Artland Series: MINORITY TALENT
Persons with Character Disabilities

Luciana had just stepped out of a narrow alley, about to cross the highway that ran right in front of the alley, when a luxury car almost hit her. Luciana tightened her jaw, preparing to cuss at anyone at the time who was behind the wheel. That day his mood was really bad.

But when the driver of the luxury car pulled down the glass and said, "I'm sorry!"

Luciana suddenly lost her emotions. He stared at the driver's face without saying a word. Not because of his apology, but because the look on the face behind the wheel managed to fascinate him.

At first glance, the man's face reminded him of a Korean actor who had been his idol during school. It was just that the man in the luxurious car looked older. His face was soft, but his gaze was sharp. The nose is sharp, shoulder-length hair, all of these characteristics are the criteria of Luciana's dream man until now. It was hard for him not to be sweet when facing such a man figure. He smiled in response to his apology.

But when the man returned his smile while observing the guitar in Luciana's hands, the girl's smile disappeared.

I am just a street singer, he said in his heart. No rich man would put on a smile except pity. With wide strides, the girl finally crossed behind the luxury car earlier and forgot everything.

The driver of the luxury car did not immediately speed up the speed of his car, he observed Luciana when the girl had crossed and walked into the culinary center, not far from her place. He smiled faintly and parked his car around the place as well.

Luciana let out a heavy sigh then draped the guitar strap on her shoulder, reached into her pants pocket, took out a pick, then entered one of the food merchant tents and chatted for a moment before finally starting to sing.

Not finished one song, some visitors in it had already raised their hands with a dime in his hand, hinting that he would approach them to receive the money. Luciana approached their table in a reluctant manner. Instead, he would rather be given the opportunity to sing a few songs and be listened to until it was over before they gave him the money.

The average busker prefers to receive money as soon as possible so that they can also leave as soon as possible without having to bother completing one song. More than one song. That way, they do not need to waste time for money that is not how much.

Different from Luciana. Luciana wishes to be heard and cared for before everyone decides how much money she deserves to give in appreciation. Although in the end the amount of money received is the same.

The attitude of giving money before he finished singing to her felt like a subtle way to drive her away. Not infrequently he felt offended in the face of such an attitude. Because such attitudes are more commonly aimed at beggars or toilers. But as a street singer, he couldn't force anyone to understand that street singers are different from beggars or pickers. Likes, dislikes, people's views of street singers are no different from beggars or thugs.

Admit it, he said to himself. Busking is no different than begging.

However, Luciana always tried to continue the song until it was finished, whether they liked it or not. That way, he hoped that over time others could understand that he did not come to beg. But it also sells sound.

With a sour face, Luciana finally came out of the tent after she finished just one song.

Entering the next tent, Luciana is then faced with a much worse reality.

Especially, the handsome man in the luxurious car who almost hit him, one of the figures he least expected to see himself in the most miserable state, was, sitting down enjoying his dinner at one of the tables in the tent.

Luciana could feel her face starting to burn as the man lifted his face and found himself in the most miserable state. Luciana tried to strengthen her heart not to undo her intentions and then ran away from that place. "Good night, everybody." Luciana forced a smile. "Let me accompany her dinner" she continued without daring to look at the face of the man at the dinner table who was watching her while smiling faintly.

Unfinished he sang one song, a woman from one of the dining tables yelled at him, "sorry!".

Luciana ducked towards the woman without cutting off the song she was singing.

Then the man at the nearest table gave him a dime. Once again Luciana just ducked because the song was not finished yet. The man put the money on the table and tapped on the table hinting that Luciana could pick it up herself later. Luciana went back down.

The woman shouted back, "sorry!"

Luciana slightly choked to hear the woman scream even louder. But the song is not finished. In his heart he regretted, had chosen the song "Leaving On A Jet Plane".

Entering the last song, the woman once again shouted. This time in a rebuking tone, "I said sorry!"

All the eyes in the tent were staring at him and then staring at Luciana in turn.

Luciana began to lose her concentration, but still tried to finish the song while closing her eyes. He really felt lost face being treated like that in front of someone he hoped would not see himself begging. And now he must also see himself being abused.

All eyes within the tent were glued towards the woman's table without blinking. The woman's face flushed. She looked at her husband for a defense. But her husband did not even dare to look at Luciana's face.

Luciana looked at all the visitors in the tent. Except for the handsome guy who had made her nervous from the start. "I'm sorry" he told everyone. "I intended to entertain you all, but since there are people here who are disturbed, I just sing here. Sorry if my presence bothers you too."

The handsome man that Luciana most avoided eyes was observing Luciana in awe. He linked his hands together, right in front of his face, covering his proud smile.

Luciana taped her guitar strap, then turned away from the woman's desk and said goodbye. "Sorry" he told the owner of the tent, patting him on the shoulder.

The owner of the tent just smiled understandably, while giving his thumbs up.

"Justin..." Suddenly a girl from one of the visitor's desks ran towards Luciana. Then crammed some money into Luciana's hands.

Luciana looked at the girl's face, "I'm sorry, Dear, I can't take it." Reject Luciana fine.

"The sound is good," the girl insisted on refusing the money back. "May I have her phone number?" It seemed like this time the girl deliberately said it half-screamed.

The attitude of the girl suddenly made the woman rise from her seat, then out of the tent. Nervously her husband paid all the bills at the table and hurriedly followed his wife.

Luciana was stunned for a moment, she looked around then looked back at the girl's face in a doubtful manner.

"I have a small coffee shop not far from this place," said the girl half-calling, "if you are interested in joining, I want to offer cooperation," the girl seemed to think hard, trying to find the right words to express their meaning. He glanced at the woman before finally the woman and her husband moved away from the tent.

Luciana smiled, "alright," he said. Then she mentioned her mobile phone number, while the girl recorded it on her mobile phone. "I'm Luciana, by the way" he added, then reached out to the girl.

"I am Esther," the girl replied, warmly welcoming Luciana's hand.

"OK, Esther. Thanks for the offer." Luciana waved her hand before finally completely leaving the tent.

"Thank you for the song!" Esther shouted cheerfully towards Luciana.

An hour later, Luciana heard her cell phone ring. It might be Esther, he concluded. He was crossing right in front of a narrow alley where he was almost hit by a luxury car a few hours ago. In order to prevent a repeat of the incident, Luciana finally ignored the call until she completely pulled over.

Arriving at the mouth of the alley, Luciana took out a mobile phone from her waist bag then checked it. The call is over. But clearly the call came from a new number. Then Luciana kept the contact in Esther's name without hesitation. Before the contact was successfully saved, incoming calls from the same number dominated the screen of his phone.

"Hallo," said a voice across the phone.

Luciana stunned. Not Esther, he said in his heart. "Who is this?"

The person on the phone line did not answer.

"Hallo," urged Luciana.

Silent!

Shortly thereafter Luciana heard the sound of a car horn behind her.

Luciana twisted her body and was stunned. His cell phone was still attached to his ear when he found the figure in the luxury car was also sticking a cell phone in his ear.

"Hallo" said the man behind the wheel, smiling faintly.

Her voice reached Luciana's ears through the speakers on her cell phone. Luciana was in disbelief.