Declan arrived just in time as Roe exited the waiting room and stepped onto the stage with an elegant gesture. Declan never met or heard of the girl's recital performance in person.
He knew everyone recognized who Roe and admired her piano performance. But Declan never heard of it because he thought, no matter how much he listened to Roe's playing, no one would be able to steer his heart and soul through music other than that 'person.'
Declan sat on the highest end of the chair line while watching Roe's movements, who was now bowing to salute the audience.
"Tonight's guest is Roe?"
"Roe going to play the piano?"
"And we can hear it for free??"
"Is it a dream? I don't want to wake up from this dream."
Declan could hear noises from the audience who were surprised to see Roe appear on stage. They were all surprised but looked very enthusiastic and couldn't wait to see Roe sitting on the piano chair and dancing her jaunty fingers over the piano keys.
The solo performance should have been James Wong, a most talented pianist from China. The energy and emphasis in transmitting the melody were extraordinary, making anyone shudder to hear it.
Declan agreed that James Wong would appear to shock the contestants because he himself chose that person to be the contestants' stumbling block.
Every year, this piano competition event always has a mental-break test before reaching the final round. Last year Declan made the contestants change their song into the same piece out of the blue, making five contestants drop out in the next round.
This year, at the committee team leader's request, he suggested presenting a pianist figure who has a strong aura and authority and set the contestants' assessment standards to match the same aura as this pianist. This would weaken the contestants' spirit and made them feel insecure and uneasy.
Declan agreed and chose James Wong to be the figure of the pianist. He even created a particular masterpiece and gave it to James Wong to learn from a month ago. But suddenly, the pianist had such an unexpected carelessness that his arms and legs were dislocated and swollen.
He had never heard Roe play the piano, and he did not know if she could discourage the contestants or not. If Roe's piano playing is weak, this year's piano competition's difficulty level will be considered low.
Declan hoped that at least Roe wouldn't be too weak to play his song. Especially he made the song for a male pianist, and there was no way a weak-looking female pianist like Roe could bring out the song's true colors.
The sound of noises fell silent as soon as he saw Roe sitting so elegantly on the piano chair.
The contestants, who had been waiting in the waiting room and seeing the stage atmosphere through the large television provided, decided to leave so they could see Roe's live performance directly.
Kaylee's hands rose directly above the piano keys without touching the black and white object. Unnoticed by everyone else, the audience, the contestants, including Declan, and the rest of the juries held their breath, waiting for Roe to drop her hands to start the piece.
Meanwhile, Kaylee, who was still hanging her hands on the piano keys, closed her eyes while remembering the series of musical notes she had read.
In order to learn a song that she had never heard or played before, Kaylee was willing not to eat and let her stomach feel hungry. Plus, this song was not the kind of music style that suited her taste.
This song's character was aggressive and dignified, as if she heard a combined sound formed from an orchestra. There was the sound of brass, strings, and percussion in one. But she had to play those voices in the piano sound.
She did not know who composed this piece, but judging from the melodic pattern and dynamic distribution style in each area, Kaylee suspects that the songwriter was Black Moon.
If that's true, then Kaylee would play it wholeheartedly and step out of her comfort zone. This was the first time she has played her idol's masterpiece. She never met Black Moon because that person never appeared in magazines or on television.
But every time she played Black Moon's song in her studio, Kaylee feels like she's one step closer to that person.
After memorizing the intricate parts of the song she learned, Kaylee took a deep breath and then opened her eyes. In the next instant, her two hands dropped in one loud crash, creating a chord that sounded so daunting and dominated all the contestants' aura.
Kaylee started her first chord with an enormous flame, according to the creator's wish. And the girl continued her recreation with the same passion and never extinguished. In fact, it seemed, the flames were getting bigger and bigger, making everyone break out into cold sweat.
Each of the spectators, including the juries, felt the hair on their necks lifted at every key played by Roe. Even the songwriter, Declan… stared at Roe in amazement.
He could feel a warrior's fiery spirit at Roe's play as if it wasn't a girl playing his song.
Declan didn't even feel this astonishing when he heard James Wong playing his song.
How could… a girl as elegant and frail as Roe could create such a domineering aura filled with dignity?
"Roe... she is a genius." suddenly, his black eyes sparkled at the girl who seemed to merge with the black grand piano on the stage.
Declan did not know why, in this room which was filled with many people, suddenly became empty, and his eyes could only see the figure of Roe playing the piano up there.
The way the girl performed his song, the girl's aura when playing the music aroused his previously hidden passion.
This was the second time he had this feeling. He felt a light leading him to walk towards the exit from his dark world.
The first time was when he was about to commit suicide eight years ago. However… that person's piano playing saved him.
At first, he thought Nicholas Larson was that 'person,' but… somehow… his instincts told him that Roe was that 'person.'
Is… Roe, his savior? Is Roe his first love?
[Declan: Better that Roe be his first love instead of Nick ]
Author: Roe and 'Nick' and your mother's chosen bride are the same person, duh!