Precious Virtue ✓

Chapter 49: Virtue Of Patience

Precious Virtue

Chapter XLIX: Virtue Of Patience

[Adrien's POV]

The uproar around me was fierce. As the final song came to a haunting halt, blaring cheers and applause echoed in my ears, nearly deafening me.

I was rendered speechless. My heart squeezed in my chest, eyes burning with unshed tears. Despite hearing Preston sing countless times, I didn't know that he could sing with such raw power and emotion.

He had been so alive, so zealous. Like he belonged up there in front of so many people, expressing himself through such beautiful art. He was crazy talented—I could have listened to him all night long.

Elijah too. The two of them harmonizing together was incredibly beautiful and heart-wrenching. I had no other words to describe their performance, other than that I felt the pain in their voices like it was my own. And I'm sure I wasn't the only one who felt that way.

"Holy shit," Luka cursed breathlessly, his expression dazed as Preston, Elijah, and their roommates gave one last farewell to the audience before walking off stage, the vehement cheers from the audience slowly dying down.

"Holy shit is right," I admitted, wiping under my eyes.

"Okay, I knew they were good from Karaoke, but holy fucking shit I did not expect that," Luka ran his fingers through his dirty blonde hair, placing a hand on his chest. "My heart is racing."

"Right?! I have chills!" Kare exclaimed. He pulled up his sweater sleeve to show us the goosebumps that littered his arms. "Flores is getting some tonight, that's for sure."

Luka smirked at Kare, "Oh yeah?"

"Oh yeah. Did you not see him on the drums just now? My uterus is aching," Kare replied. Luka and I burst out laughing.

"Honestly, I don't even know why Elijah was so nervous. I mean, of course it's normal to be nervous before a performance, but he really didn't need to be. He was breathtaking," Luka confessed, staring back over at the stage. Kare and I exchanged glances, and then looked back at Luka, a knowing smile tugging Kare's lips.

"Yeah, he really was. He looked pretty sexy and gorgeous singing up there and rocking the guitar too, don't you think?" Kare wiggled his brows at him, nudging him with his elbow. Luka blinked, as if he had been lost in thought.

"Huh, what? Oh, uh...yeah, duh. Of course he did." Luka dismissed us with a clear of his throat, scratching the back of his neck. Kare smirked, and I smiled wide.

After a brief intermittent, the next band walked onto stage. As the crowd roared to life once more, dancing and cheering to the performance, Preston and Elijah were pushing their way over to us through the crowd, Flores, Blaire, and Prim following after.

"Hey guys!" Blaire exclaimed as they reached us. "How'd you guys like the performance?"

"Do you even have to ask? It was incredible." Kare said. "I had fucking chills the entire time!"

Everyone laughed. Flores stepped over to Kare, sliding a hand around his waist as he leaned down to kiss his lips.

"What Karsten said. I was breathless by your performance," Luka said, turning his gaze to Elijah. "Especially you, Elijah. Where the hell did you get such a gorgeous voice?"

A blush coated Elijah's face. He laughed awkwardly, scratching the tip of his nose. "Oh, uhm...I didn't think I was anything special."

"Are you kidding me?" Luka scoffed. "You're speaking nonsense right now. Do you not hear your own voice?"