Devil’s Music

New York JFK International Airport (JFK International Airport)

Norman Lebrecht, looking tired from the long flight, exhaled breaths that spoke of the cold winter season as he dragged his small suitcase along. After completing the immigration check, he stepped out of the airport doors and headed towards a smoking booth he saw at a distance, lighting up a cigarette he had been craving for hours. The initial dizziness from the first puff made him close his eyes momentarily to regain his balance. He frowned as he looked at the cigarette between his fingers.

"I should quit..."

Despite his words, the vibration of a phone in his pocket interrupted his moment with the cigarette. He smiled as he answered the call after checking the caller ID.

"Ah, Nal-se. You've just arrived, Abraham. Where are you?"

"Yes, sir. I'm at the airport parking lot. Which gate exit are you at?"

"Ah, I'm here by the smoking room, between gates 23 and 24."

"Alright, sir. I'll be there shortly. Please wait a moment."

After hanging up, Norman Lebrecht exhaled smoke while looking out at New York from the smoking booth's window.

He recalled the performance at the Bronx Zoo from three years ago, feeling chills on his arms.

"Just the thought still gives me chills. It's been 3 years, but the impression from that time hasn't faded."

As Norman shivered, he noticed a man with brown hair and horn-rimmed glasses running towards the crosswalk in front of the airport. After stubbing out his cigarette, Norman opened the door of the smoking booth and raised his hand, shouting.

"Abraham! Over here!"

Locking eyes with Norman, Abraham burst into laughter as he ran over.

"Professor!! How long has it been! Hahaha"

Abraham ran with open arms and embraced Norman, who returned the smile warmly.

"So, how have you been?"

"Of course, Professor! Let's head to the car."

"Indeed. Thank you for picking me up."

"Haha, don't mention it. It's the least I could do. Let's go."

After taking the shuttle bus to the parking lot, they boarded Abraham's luxury car. As Abraham stowed Norman's luggage in the trunk and settled into the driver's seat, he said,

"It must have been tough traveling all the way from London. Haha, it would have been easier if Kay studied in the UK, but having a student studying in the US must be hard on you."

Norman chuckled in response.

"Ha, indeed. Seems like long flights are getting harder for me as I age. Where's Kay?"

Abraham made a weary face and replied,

"Deep in practice at Juilliard. Journalists have been camping out in front of Juilliard every day, but Fantagio has been blocking their access in advance. Over twenty security personnel guard the Juilliard Opera House during Kay's practice times. Fantagio's stance is funny; they say you can't meet without an appointment, but when you try to schedule an interview formally, they just repeat that Kay is too busy with practice to accommodate interviews. What do they think of the public's right to know?"

Norman laughed off the comment,

"It's the journalists who violate personal rights and confidentiality in the name of the public's right to know, isn't it? Is a musician refusing interview time for practice infringing on the public's right to know? Haha, that's ludicrous."

Abraham smirked playfully.

"Haha, just joking. Without stories from people like Kay, journalists like me would starve."

Norman laughed and buckled his seatbelt.

"Make sure such remarks don't reach the ears of those you're covering. You won't get another interview otherwise."

Starting the car, Abraham laughed,

"Haha, that's why I contacted you as soon as I heard you were coming. I thought maybe seeing Kay's face and throwing a few questions might give me something to write about."

Norman looked at Abraham in disbelief,

"What? Didn't you know I didn't even catch a glimpse of Kay at the Bronx Zoo performance, let alone a shadow? I have no personal acquaintance with him. I just came to watch the performance. Of course, coming here early was partly in hope of meeting him, but well..."

Abraham chuckled as he steered the car.

"Haha, exactly. You'll try anyway, right? The chances of him meeting you are higher than meeting a lowly journalist like me. Is this a calculated kindness?"

"What? Hahaha, I've been had."

Abraham started the car and began driving slowly.

"Which hotel are you staying at?"

Norman glanced at his watch and shook his head.

"It's too early to head to a hotel. Let's go to Juilliard."

Abraham turned

his head sharply with a delighted look.

"Really? You want to go there now?"

"Ha, whether we can meet him or not, who knows? If we keep showing up, he might see us eventually. Let's go without expectations and just try our luck, and if not, we'll grab a meal."

"Haha...to think that Norman Lebrecht, the world-renowned critic, could be turned away at the door. I envy such musicians."

"Ha, not turned away. They probably don't even know I've come. And I'm not that great. It's just musicians hoping for a good review who make time in advance."

With those final words, Norman, seemingly tired, turned his gaze out the window and gradually fell asleep. It was only after arriving in front of Juilliard that Abraham gently woke the deeply sleeping Norman.

"Professor. We've arrived."

"Ah..uh? Oh, that was quick."

"Haha, you've been asleep for over an hour. You must have been very tired."

"Has it already been that long? Ha, well."

Smiling, Abraham hurried to the passenger side to open the door for Norman, who chuckled as he got out.

"Such flattery, Abraham."

Abraham grinned shamelessly.

"Haha, I have to do this much to get a chance to meet Kay, don't I?"

"Haha, so brazen I can't even complain."

"Hehe, let's go."

As they moved from the underground parking lot to the opera house, they were stopped by a security officer in a black suit. The security officers, having been instructed not to intimidate visitors, spoke politely.

"This area is temporarily restricted to the public as the opera performers are practicing for an upcoming performance. Sorry, but please use another passage."

Norman, as if he had anticipated this, pulled out a business card and handed it to the security officer. The officer, without taking the card, looked down and asked,

"What's this?"

Norman chuckled and shook the card,

"Could you please tell Kay that I've come to see him? My name is on the card. Thank you."

The officer, finding it hard to refuse such a politely made request, took the card and radioed in.

"Chzzt, this is sector 3 of the underground parking lot. There's a visitor here for Kay. The visitor's name is Norman Lebrecht, a music critic from the UK. Please advise."

"Chzzt. Wait."

As the officer with the radio looked at them, Abraham quietly asked,

"Professor. If Kay agrees to meet, could we also see Kiska Miocic?"

Norman leaned in and asked,

"Kiska Miocic? The young genius who wrote the lyrics for Kay's new song? I've seen a photo of him hugging Kay, a cute kid, on the internet."

"Right, Professor. Despite not being a celebrity, the kid's gaining a lot of attention. He's incredibly cute and talented, even younger than Kay."

"Is he involved in this opera performance too?"

"Yes, the overall music direction is by Professor John Corigliano, the script by Professor Leontine Price, and Kiska Miocic contributed by writing lyrics that match Corigliano's compositions for the opera. It's amazing that a ten-year-old kid is writing lyrics for an opera performance. My daughter can't even write nursery rhymes."

"Ha, geniuses always surpass the imaginations of us mere mortals. If Kiska Miocic is in the rehearsal room, let's ask to see him too."

"Chzzt. Please come in with all due respect."

Finally, as a welcome response came through the security officer's radio, Abraham, unable to contain his excitement, raised his hands and shouted with joy.

"Yess!! As expected!!"

Norman, too, seemed thrilled and happy about the possibility of meeting Kay for the first time, smiling broadly. Following the security officer's lead, they sat in a café adjacent to the opera house, looking around the empty café caused by the restrictions, their hearts pounding in anticipation. After about three minutes, the back door of the opera house opened, revealing a beautiful young man's face, which made Abraham catch his breath.

"Gasp..."

Since there was no one else around, the stunningly beautiful man smiled brightly as soon as he saw them. His long limbs appeared no different from a Westerner's, but perhaps because they were slimmer and not as bulky, he seemed even taller as he walked towards them, causing Abraham to involuntarily take a deep breath.

'Gasp... How can a man be so beautifully made?'

As Kay approached, Norman rose with a smile, extending his hand.

"Ha, Kay. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Norman Lebrecht."

Kay grasped his hand firmly, returning the smile.

"Nice to meet you. It's our first time talking, isn't it?"

"

Ha, indeed. Thank you for taking the time to talk. Please, have a seat."

Kay took the seat Norman offered, and as he turned to look at Abraham, Norman patted his back, saying,

"Let me introduce him. This is Abraham, a reporter from the New York Herald. Would you mind his presence?"

Kay shook his head and extended his hand to Abraham.

"Not at all. Nice to meet you, Abraham."

Abraham, looking honored, shook Kay's hand.

"Ah, the pleasure is mine. If you had found it inconvenient, I would have excused myself. Thank you for allowing me to stay."

With a smile, Abraham saw his chance and hurriedly said,

"If you permit, may I write about our meeting today? If it's uncomfortable for you, I promise not to write anything under my name."

Kay laughed, showing his teeth.

"Go ahead. I've been feeling bad for avoiding interviews with journalists anyway."

"Ha, thank you. Then, if you don't mind, I'll start recording."

>

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