The live radio broadcast was, as Karl had said, very interesting. There were countless calls, even though the control room filtered many of them and only broadcast the most unusual ones live.
One girl had speculated that there wasn't a Fairy singing, but it was a sample made by the record company to fuel publicity and pique fans' curiosity.
"How dare you?" Belinda blurted out, offended.
The host gave her an amused look.
"Do you want to answer, Fairy?"
Both Belinda and the listener fell silent, each waiting for the other's response. It was the latter who asked in a doubtful voice: "Are you telling me that Fairy is there with you, Albert?"
"In fact, she's been listening to all your calls since today, and she's very flattered by the affection and passion you're putting into this research! Isn't that true?"
Belinda took a breath and approached the microphone. "Yes, that's true."
The spectator let out a shrill scream. "I don't believe it! So you exist, Fairy? Am I really talking to you?"
Belinda laughed amusedly. "Every living being, I believe, exists... And I'm breathing, right now."
"How wonderful to hear your voice!" exclaimed the girl on the phone. "Can I ask you a question? Please!"
"Since I'm here, take advantage of it!"
"In your song, you sing about the pain of loneliness. Can you tell me if there's peace at the end?"
Belinda was taken aback and looked at the boys around her as if asking for help, but they were all waiting for an answer. She thought for a moment and decided what to do.
"What's your name?"
"Julia."
"Do you know what's at the end of the darkness, Julia?"
"More darkness, unfortunately," the girl replied, sighing.
"Look closer!" Belinda urged her with an encouraging voice. "If you were to end up down there in the darkness, at some point you'll see something shining... Follow that light, however small it is, it will lead you out of the dark tunnel. And if you look around, you'll realize that light is everywhere, all around you. Never give up hope."
"Have you found the light, Fairy?" Julia asked hopefully.
Belinda felt sucked in by that simple question. What could she answer? That she had found love? That she had discovered the hope of a future life? That despite all the darkness, that light continued to shine in her heart?
She took a breath.
"I found a star," she admitted in a very sweet voice, looking through the glass, meeting Bill's eyes, who stared at her for a few moments. Then, she quickly took off her headphones, threw them on the console, and walked away.
Julia didn't know anything about all this, but moved, she said goodbye, telling her she was waiting for the release of the single and her first appearance so she could thank her.
The control room aired commercials, and the technicians at the console gestured broadly to get their attention.
"What's going on?" Belinda asked, looking at them. "Shouldn't I have spoken?"
"You did very well!" Albert replied. "The control room told me in my headset that the switchboards are down, given the flood of calls coming in. They all want to talk to you!"
Belinda's eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Tom, who had been sitting quietly until that moment. She hadn't considered that the audience, having realized she was real and there, would rush to call. She smiled at the boy who looked at her, smiling faintly. She patted him on the shoulder to encourage him, hoping he would recover. From what she understood, something bad must have happened between him and Naomi too.
What a day!
The calls began again, and in rapid succession, listeners asked her direct questions to discover her identity, to which she answered enigmatically.
"How tall are you?"
"I can stand in a pocket."
"What color are your hair and eyes?"
"Hair like Mother Earth and eyes like the meadow in winter."
"Distinguishing features?"
"I'm a fairy, right?"
"Who's the boy who's your wingman?"
"A mischievous elf, with slightly wrinkled wings."
"Does this elf talk?"
At this point, Belinda pinched Tom, forcing him to reveal his presence. He also tried to be witty and original, and as the questions continued, it became more natural.
"Where did you meet Fairy?"
"I saved her from the jaws of a scorpion."
"Is she your girlfriend?"
Tom chuckled, glancing at his brother, who had returned through the glass. He winked.
"If I even dared to think that, I don't think I'd see the light of day tomorrow."
"Why did you choose only Fairy, without a mention of you?"
"Because it's a woman's world!" Tom replied, laughing and winking at Belinda.
After about three hours, they were tired but happy. The host decided to end the broadcast and arranged to meet the boys again at another time, yet to be determined.
Laughing like two rascals, Tom and Belinda thanked everyone for their hospitality, left the room, and joined their friends in the corridor.
"I didn't think I'd have this much fun," Belinda admitted. "You were great, Tom!"
"So someone owes me fifty euros!" exclaimed a voice behind her.
Belinda turned to look at Karl and laughed. "Okay! Cash or deferred?"
"I'll deduct it from your earnings! Welcome aboard, little Fairy!" the man replied, waving and walking away.
"We'll check the share tomorrow morning and evaluate the event," André announced to them, as he led them to the car that would take them home.
They said goodbye and all climbed into the car, sinking into their seats. Even though it had been a wonderful experience, no one felt like talking, and the ride was spent in complete silence.