TO SHOU WITH LOVE

117 - HUGGING

The vast studio was dim and silent, with the restless atmosphere left behind by the previous band floating in the air.

All the audience held their breath, their eyes focused on the figures on stage, waiting for the lights to come on and reveal the identity of the mystery guest singer.

However, the lights remained off, and in the dim darkness, the melody of the cello unfolded slowly, quickly smoothing out the last hint of restlessness lingering in the air.

After a dozen seconds, the melody of the guitar joined in, its bright tones complementing the deep and heavy sound of the cello, like flashes of light shimmering on a calm deep stream.

It was at this moment that Thanapon began to speak, his voice relaxed as ever with a sense of storytelling, "I passed through nineteen years of wandering, carrying heavy burdens, wading through turbid waters, avoiding the flickering light in the dark nights..."

As soon as he spoke, there was a burst of applause from the audience below.

The sound reached Sailub's ears, causing him to instinctively grip the bow in his hand tightly.

Standing on stage, listening to the thunderous applause from the thousands of spectators below, this scene brought back his long-lost memories.

It was all too familiar, he had experienced scenes like this hundreds of times four years ago.

Before this, he deliberately avoided looking at the audience, and could only see vague figures in the audience with his peripheral vision.

The stage design had been discussed in advance, for the first two bars, all the lights were off, and the audience below couldn't see him, and he couldn't see the audience below, thereby reducing his fear and nervousness of the audience when he returned to the stage for the first time.

However, Sailub realized how ineffective this tactic was.

The huge applause passed through his earpiece and entered his ears, and the vague figures in his mind were personified into various expectant, scrutinizing. indifferent, and mocking gazes.

The tinnitus started again, emanating from his left ear like sizzling electric currents.

With each sentence Thanapon sang, the part of the earpiece closer to him got louder, and the tinnitus became more intense.

His palms began to sweat continuously, and Sailub felt that his right hand holding the bow was already soaked with sweat.

He tightened his fingers, worried that the bow would slip from his hand at any moment.

He almost mechanically played the cello, with all his thoughts on whether or not he should open his mouth or not.

As long as he didn't sing, there would still be a chance for retreat, but once he did, he might face the same situation as he did four years ago the audience's uproar, the disappointed or angry eyes looking at him, and the embarrassing departure from the stage...

Thanapon had reached the last sentence, and after a slightly prolonged ending note, there was a two-second pause before the next musical phrase.

According to the agreement, as long as Sailub shook his head gently at Thanapon, Thanapon would continue singing the next part, and then complete the entire song on his own.

Sailub looked up at Thanapon, who was also looking at him, or rather, Thanapon's gaze had never left him.

As their eyes met, Sailub suddenly heard the words Thanapon had said on the music festival stage that morning "Sailub Hemmawich, I'll support you, you can trust me unconditionally."