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Samuel shifted his bow tie uncomfortably. ‘I still don’t understand why we had to come here tonight.’
They were standing in the foyer of the new opera house, dressed formally in dinner jackets and bow ties.
Jayden rolled his eyes at him. ‘I told you my family sponsored the construction of the building and paid for the scholarship of all the performers.’
Samuel fidgeted with his cuffs. ‘Still don’t get why that means we should be here tonight.’
‘Well, this is the grand opening of the opera house and the performers we sponsored are going to perform. My mother has turned it into a fundraiser to help educate brilliant but needy musicians. Every member of the 52 is in attendance and since we’re organizing the whole thing we definitely need to be here.’
Samuel frowned. ‘Doesn’t mean I should be happy about it.’ He pouted. ‘We were supposed to have a movie night tonight.’
Jayden rolled his eyes again. ‘I don’t even know which is worse.’
Victoria glided through the well-dressed guests and came towards them. She was looking stunning in a sparkling midnight blue gown embroidered with diamonds. The diamond earrings in her ears glittered and shone as she smiled at them.
‘Come along boys, the program is almost starting.’
She handed each of them a programme flier. ‘You’re in the third-row seats in front. I’m sorry you couldn’t join us in our box tonight but your father and I are hosting important dignitaries. Are you going to be alright?’
Jayden nodded and grabbed his flier. Samuel smiled reassuringly at her as she gave them one last look before gliding away to mingle with the guests. They filed into the theatre with the rest of the guests and quickly found their seats.
Samuel glanced through the flier as the theatre slowly began to fill up. ‘What’s the show anyway?’
Jayden rolled his eyes at him. ‘Sotto lo stesso cielo. That’s the name of the opera. It was written and composed by Vivaldi Verdi.’
The chatter of the audience died down as the lights dimmed. The curtain rose and the orchestra started playing a low haunting tune. The opera opened with a powerful aria as the actors danced across the stage.
Samuel leaned to his side and whispered in Jayden’s ear. ‘What is it about?’
Jayden stared contemplatively as the scene changed. ‘It’s about a man who fell in love with a beautiful goddess. The goddess was cold and did not return his love. She looked down on him with contempt.’
The orchestra played a jaunty tune as the scene changed and the actors flew across the stage in a mischievous playful manner.
‘The man was not discouraged. He did everything he could to gain the attention of the goddess he loved. He refused to leave her side, always accompanying her wherever she went. He gave her gifts, composed songs for her, and performed great feats in her honour.’
The scene changed and a beautiful heavyset woman stepped on the stage. The orchestra accompanied her as she sang a melodious aria. Her powerful voice swept through the entire theatre.
‘As time went on, the goddess slowly became warm towards him. They became friends, close friends. They became inseparable. They did everything together and their friendship grew over time becoming so great.’
The scene changed, showing the goddess and the man playing together, hunting together, fishing together, and dancing together.
‘Over time, the goddess finally fell in love with this determined man who would not give up trying. Their love was the purest and strongest love in existence. The happiness and joy they felt in each other’s presence were unrivaled. They shared their joys, their fears, their hopes, and their sorrows. They completed each other.
Anyone could see from the way the actors played them that the love the goddess and man shared was no ordinary love. They looked so happy, so complete.
‘But, it was not to be. Their love was forbidden.’
The scene changed as a dark shadow fell across the stage. The orchestra picked up pace and played a low haunting tune full of foreshadowing.
‘She was a goddess of the sky and he, a mere mortal. A goddess and a mortal could never be together. The whole world was against them and it threatened to force them apart. The goddess decided to give up her powers and immortality to become human so they might live in peace for the rest of their lives.’
The tune changed to a light one, showing the hope the goddess and man felt for their love.
‘The man had to journey across the world for the fruit that would make his beloved mortal.’
The scene changed several times, showing different landscapes and perils.
‘He journeyed for three years and faced many dangers until he had finally found the fruit and was almost back home to his love. He was in the woods that surrounded her palace when he was beset by an angry mob from the nearby village. How dare he? Who was he to presume to love a goddess? The mob raved and raged, tearing him apart and leaving his broken body to die alone in the woods.’
The tune turned slow, dark and mournful.
‘Birds, who were the creatures of the goddess and had witnessed the entire incident, took wing and flew to the goddess’s ear. As soon as the goddess heard what happened, she flew as fast as she could to her lover’s side. She knelt by his broken body but all her powers were not enough to save him. The man died with a smile on his face, glad that the last thing he saw was her beautiful face and glad to have spent his last moments by her side.’
The orchestra played a mournful dirge as a beautiful woman began to sing a tearful, heart-breaking aria.
‘The goddess buried her lover under the Swietenia tree after she had planted its fruit, the fruit that would have made her mortal, in her garden. To this day, whenever it rains we know that the goddess is weeping the loss of her lover. When there is a furious storm and lighting flashes in the sky as thunder booms terribly after it, we know that the goddess is raging at the ones who took her beloved from her. But no amount of floods, hurricanes, and tornados against humans would bring back her lost love. And so, that is the fate of the goddess, cursed to spend eternity without her soulmate, the love of her life.’
The orchestra slowly ended as the stage lights dimmed and the curtain began to fall on the scene of the goddess kneeling tearfully beside the grave of her lover. Samuel’s eyes were filled with sadness as turned to look at Jayden.
‘Can you imagine it?’ he whispered, his voice soft. ‘Can you imagine what it would be like to spend the rest of your life without the one you love?’
Jayden turned to him, his features obscured by the darkness of the theatre.
They stared at each other, lost in each other’s eyes as they each considered what it would be like to live like that. Always feeling as if half of your soul is missing, always having your heart broken all over again when you turn to look at your soulmate only to realize that they are no longer there, that you are forever separated from the only one you could ever love, the only one who completes you and makes you feel whole. That you could never hold them again, never touch them, or hug them. Never see them smile again, never hear their laughter once more, never look into their eyes and watch it fill with love as they stare at you. Never feel their heartbeat again.
They broke their stare and turned away as the theatre lights turned back on and the audience rose to their feet with a thunderous round of applause. The curtain rose again as the cast came out and bowed as the audience cheered at them. There were wolf whistles and the audience tossed flowers on the stage as the cast bowed one more time.
Samuel and Jayden slowly got to their feet and joined the applause as the cast bowed again though neither seemed to be present.
They remained lost in thought throughout the after show party and it continued as they sat in the limo on the way home.
The following morning, Jayden was having a late breakfast in his private apartments when Samuel burst in. After the drama the first morning, Victoria had thought it best to let the boys have breakfast separately.
‘Jayden, Jayden, Jayden!’
Jayden placed his teacup down daintily and wiped his lips slowly with his napkin before turning to him with a sigh.
‘What?’
Samuel’s face was bright with excitement and he couldn’t seem to stand still. ‘Come on, come on! I’ve got something to show you.’
Jayden stared at him suspiciously. ‘What?’
Samuel was bouncing on his feet. ‘Never mind that, now come on!’
He grabbed Jayden’s hand and pulled him to his feet, not waiting for a response. Jayden frowned but allowed himself to be dragged along by Samuel out the manor and through the grounds.
Jayden was growing wary. ‘Where are we going?’
Samuel ignored him and dragged him into the woods that lay at the back of the estate. He was buzzing with excitement as he led Jayden through the bright wood. They walked for a while before coming to a stop in a clearing.
‘Ta-da!’ Samuel beamed at him.
Jayden was confused as he looked around the clearing. ‘This what you wanted to show me? You dragged me all the way here to show me the woods of my family estate.’
Samuel giggled. ‘No, silly. I dragged you all the way here to give you this.’
He reached down behind a tree and pulled out a perfectly wrapped box.
‘It’s a late birthday present.’
Jayden was surprised as he took the box slowly in his hands. His brows furrowed slightly as he untied the ribbon and removed the wrapping.
Samuel bit his lips nervously as he looked anxiously at him as he opened the box.
Jayden blinked at the open box.
‘Do you like it? It’s an art set.’
Jayden stared at the paintbrushes, watercolours, paints, pencils, and sketchbooks that sat in the box.
‘I could tell that you’re very artistic. Your style, your cursive writing, and the books you read amongst other things. I’ve never seen you paint or draw though so I’m guessing that this, like horseback riding, is something you stopped because of reasons you won’t tell me.’
He nodded to the box. ‘You’ve got to pick it up again. You shouldn’t allow past experiences to stop you from doing something you love.’
Jayden glanced down at the box then back up at Samuel’s serious face. ‘Thank you.’
Samuel shook his head. ‘Don’t thank me, paint.’
He stared expectantly at Jayden.
Jayden frowned at him. ‘What, now?’
‘Yes.’
Jayden stared at him incredulously.
Samuel rolled his eyes impatiently. ‘Why do you think I brought you here in the first place?’
Jayden continued to look at him in disbelief.
‘Here,’ Samuel said, walking up and forcing him down. He reached into the box, took out a sketchbook and a pencil, and sat opposite him. ‘I’ll join you.’
Jayden stared at the box then at him. ‘What do you want me to paint?’
Samuel was already scribbling on his paper. He gestured to the woods. ‘Anything. Draw the most beautiful thing in here.’
Jayden looked unsure as he hesitantly took out a pencil and a sketchbook. He set them up and looked around.
Samuel had scribbled for some time but he quickly lost interest and placed them aside when he saw a couple of bunnies. They were white and fluffy and they wiggled their little noses curiously as Samuel cooed at them. They bounded up to him and he reached down to play with them.
The minutes passed and before long, Samuel had fallen asleep. The bunnies were still by his side as they nibbled the grass around him, reaching up occasionally to place their little paws on his sleeping face.
A bird chirped up in the tree above him and Jayden stared at it curiously. It was a magnificent creature with a bright colourful plumage and intelligent eyes. It was the most beautiful bird he had ever seen.
Jayden studied the bird before him and smiled softly to himself. He picked up the pencil and began to draw.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: I know, I know, I’m the best. Another update so soon!
So…
Jayden and Samuel.
Thoughts?
Lemme know what you think in the comments and don’t forget to vote if you enjoyed it.
😋.
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