Elson glanced at Kathrine as the performance reached the middle part. He raised an eyebrow, seeing how focused she was on listening—there was even a glint of interest in her eyes.
'Some of those I've gone with to these kinds of concerts, who aren't musically inclined, would show signs of sleepiness due to the nature of the sounds. But it seems I was prejudiced,' he thought, shaking his head with a smile.
"How was it?" he asked her once they were out.
Kathrine thought for a bit before she started explaining what she felt during the performance.
The moment the orchestra began playing, she sat up straighter in her chair. She had heard The Four Seasons before, but this time, she was really paying attention. She wasn't just listening—she was trying to understand.
Not only because of who she was with, but as she listened to Justin playing over and over again, she may not have wished to play an instrument, but she wanted to understand these musical pieces that did not have any lyrics to pull you in.
The first notes of Spring filled the hall, light and lively, like birds singing on a bright morning. The solo violin danced through the melody, fast and playful, while the other instruments created a soft, steady background.
Then came Summer. At first, the music was slow and heavy, like a hot afternoon with no breeze. But suddenly, the mood changed—the violins rushed into a wild, stormy section. The notes were sharp and quick, like raindrops hitting the ground.
When Autumn started, the sound was warm and cheerful. It felt like people laughing and dancing, celebrating the harvest. The music had a steady rhythm, like footsteps moving in time. The violinist played with ease, making it seem almost effortless.
Finally, Winter arrived. The first notes were high and sharp, like the cold wind biting at your skin. The fast, repeated notes reminded her of walking through deep snow, each step crisp and careful. But then, the music softened, like sitting by a warm fire, watching the snow fall outside.
"My mind was still filled with the sounds and feelings of the music. It was definitely worth listening to. No wonder you returned to hear them again. The orchestra was amazing," she ended with a bright smile.
Elson blinked before he started laughing.
"Wha—What happened?" Kathrine suddenly felt uncertain about her answer.
"Did I say something wrong?" she asked.
"No," Elson took a deep breath.
"I just didn't expect you to go into such detail to explain what you watched."
"Should I not have?" she asked uncertainly.
Elson shook his head and placed a hand on top of her head, "You did great. For someone who isn't as inclined to music as we are, you explained it in such great detail."
She bit the inside of her cheek as she felt butterflies in her stomach.
Just then, Elson's phone rang.
"Just a moment," he said.
"Hello?"
"…"
"Don't worry, I'll buy you your favorite snack from here," he chuckled.
"…"
"I won't forget this time, I promise," he laughed.
Kathrine watched him speak, and she could see the happiness in his eyes.
"I know, I know. I'll be back before you know it. I love you," he said before ending the call.
He shook his head with a smile, "Shall we go eat? I'm famished."
"Sure," she replied with a smile.
The two chatted more about what they had watched and even agreed that if time permitted, they'd watch another orchestra performance in the future.
He walked her to the nearest bus station before bidding her goodbye.
'This is fine, right? I'll just treasure this happiness of having such feelings for someone,' Kathrine thought before boarding the bus that had just arrived.
…
"Are you not going home yet?"
She looked up from the stack of books in front of her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
Justin raised a music book, "Studying."
"Oh, you study too?"
He squinted his eyes.
"Anyway, I'm having fun with my studies right now, so no, not yet."
"Is that so?" he replied.
Then he started walking away.
"You won't wait for me?" she asked again.
"Do you want me to?" he smirked.
She grimaced, "As if. Go home already."
"By the way, I heard it was you who accompanied my cousin to that concert. Bet you were so happy."
"What if I was?" she gloated.
"Well, not that I care, but I guess I should warn you—he has a girlfriend. Don't go hurting yourself and crying to us. That would be troublesome."
She laughed sarcastically, "I already know. Plus, what do you mean 'cry'? Nope, not a chance. I admire him and like him, but that doesn't mean I'd cry after finding out he has a girlfriend."
Justin was a little stunned by her answer.
Kathrine smirked, "You think I'd be moping around? Nope, not a chance."
Justin shrugged, "Well, whatever."
Not that he cared much, but seeing how happy she looked before, he felt like reminding her that the other person already had someone beside them.
Kathrine watched him walk away before shrugging.
"Was that worry?" she muttered.
She chuckled while shaking her head.
She may have felt disappointed, but she was not deeply hurt—just a bit sad.
Once she was done, it was already a few minutes past seven in the evening. Usually, the library closed at eight.
She stretched.
"I guess I was quite productive today," she sighed in contentment.
After fixing her things, she walked out of the school, only to chance upon Justin, who was also just about to go home.
"Did you wait for me?" she teased.
He raised an eyebrow, "It seems you were the one who waited for me."
"Wow, such a thick face you have there. Can you still feel it?"
He shrugged. He was a bit tired from all the practice, especially since the competition was getting closer, so he had no energy to banter with her.
Despite his words, he walked alongside her.
"You'll walk me to the station?" she asked in surprise.
She could tell he was also tired.
"I don't have to," he replied, turning around.
She grabbed his arm, "I'm joking. Walk me to the station."
He shook his head and walked her to the station.