The One Who Can't Wait, and the Piano That Can
The bar counter. The two of them sitting side by side. Music drifting through the room.
Aya “Does this piano spend more time not playing than playing?”
Mina “Now that you mention it.”
Aya “It's like negative space in design, you know?”
Mina “Like in graphic design?”
Aya “Yeah. You resist the urge to fill everything in. Leave it open. I feel like that's what's happening here.”
Mina “Like not playing is the whole point.”
Aya “Exactly. It's less about what you put in and more about what you leave out.”
Mina “…You should've told your boss that. When he got mad at you for the sparse presentation.”
Aya “I did. I said it was negative space.”
Mina “And?”
Aya “He got mad anyway.”
They both laugh. The piano in the background lands right on a pause.
Mina “But the way he sits in those silences — it really does feel good. He can wait.”
Aya “Right. Being able to wait is a rare thing. Miles Davis ↗ even said he learned that from him.”
Mina “Unlike you.”
Aya “Shut up.”
Mina “You call me after three minutes of read receipts.”
Aya “That's completely different.”
Mina “Maybe take a lesson from this guy.”
Aya “…Sure. Next life.”
The bartender sets down a glass.
Piano — The silence between notes is where he plays.