CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37 - TO YOU

Without realizing it, night had fallen.

The once-quiet café gradually filled with life, couples on dates, groups of friends laughing together, workers just off their shifts, and wanderers who decided to stop by.

The night shift staff had arrived too.

It should have been Mikail’s cue to head home.

At least, that was the plan.

Yet Mikail remained seated, absentmindedly stirring his now-cold coffee, lost in thought, replaying over and over why he had said what he did that afternoon.

His gaze, once unfocused, sharpened when he noticed movement from the corner of his eye. Moona was stepping onto the small indoor stage, her every step graceful and unhurried. Instantly, the atmosphere shifted.

Without needing to utter a word, Moona commanded the room’s attention.

Conversations died mid-sentence; even the most distracted men found their eyes drawn to her, captivated not only by her stunning beauty but by an unexplainable presence she carried like a second skin.

"*Ukhum*," Moona began, clearing her throat lightly. "Due to unforeseen circumstances, tonight’s usual performers are unable to perform"

As soon as the words left her mouth, a wave of disappointed groans rippled through the café.

Moona, however, remained composed, her faint smile never wavering.

She had anticipated this reaction and waited patiently, letting the grumbling settle. Then, with a gentle tap on the microphone, a soft thump echoed through the speakers, drawing all eyes back to her.

"But there’s no need to worry," She continued, her voice warm and reassuring, a playful sparkle in her eyes. "Because tonight, we have a special performance... One night only"

As she spoke those last words, she turned her gaze toward Mikail, her smile deepening ever so slightly.

"... Let’s give a warm round of applause for our performer tonight," Moona said brightly, her voice carrying a teasing note as she gestured gracefully toward Mikail.

For a moment, Mikail froze, confusion flashing across his face. Then, as realization sank in, he felt it, the sudden weight of countless eyes turning toward him, curious, expectant.

A low ripple of clapping began, hesitant at first, then growing louder as the crowd joined in, their attention now fully focused on him.

Whispers began to ripple through the crowd around Mikail.

"Is he the performer?"

"He’s kind of handsome..."

"I didn’t know him. Is he a new worker?"

"Tch, he doesn’t even look like a musician," Muttered one of the men under his breath, his tone half-jealous, half-curious.

Some women giggled softly, stealing glances at Mikail and blushing when he shifted awkwardly in his seat.

A few men watched him with skeptical eyes, arms crossed, measuring him silently.

The warm applause continued, mingling with the rising murmur of curiosity and quiet admiration, pressing heavier and heavier on Mikail’s shoulders.

Realizing Mikail’s frozen state, Melisa, who had been sitting quietly beside him, leaned in and elbowed him gently.

"Kail," She whispered with a small, encouraging smile, "What are you doing? People are waiting for you"

Her voice was soft but firm, pulling Mikail back to reality. The murmurs around him felt louder now, the spotlight, whether real or imagined, burning hotter on his skin.

"...Oh, I’m sorry," Mikail said apologetically, his voice low and a little flustered.

Gathering himself, he took a deep breath, steeling his nerves before rising to his feet. As he began walking toward the stage, a wave of cheers and applause followed him, growing louder with each step. Some whistles and excited calls echoed through the café, adding to the sudden, overwhelming energy in the air.

Behind him, Melisa watched with a worried expression, her fingers unconsciously gripping the edge of her seat. Her eyes stayed fixed on Mikail’s back as if silently willing him to be okay.

While Mikail himself is now looking at his system interface.

--------

With every step I took toward the stage where Moona was waiting, I heard whispers from around me.

But my focus was not there, it was fixed firmly on the system interface floating before my eyes.

Once again, I double-checked, scrolling through the status panel that only I could see.

[Skill - Guitar Playing: EX - Grade]

[Skil- Singing: EX - Grade]

Seeing those reassuring words, I finally allowed myself to breathe a little easier.

My earlier panic eased slightly, though nervous energy still buzzed in my veins.

’... This is more difficult than facing Shadow Creatures’

I quickly dismissed the interface with a thought, just as I reached the first step of the stage.

Moona met my eyes, her smile still serene, but now there was a glimmer of something else behind it, amusement, maybe, or mischief. She stepped aside gracefully, handing me the microphone with a light flourish as if passing me something far more precious than just a mic.

For a second, I hesitated.

The café was full. Every seat taken, every table crowded with faces, all of them looking at me.

Waiting.

Expecting.

I gripped the microphone tightly, feeling its cool weight in my hand.

The warm lighting from above bathed the small stage in a gentle glow, giving everything a dreamlike, unreal quality.

Slowly, I moved to the lone stool and the guitar resting against it. Someone had already prepared it, no, Moona had prepared it.

Sitting down, I pulled the guitar onto my lap. My fingers brushed lightly over the strings, feeling their slight give, their silent promise.

The background noise of the café fell into a hush as if the whole room held its breath.

For a moment, I sat there in silence, microphone before me, guitar in my hands, heartbeat pounding in my ears.

And then, slowly, I smiled.

It was strange.

I thought I would be terrified.

But instead... It felt natural.

As if this was where I was always meant to be.

Closing my eyes for a brief second, I let the nervousness wash over me, and then, like a tide, let it recede.

When I opened them again, I tilted the microphone slightly closer and spoke, my voice calm and steady, cutting gently through the stillness.

"Good evening, everyone," I said, a small, self-deprecating chuckle in my tone. "I’m... A last-minute replacement. I hope you’ll be patient with me tonight"

A ripple of soft laughter ran through the crowd. Friendly. Welcoming.

Somehow, it gave me strength.

Taking a deep breath, I set my fingers on the guitar strings and began to play.

--------

#A/N - "I hope you can feel it, just imagine you’re singing it yourself. I made this on my own... Well, with a little help from my friends"

*Soft guitar intro - gentle, melancholic.

As Mikail’s fingers brushed the strings, the first soft notes floated into the air.

The café, which had been buzzing moments ago, slowly quieted.

Conversations paused. Chairs creaked as people shifted their attention to the stage.

A few murmured words of surprise were quickly hushed.

Somewhere near the back, someone whispered, "He can actually play..." Followed by a light, surprised chuckle.

But soon, even those small sounds fade when Mikail begins to sing.

"To you... once~"

"I fell in love~"

"With your smile that lit the quiet night~"

"With your laughter dancing in the sky~"

"With the way you carried every weight~"

"And made the world a little light..."

Mikail’s voice was low, a little shaky at first, but steadying as he sang.

A girl sitting with her friends put a hand over her mouth, eyes wide.

Near the counter, the barista leaned forward on his elbows, completely absorbed.

"I fell in love with all your ways~"

"Your stubborn heart, your changing days~"

"Your silent nights, your whispered dreams~"

"The little things you’d never see~"

The soft pluck of the guitar strings and Mikail’s honest voice wrapped the room in a warm, aching stillness.

Moona, sitting beside Melisa, held her breath without realizing it, her fingers curling slightly against her jeans.

"And even now~"

"Though time has pulled you far away..."

"Even now..."

"A piece of me still stays~"

As Mikail sang "Even now...", some in the crowd shifted in their seats, touched by the rawness in his voice.

A few couples reached across their tables, their fingers finding each other unconsciously.

"Love isn’t always holding hands~"

"Or walking side by side..."

"Sometimes love is standing back~"

"Smiling through the cries~"

"Wishing you a brighter road~"

"Even when it’s not with me..."

"To you, to you..."

"Once, I gave it all for free~"

When Mikail sang "Love isn’t always holding hands..." A deep, almost reverent silence fell.

You could have heard a pin drop.

Even the clink of coffee cups at the counter stopped.

A man in his thirties wiped at his eyes awkwardly, pretending it was just dust.

"You’re someone else’s world tonight~"

"Someone else will hold you tight~"

"Someone else will catch your fall~"

"While I just love you... from afar~"

As Mikail glanced once at Moona, his voice softened, almost breaking, before finding strength again.

Melisa glanced sideways at Moona and caught her biting her lip, her eyes dangerously glossy.

"And even now~"

"When dreams fade into gray..."

"Even now..."

"I still call your name~"

When he sang "Even now, when dreams fade into gray..." Someone near the front gave a quiet, involuntary sigh, not sad, but something heavier.

"Love isn’t always holding hands~"

"Or walking side by side..."

"Sometimes love is letting go~"

"Smiling through the cries~"

"Wishing you a brighter sky~"

"Even if it’s not with me..."

"To you, to you..."

"Once, I gave it all for free~"

Mikail’s voice grew stronger, pouring emotion into every word.

Somewhere at the back, a woman clasped her hands over her heart, while a teenage boy sitting alone nodded slowly, understanding without needing to say a word.

"To you..."

"Once~"

"I loved you quietly~"

The final strum of the guitar lingered in the still air, delicate and fading like mist.

For a heartbeat, no one moved.

Then-

Soft applause, tentative at first, like people were afraid to break the spell.

It swelled quickly, genuine and warm, until the entire café was clapping.

Some whistles and cheers rang out, but mostly, it was applause full of emotion, respect, sadness, and connection.

Moona sat frozen, her hands clenched tightly together in her lap, her eyes hidden beneath the fall of her hair.

Melisa smiled gently and leaned closer to her, whispering something too soft for anyone else to hear.

On the stage, Mikail lowered his head slightly in thanks, the ghost of a bittersweet smile touching his lips, and for just a moment, he looked directly at Moona again, the quiet message in his gaze as clear as if he’d spoken aloud.

....

...

..

.