The Day the Music Smiled Back
by Philip A. Marcelino
Chapter 1 — The First Note
The morning light spilled through the arched windows of Lyric Academy, the most prestigious school of music in the city. The hallways hummed softly with the sound of tuning instruments — violins sighing, pianos whispering, and a faint hum of a choir warming up somewhere distant. It was the kind of place where dreams sounded alive.
Eris Lian, a new transfer student, stood before the gates with a violin case clutched tightly in his hands. His uniform was crisp, but his heart trembled beneath it. This school wasn't just another start — it was a promise to his late mother, who used to say, "Play until the world hears you smile."
He walked through the corridors, every sound echoing differently in his ears — the laughter, the footsteps, the distant piano melody that made him stop mid-step.
Someone was playing Clair de Lune — not from the music room, but from the old recital hall at the end of the corridor.
The melody was imperfect, yet so full of emotion that Eris felt it vibrate in his chest.
He followed it, slowly, quietly, as though stepping into a dream.
Inside, sitting before the grand piano, was Ren Evander, a third-year prodigy with disheveled hair, his fingers gliding effortlessly on the keys. The sunlight framed him like a painting — one that breathed.
Eris froze. For a moment, he forgot how to breathe.
Ren noticed him and turned, his grayish eyes meeting Eris's startled ones.
"Oh," Ren said softly, a faint smile ghosting his lips. "You heard that?"
Eris blinked, unsure if he should apologize or compliment him.
"It was… beautiful," he finally said, voice trembling. "But it sounded… sad."
Ren's fingers paused above the keys.
"Sad songs are the truest ones," he murmured, then looked away. "They don't lie."
For a heartbeat, the room was silent — two souls surrounded by echoes.
Then the bell rang.
Eris jolted, gripping his violin tighter. "I'm sorry—I should go—"
"Wait." Ren stood, eyes curious. "You play, don't you?"
Eris hesitated. "I… try to."
Ren smiled faintly, that kind of smile that felt like a secret melody only two could hear.
"Then maybe," he said, "we'll make something beautiful together."
And at that moment, though neither of them knew it yet —
the music smiled back.
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— Philip A. Marcelino 💙