Chapter 5 "Is this the sound of LOVE?"
"Welcome everybody!"
A shrill voice interrupts the buzz of the crowd
"We are very happy that so many have attended" continues the second girl on the stage "It's very important for us to see that so many have participated in this week's events! Thanks also go to the insiders: to the guys at the stands, to those who organized the numerous workshops scattered throughout the departments and also to those who will perform very soon. A big round of applause to everyone! "
A warm applause rose from the crowd
"Thanks to your participation we have achieved our goal which my colleague will explain to you better"
"With much pleasure dear! Thanks to your participation, we have raised enough funds to contribute to two very important projects. The first is the one against food poverty in the poorest areas of our country. The second is to provide educational material to poor children who would otherwise be denied the opportunity to study, a possibility that has been given to each of us. So once again thanks to all of you guys !!! "
An even louder applause drowned out the girl's voice
"We said everything it seems to me ... so guys that the show begins and again thanks to all of you!!"
Sparkling lights accompany the exit of the two girls together with the screams of the crowd that is no longer in the skin ... then all of a sudden the auditorium plunges into total darkness ...
...SILENCE ...
The spotlights first illuminate a drums, two basses and then at the end of the stage a violin ...
Three boys go up on stage and silently take the instruments with their heads bowed
But they don't move...
They don't start playing, they almost look like mannequins in the window ...
The students look at each other, incredulous as to say "What's going on?"...
After a few seconds a spotlight frames a hooded figure who goes up on stage...
...reaches the violin, begins to play a sweet melody...
It's Vivaldi Concerto No. 1 in , Op. 8, 269, "Spring"
... however with his back to the public!
At this point the band, that had remained motionless until then, seems to revive as if it had received a shock, begins to play a riff with an increasingly pressing and irresistible rhythm inciting the crowd in total bewilderment.
It's "We will rock you" by Queen.
The mysterious violinist stops playing for a moment, looks at the band then the crowd then the band again, and with a barely visible smile from the drapery of the hood, which almost entirely covered his face, he started playing again, but the melody was no longer the same as before
It's Concerto Nº 2 in G minor, op 8, RV 315 (summer) "the storm"
...NO ...
It was no longer a sweet and quiet melody, because, one note after another, it became faster, more powerful and more furious.
It was turning into a frenetic and intense emotion that took hold of the violinist himself.
His playing changed, became more and more powerful, energetic, as if the violin, which until then had only been an instrument, was actually the puppeteer who moved his body through invisible wires, a body that was completely under his control.
The emotion was so violent that the mysterious violinist jerked his head up tilting it backwards ...
... the hood, that until that moment, had hidden the vote from him has fallen off ...
It 's Reve, who after a few minutes, exhausted, detached the bow from the violin to catch a breath as if instead of playing for hours without stopping ...
... a drop of sweat fell on his hand and slipped on the bow without anyone seeing him because ...
...because...
The attention was for the bow that Reve, as if to postpone the challenge, had aimed at the band.
The students, more and more amazed, didn't notice that in the meantime a dozen people with heavy and long cloaks, with their faces covered and bowed, had gone up on stage.
The bass player with a bow and a scornful smile walked over to Reve and together they began to play.
The show began right at that moment, the models in fact took off their cloaks and began to parade. The models with their magnificent dresses slip one after the other, but everyone's attention is focused on Reve and the band, who after that enthralling song continues to play rock with transport and passion that none of those present had ever seen.
It's "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC
Taken by his music, Reve is immersed in a world of his own, he plays with his eyes closed and doesn't seem to hear the screams of the crowd and above all of his fan club, but suddenly he feels as if someone was staring him, so he opens his eyes and looks in the direction from which he feels the gaze...
... Hy's direction.
Lan, Tip and especially Hy are amazed by Reve's skill, especially Hy, because that music is the same to that of the dream he had a few days earlier, and his heart seems to be in sync with Reve's violin as by magic and starts beating to the rhythm of music, stronger and stronger, almost to bursting ...
Hy raised his hand to his chest, right in the position of the heart, squeezing it, not to make it burst despite the beats getting stronger ... his body, his mind are, for the first time in his life, out of control
"My God, what's happening to me ..." Hy thought, squeezing his chest tighter and tighter
"So... what do you think guys? Is my bro a genius isn't he? " Ipno said with a bright smile
"Yes, that's right! He is Reve my best friend!"
"He's a monster! He's very good! I have never heard anyone play the violin so well! " Tip said eagerly
"It's true!!! I've never heard anyone play that way either! " Lan confirmed
"I know I know ... the first time I heard him play I was speechless too!"
Among thunderous applause, the screams of a completely delirious crowd, the latest model disappears behind the curtain, followed by Reve ... the band plays the last song and takes leave of applause. The two girls who presented the show go up on stage
"Guys we are very happy that you enjoyed the show..." "We thank you again for participating and see you next year! Good evening everybody!!!!"
They get off the stage and go backstage where the boys are celebrating!
Ipno takes Lan, Tip and Hy backstage to introduce them to Reve
"As usual you are great bro!" Ipno says to Reve going to meet him
"If you say so ... And what are they doing here?"
Reve continued looking in the direction of Lan, Tip and Hy
"They wanted to meet you, because they were amazed by your performance" replied Ipno.
"You are really good! I have never heard anyone play the violin so well! Tip said,
"That's true, neither do I. it almost seems that you have attended courses or something like that" pressed Lan
"Actually... when I was in Italy I attended the conservatory "grumbled Reve
"Italy !!! Have you lived in Italy? " Lan shouted
"Yes ... My father was Italian, so I'm too, at least ... partly... so yes I lived there for several years!"
"Fantastic! I love everything about Italy! "
Reve, however, didn't listen Lan's words, because his attention was captured by Hy, who was standing there silent and with his head down, still prey to the emotions he had felt just before.
"How about going to eat something all together?" asked Ipno
"That's fine for us" answered Tip after catching an imperceptible sign of assent from his friend's, or what remained of him, head
"Is't fine for you?" Ipno asked Reve
"Yes why no"
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In the clear sky many stars shone, the moon was not visible and the way to the BBQ was dark, lit only by a few street lamps, the silence was broken by the shrill voice of Lan who had by now taken Reve hostage with a flood of questions about everything she could think of having to deal with Italy.
Arriving at the local Reve seemed to resign himself to his fate, because Lan, without even taking a breath, instead of sitting next to Hy, her boyfriend, sat next to him continuing with the barrage of questions. Reve, as a last attempt to save himself from this bombing, threw a pleading glance at Ipno, who quickly understood and tried to deflect the speech
"So did you like the show?"
"It was great!" Tip replied
"The parade, the band, the songs, the lights, the atmosphere! Frightening bro! This year they really outdid themselves!!! "
"They all did a great job! The fashion club clothes were great! And what about the band!? SPACTACULAR!!! And yours truly! My friend makes everyone remain speechless every time!" Ipno replied
"As usual you are exaggerated" Reve commented laconically
"It's not true! No need to be coy bro! You sound like crazy and you know it well " Ipno retorted
"I know, but you also know that I don't like performing in public ... this time I did it only because it was for a good reason " said dryly
"I know bro ... I know, but as I always tell you it's a real shame! " objected
"The Italians are people of good heart, everyone knows!" Lan intervened
"You should play a lot more in public, with your skill you would certainly become very famous! Your violin is a truly magnificent instrument! Did you know that Italy is one of the largest violin producers in the world!? Is it a Stradivarius by any chance? is a Stradivari going to be worth a lot of money !? "
"Actually ..." Reve tried
"No ... it's not a Stradivarius ... it's a real electric violin !!!" Lan's gab seemed unstoppable.
Ipno, Tip and Reve looked at each other, now resigned.
Hy was the only one who seemed not to participate in the drama that was wearing out, sitting right in front of Reve, he seemed totally absolved in his thoughts, even if his eyes occasionally peeked, timid, at Reve's ones, those eyes that had been so long the center of his thoughts.
Although the concert was over for quite a while, Hy could not recover, his heart still quivering to the rhythm of Reve's music, every note corresponded to a beat, every beat to an emotion, every emotion was like soaring light as a feather above everything ...
... each feather was a breath of the beauty of love ...
His mind was completely at the mercy of his heart and this at the same time anguished him, terrified him but, as if it were a beacon in the night, a dazzling light had finally made him open the eyes of the heart, eyes that can see what those of the mind can never see.
This light was like a warm warmth that totally enveloped his soul ... it was the same warm warmth that he had felt in the dream
"I can't go on like this, the sound of my heart is too deafening" thought looking around. "Strange that no one hears it! I have to do something to regain control!!! I have to do something to distract myself! "
His gaze rested on the glass of beer at the same instant that his hand grabbed it eager to bring it to his mouth and feel the bitter taste go down his throat.
This first glass was followed by many others, and the effect of alcohol was not long in making itself felt ... an elixir for those who want to forget ... an elixir for those who do not want to think
The effect he'd wanted after all ... or thought he wanted, because despite this ... what he wanted to distract himself from was right there in front of him.
With the stars shivering in a clear sky, the five left the club.
"Are you really drunk aren't you!?" Tip said looking at Lan and Hy
"This too does not hold up alcohol so well!" Reve continued holding Ipno
"And what's now? I can take Lan home, it's my way ... "
"I'm going back alone, my house is around the corner "Ipno snorted
"You're really sure! It's true, it's a few meters, but look at yourself you can't stand up for a while, how do you get home? " Reve pressed him.
"Don't worry bro, I can do it," Ipno mumbled
"Ok, two of them are fine and who's taking him home?" Tip asked Reve pointing to Hy
"What shall we do!? ... If it weren't for the fact that he lives on the other side of the city I would accompany him but ... what a mess ..."
Suddenly Tip's eyes widened "I have an idea! You live nearby, don't you Reve? "
"Yes why?" Reve replied
"Simple! For tonight you host him at your place, so no one has to accompany him back and I am more confident that nothing will happen to him!"
"No way! And then my house is small ... no ... absolutely not! " tried to object Reve
"Come on please! Come on come on come on! Don't make me distressed all night for my friend! Think if something should happen to him on the street! I could never forgive myself! Come on, what would it take to you! it's only for one night! " begged Tip
"Okay! Just for one night ... "Reve said surrendering and looking in the direction of Hy who was barely standing alone "It doesn't seem dangerous after all ... " continued continuing to look at him
... an imperceptible smile made its way to his lips.