REBIRTH : Chasing The Limelight-Chapter 36: Lost love...

When Elara stepped into the restaurant, the familiar scent of fried garlic and warm broth wrapped around her like a shield.

She exhaled in relief, as though she had just escaped from something dangerous.

But she had merely taken three steps forward before she froze again.

Her eyes darted away from the window seat quickly. She lowered her gaze and walked toward the counter instead.

The senior worker gave her a knowing nod. Elara returned it politely, slipping into routine immediately.

Jeni was biting her lip so hard it looked painful. It was obvious that she was holding back a laugh.

When Elara walked up to Mia to assist her, Mia nudged her arm.

"Your suitor is here."

She tilted her chin toward the table near the window. But Elara refused to turn immediately.

"He’s been here since morning, with his friend. He keeps asking about you every few minutes. Even the manager can’t say anything. It’s an honor for Tonio to eat here." Mia whispered.

Elara sighed quietly.

Honor?

She finally glanced towards the window. Tonio sat casually on a chair, dressed in a fitted sports long sleeve compression top and matching track pants.

Several dishes were scattered across the table in front of him. Some half eaten. Some barely touched.

Beside him sat a man Elara didn’t recognize. Definitely not one of the friends from before.

As she turned to look away, the friend suddenly looked up. Their eyes almost met.

But still, it was too late.

Behind her, she heard the friend’s amused voice.

"Isn’t that the girl you won’t shut up about?"

Her spine went rigid. She focused on gathering used plates, stacking them carefully. If she looked unbothered, maybe it would pass.

She carried the dishes into the dishwashing area. But before she could escape fully—

"Frostiebun, you’re here."

Elara stopped mid step.

Frostie... bun?

What kind of evolutionary mistake was that name?

Without reacting, she disappeared into the dishwashing area. When she came back out, Tonio had shifted in his seat. He could now see her clearly.

This is bad. If he kept doing this and drawing attention, the manager wouldn’t dare offend him, but she might be the scapegoat.

Elara squared her shoulders and walked toward the table. As she approached, she heard the friend say loudly,

"Wow. You said she’s colder than the North Pole but hotter than—" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Tonio slapped a hand over his friend’s mouth. "Shut up. She’s right here."

Elara stopped in front of them with a professional expression plastered to her face. "Is there anything else you need?"

Tonio leaned back lazily.

"Frostiebun. Do you like that name. I made it especially for you."

"I don’t," she replied calmly.

"Anyway, I missed you. A lot."

"We’ve only met once, we’re not that familiar." Elara quickly said, knowing that it might lead to a misunderstanding.

"That’s why I’m here. Let’s fix that. Date tonight?" he said with a grin.

His shamelessness was almost...comical.

"I’m new here, please don’t make things difficult for me. I might lose this job." Elara said quietly.

"I’ve heard you, Frostiebun."

She inhaled slowly. "And please don’t call me that."

He frowned thoughtfully.

"What!. Not that? You don’t like it? What about something cool like Blizzardbabe? Or Polarpoof?"

Elara sighed for the millionth time that day. Who allowed him to name human beings.

"No." she replied.

"Not anyone?" he asked.

"No."

Elara said and then straightened. "Is there anything else you’d like to have?"

Tonio leaned forward slightly. "Yes." he said pausing for a second before curling up his lips.

"I want you."

"What do you mean?" Elara asked blinking.

He winked but didn’t say anything.

A stiff smile stretched across her face.

"Your joke is very expensive."

Tonio stood dramatically, hand over his chest. "I’m not joking about this. I swear on my grandmother’s secret meatball recipe. The one nobody knows about."

Stiffled laughter sounded from behind her. Elara closed her eyes for half a second, thinking. He cannot keep coming here.

"Let’s meet somewhere else," she said finally.

Tonio froze. Then his face lit up like someone had handed him the championship trophy. He grabbed his friend’s arm.

"Did you hear that? Am I dreaming?"

Elara frowned slightly. Did he misunderstood something. She folded her arms under her chest as she stared straight at him.

"Not for a date. To talk properly without disturbing my workplace." she quickly clarified.

Tonio paused but his grin didn’t disappear.

"If we talk properly, does that mean I get upgraded to another status in your heart?" he said lowering his voice.

Elara’s expression did not change but she didn’t bother to continue her polite act.

"Surely not to a good place."

His friend burst into laughter. Tonio’s admiration seems to grow by leaps and bonds.

Elara lowered her voice and moved closer to the table.

"If you’re serious about whatever this is, you should stop coming here every day. If you’re not serious, then..."

For the first time, Tonio’s playful tone turned serious.

"Tomorrow. What time will you be ready," he asked.

Elara sighed. Now she’ll have to miss trainings tomorrow.

"One o’clock," she replied instantly and he nodded.

"Deal."

She turned to leave. Behind her, she heard him mutter softly to his friend. "God, I swear I’m falling already.."

"Hmmph. Isn’t that what you said to Lulu last week? And Sparklepop the week before? And... what was it... Snugglebuns on Tuesday?" His friend asked.

Elara sighed...

–

Solmere, the administrative capital of Aurelia didn’t sleep that night. The Grand Hall stood tall like a cathedral made of glass and gold. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling like frozen stars. Thousands of people filled the seats: silk dresses, sharp suits, shoes shining under the stage lights. Famous singers, old composers, producers who built whole careers—they all sat close together.

Hope was in the air.

Cameras floated above. Big screens curved over the stage, showing the best moments from the past year. Applause came in waves every time a nominee’s name was called.

Everyone seems to be waiting.

The host stood in the middle of the stage, holding the microphone like it was something important.

"Tonight, we honor the youngest female artist in Aurelia to reach ten million streams on a song. A song about lost love that touched millions of people." he said, looking around the hall. He walked slowly across the stage.

"And while that song was climbing the charts... she was in Lorien, teaching children how to find their own voices."

A small wave of surprise went through the room. Some people whispered. Cameras turned.

"One of her students just won a national youth contest."

Everyone clapped loudly.

He raised the microphone higher, voice full of ceremony. "Ladies and gentlemen... the Aurelia Prodigy of the Year...!"

He paused for a long second.

Relanie already knew the the winner. She turned her head a little. Adrian sat beside her in the front row, dressed in dark charcoal. He looked the same as always, untouched by everything around him.

A warm feeling grew in her chest. No matter how far away he seemed, no matter how cold his words could be, she knew him. She remembered the boy who stood in front of her when kids call her and orphan. The boy who kept his thoughts locked away like a storm no one could enter.

He came. Even when she thought he wouldn’t. She looked at him and he felt it. His brows moved just a little. He turned toward her with a questioning gaze. Their eyes met for a moment.

Those eyes.

The first time she saw them wasn’t a good memory, but it had stuck in her mind since then.

He looked away first.

On stage, the host’s voice rang out again.

"...Relanie Ardent!"

The hall exploded. Applause came from everywhere. Some people stood right away. Others joined them.

Relanie smiled in satisfaction and looked at Adrian again. He still stayed calm, but she could sense a shift in his expression.

She stood up. Lights hit her all at once. Thousands of camera flashed on her face as she walked up the steps slowly. The dress she wore fit close at the waist, then flowed out long, sweeping the floor behind her.

Her blue hair was styled in beautiful waves, pinned on one side with a small crystal clip.

Overall, she looked regal.The host met her with a big smile, gave her a quick hug, then handed her the microphone and the crown-shaped trophy.

The clapping went on for a long time.

Relanie stood in the center of it all. She was still in grade six. She hadn’t even finished her full debut. And yet here she was. Exactly how everything is supposed to be.

She took a breath.

"Thank you," she said quietly.

"When I wrote Fading Echo, I wasn’t thinking about the charts or streams. I wrote it because there were feelings I couldn’t keep inside anymore."

A soft sound moved through the crowd.

"Lost love sounds big," she said with a small smile. "But sometimes it’s not about losing someone. Sometimes it’s about loving someone who stays just out of reach."

The big screens showed a short clip of her singing the song.

"In eight months... so many people listened. I’m still trying to understand it. Ten million isn’t just a number. It’s ten million hearts that stopped for three minutes to feel something with me."

More clapping.

She took another breath.

"But the part I’m most proud of is Lorien. Those children... they reminded me why I started singing. One of them stood on a stage recently and won a national contest. And I thought... maybe this is what success really means. Not rising alone."

Her fingers held the trophy a little tighter.

"My parents are gone. So is my Uncle. There were days I didn’t know where home was."

The room became quiet.

"But the Vale family gave me a place to belong. They gave me warmth when I had none. For that... I will always be grateful."

Another round of clapping followed.

"And to the person who taught me that strength doesn’t always look gentle..." she paused, not looking out at the crowd but at someone in the front row, "...thank you for taking care of me even when you were afraid your own hands might hurt instead."

The hall quietened again.

She lifted the trophy a little. "This is not the end of something. It is the beginning."

The clapping came back, even louder.

Relanie handed back the microphone. She looked down at the front row again. Adrian was still there. Just the same calm face.

But at least he stayed. And for Relanie, that alone was enough....