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Jimin, Jin, and Hobi failed to appear, but things get interesting about an hour later when Melody arrives to pick up her little cousin.  I’m standing backstage beyond the curtain, but I happen to glance her way as she strides down the aisle.  She hears the beautiful piano music flowing from Yoon Gi’s fingers and comes to a sudden halt.  She stands still, staring at the back of his dark head as he bends over the keys.  He’s practicing the new song that Mr. Baxter gave him.  It’s a beautiful melody.  No pun intended. 

Another beautiful Melody seems instantly taken with Yoon’s talent.  As he ceases to play a few minutes later, he turns towards her, and their eyes connect.  Is it my imagination, or does the air between them crackle?

Melody looks like she’s been struck by lightning as the corners of Yoon’s mouth quirk upward.  The boy is so cute.  But he’s not the only one whose beauty shines when he smiles.  Melody’s face is suddenly overwhelmed by loveliness as her lips curve upward into a very sweet smile.  Did she ever smile at Kookie like that?

Reluctantly – it seems to me – Yoon turns back towards the piano and begins to practice playing again.

“Ah, Melody!’ Mrs. O has just spotted the girl in the aisle below her.  “Come up here, my dear!  You’re here to pick up Juni?”

Melody nods as she climbs the steps of the stage.

Mrs. O smiles at her.  “Melody, I know you have a lovely singing voice.  Would you be willing to learn a new song and sing it at the pageant next Friday night?”

For just a moment, Melody’s eyes stray towards Yoon Gi’s back.  “Is it the song he’s playing right now?” she asks as she points towards the piano.

Mrs. O nods.  “Yes, I would need you to practice with Yoon every day.”

“Yes!” Melody responds excitedly.  Instantaneously.

Mrs. O’s eyes fly towards her face.  “You’ll do it?”

More tempered now, Melody’s response skips a beat before flowing from her lips.  “Yes, Mrs. O.  Anything to help you.”

The teacher grins at her.  “You’re such a sweet girl, Melody.  I knew I could count on you.  Thank you.  Yoon has the sheet music.  He can give you a copy.”

Melody tries to contain herself as she crosses the stage towards the handsome young man.  She comes to a standstill next to his piano bench.  He smiles up at her and hands her a sheet of music.

“Heaven’s Breath?” she asks as she reads the title. 

He nods.

“Did you write this?”

He shakes his head.  “No.  I’m just learning it today.”

Wide-eyed, she stares at him.  “You’re kidding.  You’re playing it beautifully.”

He quirks the corners of his lips upward.  “Well, I have been practicing it for an hour.”

Dumbfounded, she gapes at him.  “An hour?  You just saw this song for the first time an hour ago?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Wow.  You must be a virtuoso.”

“I don’t know about that.  But I do play a lot.”

“Do you ever write your own songs?”

“It’s been known to happen.”  The boy grins, revealing a mouth full of pink gums.

I think Melody is about to swoon.

I stifle a giggle as I watch them.  So much for her being taken with Kookie.  Good.  Maybe she’ll let the past go and embrace a future with someone else. 

Yoon continues to look at her.  His wide grin has faded to a barely perceptible smile.  But it’s still there.  I can detect it.  He’s watching her face as she glances over the sheet music.

“Do you want to practice with me now?” he asks.

She nods.  “Can you play the whole song through once first?”

Immediately, his fingers begin to flow over the keys of the piano.  I close my eyes.  This song is so beautiful.

“Who wrote this song?” Melody queries a few minutes later when he stops playing.

“A kid in my music theory class.”

“It’s beautiful,” she breathes.

“Isn’t it?” he smiles.  “Ready to sing?”

My vantage point is such that I see a distinct blush spreading across her cheeks.  “Okay,” she responds a little uncertainly.

“Relax,” he rumbles in his gravelly voice.  “You’re going to be great.”

Perplexed, she furrows her brow.  “How do you know?  You’ve never heard me sing.”

“Haven’t I?” he frowns.  “I’m pretty sure I heard you one day when I was walking by the music room.”

Her gaze sharpens on his face as he glances down at the piano.  Yoon noticed her?  And her voice?  Oh, I can feel the air between them heating up!

Smiling, I lean back against the curtain and watch this little exchange continue.  Yoon begins to play the intro again.  Melody hums for a moment before she begins to sing.  I am overwhelmed a few moments later by one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard.  Nope.  It’s not Kookie.  Not this time.  It’s Melody.

“Heaven’s breath filled the air

As the stars began to shine.

Heaven’s love stirred the hearts 

As its Babe was born divine.”

Breathless, I stare at the girl as she continues to sing. 

“The earth now held its breath 

As the stars began to climb,

Now welcoming its King

In a moment so sublime.”

I am still holding my breath as Yoon plays a lovely little interlude before Melody picks up the chorus.

“Oh-oh, the angels sang;

Oh-oh, their voices rang

When Love invaded the earth

At our precious Savior’s birth.

“Oh-oh, the hearts rejoice,

Oh-oh, at the clear voice,

Beckoning the lonely soul

To please come and now behold…

“Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh.

“The Precious One,

God’s one and only Son.

“Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh.

“The Holy One, 

Loving and gracious Son.

“His Name is Jesus; His Name is Jesus.

His Name means God saves us.

His Name means God loves us.

His Name is Jesus; His Name is Jesus.

The one sent to free us,

His Name is Jesus.”

Overwhelmed by the beauty of the song, I simply stare at a girl who grows lovelier by the moment, as sweet words pour from her mouth, and a captivating melody flows from the boy’s fingers.  He plays the interlude again.  Melody’s eyes are closed now.  She’s completely lost in the music until she hears her cue coming up.  Those eyes flutter open and find the second verse as she opens her mouth to sing.

“Heaven’s heart filled the land

As the skies began to glow.

Heaven’s host sang of love

And a God whom we could know.

“He stepped down from His throne

To come for a strange people,

He longed to make His own,

To make them all His equal.”

The sweeping interlude intervenes again before she sings the chorus through once more.  I don’t get to hear it all this time.  My attention is captured by Mrs. O and a student who needs help.  But a little while later, I hear Melody singing once more.  I glance her way and catch Yoon gazing at her with rapt attention. 

Oh, my.  He looks as if his heart has already been captured.  The question is…

Was it arrested by the mesmerizing voice or by the lovely face?