SHORT STORIES COMPILATION

Chapter 4: The Help

"Jay, you want to perform for the upcoming festival, right?" Luck asked as he took his seat beside the younger.

Jay is busy wiping his violin with a tissue and when he heard Luck mentioning the word 'festival', it immediately caught his attention so he looks at Luck with a surprised look.

"How did you know about that?" He asked. He doesn't remember telling him about it.

"Stupid. You've been practicing your violin day and night so I know that you want to play on the festival." the older answered.

Jay still can't get how did Luck find out about that. Yes, he's been practicing violin day and night but it's still not enough reason to conclude that he's already joining the festival. In fact, in order to participate on the festival, you need to perform it with your partner. He doesn't have a partner yet so he's still thinking twice if he'll really join or not.

"I want to join on the festival but I don't have a partner yet. If ever I found one, then why not?"

"Should I play with you then?"

Luck and Jay both look up at Gracie who just came after buying drinks for the three of them. Gracie can play piano and Jay is thankful that she's willing to play with him, but he knows that Gracie doesn't want to participate on any festival. He doesn't want her to force herself to join just to play with him so he immediately declined her offer.

"Thanks, but you don't need to do that Gracie. You're busy reviewing for the entrance exam, right? I don't want to disturb you, just focus on it."

Gracie smiled and nodded her head. She really wants to play for Jay but seeing her friend wants her to focus on the exam makes her happy. Jay is so kind and thoughtful.

"I know someone who can be your partner, Jay. Her mom asked me to be her partner but I don't want to join the festival so I declined the offer. But I can give you her contact number so you can be her daughter's partner." Luck said.

"Do you know who's the girl?"

"It's Lorraine Park. The girl who always play on the festival. But she stopped playing for 2 consecutive years already so her mom wants her to play again this year..."

"But she already has a partner right? That girl who always play the violin with her. Who was that again?" He asked.

"Oh, that's Jia. Sadly, I heard she died 2 years ago—the reason why Lorraine stopped participating on the festival." Gracie answered his question.

Jay knew who Jia is and he can now remember Lorraine. He once saw her playing on the festival with Jia before. He felt sad knowing that she had lost her partner. For sure she's still breaking down until now.

"And to add this..."

Luck speaks, getting Jay's attention once more.

"Her mom also told me that she's staring to lose her sense of hearing. She's afraid to get deaf without hearing Lorraine playing the piano again so she really wants to find a new partner for her daughter as soon as possible. But of course, her daughter doesn't know about that. She wants to keep it a secret so Lorraine won't worry about her condition."

Jay felt his chest tightened.

Hearing that makes him want to help both Lorraine and her mom. It must've been hard for both of them. He wants to do something to help them and since he also need a partner to join the festival, why not meet Lorraine and her mom, right? If there's someone who needs help, he's willing to help them if he can.

Jay looked at Luck once again as he already made up his mind.

"Can you give me her phone number?"

Luck didn't think twice and immediately grab his phone to give Jay the phone number of Lorraine's mom.

Jay has a goal now.

He would be Lorraine's new partner... and he will help Lorraine's mom to hear her daughter playing the piano again.