The loudest and The Brightest

The backstage area giving a quiet tension, as the crowd lively gathered in the auditorium. Ellen stood near the curtain, her hands clasped tightly in front of her with sparkled dress under the backstage lights, but her face was pale with nervous anticipation.

She peeked out from behind the curtain for the hundredth time. The audience seats were filling fast, and she could already see her friends settling in.

"This is a dream come true, but..." Ellen whispered to herself, her voice trembling. "This was such a bad idea. What if I mess up? What if..."

"You up in 8 minutes" Said one of the robot assistant at the backstage.

Ellen nodded weakly.

Meanwhile, in the audience, Leia and Eve made their way through the crowd, carefully navigating their way to their seats. Eve held tightly to Leia’s hand, her bright eyes scanning the grand hall.

"There are so many people." Eve craning her neck to see everything.
"Careful, Eve," Leia said, steadying her as they squeezed past a row of spectators to find their seats.

Rika and Leo were already seated, waving them over. "Here!" She calling for them to come to the already saved seats.

"We’re not late, are we?" Leia asked, settling into her seat.
Eve jumped sitting beside Rika.

"Nope," Leo said with a grin, leaning back casually. “Ellen’s still probably freaking out backstage.”

"She’s nervous?" Eve asked, tilting her head.
"She’s been obsessing over this performance for weeks." Leo replied.

Eve clapped her hands excitedly. "I can’t wait to hear her play! I bet it’ll sound like a performance I seen on TV!"

Backstage, Ellen peeked out again and spotted her friends. Her heart skipped a beat when her eyes landed on Leo, casually chatting with the others.

She ducked back behind the curtain. "Focus, Ellen," She muttered to herself, as she open the hologram music sheet again.

The stage lights dimmed slightly, signaling the next performance was about to begin. Ellen straightened her posture, took a deep breath, and stepped forward.
The stage lights brightened, casting a warm glow over the grand piano at the center. Ellen stepped forward. The audience fell silent.

She adjusted the bench and sat down carefully, her hands trembling slightly as they hovered over the keys. The piano gleamed under the lights, reflecting her nervous expression.
Ellen took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. You’ve practiced this a hundred times. You know every note. Just play.

But her fingers didn’t move.

Seconds ticked by. The audience began to murmur softly. Was something wrong with the piano? Was this part of the performance?

In the crowd, Rika leaned toward Leia, whispering. "What’s going on? Did she freeze?"
Leia frowned, concern etched on her face. "I'm not sure."
Eve resume. "Why isn’t she playing? Is she scared?"

As the silence stretched across the auditorium, the tension in the air became almost tangible. Ellen's hands trembled above the keys, her heart pounding loud enough to drown out the whispers starting to ripple through the crowd.

From the front row, a soft yet distinct sighs can be heard just beside them.

"She always like this," The woman said, her tone carrying a mixture of concern and gentle understanding.
Heads turned to the source of the voice. A graceful woman with sharp features and elegant attire sat poised, her gaze fixed intently on Ellen. Despite her composed demeanor, there was an unmistakable softness in her eyes.

It was Ellen’s mother.

Ellen’s mother’s voice carried again, turning her head to Leia's row. "She stubborn and spoiled and yet, easily scared and nervous, despite acting so full of herself." She shake her head. "I wanted her to play piano so that the day like this came where she needs to face people and be more brave."

"Ellen!" Leo’s shout echoed, bold and unreserved.
The unexpected outburst startled everyone, including Ellen’s mother, who blinked and turned to look at the boy now standing.

"Just play already!" Leo shouted, his tone lighthearted. "Just last week you bragging about this to my face! I want you to prove it!"
The crowd gasped, a few stifling laughs at his audacity, but Leo didn’t care. 

Ellen’s mother raised an eyebrow as Leo’s enthusiastic shout reverberated through the auditorium. Her composed expression faltered for a brief moment, replaced by something between mild surprise and bemusement.

"This boy…" She muttered under her breath, her tone teetering between disbelief and amusement.
Ellen’s mother turned her sharp gaze back to the stage. Her lips pressed into a thin line, but the slight twitch at the corner betrayed her thoughts.
"Of all the people…" She murmured, her voice dripping with a mix of incredulity and resignation. "She would attract this kind of friend."

Leia smile, turning her head to look at the woman. "Well, I suppose every symphony needs… an unexpected instrument."
Eve added. "At least he’s supportive."
Continue by Rika. "Supportive… And loud."

On stage, Ellen’s face burned with embarrassment. She could practically feel her cheeks radiating heat. But as much as she wanted to sink into the floor, a strange calm washed over her.

That idiot… He’s really yelling at me in front of everyone. But… Her lips twitched upward.

Taking a shaky breath, Ellen let her fingers fall onto the keys, pressing down to let the first note ring out. The sound was soft but steady, and she let it guide her, pouring herself into the music.

In the audience, Leo sat down, leaning back with a satisfied grin. 

Rika leaned a bit to Eve. "Just like in those romance movie." She grin.
Eve agreed with her with a nod.

Leia gave him a knowing smile. "The loudest voices always reach the furthest."
"Like a lion's roar." Ellen's mother smiled.

Eve clapped her hands lightly, smiling as she whispered turn to Leia. "She’s playing now. Yay, Ellen!"

Ellen’s melody grew bolder, flowing effortlessly now, and as she played, she glanced once toward the crowd. Even in the shadows, she could spot Leo, his grin still as wide as ever, and her heart skipped a beat.

Maybe… He’s not an idiot after all.

Ellen’s mother, still watching him from her seat, exhaled deeply. “I’ll need to ask her about him later," She said to herself, shaking her head slightly. "Though, knowing Ellen, she’ll find a way to dodge the question." She then continue to observe Leo, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Hm. Bold boy."

The auditorium fell silent with Ellen every pressed on the piano keys.

A gentle, melodic note filled the room, resonating like a ripple across a still lake. Ellen’s nervousness melted away as her hands found their rhythm, gliding effortlessly across the keys. The notes poured out like a heartfelt confession.

Eden sitting beneath the shadow, quietly in the crowd. "She’s incredible," She murmured to herself acknowledge Ellen's talent.
"Yes." Replied by Maria.
Both of them turn to each other in confusion seeing each other presence.

Leo, on the other hand, sat frozen in his chair. His usual boisterous energy seemed to drain away, replaced by a quiet admiration. He didn’t blink, didn’t move, afraid to break the spell Ellen had cast.

As the tempo shifted to a crescendo, Ellen’s confidence radiated through the music. Her fingers danced across the keys with precision and emotion.
The final notes were like a tender farewell, lingering in the air before dissolving into silence. Ellen’s hands hovered over the keys for a moment, her chest rising and falling with exhilaration and relief.

The audience erupted into thunderous applause. Cheers and whistles echoed through the room.

Ellen’s face turned crimson as she glanced at the crowd, her eyes finding Leo’s immediately. Despite her embarrassment, she couldn’t stop the small, genuine smile that spread across her lips. 

Her mother clapped politely but with unmistakable pride, her refined demeanor softening. She leaned back in her seat, a contented smile on her face. "She’s grown so much," She whispered, more to herself than anyone else.

As Ellen stood and gave a bow then a proud smile as she rise her head, this time with a bright eyes full of pride.

Ellen D. Veranique, the smart, bright and prideful person. That who she is and she herself hope she stay like that.

The performance hall had emptied out, leaving only a scattering of people lingering in conversation. Ellen stood off to the side, her fingers clutching the folds of her dress. Her heart pounded so hard it echoed in her ears. 

Leo was a few steps ahead of her, walking toward the exit. His casual stride, the way his hands were stuffed into his pockets.

This was it. She couldn’t let the moment pass.

"Leo!" She called out, her voice sharper than she intended.
He stopped mid step and turned to look at her, eyebrows raised in curiosity. "What’s up?"

Ellen took a deep breath before say it in nice and gentle tone, very unlike of her because she was never like this to Leo.

"Thank you...." She glanced away embarrassed. "For cheering on me."

Leo grinned slightly. "The brightest student of the school just thanked me? That's very humble oof you." He teased.

"Shut up! You should feel honored! It's not always I being humble to people like you!" She crossed her arms with frustration but red cheeks of embarrassment.

"Aight, got it. Whatever you say, princess." He joked.

"That's not the only thing I wanna say." She added then Ellen forced herself to take a step forward, her palms damp with sweat.

They both look at each other as Leo who is taller than her, gaze down waiting for her to say what she wanted to tell him.

"I-" She paused with a brief of hesitation. "I L-"
Before she could finish it, a shriek of laughter shattered the tension.

"Gotcha, Piz!" Rika yelled, diving after the little robot dog, who darted between their legs. The robot dog who was waiting outside of the building until the end of the performance earlier.

Eve ran after them. "Rika, you’re too slow!"
"I'm trying!"

The sudden chaos made Ellen flinch, and the words she had been holding onto dissolved into the noise.
Leo glanced at the commotion, then back at her. "Loud as ever." He laughed. "What you gonna said earlier?"

Ellen stood frozen. "It's... Nothing. Forget it."
"You are stubborn as ever." He commented.
"Shut up, how about you go playing with those kids."

"Alright, but if you feel needed to tell me, just tell me okay? I'll judge." Leo grinned as he jogged off to join the playful chase, Ellen lowered her head, her hands trembling at her sides.

But as she watched him laughing with the others, she felt the weight of her unspoken words pressing down on her chest. She stood with disappointment with herself even after the amazing performance today, she thought she has learn how to be brave because of today performance in front of the crowd but it seems like her heart are not fully ready for a real challenge.

She let out a frustrated sigh, muttering under her breath, "Why am I always like this?"

"You look troubled, dear."

Ellen nearly jumped out of her skin at the familiar voice. Whirling around, she came face-to-face with her mother, who was studying her with sharp yet gentle eyes.

"M-Mother!" Ellen stammered, her hands immediately flying behind her back as if she had been caught doing something wrong. "What are you doing here? I thought you already went home."

Her mother raised an eyebrow. "I could ask you the same. I was coming to congratulate you on your performance, but you seem… distracted." Her gaze drifted ever so subtly toward Leo, who was now crouching down to pick up Piz, laughing with the kids.

Ellen stiffened, her cheeks growing red as her mother’s knowing smile deepened. "It’s nothing!" Ellen blurted out, her tone rising. "Absolutely nothing! Just thinking about how amazing I am back there! Told you I can do it!"

Her mother chuckled softly, placing a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. "It’s all right. I won’t ask questions you’re not ready to answer." Her tone was so understanding that it made Ellen’s heart ache.

Before Ellen could respond, her mother’s eyes drifted to Leo, watching him tussle Rika’s hair playfully while Eve giggled at the scene. A wistful smile tugged at her lips. "He’s a lively one," She remarked. "Remind me of your father."

Ellen’s breath hitched, her face burning as she spluttered, "Mother!"
"I'll go home now, you can stay with your friends here for awhile." Her mother smiled.
She watched her mother walk away, her elegant figure disappearing into the crowd.

Ellen’s gaze drifted back to Leo, who was now tossing Piz into the air as Eve cheered. Her lips pressed as she whispered to herself in frustration. "Why did I fall for this idiot, out of everyone...."