LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 81 - We Are Band, Okay?
Tap.
“Thank you!”
Halo tucked a bill into the viola case.
The young busking brothers shouted their thanks.
And then, they resumed their classical performance.
“Now then.”
Halo looked around.
He had come up the slope, and was nearing the end of his memories.
The restaurant he always visited when coming to this neighborhood was close.
Of course, he didn’t expect the same place to still be there in the same spot. The same people certainly wouldn’t be there – even if they existed, they’d likely be in graves by now. Still, his steps stubbornly pressed forward.
‘Nick’s Kitchen’ was a restaurant that sold burgers, salads, and brunch, with the most popular menu item being the cheeseburger.
It wasn’t that the cheeseburger was particularly delicious, but rather that the other menu items weren’t very good, so regulars always ordered the cheeseburger.
He, too, would sit by the window and order like them.
‘The usual.’
‘Did you leave your coffee beans here or something?’
‘Two cups today, please, Nick.’
‘Just eat your damn burger.’
It definitely wasn’t a place one went for delicious food.
Rather, it was a place to go for the coffee Nick brewed as a hobby. The aroma and taste of the coffee were amazing, like it was made by a top European barista.
He always drank strong espresso there. Then he’d tell Nick to quit the burger joint and open a cafe instead.
‘He always said he’d run a burger joint for life.’
Halo turned the corner.
And he stopped in his tracks, looking up.
What appeared at the end wasn’t Nick’s shabby burger joint that shared space with an ice cream shop, but
“…I told you to change it to a coffee shop earlier. See. It’s doing so well now.”
Halo discovered a large cafe bustling with tourists, smiling at the corners of his mouth.
It wasn’t the same as the past at all.
The size, the shop, the people – everything was different, but still, he was glad to see it.
[Ever since]
He entered, swinging his guitar.
The rich aroma of coffee beans as he approached the cafe.
The unique interior design.
Above all, what caught his eye was the crowd.
LA is mostly focused on takeout, so it’s hard to find cafes where you can spend time inside. There are almost none except Starbucks. Unless it’s a pub.
Perhaps that’s why the two-story cafe, converted from an old theater, seemed packed with every California citizen.
People from various countries wanting a leisurely coffee time.
Halo looked around as he entered.
He didn’t know this cafe had been converted from an old theater, but he quickly discovered there was a stage like in a theater. Also, that band instruments including a piano existed on the stage.
“Oh? Is that person maybe…”
“What? Is someone there? Oh? Roh Haeil?”
Not noticing the stares boring into him from afar, Halo quietly looked at the stage.
“Is this your first time here?”
Seemingly concerned about him standing at the entrance, an employee wearing a vest approached.
“It’s… my first time here.”
He thought it was a subtle nuance, but since this cafe was built long before this boy was born, the employee took it as a misunderstanding.
“Welcome to Ever Since. It’s a famous spot in Beverly Hills. The popular menu items are einspänner and latte. Of course, the other coffees are excellent too. Take your time looking around since it’s a cafe converted from an old theater. Your eyes will be pleased. Oh, and you came at a great time today. There’s a performance prepared.”
“A performance?”
“Yes, there will be a jazz performance on the theater stage this evening.”
Jazz.
‘Nice.’
Halo nodded.
He thought it would be good to stay at the cafe all day since he had plenty of time.
“How may I help you?”
“A cheeseburger and espresso, please.”
Just as the employee was about to enter the order at the counter.
Bzzt-
A long vibration sounded. It was Han Jinyeong’s number with the chip inserted.
Hmm, he woke up earlier than expected.
Halo calmly thought as he was about to put his phone away again. Another vibration.
Since he didn’t answer the call, a message came right away.
[Where are you]
#
“Wow, this place is really nice. It’s rare to see such a big cafe in America.”
“I know. It would’ve been even better if someone hadn’t snuck out early in the morning.”
At the pointed words, Halo avoided eye contact and looked at the stage. The jazz performance getting ready.
The red-haired woman who just went in seems to be the singer for today’s performance. She could be a session musician, but he had that feeling.
People who ordered salads and various other things waited until Moon Seoyeon finished taking photos for her Stargram.
“Boss, aren’t you eating?”
“I had a cheeseburger earlier.”
“Ah…”
Moon Seoyeon said regretfully.
“I heard the cheeseburger is the only thing here with bad reviews.”
“Really?”
“Yes, everyone says everything else is delicious, but the cheeseburger is disappointing.”
“Hmm.”
Halo chuckled.
And he thought again.
‘I told you to quit the burger joint earlier, Nick.’
At that moment, a commotion arose from somewhere.
Moon Seoyeon who was putting cake in her mouth, Nam Gyuhwan who was eating a croissant, and Han Jinyeong all turned their heads.
The dark brown-haired singer who came on stage.
The momentary appreciation that the singer in the fancy dress was quite pretty was interrupted as they noticed the singer talking with the owner. Judging by their expressions, it didn’t seem to be a positive situation.
“The performers suddenly bailed out?”
“We’re trying to find performers urgently, but…”
The owner looks around with a troubled face.
Customers who came expecting a performance.
He wondered how to find session musicians right now.
And not just one or two.
Piano, contrabass, full hollow body guitar, and even conga – all the session musicians had bailed.
Murmurs spread.
A middle-aged couple came to the owner and asked what would happen with today’s performance.
The owner couldn’t give a proper answer.
If he had even one day, he could have found someone somehow, but this was beyond absurd.
Only God could create performers right before a show.
The singer on stage fiddled with the mic with a gloomy face, arms crossed.
Finally, when the owner had to make a decision.
As he was about to go on stage and announce “Today’s performance has been canceled”,
The singer suddenly lifted her head and whispered something to the owner. The owner shook his head with an incredulous look, but the singer held up one finger. Eventually, the owner hesitated but opened his mouth.
“Is there anyone here who can play an instrument?”
At those words, the murmuring crowd went quiet.
Even if there were people who could play instruments, they were likely different instruments, or people hesitant to give an unprepared performance. Moreover, since this was a place converted from an old theater, the stage had much higher visibility.
Halo looked at the singer.
The singer who wanted to perform somehow.
Their eyes met.
The singer’s distinct green eyes crossed with black eyes.
As their gazes remained fixed, the singer suddenly realized the boy’s eyes were shining brightly.
She felt an intense feeling.
Perhaps that boy would raise his hand and say, ‘I’ll do it’.
“Weren’t you bored at the broadcasting station?”
“Huh?”
“Don’t you want to perform before going back to Korea? Whatever form it takes.”
The band members immediately caught on at those words and their faces brightened. Well, except for one person.
“I quit piano.”
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to. But-“
Halo looked at Moon Seoyeon with meaningful eyes.
Do you really not want to do it? That kind of gaze.
Moon Seoyeon nodded, taking another big bite of bread. She didn’t want to do an unprepared performance.
“It’s been a while since I played conga.”
“Oh? You’re doing it?”
Nam Gyuhwan nodded.
He didn’t say it, but he was bored to death at the broadcasting station.
It was supposed to be a HALO special, but there was nothing special about it. He thought it would be nice to go to a talk show together next time and perform.
Music can be annoying at times, but whether it was an unavoidable occupational disease or not, after just a day or two of resting, he wanted to pick up the sticks again.
“I really only know how to play the contrabass.”
“You know how to play?”
“Do you know how to play the hollow body guitar?”
Han Jinyeong laughed back at Halo’s laughter.
“Jinyeong-oppa is going too? Then what about me?”
“Didn’t you say you quit piano? You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
Han Jinyeong gently stroked Moon Seoyeon’s hair as he stood up.
“How can I just sit here when everyone else is going.”
The singer’s green eyes follow the boy.
The other members stood up too, but her eyes were fixed only on the boy. The owner brightened upon seeing the boy approaching with a guitar.
“I’ll take good care of your guitar! Don’t tell me the people behind you are also-“
“
We, are, band
, Korea. Ah, I mean,
Korea
.
OK
?”
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