Chapter 101: The second song, for loved ones

[As the days passed, you and Eden continued your studies, but compared to Eden, your popularity in the outside world, or on the Internet, was rising at a terrifying speed.]

[As mentioned before, you are used to singing on the street and recording videos to upload to the Internet. Although you yourself don't do much management, you simply record the appearance of yourself playing the songs, but unknowingly, you still accumulate a lot of fans.]

[When you are playing on the street, sometimes people will come up to take a photo with you and say they are your fans... you are surprised that so many people like to watch on your account?]

[When you returned to school, you casually asked a question and found that most of the students in the school also followed your account... This is really surprising.]

[However, you are also very happy; at least this proves that your music is recognized and liked by everyone.]

[You started to interact with fans on your account... and your actions made the fans even happier. After all, you, a "cold" performer, were finally willing to talk to them, and you were surprisingly easy to get along with, breaking the image that many fans had imagined.]

[You can see many people's messages, blessings, praises, and even thanks from some people... It seems that your music has helped them at some point.]

[You responded to those sincere thanks one by one, and stated that you would continue to release music videos in the future. By the way, you reminded all fans that even if they found you offline, please do not come up to take photos when you are playing, as this will disturb other people who are listening to the song... When you finish playing or take a break in the middle of the performance, you will be willing to cooperate with them.]

[This not-too-excessive request naturally received the approval and consent of the fans, and at the same time, some people began to be curious about your whereabouts... It seems that someone is planning to come directly to your door to find you.]

[You didn't respond, but just said that you wanted to find me. I can look forward to running into you by chance on a street somewhere. After all, the place where you perform on the street is different every time.]

[Eden naturally learned about your situation and sent you congratulations and blessings... Correspondingly, her experience was more stable and "formal"—she performed with the school's drama troupe and soon got the position of "leading role," and also came into the sight of many people.]

[Obviously, her talent has been recognized by others... Unfortunately, people nowadays don't particularly like classical music, nor do they often watch operas, which limits Eden's fame to a very small range... But Eden is not discouraged. She tells you that she will definitely let people witness the unique weight and beauty of history in the future.]

[And you naturally offer her congratulations and blessings.]

[Come to think of it, you encountered an interesting thing along the way... During a street performance, you were approached by two strange people.]

[Judging from their appearance, they should be a couple. After hearing your performance, they simply stayed to listen and stayed for the entire afternoon, as if they had nothing else to do. During the performance, they also paid you extra to order several songs of different styles. You played them one by one, and received praise and applause from the two of them.]

[After you finish playing and have dealt with the fans who were lucky enough to find you and patiently waited for you to finish playing, the two of them approach you to discuss things.]

[The two are indeed a couple. The husband's name is Gunn and the wife's name is Fidel. Both of them admire art, but they have no talent, so they transformed themselves into agents to get closer to those shining stars, get close to those arts, and help them move to a bigger and more glorious stage.]

[They once tried to bring idols into the art world and helped several young idols successfully transform. However, after traffic stars became the mainstream, the two who persisted in pursuing art were excluded and eventually became marginalized. Apart from their original connections, they had nothing left.]

[Fortunately, the couple had saved enough money in their early years, so after being excluded, they left the company, got married, and went on a trip to relax.]

[Unexpectedly, this trip brought unexpected gains... When they heard your performance, they realized that you would shine in the art world in the future, and they also found information about you on the Internet... At first, they also thought that you were a person who pursued "traffic," but after ordering a few songs in person, they gave up that rude idea.]

[They negotiate with you and want you to become their artist, guaranteeing that with your ability and their connections, you will definitely become a big star.]

[In response, you just smiled and refused, saying that you would rather finish your studies first... Your attitude made them more certain of your pursuit of art. They were not annoyed by your rejection but just left their contact information and occasionally guided you on how to manage your personal online account.]

[After a while, you get along with them and become friends.]

[It's a good thing, isn't it? You have two more friends, and... your new friends have a lot of connections. If Eden wants to step onto that dazzling stage in the future... it will definitely be easier, right?]

[Hmm? As for why you don't go? That's... naturally because of personal pursuits. After all, if you perform on the street... you can always see a lot of people, and occasionally hear stories told by all kinds of people.]

[Whether it is the office workers in a hurry, the children who are happy after school, or the elderly who enjoy the lively atmosphere around them... all kinds of people will gather around you because of the music.]

[Maybe they don't know you, but they are happy to talk to you and discuss your music. Some brave people will even dance to your music, causing everyone to cheer and applaud.]

[You are happy with this and are willing to witness everything.]

[It's just that in this daily life filled with cheerful tunes, a short section of sad tune suddenly interrupts.]

[Sister Teresa... is leaving.]

————————

"Sister Teresa..."

"Ah... child, you're here..."

Sister Teresa was lying on the bed, with various instruments placed around her to monitor and maintain her life... The soft sound of the electrocardiogram monitor echoed in the slightly empty church, and the sobbing of others could be heard from time to time around her.

"Why... don't you go to the hospital..."

"I have been there... Child, nothing has happened to me. I am just... old and can't stand the fatigue."

Sister Teresa's tone was no different from usual, even her intonation was light. Except that her speaking speed was much slower than before, there seemed to be nothing abnormal... She was even able to sit up from the bed and gently hold Nozomi's hand.

The rough hands once again touched the dexterous and beautiful hands, but compared with before, the beautiful hands... were wider than the rough hands, and Sister Teresa could no longer completely cover Nozomi's hands with her own hands.

However, sister Teresa smiled and seemed very happy.

"Child... please don't worry. I haven't left. I am just like him in the past... returning to His side together. Together with Him... I am watching over you and accompanying you."

"My child, don't be too attached to me and don't keep your eyes on me. Just keep moving forward... You are on the right path and will definitely move towards a bright future."

"But... but..."

Nozomi's voice was choked with sobs, and warm tears kept flowing from the corners of his eyes... In front of her, he had never held back anything, but because of this, he couldn't stop his tears.

She knew clearly that tears were not something to be avoided, and crying was not something to be embarrassed about... These were exactly what she taught him. But because of this, Nozomi felt sad instead. He didn't want her to see him like this, as he had an inexplicable... sense of shame.

"It's okay, kid... there's nothing wrong with expressing your emotions as you feel."

Sister Teresa slowly raised her hand and touched Nozomi's subconsciously lowered face, gently wiping away the tears from the corners of his eyes... The warm feeling coming from her fingertips made her smile again.

He is still so well-behaved.

"Come to think of it, kid... I don't think I've heard the song you wrote recently... Um... Can you satisfy my curiosity?"

Mother Teresa said this, half-jokingly, as she gestured to the piano in the middle of the church that was used for the choir.

"Even the musical instruments are prepared for you?"

Perhaps because the end was approaching, sister Teresa's words were no longer so serious and calm but instead carried a bit of the frivolity and liveliness of a young person.

"...um"

Nozomi did not hesitate, but wiped his tears, then raised the corners of his mouth slightly, responded with a smile, stood up, and was about to leave.

"Child."

"Yeah, I'm here."

"Arrange your clothes... again."

As she spoke, she wanted to stand up and help but was quickly supported by the nuns around her. Nozomi also waved his hands, indicating that there was no need to do so... he had grown up.

While quickly tidying up his appearance, he quickly glanced around, looking for something that could serve as inspiration.

He sat alone in front of the piano, opened the lid, and habitually tried a few keys to confirm the tone, and then... his thoughts became a little messy again.

He didn't know which song to play. Those tunes were too cheerful. In his current mood, he couldn't play those songs well... and now he wanted to write a song specifically for sister Teresa.

He looked up at the church illuminated by the setting sun. A beautiful winged person was reflected on the colorful glazed tiles. It looked like an angel... He turned around and saw sister Teresa, who was full of expectation, and the other people around her.

His eyes unconsciously fell on the window sill of the church, where he could see a few pure white pigeons.

With a slight movement of his fingertips, he could feel the faint, gentle breeze coming in through the crack in the door.

Nozomi... seemed to have some feelings.

Gently placing his hands on the black and white keys, he slowly pressed the notes.

The voice was very light and soft, as gentle as a pure white feather falling from the wings of an angel.

"I took the supermarket flowers from the windowsill~"

"threw the day old tea from the cup~"

The gentle voice flowed out slowly along with the sound of the piano, like a mountain stream and like a breeze in the woods.

It was mixed with gratitude, thanks, and also with longing for the past.

There was no other sound but his singing and the sound of his piano, echoing in the church along with the gentle breeze.

"Oh I'm in pieces, it's tearing me up, but I know~"

"A heart that's broken is a heart that's been loved~"

sister Teresa smiled, very happily and joyfully, because she recognized that this was the song that Nozomi had thought of on the spur of the moment. This was... the song that Nozomi had dedicated to her.

She smiled contentedly and no longer forced herself to hold on. She just lay back, leaning against the soft pillow, and stared at him silently with a look of satisfaction.

The sun gradually sets in the west, and the sunlight shines through the colorful glass and obliquely into the church, dyeing everything around with a layer of golden glow. It is not strong, nor dazzling, but it attracts everyone's attention.

"So I'll sing Hallelujah~"

"You were an angel in the shape of my mum~"

She could see it, see His gaze falling on her, see His light shining on her... tenderly and lovingly.

She could see a blue breeze blowing, squeezing in through the crack in the church's unclosed door, bringing warmth and gentleness.

She could see white feathers falling, gently landing from the white doves that were resting on the doors and windows.

"And when God takes you back he'll say Hallelujah~"

"You're home~"

In a trance, she could see that beside him was a woman with six wings on her back. She had a gentle smile on her face, and an atmosphere of happiness and relaxation surrounded her, like a warm breeze.

In the dim light, she could see long emerald hair like leaves in the forest and hair accessories like flowers on treetops; she could see the azure color surrounding the six wings... The breeze around her was also dyed with color and became visible; she could see the double [rings] hanging above her head, one azure, one white, moving in a rhythmic rhythm like breathing.

[■■...]

She seemed to notice Sister Teresa's gaze, raised her head slightly, and gave her a smile as warm as the breeze.

Ah... so... that's it.

sister Teresa's gaze rested on her and she understood something.

Hmmm~

Nozomi's piano music continued, and the slanting sunlight was like a golden stream, flowing slowly and covering the black and white piano keys bit by bit.

Nozomi played the piano very slowly, and the interlude was particularly long, as if this could prolong sister Teresa's life, as if this could keep her.

only...

"You... have always... been here."

Sister Teresa stared at her. Everything around her became blurry, but her figure became clearer and clearer.

The golden sunlight came with her, like the holy light of heaven.

She could see her slowly walking towards her. Against the backdrop of the golden light and the blue and white wings, she looked so beautiful and holy.

She smiled with tenderness and kindness, and her light blue pupils revealed a gentleness that seemed to be real.

She was close... very close, along with that warm gold.

"I know... you... are always... here."

sister Teresa subconsciously raised her hand, and the golden stream shone on the back of her hand, bringing a warm touch.

Ah… ah… she… held her own hand.

Mother Teresa smiled with satisfaction, looking at the hand that she was holding, looking at the gentle smile on her face, sister Teresa... closed her eyes with satisfaction, and the hand that was touching the sunlight also dropped down, no longer moving.

Beep——

The instrument nearby made a constant sound, indicating that a person's heart was no longer beating.

The people around were in a panic for a moment but soon fell silent, leaving only great sadness and faint sobs.

Hmmm~

Nozomi's piano playing continued... no change, and no stopping.

"Hallelujah..."

His voice trembled slightly but soon calmed down.

The tears that had just been wiped away began to flow again, falling drop by drop on the piano keys.

But he didn't stop, he... wanted to finish the song.

"You were an angel in the shape of my mum~"

"You got to see the person I have become~"

"Spread your wings and I know~"

"That when God took you back, he said Hallelujah you're home~"

After singing the last word and playing the last note, Nozomi slowly withdrew his hand and gently and softly closed the piano cover.

"sigh..."

After adjusting his breath and wiping away his tears, Nozomi smiled again, gently, and whispered a blessing.

"Goodnight… sister Teresa."

He believed that sister Teresa, like Father Enrique, must be watching him from somewhere, so... he would be more determined to move towards the future they expected.