"I heard you right?" Professor Allen's voice jumped half an octave. "You said… Steinway?"
She was staring at Jason like he'd just promised to donate a private jet.
Because a Steinway wasn't just any piano. It was the piano. The Rolls-Royce of the music world. The kind of instrument world-class pianists performed on. Professors like Allen dreamed of having one on campus—but at Riverside University, it was a pipe dream.
Jason nodded casually. "Yep. Steinway. Already ordered, actually. The shop's right here in town. Should be delivered this evening. I figured if it can't stay in the music hall, I'll just have it at my place."
Professor Allen almost dropped her clipboard.
"Of course it can stay here! Absolutely, yes!" she said quickly, her eyes practically sparkling. "Not only can it stay, I'll personally make sure it's protected and taken care of."
"Perfect," Jason said. "I'll have it delivered here tonight then."
"I'll clear a space right now," she said eagerly. "As soon as it arrives, call me immediately."
Back in the music hall, Mike glanced at Jason suspiciously.
"What'd you say to Professor Allen? She looked like you just handed her the key to the city."
Jason grinned. "Told her we're getting an extra piano for the club. She was pretty happy about it."
Mike frowned. "Happy? Bro, she looked ready to cry tears of joy."
Jason didn't elaborate. The club president was already announcing the end of the session, and students started packing up, some stealing one last glance at Mia before heading out.
As far as everyone was concerned, Jason's conversation with Professor Allen was just background noise. End of story.
Except it wasn't.
That evening, Jason got the call—the delivery truck was here. He texted Professor Allen right away, but when he arrived, she was already waiting outside the music hall like a kid on Christmas morning.
The delivery crew carefully rolled the massive crate into the hall. When they peeled back the packing materials, the polished black frame of the piano gleamed under the lights.
Professor Allen gasped.
"Wait… this is a D-274?"
Because even among Steinways, the D-274 was legendary. The concert grand. The top model. The kind of piano that cost as much as a house.
She had expected, maybe, a small upright Steinway, something expensive but manageable. Not this.
This was the kind of instrument she'd only touched a handful of times in her entire career.
"Jason," she said, her voice trembling slightly, "on behalf of the entire music department… thank you. This is incredible."
Jason waved it off like it was no big deal. "Happy to help. I'll probably ask you for lessons sometime, but for now, I'll leave it to you."
And with that, he signed the paperwork and headed out to dinner.
Professor Allen just stood there, stunned.
More than two hundred grand worth of piano, dropped off like it was nothing.
She quickly snapped out of it and rallied the delivery crew. "Careful, careful—watch the walls! Easy with the legs!"
A few music students still hanging around the hall had gathered to watch. When the cover came off, their jaws collectively hit the floor.
"No way. That's a Steinway?"
"And not just any Steinway. That's the D-274. Holy crap."
"Wait… is this… for us?"
"Since when did the school get this kind of budget?"
They were practically buzzing.
Because this wasn't just a piano. This was the dream. Like showing up to driving school and finding out you get to practice on a Ferrari.
And yeah, suddenly everyone wanted longer practice slots.
Word spread fast through Riverside University's music department. By the next afternoon, the music hall was packed—students from the piano club, the orchestra, even a few random majors who didn't play anything but wanted to see what the fuss was about.
And then Mia walked in.
The campus queen herself, calm as ever in her usual understated style. But when her eyes landed on the brand-new Steinway D-274 sitting in the center of the room, a flash of surprise—maybe even excitement—broke through her usual icy expression.
But after a moment, her brows drew together.
"Professor Allen," she said slowly, "didn't you tell me the school's funding request for a new piano was denied? And now… not only did they approve it, but it's a Steinway D-274?"
She knew pianos. The old grand piano the school had was already falling behind—sound quality dulled, keys sticking sometimes. The average student might not notice, but she could hear every flaw.
She had applied for a new one twice. Both times: denied. Budget issues, they'd said.
And now, a Steinway D-274—the concert grand that even some music schools couldn't afford—just appeared out of nowhere?
Professor Allen smiled knowingly.
"It wasn't the school," she said. "Jason bought it himself."
Mia froze.
Jason?
The same Jason who had asked her for piano lessons yesterday?
Across the room, a few other students overheard.
"Wait… what do you mean he bought it himself?"
"As in… a single student just bought a Steinway for the school?"
"That thing costs as much as my parents' house!"
"Hold on—does this mean we can't use it?"
Professor Allen shook her head. "Jason said as long as he isn't using it, everyone is welcome to play. Just treat it carefully."
The room erupted in cheers.
Even students who had never talked to Jason before suddenly had their opinion of him skyrocket.
"Mia, why don't you test it?" Professor Allen suggested with a smile.
Of course, Mia was the obvious choice—she had perfect pitch and was easily the most skilled pianist on campus.
Mia sat down, ran her fingers across the keys, and played a short piece. Her expression didn't change, but her words did:
"No need to tune it. The pitch is perfect."
Professor Allen nodded. "Then from now on, Mia, you can use this one for your performances and practice sessions."
Mia ran her fingers over the polished keys again, unable to hide how much she wanted to keep playing.
But then she remembered yesterday—Jason had asked her to teach him, and she'd turned him down flat. Now here she was, about to benefit from his generosity. It felt… awkward.
And yet, she couldn't exactly refuse the Steinway either.
So, after a brief pause, she pulled out her phone, opened the Piano Club group chat, and sent a friend request to Jason.
No response.
So she just tagged him in the group.
@Jason: I can teach you piano.
The chat exploded instantly.
"Wait—what?!"
"Mia's offering to teach someone? Voluntarily?!"
"And it's Jason? The same guy she turned down yesterday?"
"This is a plot twist. I thought he was just embarrassing himself."
"Turns out we're the clowns here, huh?"
"If I knew all it took was asking her directly, I would've tried ages ago!"
On the street, Will Chandler saw the message pop up mid-walk and stopped dead in the middle of traffic like he'd just been hit by a revelation.
Meanwhile, in the cafeteria, Mike was mid-bite when his phone buzzed. He read the message, froze, then slowly turned his head toward Jason with an expression somewhere between disbelief, horror, and grudging respect.
There are 50 chapters ahead in my Patreon, with 2 daily chapters. If you are interested can check it out.
patreon.com/B_A_3439