What a wonderful world (t (1/1)

"Wow, this place is huge." Was the thing to escape my lips when we got out of the car to head towards the entrance. As I pushed the doors open, I almost heard Yoohyeon holding her breath from the anticipation.The inside looked like a wide bar, with a counter following the length of the bigger wall. The tables were not too broad, and the atmosphere was a sweet combo of sophisticated and simplicity. Yoongi did a good job in choosing this place. From what I know we were expecting a little over 200 people, at least. That's why it was important to not make the guests feel crushed in a crowded can. All the windows of the opposite wall of the counter were open and I looked around to see if my evening's boss was anywhere around. "I love this place." Yoohyeon said in awe. "I feel very welcomed already, even if the set isn't done and people are still running here and there."She was right, the energy in the room at that moment was something I really missed. Almost like a build up to the big moment when the tension resolves with the first notes of the first song. The whole preparation to finally be able to present. "Come, let's ask where Yoongi is." I took her hand in mine. She was still taking in the entire sight, amazed. We walked together towards the counter where a barmaid was organizing a few things."Good evening, what can I do for you?" He asked after seeing I got a guitar in my hand."Hello, we're looking for Yoongi. I'm part of the musicians." He nodded and pointed to a door next to the stage. "It's the dressing room. He might be there, I think." "Thanks a lot." And when I turned to go there I saw Yoongi indeed exiting the room. He saw us and joined us with his big old smile.  "Jiu!" He bowed a little before shoving my shoulder with a little laugh. "It's so good to see you.""Yeah same, I feel like it's been forever." But before anything embarrassing from the past could be said I put my hand on Yoohyeon's back and added "This is Yoohyeon.""The girlfriend." He cut me off with a huge grin."My girlfriend, yes." I confirmed. Yoohyeon offered her hand. "It's so nice to finally meet you." Yoongi took the hand and shook it softly. "Likewise." The conversation between the three of us flew like it was the easiest thing ever. At some point, other musicians arrived, and the talking had to be cut short. We all already met by virtual meetings, we even practiced a few times like that too, but it was a weird sensation to meet them in real life after a few months.The atmosphere was the most chilled yet excited I ever felt for a concert. Again, I think that Yoongi did a wonderful job by choosing the musicians. Confidence and wanting to perform was sort of a motto, an unspoken motto but it was hovering over us all. We all agreed on that. Yoohyeon took part in the presentations, met a few of the others plus ones and after a long moment of talking with Yoongi, she came back to me."We're going to install all the instruments on stage and maybe play a few songs that need to be sound checked." I announced it to her. I was glad to see she was at ease with Yoongi and that I didn't have to leave her behind all by herself. "Okay! You go do that and I'll hear you play from the counter. Yoongi and I are going to grab a drink with the others." She smiled. Yoongi came to us and added "Don't worry, I'll take care of her." "Oh I would worry more about you. Don't drink too much, Yoongi. You still have a concert to do.""I organized the concert. I'm not playing tonight. You're the one not allowed to drink until the stage is over." He stuck his tongue out. "You too seem like bickering siblings." Yoohyeon stated amused at the display. I sighed as if already tired. "You have no idea..." I kissed her lips in one swift motion and whispered "You're really beautiful, tonight."She smiled and kissed my cheek to leave a subtle red mark. "Don't worry, I only have eyes for you."And with that she returned to Yoongi, making sure to put on a show just for me in the process. That girl will be the death of me. I watched them leaving towards the counter as I heard Yoongi ask "So, this is the first time you see Jiu perform?" And I smiled to myself before going decisively to the stage where the other staff members already were. I sat on my awaited piano and softly tested its touch. The feeling of a medium resistance was all I needed to straighten my back and wait for any indication to start playing. The bassist was tuning his instrument, the singer adjusting the mic, and when all the details were taken care of, we looked at each other. The drummer hit his sticks two times and my piano magically played smoothly the first notes of the first song.The bass joined, then the guitar, the cello discretely joined and the singer's voice finally captivated the whole room. It wasn't even the start of the real concert, but the liberation of playing in that moment felt surreal. At the end of the song, Yoongi talked loudly from where he was. "Cello needs to be a tiny bit louder. For the voice, can I have less reverb and more high frequencies?"The sound engineer applied the few changes. Then we moved to another song. And without checking my watch even one, time flew by. Until Yoongi suggested a break and a fresh beverage before the guests would arrive.

That was my cue to join back my magnificent girlfriend sitting with her back to the counter and directly lighting up as I came closer. I asked for a glass of cold water and gave all my attention to Yoohyeon. I sat next to her and she put her hand on my knee, almost as a reflex. Except this time, she was dressed in a beautiful blue silk dress and my mind automatically raced. "You seem to have fun." I put my hand on top of hers. And she nodded."I am. I can feel the energy in this room and it's amazing. Everybody is super nice. Yoongi is the sweetest. He bought me a drink." She raised her glass as proof."That big flirt, I swear..." I joked before taking full gulps of my water. The coldness down my throat, the sweet evening air winding around the bar as the heat of the day finally faded away. The sky was on the verge of turning from scarlet to pink and that colored light complimented every single person coming in the bar with their dressed up shirts and other various fancy clothes. Being in that place didn't feel like any other bar. Yoohyeon was right, once again : everybody was so nice. Maybe it was for the simple reason that we all got reunited for the same matters : the music, the charity,  the concern and the need of a safe place. The most intriguing part of it was that I never felt like it was inevitably coming to an end. I knew it would but it didn't ruin the present moment. The air was still nicely hitting my nape and Yoohyeon's fingers were now drawing patterns on my thigh. Nothing could change the fact that it was happening.The chatters became more numerous but not louder. It didn't make my sweet nothings for Yoohyeon any less soft. People were arriving but nothing seemed to burst that bubble I was in. I knew that feeling too well : Yoohyeon by my side and the world could stop spinning, I couldn't care less. Yet, something was different this time. Our bubble felt like it was within its own bubble. Like we were safer here. Like the secure space of the cozy and sweet interior, the gentleness of people and the musically pleasing clinging sounds of glasses were all part of the bubble. Yes, it was Yoohyeon and I tied up to each other. But there was more around. And it wasn’t scary.Something came to awake my conscience when Yoohyeon put her head on my shoulder. Silence set the rhythm of the evening and it felt good. Then she talked quietly, almost like she was sharing a secret. "Thank you." I turned my head slightly, "Why are you thanking me?" I smiled and deposed my lips on her forehead. She closed her eyes and breathed deeper."For being you. For making me live all those amazing moments. And all those amazing feelings." She reopened her eyes and I could see she really wanted to share a kiss. Not the kind to have a place in a bar like this. Or it would be really inappropriate."Then, I can thank you too for being a part of all of that. I'm thrilled to have you by my side. I love sharing that with you.""Let's continue for the longest time, then?" She asked softly and smiled as her gaze fell on my mouth. "For the longest time." I approved. Nothing else was shared for a few minutes until Yoongi came up to us and cleared his throat. "I'm sorry to interrupt, lovebirds. But Jiu, it's time and almost everyone has arrived."I looked around to witness that the place was a lot more crowded than when I joined Yoohyeon at the counter. I could almost laugh because I didn’t even realize it was time already. "Sorry Yoohyeon, I'll get her back in an hour for the first interlude." He said but I gave him a look. "Well for half the interlude since I still need her for the other half." He smiled apologetically. "Right." Yoohyeon chuckled and squeezed my knee before letting go of me. "Have fun on stage. I'll be there listening to you." She sweetly reassured me. The stressed up Yoohyeon from earlier that evening was completely gone. I'm not sure if it's because she heard the rehearsal of the moment we shared. In any case, it felt more than right to see her sitting on that stool with a glass in front of her, turning around to see me leave with a supporting nod.Yoongi, who was guiding me through the tables, didn't miss the action. "You are head over hills." He stated. I couldn't agree more. With the sun's last ray of light, came the beginning of the concert. I sat in front of the piano for the second time this evening but this one was the big reveal. Now it was about offering the sweet poetry of melodies. It was a generous expression of the world's beauty. The singer at that precise moment sang It's a wonderful world, Loving wonderful you. And I smiled at how the pieces fit together. The voice, the whole instrument working as a whole and expressing different details, different angles of the words. As my fingers moved on their own, my head shifted towards Yoohyeon’s place. We smiled. Although, we shared a smile that meant way more than just the bliss of the moment. It was a testimony of the last year we lovingly shared. All the words of reassurance, all the time spent in each other's embrace, all the small acts of service, all the generosity and beauty offered. A smile that held every bit of our love. It was way more than a ring. It was better than an oath. Because it was Yoohyeon and I, living on one face of the earth, looking in each other's eyes as we breathed the same air. As we knew when I would stand up from this seat at the end of the concert, I would go back to her. And we would drive back to the apartment. While loving each other like we loved each other before.