Even when it hurts to play

Ray moved on to joined the corporate world after deciding not to join the family business. Parallel to that, he also has a side company that manages events and music play for private events such as weddings, corporate functions, birthday parties just about anything that is able to afford hiring them. While he is selective at which event they attend to, his team doesn't comes cheap given the publicity and good reviews.

"Ray, what songs do you want to play? we have a few events coming up and we have quite a few request on the list that we need to rehearse, this guest at a private function requested that we play river flows in you by Yiruma. They are holding a closed door event."

"Hmm River flows in you in an orchestra version?" Ray asked.

"Yeah and Love Me also by Yiruma?" His secretary explained

"Hmm who is the client? He asked again

Apparently it's not mention, the secretary only asked that we stick to the request of the song list"

"Are we coordinating the event?" He asked for clarity

"No it's handled by them, was told it's a closed door private event we just have to do the opening and then leave"

Ray was curious who would the client be to be able to appreciate Yiruma's pieces. They set on to rehearse until the actual day came.

On that day - they came early for the event to set up the stage. Everything was set in black and white. White roses laid across the stage decorating the front. And each chair was setup nicely with a stalk of rose. In front the orchestra seating, there were nicely laden white roses across the floor.

As the day went by and the few guest started to come in, seated formally. It was a small group. There were 4 songs that they had to play. Yiruma's piano pieces are all deep and enchanting - sad yet it carries deep meaning each of them. The sound of the orchestra strums deeply through the hall and once they finish the audience clapped their hands and they were escorted out. Ray managed to see the front row seat - there were many senior men and ladies seated at the event. Right before they start a young man turn up and joined the front seat. Ray couldn't make up the face as they have dimmed the lights, the gentlemen facial lines seem familiar as he made his way to his seat as he was late.

The piece of song titled Kiss the Rain was one of Ray's favourite. He improvise the notes...Ray at one point hated this song because it hurts to play, but the client insisted to have this piece hence he didn't had a choice but to play it.

Back at the studio rehearsal a week back - Ray took a while to get into the motion before having to join in the rest. He spent countless night playing and rehearsing alone. The familiar book of songs sat right in front of him. He stared at it for a few minutes as he held it and flip the pages "I can do it" he said to himself as he flip open the pages. He stopped at the title where it reads "Kiss the rain". The fingers went onto the keys....and as each melody strike, the sealed emotions unwind. He played it over and over again until his emotions were fully drained the day before he could play it in front of the rest. By the end of the day he had played it more than 10 times. His shirt were all wet with tears, his fingers red and his heart wreck to numbness. He's ready for the stage performance. That helped him pull through to the day with the client it self.

Back at the stage, his playing was perfect, while the fingers played and he drew out every note, the multiple rehearsals help him a lot. It fits in nicely with the rest as how they have rehearse if. The audience were listening attentively, it was mesmerising. To Ray, it was just another piece of music. Ray and team finish off and bowed before leaving the stage.

The audience went about gathering and chatting with one another after that.

"What do you think? Shall we use them for the MV? One of the man asked, this exact setup would be good for it, we've had it captured earlier - can set it up as a preview"

"I think they are good we should use them, the gentlemen on the piano ... is he Ray?" Another gentlemen asked

"Mnn" Rain answered to a group of impressed audience.

"Ta Ge" Rain turned as he heard from a distance while he was dropping off his refreshment cup by the side table at the end of the hall "What are you doing here?" Ray asked.

"Assessing which group to use for an MV that we are working on." Rain, Ray's elder brother explained .

"So Ah Kong ventured into this as well?" Ray ask as the atmosphere turned quiet between them. The brothers have not seen each other for sometime.

"When are you coming home for dinner? Ah Ma missed you, it's time to take on some responsibility both ma and pa have not seen you in ages since you didn't come back for Chinese New Year last year." Rain ignored his brother's question earlier and went on with his.

"I.. I was still mourning for..."

"What nonsense is this?! He's not even your family member and you left your family mourning for him! Come on Ti, it's enough we have to grow up" The elder brother snapped as they both spoke at the corner of the hall. A long kept frustration by Rain erupted. Ray was always the one that gets away with all the nonsense while he had to shoulder much of the family's responsibility.

"Anyway pa and ma knows I'm meeting you today, so come back for dinner. Blood runs thicker than water so let bygones be bygones, besides pa and ma not growing any younger and so are both ah kong and ah ma, they miss you a lot."

"We are always lenient with you, but as your Ta Ge you should really heed my advice, you can be a great help if you come back and join us, at least help the family out. By the way, you played well just now. Ma and pa would be proud after all they have invested in pushing you to pick this up since small, so come back. The grand piano in the living room is still waiting for you. Ah ma wipes it everyday she doesn't let the maid touch it"

Ray felt guilty...it's true that he misses home and he needs to move on after Jon's passing. Though the mourning may never heal his heart completely but he knows he had to start living his life just as Jon would have wanted him to.

"I'll come home for dinner tomorrow - I'm not ready today."

"I can get Chan to pick you up, pack your luggage and stay for the weekend, I'll let the Ah ma know she will have the maid to clean up your room, Ma locked it ever since you left, they miss you so don't disappoint them"

Chan was our faithful driver which serves dad and mum while grandpa and grandma had their own driver.

"How did you know I'm back?" I ask.

Pa had been asking his contacts to watch over your where about so he knows.

"No one will be mad, so don't worry about it, they just want you back home"