Chapter 5 – The Return of the Duet
The rehearsal hall buzzed with life again.
Sheets of music scattered on the tables, footsteps echoing, strings being tuned. Yet for Ren, everything felt muted—like the whole world was waiting for a sound that still hadn't come back.
He glanced at the empty piano bench beside him.
Kai's bench.
Still unclaimed.
"Ren, are you sure?" one of his classmates whispered. "You signed up with Kai, but he hasn't been seen for days."
Ren only smiled faintly.
"He'll come."
He had to.
---
The day of the Duet Competition prelims arrived.
Ren sat at the piano, the lights hot on his skin. The judges waited, pens ready.
And still—no Kai.
He exhaled slowly. Maybe this is how promises end… silently.
Then—
a door creaked open.
Every head turned.
Kai stepped in, hair still damp from the rain, eyes tired but burning.
He was carrying a violin case.
Ren's heart skipped.
He didn't say a word as Kai walked to the stage, opened the case, and tuned his violin with calm precision.
"Still think you can keep up?" Kai muttered.
Ren almost laughed. "I was about to ask you the same."
The judges exchanged glances—unaware that what they were about to hear wasn't just music, but a story written in pain, regret, and forgiveness.
---
The first notes filled the air.
Ren's piano was steady, pure. Kai's violin entered—soft, hesitant at first, then growing bold, wrapping around the melody like two hands finding each other again after being apart for too long.
Each chord struck deeper than words ever could.
It was apology and understanding, loss and hope, all blended into a sound that made the whole room fall silent.
By the end, the last note lingered in the air like a heartbeat refusing to fade.
Kai lowered his bow. Ren lifted his hands from the keys.
They looked at each other—no smiles, no words. Just that quiet recognition that the music between them had spoken enough.
---
After the applause, Kai whispered, "You read my note."
Ren nodded. "And I answered it."
Kai looked away, hiding a tiny grin. "Then I guess I'll have to keep playing."