprise echoed among the fans. A few seconds, later, when the smoke dissipated, revealing the silhouette of a beautiful woman.
Immediately, sheers errupted in the arena, almost shaking the walls from their loudness. It was quite the sight even for Kai.
"It's really surprising how many people love her songs. She's been retired for 10 years for god sake." Kaya mused.
"If your work is good enough, it will be eternally etched into history. People won't forget that easily." Eva replied.
"I guess you're right."
Meanwhile, Aria, or in this case, Claire stood silently for a few seconds, allowing for the fans to sheer and yell however they wanted before she picked up the microphone. Her face was as usual covered with the iconic red handkerchief. That small piece of cloth was the topic of many debates and theories.
People wanted to know why she was wearing that on her face. Was it a gift from a loved one? A way for her to mourn the death of someone she loved? Or maybe it was as simple as finding the cloth cool.
However, all things considered, that red handkerchief was one of the secondary reasons why Claire was renowned across the world.
"Before we start, I wanted to thank everyone for attending my concert after all these years. I'm truly happy to see everyone here tonight." She said with a confident tone.
Immediately, sheers erupted again. People felt her sincere tone and could only scream her name loudly.
"Seeing this, it really makes me happy. I never thought my music would resonate with so many people. Thank you, truly."
Although many thought that her words were simply sincere gratitude, some others didn't see them as such.
"Is it me or does Claire sound like she's saying her farewells?"
"Yeah, I got that vibe too."
"Oh! You guys don't get it! She's just thanking us for being loyal fans!"
"I agree!!"
As for the trio in the VVIP room, none of them had any distinct reaction to her words. Or, to be more precise, didn't voice out any thought. Especially Kai who simply stared at the blind girl silently.
"Now, to start this concert, I want it to be special. I have written a new song that I decided to sing tonight for the first time. Enjoy."
Then, slowly, the music started in the background. The violin slowly creates a beautiful symphony that dances along with the notes of the piano. The mood of the arena shifted quickly as the people listened to the beautiful music. A surge of emotions filled their hearts.
Then, Claire took a deep breath and finally started singing. Her voice was so beautiful it was akin to that of an angel.
"In the shadows of my yesterdays,
Regret's a melody that softly plays.
A symphony of choices left behind,
Echoing the love I could find."
Her voice was vibrant and beautiful, and yet also had a tinge of sadness mixed within it that stirred people's hearts even more.
"Mistakes like stars, they light the night,
Each twinkle holds a chance to make it right.
But time slips through like grains of sand,
Leaving me here, longing for your hand."
"Woah, she has such a beautiful voice," Kaya murmured with a small smile on her face. "I love this song."
"Her songs were always about love. She has a way of stirring emotions like no other artist." Eva replied as she looked at Kai.
The latter was completely silent. His face was as stoic as ever but inside his head, he was having other thoughts. For some reason, her words felt like they were directed toward him.
However, he had no reason to believe that's the case… It was just a feeling.
"Oh, the echoes of regret,
A haunting tune I can't forget.
But, I'll rewrite this melody,
Turning pain to possibility."
The song gradually grew more intense and yet gentle, strong and yet soft. It was a contradicting mix that somehow worked so perfectly. Many fans felt tears filling their eyes as they stared at their loved ones beside them.
Most of these people came with their wives, their love partners, and their families. They all came here to enjoy the angelic voice of Claire, to regain that feeling of affection that she involves in them with each word, with each note, and with each tone.
Some people tend to forget the meaning of love as time goes by. They lose the meaning of why they chose that person as their life partner and why they even loved them in the first place. Claire's songs magically ignite those feelings back.
That was perhaps the biggest reason why people loved her and kept listening to her songs even after she left.
"I'll gather up the shattered notes,
Piece them together, mend what broke.
With every chord, I'll find my way,
To brighter skies, to a brand new day."
Claire's face glistened with sweat as she sang. Nobody could clearly see her expression but they could feel her aura spreading across the whole arena. She was clearly enjoying herself so much.
Perhaps her passion was more apparent today than any other time people heard her.
The song continued, carrying along with it everyone who listened to it. The violin and piano made it even more beautiful than ever before.
Eventually, Claire reached the last part.
"With every note, I'll find my way,
To a love that's here, that's here to stay.
No more echoes of regret,
Just a song of hope, there's no forget."
Then, Claire's voice died down along with the music, leaving the arena in an astonishing silence.
Then, a second later, cheers erupted, louder than ever before. Tears and cries mixed within.
"Such a beautiful song…" A woman said as she wiped her face to stop the tears. Then, she looked at her husband before she gave him a hug.
Many people did the same and hugged their loved ones, to show them that they still appreciate them, that they still want them as much as they did before if not more.
"*Sniff* That was so good." Eva wiped her face as she pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the tears.
"Yeah…" Kaya had the same reaction, albeit a little milder. "I can see why people love her. This is amazing. Don't you think so, Kai?"
The two girls looked at their beloved, waiting for his reaction. However, the latter didn't seem to be listening to them.
His eyes were locked on the girl on stage. Nobody knew what he was thinking of. For a second there, he saw Aria looking directly at him. But, because her eyes were covered, he couldn't say for sure.
'What is she trying to do?' He thought to himself.
Love song or not, it was clearly an apology. Perhaps it could've been sentimental for no reason. However, Kai didn't believe that. She was certainly apologizing.
'Are you begging for your life? You want me to spare you?'
"Tsk, curse it." He murmured under his breath.
"Kai?"
"Hm?"
"Are you ok?"
"Yeah." He replied before he looked at Kaya. "Can you get me one of the drinks?"
"Oh? What changed your mind?"
"It's going to be… a long night."