A pleasant and soft note resonated from a piano throughout a big stage with a big crowd, signifying the end of a beautiful song.
A young girl with brown hair that was tied into two buns and wearing a black dress stood up from the piano and bowed towards the audience, applause coming after. The young girl raised her head up again with a satisfied smile and waved towards her two loved ones sitting at the front seats of the audience area. They were her parents. The both of them waved back at her and gave her two warm smiles, making her happier as she smiled brighter. She skipped happily into the backstage.
That young girl was Abbi.
Abbi Angelos was an only child from the Angelos family, a prestigious family known for their excellent pianists. However, during the following years, the Angelos family had fallen from their prime.
Fortunately for them, they had a rising star in the form of Abbi.
Abbi's mother was the eldest sibling from the former head of the big family, making her mother the current head of the Angelos family. Abbi Angelos grew happily in a healthy environment, her mother and father always showering her with love, and surrounded with good friends. Due to her lineage, Abbi had to learn the piano. However, she didn't mind at all. After all, she loved the piano.
Abbi was taught the piano by her own mother. Unlike the usual strict teachers rich kids would have, Abbi's mother taught her more with encouragement than discipline. Everytime she made a mistake, her mother would always patiently correct her and encourage her to grow. Even when she played a piece perfectly, her mother would always encourage her to improve. Desiring more of her mother's love, Abbi would practice the piano with determination.
Rapidly, she grew. She slowly but surely climbed the ranks. From not a single place, to third place, second place, and finally first place. Currently, she has won 14 competitions in a row; an overwhelmingly impressive feat for her age. If she were to win this current competition, she would be sitting on 15 wins in a row.
Abbi walked into the area where audiences were seated and watched the stage from the audience stairs on the right side.
I wonder what amazing performances I will see? Abbi thought to herself. She loved watching other musicians play, especially when she could learn something new to take for her own play.
"Next contestant, Janella Cruz playing Flight of the Bumblebee by Nikolai Rimsky-Koraskov!"
A blonde haired girl the same age wearing a white dress went up the stage. Her hair was beautifully straight and silky and wasn't tied up. She faced the audience and bowed. After that, she sat down and started playing her piece with the utmost technical perfection and elegance.
Abbi was amazed at this girl's playing. Her hands fluttered through the black and white tiles of the piano effortlessly, indicating how skilled she was.
Amazing, Abbi thought. Abbi watched with the utmost focus, trying to learn what she could take from this girl's playing.
Abbi had never seen this girl before, but Janella Cruz was part of the Cruz family, who was one of the current prodigal families among the world of pianists. Abbi didn't know about the Cruz family, however, as she had never learned of the fact. She watched this blonde girl's performance intently until her performance had ended.
The girl stood up and bowed to the audience again, with a big applause coming after. Abbi followed suit, clapping happily as she loved the performance. After all, Abbi never played to compete; she just played the piano because she loved it.
With anticipation, Abbi waited for the next other performances.
A round of applause was made after another performance, with Abbi following suit. However, Abbi didn't look amused. Ever since Janella Cruz's performance, everything after that felt mediocre to her. That was how good Janella Cruz's performance was; in a competition where gifted musicians came to compete, Janella Cruz had managed to make the performances after her stale. Abbi sat down on the seats as she was starting to get bored.
"Bummer…" Abbi pouted, unsatisfied. Fortunately for her, the next performance would be the last one. Her boredom could finally end. She could've gone backstage, but she decided to watch this last one, hoping it would be worth her while.
"Last contestant, Hiko Hiroyuki played an original arrangement of A Home For Flowers by Pedro Silva!"
Hiroyuki? That's an unusual name, Abbi thought.
A boy her age walked onto the stage with a black cello case. Unlike the other contestants who wore black suits, he wore a black collared shirt along with long black pants. He had a red hairband that held his hair to the back.
In the quietness of the theater, the boy silently took out a white cello and prepared it. Once the cello was prepared, the boy bowed to the audience and sat down on a chair that was provided by the staff.
The boy started the song very softly and gently, like the swaying of winds. Unlike the original A Home For Flowers, the boy played it slower. The soft sounds of the cello soon grew stronger, reaching its climax on the high note, which climbed down again after that. Overall, the song went on softly, with constant crescendos .
(W notes: crescendo is a musical term where the strength of the note being played gets stronger.)
It's soothing, Abbi thought, as she closed her eyes as she enjoyed the song.
But… why does it sound so sad?
After a minute or two, the boy was nearing the song's climax, which he executed by slowly strengthening the sound and finally giving the highest note the strongest and longest note from the entire song, and after that…
Silence.
For three whole seconds, the theater was silent. The boy started playing softly again after that moment of silence. Abbi felt a chill run through her back when she heard the climax, but she had noticed something else.
… Why is my face wet?
Abbi wiped one of her cheeks to check what was causing that wet feeling on her face, and found out that two teardrops had run through her face. Abbi had always been an emotionally sensitive child since her youth.
As Abbi wiped her tears due to the emotions the song brought; sad and grief.
Abbi looked at the boy, his face was solemn, but he was emanating a sad vibe.
The boy bowed after finishing his performance with the audience giving a round of applause. However, before the applause even finished, the boy exited the stage into the backstage. The boy passed by Abbi, with only Abbi looking at him; the boy just looked straight to the exit.
Her eyes followed the boy, her stare soon broken by a voice from the stage. It was the MC of the competition.
"Those are magnificent performances, aren't they? Let's give our participants a round of applause again!"
The audience applauded.
"Unfortunately, as good as their performances are, only three can go back home with the price! Now, my dear audience, while we wait for the judges to come to their decisions, please wait in the hall outside as you enjoy the tea and dessert served in the hall!"
Hearing the MC, Abbi had decided to go to the hall to enjoy the complimentary drinks and desserts as she waited for the results of the competition.