It seemed like I was the only one prepared for the big day, for I awoke to a big hurry.
We made a temporary stay at Daniella's place as it was more convenient and borrowed the guest room. Lumi and I slept together, but today, I did not recall when she rose.
I rubbed around my eyes and freshened myself up. I was awake until late last night, trying to polish up my research. My dark eyes sunk to my mouth and my stubble was growing out. Of course I could not look unkempt on Lumi's mini debut. I cleaned myself as thorough as I could as I listened to the piano and the singing from the living room.
"Yes, as you go up, remember to direct air forwards and faster!"
"Keep your lips firm!"
"Don't squeeze your throat! Push the air into hard palate!"
"Remember to not to close your vowels! Let it out more, with firm lips!"
"Keep that tongue low, yes, yes like that!"
Lumi stopped rehearsing the moment I stepped into her living. She cut off, her eyes brightening, her body a catapult. She launched herself into my arms and made herself comfortable.
"Dad! You're awake!" she said, the glee in her voice unmissable.
I chuckled at her silly antics. Her cheeks were irresistible. I gave them both a little tug before I flicked her forehead. "Don't run away from your rehearsal. But yes, happy sunshine, dumpling."
"Happy sunshine?" Daniella asked from the sidelines, her arms folded, her eyebrows sharp. She was pushing the stern teacher side of her.
"It means good morning," I answered, giving Lumi some scratches under the chin. She begged for some rest time in my mind. Her pouting tone was as irresistible as her pinchable cheeks. I complied without second thought. "Give her a little break, alright? It's still early."
I felt Lumi's hopeful eyes land on me, but I was holding eye contact with Daniella. She broke off first, shrugging, her voice softening.
"This teacher thing is so worrisome," she said, scratching her forehead, sighing. "I don't know how people can do this. You're confident you got everything, ice cream?"
"The unfazed emperor and the frantic eunuchs," I commented.
Daniella ignored me. She turned to Lumi, whose nods were a fierce rattle.
"Yes, Sister Ella, I'm confident! I won't make any mistakes. I'll make you two proud!" She paused. Her voice grew firm. "I won't make mistakes because I'm doing the thing I love. Everything is part of the passion, so I won't miss them!"
"Yes, that's the spirit!" I cheered along. Even Daniella's stoic face broke into the smile.
"Alright, alright. A little break will do. I'm dead as a log for waking up this early."
"I'll make a hearty breakfast, then. What do the two of you want?"
"French toast! Pancakes!
"With extra chocolate glaze!"
My gaze fell towards the expectant Daniella and Lumi. "Isn't sugar bad for your singing voice? It gets stuck in your throat and whatnot..."
"Not for me! I'm desensiztised."
"Yes, what Sister Ella said."
I hung a wry smile, heading into the kitchen, ignoring their burst of laughter.
Well, anything to make you happy.
***
Breakfast was a little too boisterous and rowdy. The laughter, the cheering, the energy all dissipated in the car ride to the park. I saw Daniella sitting and driving stiffly and Lumi staring at the window. Their expressions screamed doom and gloom, as if a grey storm cloud floated atop their heads.
"Okay, you two were so excited inside. Are cars still scary and uncomfortable, dumpling?"
Lumi raised her head, her eyes darkening. "No, Dad. I have an upset stomach."
I hugged her and patted her bowed head. "Cold feet, it seems. One o' clock is still long from now. You have plenty of time to adjust. For now, try to relax."
Lumi didn't answer me, but she nudged herself closer to me. My heart softened like the marshmallow treats she had snacked on moments ago. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and hummed the song she would be performing.
That seemed to calm her. The silence in the car was not so stifling no more, and my mind began wandering with the blurry cityscape.
Daniella made a couple more turns before her deep voice echoed in the car. "We're here."
I stepped out with Lumi in my arms. She clung the helm of my shirt a bit tight. I gave her a reassuring smile and talked to her in my mind. She needed that extra bit of comforting, so I talked to her about where she would be performing.
These were the hard-earned results of my research, so they were fresh in my mind.
"This is where you'll be performing, dumpling. You were here yesterday with your Sister Ella, right? This is the community park of her college."
Daniella chimed in as she led the way. "Yes, but not only my school. We share the park with the Curtain's Academy of Fine Arts that's down and cross the street. It's beautiful, isn't it? There's an open field with a meadow of flowers as well as a giant maze of trees with a fountain and treehouses. "
"Yes, dumpling. You'll be performing in the open field to a bunch of love-torn idiots," I added. "Near the benches and the gazebos."
"Picnics are the new hot topic lately," Daniella explained. "People used to go there as comfort to cry when they're heartbroken in love or when their auditions fail. Now it's become sort of place for blind dates. Of course, that won't chase away the singles. That's why we're here, to help them get over their past love and change their spineless and gutless hearts for us!"
"I'm not convinced here," I grumbled. "I still think the street market is better."
"It's too loud there which hurts Lumi's singing. It's too crowded there, so it makes recording us difficult. Plus, food is comforting. They can't be sad whilst eating delicious food."
"Why do we need to make them sad, anyways? It sounds like you have a personal vendetta for singletons."
"For the effect, you know? Cute, sweet, and little Lumi singing a heartbreak song will do ten times the damage to their weak hearts. Her singing voice isn't suited for livening up a street market, anyways. Gosh, you're such a dimwit. You spent a whole week researching, yet you still don't understand?"
Lumi giggled repeatedly at Daniella's sharp retorts. She raised her head at me, her eyes glimmering.
"You're so smart, Dad. You found all this out?"
Daniella stopped in our tracks, scoffing. "Hey, hey, hey, ice cream. Give credit where credit is due. I connected all the dots. Your dull-minded Dad over there only blindly read stuff," she said.
Lumi realized we were trying to cheer her up. She passed her smile to Daniella, her eyes firm, her fist clenched, her arms raised.
"Thanks to you too, Sister Ella. I know what to do know. I'll make them cry until they have no tears left!"