New Sound

Chapter 57: Conversation of the Sharp Tongued Musicians

«Featured Piece»
「Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor OP. 18」
By: Sergei Rachmaninoff

It's the hour of concert, everyone in the orchestra is currently playing on the stage. Ran, in his black and white concert attire is skillfully pressing the piano keys. It was Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2, currently on it's second movement. Everyone inside the concert hall is quiet. They knew that Francisco Hikumi is famous for his interpretation of the said piece, and the second movement was quite the favorite of many.

Yuki was watching from the audience admiring the sounds he was hearing. It's entirely different from the band music he used to listen to nowadays, but he likes it. It's as if every bar on the piece triggers him to remember all the good times during his childhood. Memories that he almost can't recall, as it was buried by his terrible experiences back when he was still learning guitar from his father. But it's coming back now. He smiled as the piece approaches the cadenza.

Yesterday was probably the first time... you ever praised me. It was very unexpected that it felt like it wasn't you. But it's a nice feeling. Watching you feels much lighter ever since. Perhaps time heals your longing to that beautiful blue and I was just seeking for a company, knowing it was a little lonely living alone, but now I am able to say that you're doing good too, you know... dad. I almost forgot, you've always been good at this.

He thought at the back of his mind. Then the final note has been played. Ran stood up and respectfully hugged the conductor, as claps resounded in the hall.

›››

Matapos ang concert, nagkaroon ng isang pormal na salo-salo ang buong orchestra. Maririnig ang ilang mga usap-usapan tungkol sa katatapos lang na performance. May mga pumupuri sa conductor, pumupuri sa string at winds section, o 'di naman kaya'y sa pagtugtog ni Ran mismo. Kaliwa't kanan din ang gustong makipagkamay kay Ran, dahil sa walang kupas nanaman nitong performance.

Sa piling mga table, maririnig ang ilang mga tsismisan tungkol kay Ran na pumupuna sa pananalita nito. Mayabang, arogante, wirdo, akala mo kung sinong pa-importante. Ilang lang ito sa mga salitang nababanggit ng mga ito kadikit ang pangalan ni Ran, kasabay ang matatalim na pagtingin.

It wasn't new to Ran, though. He knew about those sharp gazes, but he just don't care about it.

"My, my, these rumors just doesn't stop." It was him, the concertmaster, whom Ran was sitting with in one table. A mischievous smile was plastered on its face as it looked around the other tables. "Aren't you bothered with these?" he added as he shifted his gaze to Ran.

Ran, aside from being known by the classical music community as a highly skilled and talented pianist, he is also known for being short-tempered and arrogant, supported by comments of other musicians he played with before in an orchestra. It's now pretty common to hear people talk about those rumors wherever he plays.

Ran then answered "I'm more concerned with how you seems to be enjoying this." he scoffed. "Well, aren't you just that bad on pretending you're concern?"

"Come on, you're just proving them right with that attitude." the concertmaster further commented rather mockingly, then he chug down his third glass of whiskey.

Ran didn't bother answering that. It's obviously a provocation. Tahimik nalang nitong ininom ang baso n'ya ng whiskey tapos ay kinausap ang ibang kasama nila sa table, maliban sa concertmaster...who were silent the whole time occasionally throwing sharp glances to Ran too. Especially after that short conversation with the concertmaster. They also knew.

"By the way, 'di ba, dati pianista ka sa banda?" the bassoonist shifted the topic of the conversation. This man is kind of an elitist. Someone who doesn't really listen to other music, expect to classical music. From his tone, Ran can clearly hear that this man find being in a band is funny. "Why though? Isn't that foolish. Band people can't even last in an entire duration of a concerto without falling asleep." There he goes. Stated it clearly.