Chapter 14 - Sunshine

24th July - Windsor Square - 7:25PM

After another session with with the Maestro, Kai was being escorted to his room by the ever faithful Albert. Kai's thoughts were a mess and while he could feel that he was on the threshold of leveling up his singing to level 3, his deadline was tomorrow and he did not like being so close to it without completing the objective. 

Eventually they arrived to Kai's room and after placing Kai on the bed and refreshing the water, Albert wished Kai a good night and closed the door behind him.

Kai did not feel like watching anything nor did he feel like sleeping due to the stress of the deadline approaching.

"What else can I do? Am I doing anything wrong? What am I missing that's hold me back from reaching the next level for my singing?" Kai wondered over and over again. 

He listened to whatever advice Jeff gave but due to his nerves about the incoming deadline approaching, he was slipping and was unable to focus on his singing properly. Jeff assumed that it was the incoming surgery causing the nerves, so he let him go back to bed early. Usually the mentoring lasts around a little past 8 after a short break in the evening but Jeff just dismissed him after telling him to not be so nervous.

"You're training to be a musician kid. I'm not saying that the surgery isn't a big deal but as an entertainer you need to always keep a cool head and never show anyone what you are feeling on the inside. If you don't learn that then you'll never succeed in the industry no matter how talented you might be"

Was it harsh? Probably. But was it true? Of course. Kai knew that he needed to be calm and portray a confident persona but with the incoming deadline, it was getting very difficult.

"Stop! Stop thinking so negatively. You're better than this Kai. Nana raised me better than that!" Saying this Kai just closed his eyes and centering himself. He started remembering the good times he spent with his grandmother. The laughs they had, all the sweet moments they shared and how she'd hit him if she saw him freak out so much.

He unknowingly chuckled and kept reminiscing about the good times and unconsciously began singing the tune of his grandma's favorite song. It was a song that according to Nana, she sang to both his mother and him when they couldn't sleep and after hearing it, they always slept! It was called Sunshine by a famous singer in the 1980s. 

(Credit - 'You are my sunshine' by Christina Perri. It is one of the most soothing songs/lullabies I know and I love it. Feel free to check it out)

🎼🎶🎤

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know, dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

🎼🎶🎤

Kai did not know how it happened. One minute, he was smiling thinking about his Nana and the next moment his eyes teared up and he poured all of his affection that he felt for his Nana into the song, hoping that she could hear him. 

🎼🎶🎤

The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping

I dreamed I held you in my arms

When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken

So, I hung my head and cried

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know, dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

🎼🎶🎤

Kai didn't hear the *DING* of the system, nor did he hear the faint noise of the footsteps, getting farther away from his room, he just let his tears fall while thinking of the one person who meant everything to him.

Skill: Singing - 2 --> 4

Outside the room

Jeffrey wanted felt bad about being harsh on the kid and went to his room to reassure him but when he came close to the room, he heard Kai sing. The pain conveyed in the song, almost broke Jeff and as the song ended, Jeff just walked away without disturbing the kid.

The grief that he was experiencing was unfortunately familiar territory to the blind old man and he knew that no amount of assurance will ever bring his loved ones back. Respecting his space and giving him time to heal on this own was the best thing he could do right now. 

He quietly went back to his room thinking about happy times he spent with his wife and how he wish he could rewind time to see her again.