[....We did it!]
Alia squealed in delight.
[Hahaha.]
David laughed alongside her. With excited looks, the two ca out of the building. They continuously talked to each other, and as Alia spoke, David paused for a mont. His eyes were locked onto her.
....It was the first ti the audience saw such a face from him.
He looked like she was all he could see.
And everyone could understand. Ever since the start of the play, Alia had not once laughed nor spoken so much.
Alia had never shown such a side of hers.
She was just so...
[Pretty.]
[Eh?]
Alia cocked her head as she looked at David?
[What did you say?]
[Ah, eh...]
With a flushed face, David stamred. As if steam was rising from the top of his head, he innocently looked away.
The portrayal of the scene was rather well done. The audience could understand what he was feeling, and why he was reacting the way that he was.
[Hehe.]
His actions prompted a laugh from Alia as she covered her mouth.
Raising his head, David looked at her with a dumb look.
[What? Why are you laughing?]
[Hmm. Who knows?]
[What? What?]
[You thought I was pretty?]
[...!!]
David's face turned completely red. His reaction prompted a wave of laughter from the audience.
He was so silly...
[T-that...! I was talking about the sky.]
[Sure.]
Alia said teasingly while bumping her fist against his shoulder.
[No! For real!]
[...Whatever you say.]
[Ah!!!]
David roared in embarrassnt, prompting the audience to laugh even more.
"This is so funny.'
.... Hahaha, this reminds of old tis.'
'I suddenly want to be young again.'
The mood in the theater was light. Everyone appeared to be enjoying the show. It was also true for Olga.
'.... Her acting has improved a little.'
It wasn't anything exceptional to her. Compared to Arjen, or even the previous Julien, it was below their level.
In fact, thinking of Julien, Olga's gaze paused on him.
The more she looked at him, the more disappointed she grew, and in the end, she nodded to herself.
'It looks like I've made the right decision replacing him.'
As she thought of those words, she turned her head to look at the young man standing beside her. He was staring at Julien as well, his gaze never leaving him.
At first, his gaze had been filled with a certain interest, but as the play continued, it slowly
started to die down before there was a noticeable decrease in his interest.
In the end, he ended up shaking his head lightly without saying a word.
He continued to watch the play in silence.
But it was obvious from his reaction that he didn't think much of it.
And it was true.
....So far, the play was nice.
It was engaging, and the audience was fully invested.
But...
That was it.
There was nothing impressive about it.
It was simply a typical romance play. Nothing about it seed innovative. At least, not when compared to the main play.
[Hehehe.]
Alia's laugh continued to echo throughout the theater.
It was a refreshing and carefree laugh. A contagious laugh that made those around her want to
laugh as well.
[....Hehehe.]
In the end, David ended up laughing alongside her.
[Hehehe.]
[Hehehe.]
The two laughed together, their faces filled with smiles.
It was a warm sight, and the lights surrounding the two intensified. It was as if the sun was
shining down on them.
But soon, David's smile faded.
What replaced his expression was a gloomy one.
As if sensing the sudden shift in his denour, Alia looked at him.
[What's wrong?]
[No, it's just...]
David paused, the words seemingly struggling to co out of his mouth.
[...Are you okay with this?]
[Ah.]
Alia lowered her head, the smile on her face slowly fading as she understood where the
conversation was going.
Still, despite her fading smile, she didn't let it fully fade.
.... It still lingered on her lips.
[At first, I wasn't.]
Alia spoke, her tone softening up a little. With her head lowered, she looked at her hands.
[I can feel it. The mont that I was accepted, I felt a feeling that I rarely felt, and usually avoided. Joy... I didn't know it would feel this way. It's the first ti that the world felt so
colorful and bright.]
With a bitter look, she bit her lips.
[It made realize that I can't live like this. If I continue this path, I'll just live longer, but what's the point of living like this? I want to act. I want to be here. I want to smile. I want
to...]
Alia looked up and the smile that was slowly fading from her face returned.
Then, as if a heavy weight had been lifted off her shoulders, her tone further softened.
[...Be free.]
She then shifted her attention toward David who was looking at her with a stunned look.
[Right now, I'm really happy. I've never been like this before so please let feel it more. Let
... be free for longer.]
[.......]
The entire ti David kept his gaze on her.
Hearing her plead, he remained silent. It was hard to tell what his thoughts were, and
Alia's face started to change.
[Ah, I see... I forgot to take into account your feelings. That's right, you must-]
[Don't jump to conclusions like that.]
David suddenly interrupted. With a half-smile on his face, he scratched the back of his head.
[I was just thinking of what to do to make you happy. First, we need to help you practice for
the upcoming play. Oh! There are also several places that I want to bring you to. Have you ever
been to the city center? Do you have any clothes you want to buy? What about Cappero's diner? Have you ever been there?]
Suddenly, David started to talk a lot. He seed passionate, talking about all the different
things that he wanted to do with her.
From going to the city center to visiting certain scenic spots.
He rambled on and on and on.
[....]
The entire ti Alia stared at him with a simple smile.
A simple, yet poisonous smile.
*
The scenes changed.
Just like David had promised, he brought Alia everywhere.
[Try this. It's a cake.]
[Waaaahhhh!!!!]
Alia's expression blew up the mont she took a bit of the cake. Her eyes twinkled, and the
spoon in her hand endlessly dug at the cake.
[Hold up! You're going too fast! You might choke]
[Hmm! Munch...! Too... Munch! Good!!]
[Wait, leave so for !]
[Mhhhhhh!! Gooooood!]
[Noooo!]
The scene brought smiles and laughter again to the audience. It was a nice and warm scene
that the audience appreciated.
But simultaneously, the happier they saw her being, the heavier the feeling in their chest was.
....The audience was starting to get attached to her.
And the more they got attached to her, the more they realized just how severe the
consequences of her actions were.
But they couldn't say a thing.
They were rely audience mbers. And even if they could interfere, none of them really
wanted to do so. She just looked so...
Happy.
[I-I'm scared... I'm getting second thoughts... can we not...?]
[Just hold on a little. We're almost there.] [T-that, I-I think this is enough. I-It's too high. I c-can feel my h-eart pounding out of my
chest. Oh no~ W-hat do I do?!]
[Just hold on.]
[I don't know!]
[We're here. You can open your eyes.]
[Ahh~ No. I think I'm okay.]
[Just stop.]
David moved behind her and took her hands away from her face. Alia kept her eyes closed,
but it was no use as David pried them open by force.
[Nooooo!]
She scread, but it all went on deaf ears and soon her eyelids were pried open.
It was at that mont that she saw it. Pink, orange, purple... All sorts of different shades dyed
the sky, drawing a beautiful picture as the sun dipped below the horizon.
The clouds glowed with a golden light, and the whole scene reflected on the calm ocean,
creating a peaceful and srizing view.
[....]
Alia felt herself lose her breath.
Reflected in her pupils was the picture-perfect scene that stood before her. It was beautiful,
and she couldn't tear her gaze away from it.
David stood beside her with a satisfied smile on his face.
The scenery changed. They appeared in a zoo.
Alia looked around with open eyes as she couldn't stop talking, pointing at the animals
that surrounded the place. The entire ti David followed her with a foolish smile on his
face.
Reviews
All reviews (0)