ARC 1: The Abandoned Lover’s Salvation (8) Chapter 8: Stealing Spotlight? Fine (Part 3)

Lumiere is actually looking forward to today's event so three days ago, he waited until late at night to talk to Augustine.

"What's wrong, love? Can't sleep?" Augustine asked upon seeing Eclaire waiting for him in the living room, rushing towards him and giving him a big hug.

Eclaire didn't speak, instead he looked up to meet his eyes and he blinked cutely, as if wanting Augustine to give in.

Of course, Augustine already knew that his dear wants something from him after seeing such gestures. So he asked, "En, you're so behaved these days. Not causing trouble at all. Tell me, what do you want? I'll give it to you as a reward."

Eclaire's eyes lit up. His arms that are wrapped around Augustine's waist made their way up and hooked his lover's neck.

"Can you accompany me to a piano concert competition in three days, love?" he asked cutely while leaning his body towards the other.

Augustine laughed and immediately agreed, "Alright, I'll do my best to clear my schedule and take a day off." He said while rubbing his lover's nose.

After getting pissed off and jealous with the pictures sent by Camilo, he obviously want to go out on a date with Eclaire and claim him all to himself. That's why he is also planning to have a break with work. It just so happened that Eclaire already chose a day for them both.

Now onto the present time, Lumiere is actually watching Jen's expression through the screen in front of him that's provided by the system. Now that he's seen the sheer obsession on Jen's eyes and his lovesickness towards his lover, he no longer sympathized with him in the slightest.

Rather, he felt disgusted. The man already has a lover yet he plotted such things just to get them separated? What is he acting like a white lotus for when he's only a low class green tea bitch?

Lumiere sighed and continued acting, "G-Gus?" he called with hesitance.

"Hmm?" the other answered.

"Do you hate me when I play the piano?" he asked innocently.

Augustine took a look at his beloved, wondering why he would ask such question, "Why do you ask?"

"T-That's because… I couldn't pay more attention to you…?" he said with uncertainty.

"Why?" Augustine asked once again.

As they talk, the competition already started but the both of their attentions are only towards themselves. Eclaire looked guiltier and sadder.

"Because when I play the piano, Gus suddenly felt so far away. When I turn around to take a look, you're already close with someone else and I didn't even know. I… I thought that if I stopped playing the piano, Gus will come back to me… but Gus only got even more distant so I felt really sad. It's all my fault that Gus no longer pays attention to me. It's because I'm not obedient enough…"

As Eclaire spoke, he hung his head and fiddled with his own fingers. Augustine felt pity. He never knew how much their argument weighs in his beloved's mind. It's even gnawing at him up until now.

Now that Augustine found out that his lover stopped playing the piano for him and only started again when their relationship is starting to mend, he felt pained. After all, back when Eclaire asked him if he could play the piano and he asked why, Eclaire answered:

"I want to learn the piano so that I could play my love good songs until we grow old!"

Augustine once again gently pull Eclaire's head to lean on him and while holding his hand that's starting to feel cold, he spoke in a gentle and affectionate manner, "Eclaire is very good to me. None of it were your fault. And, I like it when you play the piano. The more you play the piano for me, the more I feel my darling's love and care. So, don't think about such sad things anymore, okay?"

Eclaire's mood slowly lightened and he looked at Augustine as if he's trying to see if what he heard is true. Augustine found it adorable so he gave him a kiss in the forehead as a confirmation.

"Ah-!" Eclaire immediately covered his forehead in surprise and looked down while his head is still attached to Augustine's shoulders. His other hand held Augustine's hand tighter, their fingers interlocked.

"En. I'll listen to Gus, love…" he spoke with a small voice, enough for Augustine to hear.

After that, they both focused on listening. Augustine isn't really a music enthusiast so he isn't as interested as Eclaire so he almost fell asleep while trying his best to stay awake. When he finally saw his dear nephew taking the stage, he finally feel like waking up and listening well.

Not because that's his nephew but because Eclaire is the one that tutored him.

Lumiere look more interested as well. That's because Richie did live up to his expectations and even had his whole family come over. Richie is the last to perform and since the kids before him all play kids' songs, some of the audiences are starting to get bored, even the judges.

But they also know that this is a piano competition for elementary kids so they already expected the outcome and are not disappointed. However, when Richie sat down, more than half of the audience are no longer inclined to listening and are actually chatting with one another in a quiet way.

Richie looked towards the audience and his eyes fixed on his Teacher Eclaire. Eclaire mouthed 'you can do it!' and gave him two thumbs up so he got rid of his nervousness and gained more confidence.

Taking a deep breath, he positioned himself and began playing.

Almost immediately, the whole audience was stunned. They all went quiet and looked at the child who's playing the piano as if it was a small toy that can be tossed around.

Richie's parents and his older siblings also listened in awe. Is this my son?! Is he my little brother?! How the hell?! He's so cool!

Lumiere listens with relish. It's obvious that the crowd will go wild, as a lover of classics, who wouldn't like Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata MVT3? Richie started off with a banger and ended gracefully.

Everyone kept quiet and he even finished standing and bowing before everyone realized that they haven't applauded yet. They instantly clapped and even gave the little prodigy a standing ovation. Too bad they couldn't shout, 'encore!'

Richie smiles brightly upon seeing his parents trying hard not to shout, "That's my son right there! That's my fucking son!" while his older brother and older sister trying hard not to say, "That's my little brother, you pieces of uneducated bums! Kneel down!"

Eclaire of course stood up and clapped. Augustine did the same and complimented, "He's really good! He's definitely on another level than everyone else!"

Lumiere gave Augustine a humble smile but he is too proud and arrogant in him mind. He roared in his heart, "Of course! Did you see those judges over there? They are going crazy about my kid! System, we raised him so well!"

[We did really well, host!]

"My remaining 57 points is all worth it!"

Eclaire smiled shyly, feeling as if he's the one being praised. Augustine noticed it and continued praising his nephew while teasingly looking at Eclaire who about to turn into a tomato because of embarrassment.

Meanwhile, the other kids were also stunned and couldn't believe what just happened. Jen also couldn't believe what he just heard. Richie, this kid, could he be hiding his piano skills? Obviously he's far better than him! He's a real prodigy! But since the kid didn't show off in class, does it mean that he's not trying to shame him? After all, he's the child's teacher.

Jen took a breath of relief.

When the awarding began, obviously Richie won the first place and got a certificate, a medal and a trophy. But that's not what made him feel proud. The judges also gave him invitation cards and contact numbers to take him to see other musical geniuses that can help him ascend in the music industry. He then gave his parents the trophy and they took many pictures on the stage. Afterwards, many adults flock towards Jen and started showering him with praises.

Since Jen taught every single kid who performed, they believed Jen is far more talented than everyone and is far more talented than Richie, his student. Jen acted humbly while accepting some token and gifts. Oh right, he also got his own award for teaching the students.

Richie scoffed and kept quiet as Jen hog the spotlight. His gaze met Eclaire who's standing on the side near the wall, waving at him goodbye. Richie doesn't want him to leave yet so he rushed to him and gave him a big hug.

"Teacher!" he exclaimed excitedly, waiting for praises.

Eclaire put his index finger on his mouth and said, "Sshh… Richie is very good! When you grow up, you'd be very amazing! Many people will fall to your skills and then you'd be recognized just as you wanted. Congratulations for winning, my dear student."

Richie's eyes twinkled in happiness. He removed his medal and urged Eclaire to crouch down. When he did, Richie put on his medal to the other.

"It's because Teacher Eclaire taught me well. Teacher Eclaire is the best!" he spoke.

Eclaire blushed slightly and pat the boy's head with a smile on his face. Just then, Eclaire saw Augustine coming over and he ran to give him a hug, "Love! Let's go home?" he asked but he saw the other's complicated expression.

"Gus?" he wondered when he noticed that the suit and tie that he's wearing is different, "Did you change clothes?"

"T-That…" the other spoke when Richie strode over.

"Dad!" he said that made Lumiere gasp.

"System what's going on?! I thought that Richie is only a nephew, not a son!"

The system being questioned: […]