Chapter 3 - A Serenade

"Oh, yes! Thanks for reminding me. Any suggestion for a song for my serenade?" He suddenly remembered what he would be doing after the crowning of the Queen of hearts the following night.

Tuesday night at the home of Kenneth Allen's grandparents, he slept very early as he was so sleepy for his lack of sleep for three consecutive evenings.

Those three evenings, from Saturday to Monday, he slept very late because of the Valentines Day Singing Contest that he joined in.

During Saturday night, there were thirty five participants. Only ten was qualified as semi-finalists which was conducted last Sunday evening. Yesterday Monday evening, they were only grand finalists who fought for the championship.

Fortunately he became the champion in that Valentines Day Singing Contest. Having been the champion, he was the only qualified singer to have sung a Serenade to Leonora D Ayo, the recent Ms. Valentine 2018 as she was the winner during the Beauty and Brain Pageant.

He was really exhausted that even though his grandparents woke him up, he remained asleep. His grandparents were problematic of his performance tomorrow evening.

His coach decided to go home as darkness was about to cover the evening. Not that there were street lights everywhere but considering his learner's fatigue for the past three days he decided to coach him Wednesday morning.

Again, he would be missing some of his lessons. His group mates in thesis writing were even complaining of his frequent absences. In short, he could no longer help in drafting, planning surveying and many more steps till it be done for oral defense and submission.

Anyway, before Mr. Sleep overpowered him from being awake, he planned to catch up with his shortcomings after Valentines Day Celebration. In the morning, at dawn, before going to school, he would have practiced at least four to five songs for his Serenade. It's better to be always ready than never. Who knows if the crowd would have asked to render another song.

At dawn the next morning when the surrounding was still brighten with the electric bulbs from the street light posts, the rumbling of Kenneth Allen's stomach woke him up. Although his lethargic body was still pulling him to be on his bed, still he forced himself to wake up. Alas! his grogginess stopped him from standing up.

"Grandpa, I'm dizzy and hungry." He called him for help.

Quickly his grandfather put the food for his supposed evening meal in the microwave oven. His strength was recovered and his dizziness was gone after eating his late supper but very early morning meal.

Washing the dishes was his expertise as no other member of their family was with them. Cooking breakfast was also his duty. So, while doing it, he started his vocalization before practicing five different songs that he was planning to sing.

He used his mobile phone's apps to have the karaoke minus one for his instrumental accompaniment. He was so engrossed in his singing when his grandmother told him that his coach waited for him to wake up yesterday afternoon.

"Is he coming grandma? I have several absences now. Can I again go to my teachers to excuse me from my classes? I would like to submit my outputs, too."

He did what he told his grandmother and he returned home afraid that his coach might have waited long for him again.

His coach had discussed with him the difference between a chest voice and a head voice. He also explained and demonstrated the distinction between a head voice from a falsetto.

He was also taught how vocal control is done, how a tone can be considered good, how important clear enunciation is, what strong support means, which volume is suitable and which style would suit the choice of song.

He learned all of these that was why he was grateful to his grandparents to hire a coach who could give him formal voice lessons.

The coach left at four in the afternoon to give him time to have his voice rested for the evening's event.

He and his grandparents had chosen his attire for the night. When he wore it, he looked like an alive mannequin. No one could ever resist the beauty of this young man. If Adonis was alive in this era, Kenneth Allen would have beaten him to be only his fifth runner up. Not even the face of Prince Paris who (abducted Helen from Meneleus) could have easily smashed his handsome and manly appearance because his was far better than Paris'.

It was a huge crowd in the auditorium where the coronation rite would be held. It was the same venue where he was declared the Champion. As a result, he was qualified to sing a Serenade to Miss Leonora D. Ayo.

Again, he would be able to witness her Royal walk. And he did.

She was wearing a glossy white satin gown. That time which was no longer a dream, still her cleavage was perfectly similar to that unforgettable dream he had. He knew that he wouldn't be able to forget it in his entire life. For heaven sake, the more his imagination had gone wild.

"I was taught not to trample my innocence, my chastity and my purity.

Gosh! What should I do?" This was in his thought that cannot be revealed.

The program went on until it was time for him to sing.

Perfect by; Ed Sheeran

I found a love for me

Darling just dive right in

And follow my lead

Well I found a girl beautiful and sweet 

I never knew you were the someone waiting for me

'Cause we were just kids when we fell in love

Not knowing what it was

I will not give you up this time

But darling, just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own

And in your eyes you're holding mine

Baby, I'm dancing in the dark with you between my arms

Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song

When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath

But you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight

Well I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know

She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I'll share her home

I found a love, to carry more than just my secrets

To carry love, to carry…

Source: LyricFind

As he trudged going up the stage almost all eyes were on him. When he started serenading, those who were outside the covered court were like on stampede getting inside just to satisfy their curiosity.

His prediction to practice more than one song for an encore was true.

He sang another song for his Serenade.

Finally, the coronation rite was over. The second part was a ball that was led by Ms. Valentine and Mr. Champion. It was a real experience unlike his dream which was only a vicarious one.

When they danced he could not understand himself. His nervousness seemed to have an effect in his body. His whole body was shivering. Ms Leonor noticed the coldness of his hands. He wanted to talk to her, but... no words came out of his speech organ.

How can I tell her that Mr. Cupid hit my heart? That it only throbbed for her and no one else.

He gathered his guts both from his mind and heart. His soul was really pushing him to say something to her.

" C.... Ca... Can I ask y.. Yo... Your ccoo... ccooon... Contact number?"He stuttered.

"Hey! Relax, Kenneth. I'm not going to bite you."

The more he became diffident. It was night time but as if the sunlight was directly on his cheeks. He couldn't look at her eyes.

Wrapping her waist with his encircled arms was inexplicable. He felt his body was thawing like a lit candle. He was in daze as the outstretched arms of Ms. Leonor were encircled around his neck with her hands clasping.

He had a sinful thought that if they would have layed down on bed in that position, they were embracing like husband and wife. With such imagination, he felt the goosebumps causing him to unawarely fidgeting, making their body rubbed at each other as they became more closer.

His daydreaming was suddenly distracted with a very fine pinching on his nape.

"Y.... ye... s, Ms. Leonor?"

"Give me your cellphone."

He unclasped his hands at the back of her waist, pulled his phone from his right pocket and gave it to her.

Just like him, Ms. Leonor freed her right hand from her left hand and received the mobile phone of Kenneth Allen. They did not stop dancing even if the lovely young lady was encoding her number to Kenneth Allen's phone.

Her encoding made them touched each other's body. Her head was on his chest while his was on top of her's.

To the onlookers, they were in an intimate position and some were tempted to snap the camera from their cell phone.

Ms. Leonor returned his phone inside his pocket that made his heart jumped out of his control pulling her closest to his body more tightly and... his right hand was on her rib cage.... then inhaled deeply.

"Kenneth Allen, loosen your hands. I cannot breathe anymore."

"I'm sorry. I didn't expect you to put back my cell phone inside my pocket."

"Oh! It's nothing for friends like us."

"We're friends? Happy Valentines Day, then."

"Uhmm. Same here."

The music ended yet they did not yet separate. They remained at the middle of the court still dancing to the beat of a waltz. The operator became disconcerted that he fumbled on pressing the buttons of his sound system for another music. Instead of another waltz music, his panicky hands played music that made others danced cha cha with the leading partner.

Although Kenneth Allen was far from the operator of the sound system, still he did not fail to glare and rolled his eyes as he didn't want to untangle his hug from her.

Embracing her which was his first formal dance before the eyes of so many delighted him so much. He didn't want to end it.

To his dismay, his grandfather reminded that tomorrow was still a school day. Being obedient and well-disciplined, he courteously bade Ms. Leonor farewell requesting her to text his message back.

They shook hands and left for home with his grandparents.