Chapter 27 Confusing
The small spark of excitement in her chest dimmed just a little.
“What?” she asked with a raised brow, a hint of defensiveness creeping into her tone.
“Nothing,” he replied before looking away.
But it didn’t feel like anything. Irene shook her head, refusing to dwell on whatever Nelson had in his head.
The lights dimmed shortly after.
A hush fell over the hall, the kind that felt almost sacred.
Complete silence.
Irene straightened in her seat unconsciously, her fingers tightening slightly around the edge of her dress.
And then...
She walked in.
Elena Yu.
Even from a distance, she carried that quiet, effortless grace Irene remembered so well. She wasn't the type to make unnecessary movements or dramatic gestures.
Just her presence.. her aura was majestic.
Irene exhaled slowly, her eyes fixed on the stage.
“She’s really here…” she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.
Beside her, William leaned forward slightly, curious.
Nelson said nothing.
Irene watched her as she walked towards the piano in the middle of the stage.
The seats allowed her to see the woman clearly. She had aged, gracefully.
Seven years... In her timeline, the woman was in her mid-fifties, now probably early sixties.
She had a lot more gray and white hair than Irene remembered which was neatly tied up into a bun in the middle of her head. The color of her hair slightly matched the long, black, and grey gown she wore, which covered her feet.
Slowly, she sat on the chair, her hands, hovered over the keys of the piano.
Irene held her breath.
The first note echoed through the hall.
It was soft and delicate
And Irene felt it immediately. She slowly released her breath, and her shoulders relaxed.
It was like something inside her had been waiting for this, aching for it, and now it finally had it.
Elena Yu was playing a piece Irene knew. It was one of her favourites... One last love.
She didn’t realize she had closed her eyes until a second later.
Nelson noticed everything.
The way her expression softened.
The way her body relaxed, as if she had stepped into something familiar.
The way she wasn’t performing... At least, the way it looked like she wasn't acting.
Wasn’t watching him.
Wasn’t calculating, or thinking of how to get rid of him. How to get out of their marriage.
Something he travelled thousands of miles to do.
This was supposed to be quick. He takes his son, hands her the divorce papers, she signs them, returns them to him, and he leaves.
That was it.
Yet someone, he had found himself at a concert with Irene... A woman whom he couldn't recognize right now.
Or maybe he recognized her, it was just... It has been a long time. A really long time since she was like that.
...
“This part is coming,” Irene whispered suddenly, leaning toward William, her voice barely audible.
William blinked. “Which part?”
“The shift,” she said softly, her eyes still on the stage. “Listen carefully.”
A few seconds passed.
And then... The music changed.
It deepened and slowed, became heavier somehow, richer.
William’s eyes widened slightly. His mum wasn't kidding... The pianist was really good.
Irene smiled faintly, like she had been waiting for that exact moment.
Told you, her expression said.
Nelson’s gaze shifted from the stage back to her.
“How did you know?” he asked quietly.
Irene didn’t even think about it. “I’ve heard this before.”
Not just head it... She knew it. She had it memorized and could play it.
His eyes narrowed slightly. She knew it?
He knew Irene liked piano back in the day, but a few months after high school, he heard that she had stopped playing.
She rarely touched the grand piano at the mansion... She rarely walked through that route as though she didn't want to even see it.
Although, that piece the pianist had played was an old one... It said so in the brochure which was on the table, He was still surprised Irene knew it, and remembered it.
After all these years.
...
The music continued.
And somewhere along the line… something shifted again.
This time, it wasn’t excitement. Or admiration. It was something darker.
It had turned really sad.
Irene’s smile faded. Her eyes stayed on the stage, but they weren’t bright anymore.
They were distant.
Like she wasn’t just listening to the music... She was remembering something through it.
Her fingers curled slightly in her lap.
Her throat tightened.
And then, a single tear slipped down her cheek.
She sat still, allowing the tear to roll down her face without bothering to wipe it away.
She just… sat there.
Listening and feeling the music.
Because to her, this wasn't just music... It was therapy, and it was beautiful.
Nelson saw the tear roll down Irene's cheeks. He had been watching her for most of the show.
It didn't look fake at all.
It actually looked as though she was feeling the music. Something he hadn't seen Irene do in a very long time.
Now that he thought about it, she was acting really strange. Was all of this also just an act?
Nelson didn't bother to think of the answer, he knew he wouldn't find it. The only thing he could do was to keep observing.
“She used to play this…” Irene whispered under her breath as the piece slowly came to an end.
It was so quiet that Nelson almost didn’t hear it.
“What?” he asked.
Irene blinked, as she had just realized she had spoken out loud. “Nothing.”
But it was too late.
“You said something,” Nelson pressed, his voice low.
Irene swallowed, her gaze dropping to her lap.
“I just… remembered something. That’s all.”
He didn’t respond.
But his eyes didn’t leave her.
Now... She was not only weird but suspicious as well.
...
The rest of the performance passed in a blur.
At least for Irene.
She clapped when everyone else did.
Stood when they stood.
Smiled faintly when William tugged on her hand, excited and full of energy.
But a part of her was still stuck somewhere between those notes.
Somewhere she couldn’t quite explain.
It had been a little while since she had remembered her... Her best friend. The reason why they had moved from where they had lived previously to the city where she had met Nelson.
The piece was the one she used to play. It was also her favorite.
“Mommy, that was so good!” William beamed as they stepped out of the hall.
“I know,” Irene replied softly, brushing his hair back absentmindedly, her mind still stuck on her past.
Nelson walked beside them in silence.
They didn’t get far before he spoke.
“Irene.”
She stopped, snapping out of her thoughts
Something about his tone made her wary.
William looked between them, sensing the shift.
“Go stand over there for a minute,” Irene said gently, nodding toward a nearby bench.
William hesitated.
Then nodded, walking off reluctantly.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Nelson turned to her fully.
“Enough.” Irene frowned. “What?”
“Enough of this.”
Her confusion deepened. “What are you talking about?”
“What is wrong with you?”
The question landed harder than she expected.
He asked. It didn't sound like he was angry... But he was serious.
Irene stared dumbly at him. It seemed he was finally getting what she had been trying to tell him from day one.
“I’ve been asking myself that since yesterday,” she said, her voice quieter now. “If you have an answer, feel free to share.” she sarcastically said, before crossing her arms.
“This isn’t a joke,” Nelson said, glaring at her.
“I’m not joking!”
“Then what is it?” he shot back, his composure cracking just slightly. “Because this...” he gestured vaguely at her “... this doesn’t make sense.”
Irene’s frustration flared.
“I told you the truth!”
“No, you told me a story.” he retorted, unable to believe the bullshit she said about being from another universe.
“It’s not a story!”
“Then explain it in a way that actually makes sense!”
“I can’t!” she snapped.
The words came out sharper than she intended. They both froze.
Irene inhaled shakily, running a hand through her hair. There was no other way she could put it. She already told him the truth, it was up to him if he wanted to believe it or not.
Nelson exhaled slowly, dragging a hand down his face.
When he looked at her again, something had changed. He looked like he just wanted to know the truth. Like he was tired of his head being messed with.
Irene opened her mouth, but then she closed it again.
She couldn't keep trying to explain it to him.
Maybe he wasn't supposed to know the difference.
"Look, let's just go back to the hotel, okay?" She said as she walked away from him, and towards William.