Chapter 15: End of date

Lifting the keyboard cover, I ran my fingers over the black and white keys. I couldn't recall if I had ever touched the keys before or played this instrument, but from somewhere—completely unclear where—I remembered all the octaves and knew the magical melody that could emerge if I just touched them.

As soon as I saw the piano, I felt an irresistible urge to play it today. I only hoped I wouldn't disgrace myself.

"Please, may I have everyone's attention," the hostess of the restaurant said, drawing all eyes to her. "Today, a good friend of mine has decided to perform his original composition for everyone. I ask for a bit of indulgence, and if you enjoy his performance, please don't hold back your applause."

"Don't worry, Madame Alexandra, we'll definitely give him a chance," one of the patrons responded. I was immensely grateful to the hostess for her support. Her announcement carried subtle undertones, but the main thing was how she introduced me as her good friend. That introduction alone ensured that, out of respect for her, the guests wouldn't publicly disparage me.

Some might even assume I was her student since Madame Alexandra was a renowned pianist. Whatever the case, her kindness touched me deeply. I ran my fingers over a few keys to test the sound. Suddenly, a flood of memories engulfed me: a solitary figure playing the piano with grace and spirit, fingers moving deftly to create a mesmerizing symphony.

It felt like just yesterday that I had played this exquisite instrument. I remembered the sensation of attempting to convey something on a blank sheet of paper for the first time. Back then, I had felt like an artist overnight. Now, I felt like a musician who had spent years refining his craft.

Ah, another mystery. First an artist, now a musician. Who exactly was I in my past life? If all this were merely a hobby, my family must have been quite wealthy to allow me to explore such creative pursuits.

I hoped that one day I would restore all the fragmented pieces of my memory and piece together the larger picture.

"Good evening," I addressed the restaurant's patrons sincerely. "I am about to perform a composition of my own creation. Or perhaps it's more accurate to say this music came to me in a dream. I dedicate this melody to my companion, Victoria. Today, I discovered that she's often frustrated by the lack of compositions in the world capable of truly impressing her. The melody I'm about to play is called River Flows in You. I hope it not only resonates with her but also brings joy to all of you."

Yes, I was about to present the world with River Flows in You, a masterpiece by the famous South Korean composer-pianist Yiruma.

[A/N: I have posted the link of the piece in paragraph comment.]

I took a deep breath as my fingers began to move. A gentle, beautiful, and light melody flowed from the piano. For music to sound as it should, one must understand the emotions the composer poured into it.

A skilled pianist focuses not just on technical mastery but also on the feelings in their heart. I played effortlessly, as though it wasn't my first time in this restaurant or on this piano. The guests froze, listening intently to each note.

Initially, they must have thought I was just an amateur. Even if I were Madame Alexandra's student, my youthful appearance wouldn't have allowed them to form a favorable opinion too soon. However, after a few moments, they stopped analyzing and simply immersed themselves in the melody.

The restaurant owner sat at a vacant table, eyes closed as she absorbed my performance. It was hard to discern her thoughts; her expression was serene, with a faint, peaceful smile. I understood her completely.

This melody fills the soul with tranquility and serenity, much like a timeless classic one could listen to endlessly. Yet, among everyone present, I was most interested in Victoria's reaction. After all, I was performing primarily for her. Her eyes sparkled with an intense light.

It wasn't just the music that had captivated her. As a journalist, she had clearly found sensational material in my performance. Still, my instincts told me that this melody left a profound impression on her. I felt as though I had managed to join the ranks of her idols.

The melody ended, leaving the hall in absolute silence for a moment. But then, applause erupted from every corner. Patrons, the restaurant owner, and even the staff clapped enthusiastically. It seemed I had done well.

"Play it again," an elderly man requested.

"Yes, please, we'd all love to hear that delightful melody once more," another guest chimed in.

Several people asked me to repeat the performance or play something else, but I wasn't inclined to indulge them further. Today, I had performed this piece for one person alone. Perhaps, someday in the future, if I decided to pursue music professionally, I might satisfy the audience's desires.

I apologized to the guests, declaring that my performance was over for the evening.

As I was walking to my table, Madame Alexandra stopped me. "Alex, this was the best piece of music I have heard in the last fifty years. Tell me, is it true that you composed it?"

"It is a melody from the world of my dreams." My answer left her satisfied, and her eyes expressed notes of admiration. "You are very talented... I am sure that your composition today will become a classic. I hope that in the future you will be able to please us with even more masterpieces."

"I will try," I answered in a humble voice.

"Where did you learn to play, Alex?"

"I'm afraid I'll have a hard time answering that. The thing is, I've lost my memory and I don't remember a lot of things."

"That's sad," the hostess said in a sorrowful tone. "Have you ever thought about releasing an album? I'm sure with your talent, it won't be a problem to create a few more successful compositions. Even if they can't compare to today's... I could help you with that."

Releasing an album? Easy peasy! Coming up with melodies that are no worse than "River Flows in You"? Even a hundred! And by the way, that's not such a bad idea.

"Thank you, Madame Alexandra. I'll think about it."

"Okay. When you have some free time, come to my restaurant, I'll introduce you to my husband. Dinner will be on the house. And now I think I'll go, I won't bother you. I hope you'll have a good time." Waving goodbye, she left the room with a good-natured smile.

I sat down at the table, and a pair of glowing eyes looked at me. "Alex, I must admit that I liked this composition," Vicky said, trying to remain calm.

"So I couldn't stand in the same row with Heinrich Mortes?" Here her mask of calm cracked, and she let out all the boiling steam.

"How much talent do you have? How could you create such a work? I can't even imagine who you could have been before losing your memory! You've published four books, one better than the other… Now I find out that you can also play the piano. Plus, you write such magnificent compositions. How else are you going to surprise me?!"

"Please, calm down…"

"I love music, Alex. Especially piano melodies. And your performance today amazed me to the depths of my soul. I experienced emotions I've never felt before… Thank you. Oh, how amazing my gentleman is. I can feel the envious glances of those around me," she tilted her head to the side, feigning shyness.

Yes, she loves to show off… In order not to focus on this, I decided to change the topic of conversation.

"Vicky, I have prepared a small gift for you for this evening," I pretended to put my hand in my pocket to pull a book out of my inventory. "I hope you like it," I placed the manuscript on the table.

She began to examine it carefully, turning over several pages. "Did you write it by hand? Is this your unpublished book?"

"Yes."

"Oh my God, does it have pictures? It's so cute," Vale giggled, examining the drawings. "The Little Prince... Is it a children's fairy tale?"

"You could say so. But this book is more intended for an adult audience. And I'm sure many will like it."

"Are you saying that this children's book will become as popular as your previous works?" she asked in a slightly doubtful tone. "It is quite short, isn't it? What is it about it that makes you boast of such self-confidence?"

"When you read it, you will understand. Then you can tell me what is so special about it."

"I believe you... Hmm, but this gift can be called priceless. If this book becomes as popular as you say, then this first handwritten copy can eventually be put up for auction. Countless of your fans will want to buy it... So, I don't get it," she began to turn the book around, as if looking for something. "Where's the autograph? Without it, this book loses several points of significance at once." She opened her purse and handed me a pen. "Please give me your autograph. I am your devoted fan," the girl said with her characteristic pretense.

However, there was a hint of reality in her tone. It seems that she really likes my works. The fact that she carries a pen even in her purse did not surprise me at all, because she is a journalist, and missing important material due to the lack of writing utensils is the height of unprofessionalism. Having signed the book, I returned it to its new owner.

"So when will you publish it?"

"Not soon. The thing is, I want to buy a book publishing house and publish my books myself, so I don't know yet when readers will see this book."

"Alex, you have big plans, but you shouldn't do things hastily. The fact that you were able to release four literary masterpieces should not mislead you, you shouldn't go on about your past achievements. A person cannot be successful forever," Victoria warned me, clearly fearing that I was getting too arrogant.

And I don't blame her; the words she said are absolutely true. And now, she is clearly convinced that The Little Prince, which I gave her, will not be able to win the love of a wide audience. If you release books hastily, it will greatly affect the quality... I'm afraid this rule does not apply to me. I have a rather unique case.

"Thank you for your advice, Vicky. But believe me, I am fully aware of my actions. Listen, if you are so worried, then maybe you can help me?"

"Help? And how?"

"With your support. When I decide to publish this book, I hope you will be there, because you have the very first copy," I said with a slight smile.

"Then you've just secured my support," Miss Vale said as our food arrived. She put the manuscript in her purse, and we began to eat together. My companion praised the wine I recommended and expressed her sympathy that she could not share it with me. We slowly enjoyed the food and peacefully talked about various topics. Time flew by unnoticed, and soon the clock struck eight.

We left the restaurant, promising that we would definitely come back here again. Since we did not want to end the evening so easily, we decided to take a walk along Rickman Street. Despite the fact that it was already quite late, this place was in full swing.

People often take night walks here. On this street, you can find a variety of entertainment acts: clowns, mimes, and various living statues. Rickman Street used to be a forbidden area for peaceful residents. Street gang showdowns would break out here every now and then, and numerous criminals loved to hang out here. But with the arrival of the bat, everything changed.

This point of stay for criminals has become a favorite hunting ground for the Dark Knight. And since then, villains have avoided this street. Therefore, it is easy to find Batman figures here, as well as various things with his emblem.

Despite the fact that our gloomy detective causes fear of the unknown in most residents, they still love and support their protector very much. While Vicky and I were examining the local attractions, one street artist attracted our attention. He offered to draw our joint portrait. Unfortunately for him, my companion did not want to take part in this. However, I had an idea, and I asked the artist to sell me all his tools along with a white canvas. At first, he did not want to part with his goods. But when I offered him a price of a thousand dollars, with a joyful expression on his face, he handed me everything he had.

"Alex, just don't tell me that you can also draw?" Vale said with a heavy sigh.

"I am multi-talented ... Let's go, there was a bench nearby." Having reached the right place, I invited her to sit down, and I began to prepare for the future work. "It will take some time to express your beauty on this white canvas of paper. Why don't you read the book I gave you for now? When you finish reading, your portrait will be ready."

"Good. I myself can't wait to get acquainted with your new creation, because I will be the first one to read it," with a slight smile, she unfolded the page. "I also really want to see what you will come up with, Mister Artist. When drawing on this book, you didn't seem to try very hard." While she is immersed in the magical world of the book, I draw the first line on the white canvas. I stop and carefully examine the red-haired girl opposite. I do this not only to correctly transfer the contours of her face to paper, but to see her impressions of the lines in the book.

This fairy tale story shows how important it is to preserve a child's vision of life. Growing up, people stop understanding many important things that are true values. This is one of the few books that people read with equal interest and pleasure at a young age and reread when they are adults.

When Victoria first started reading, her face did not express much interest. One could even say that she was a little bored. But over time, her eyes began to show strong enthusiasm. She immersed herself in the world of the little prince and already traveled around the planets with him. Victory... Now I can confidently say that this book has conquered its first reader.

While she was finishing my manuscript, I almost finished the portrait. It turned out even better than I expected. The final touch... and it's done. As soon as I put the pencil down, I heard my object of creativity close the book.

"Well, how was it?" I asked with a slight mockery. "Did you like it?"

She looked at me as if she wanted to see how my brain works. "Yes, I liked it."

"And what do you say?"

"This is... a real masterpiece. Now this is not just a gift, this is my treasure. To tell you the truth, at first I didn't believe that this book could gain any fame, but now I am sure that it will become a classic that everyone should read. Alex, your literary talent is a real discovery. I am amazed by it every time... This book seems to be permeated with a slight sadness mixed with simple, but at the same time such profound wisdom."

"So, did you like my gift?" I asked with an ironic smile.

"What a stupid question? Of course, yes!"

"In that case, will you accept another gift?" I unfolded the canvas. "Do you like it? Be lenient, I tried very hard."

On the white canvas of paper was painted a girl sitting on a bench and enthusiastically reading a book.

"Beautiful ... I didn't even know that I was so beautiful," she made a caustic remark.

"You know, I'm tired of being surprised by now. As they say, a talented person is talented in everything. And your talent indicator broke a long time ago, so I will not say much, but simply take this canvas and hang it in my home. Wait," she began to carefully examine the portrait. "Your signature is missing again! Remember for the future, no matter what you do, always put your autograph," she said important words for the future.

"I understand you, Miss Vale," I took the brush and left my signature. After wandering around for a while, we decided it was time to go back. I drove my companion home. Basically, we could say that today's date was over.

"Alex, it was a wonderful evening," Vicky whispered, leaning towards me and kissing me lightly on the lips. "I'm glad I didn't lose face."

"Oh, you did much more. Would you like to come visit?"

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