The moment has finally arrived, walking so fast, inching closer to the entrance, excitement overwhelming. As I enter the hall, I could hear the murmurs of the people gathering, the atmosphere was full of excitement. I suddenly felt nervous again so I tried to grab the squishy ball when Aaron grabbed my hand.
"You're nervous again?" he chuckled,
"C'mon. It's better if it's like this, yeah?" as he tightens his grip.
I nodded, "..In a way.." we both laughed.
"Then let's do this"
"Oh, but we're sound checking first" Blythe interfered.
Jax agreed, "That's right"
Sir Ice called to us, "Double time guys! Hurry to your seats" and we all went to our assigned chair hence the sound check started. And the time for the recital commenced.
I look around the hall to search for my mom but to my disappointment, she wasn't there. She was really the reason why I started to play piano and the reason why I try hard to be greater each day passes. And yet, her presence is nowhere to be seen.
"Are you okay?" Aaron asked as he pat my shoulder.
I smiled, "Yeah. It's just that my mom's not here" he put his arm around my shoulder,
"For now..Focus on yourself. For once, do things for yourself and not for other people, Lou. You don't need to force yourself to be acceptable..Because you already are..by me"
I remained speechless as I stare at him. He really know how to use his words.
"So chin up and do your best later. Because I'll be watching" he caress my face as he walks forward, leaving me behind.
As always, he knows how to cheer me up whenever I need one. I don't think I'll handle it well when it's finally the time.
It has always been dark in this tiny world of mine and In you, I have felt a light.
We all got out of our seats and the introduction for the recital was done. Now we are waiting for our group to be called. And when it was time for me to play, I casually came in front and sat down the piano bench.
I took a deep breath and suddenly I can see keys above me and what to play next. I started playing Swan Lake which was composed by Tchaikovsky. A calm and lovely song yet mixes tragedy and romance. Swan Lake is a story about a lovely swan princess named Odette. Under the spell of the sorcerer, Odette spends her days as a swan swimming on a lake of tears and her nights in her beautiful night form. Which kinda tells the story of me and my mother. I was living happily playing piano until my mother, the sorcerer. Cursed me, made me play nonstop to be immediately great at playing the piano. And in those years of teachings made me feel like torture, making me wept every after practice for not once, was I praised by my mother. A very perfect piece for me for I can relate.
As soon as I stopped playing, a round of applause was heard all throughout the room. After my play followed by the other players. Thus, it was time for our quartet to play. We all entered consecutively. Aaron followed by me, Blythe, and Jax. We all sat down and prepared ourselves and the pieces we are about to play, which is titled String Quartet No. 3 in G Major composed by Mozart.
"Music is the key to your soul." My teacher once told me before. Music has always been a very important part of my life. At the age of 6, I was taking piano lessons, which required daily practicing and discipline. I went on to play violin in fourth grade and switched to viola after "trying" to play it at summer Band School in Elizabeth. My love affair with my violin began! I taught myself to play flute and saxophone in high school, rounding out my embouchure. But in the end, it was piano that I chose.
And hence the show ended with our quartet last to perform. Round of applause were heard as we bow and make our exit.
"Good job guys! That was amazing. Maestros from different orchestras were watching you earlier, I talked to them and they said that you guys were so great. You synchronized well. I am very proud of you. Now, go home. Take a rest and enjoy your weekends for we will be seeing each other again" he put his hands together and clapped them as he excused himself to go talk to other maestros. He said we can go home already since the recital is done.
"That was tiring, to be honest" Blythe groaned to which we all laughed.
"I've never held a violin for so long and my shoulder was wearing out. Lucky, it was almost finished" I said and Blythe agreed.
"Let's head home now, shall we?" she suggested as we all stood up.
"Let's go home together" Aaron and Jax said together.
I was shocked that both of them said the same thing. And they were waiting for an answer.
Jax tapped his chest "I'm going home with her, back off"
"We literally go home together everyday. You just showed up" He argued.
"I'm her childhood friend"
"You were. I'm her friend now and will you stop with childhood friend thingy? It's annoying. Just because you were childhood friends doesn't mean you know her very well"
"What?"
The atmosphere around them started going south and started arguing. It's not even a big deal, honestly.
"So who's it gonna be?" Aaron asked me seriously.
"Uhh.." unsure of who I'm going to pick when I saw Blythe laughing behind them. I ran towards her and locked my arms around her.
"I'm going home with her" I smiled nervously.
"..What..?"
"..We shall be on our way..See you later!" as I ran as fast as I could, gripping Blythe's arm.
We stopped in the middle of the road to catch our breath.
"I'm sorry for suddenly grabbing you" I gasped, fanning myself for my face is full of sweat.
She laughed, "It's fine. It was fun watching you getting flustered"
I pouted and sighed, "Let's go home? I'm dead tired"
"Yes. I want to lay down in my bed already" and we both laughed.
As we both headed our way home, I don't know if Aaron and Jax got home together or went on their separate ways. I was weirded out of how they acted but nonetheless, today was fun indeed.
"Oy!" Jax called out, with his hands on his pocket.
Aaron turned, "What?"
"Do you like her?" he asked as he deadly stared at Aaron.
A pause.
"Do 'you' like her?" he finally began, asking back. Jax took a good long look at Aaron and grinned.
"I love her" as he walks ahead of Aaron, "You aren't even sure of your feelings. Coward" he scoffed, leaving Aaron petrified.