"You know I don't do well with the crowd, Dad."
She tried to convince but Dywen was set on having his wish fulfilled as he scowled back.
"Well too bad, it's my birthday wish from you."
Rose could only suck in an harsh breath.
How long had it been since she last played. She was a piano prodigy who started at the age five. Even with everything going on in her life, her love for the keys became an obsessed hobby, whenever she was chanced she would play to ease the tremors in her soul.
The Bacheman's had only heard her play once and that was during an unexpected day inside the dark mansion where she resided. It was during one of Rose's dark moments were her soul mourned and her emotions open like waterfall.
It was a moment Dywen ever dreaded witnessing, he could remember the lifeless look in her eyes, how sickly her body look. At that moment he vowed to help her no matter what.
"It's my birthday too."
Dywen became a persistent child at her rejection, he had the look of defiant that said he wasn't going to be swayed.
"You brat! You better go perform for me. Hump! I already informed my good friends over here that someone very special to my heart would perform for me."
His pout only ticked the mild temper of Rose.
"Ugh! Mr Dywen Bacheman."
She gritted out staring at him with a cold look. The feeling she let off were the ones familiar to when she addressed an investor, Dywen didn't back down either, he was persistent to get his way.
They started off their stare off.
Nobody was brave enough to interfere even the eldest son, Paul who was dauntless in the presence of his father and not of equal to this new sister.
Beside him was Eric along side Aurora, the daughter in law, they stood speechless at the sideline unsure of what to do. This was Rose's formal introduction into society and this was happening. They feared what her status would become if this wasn't dine properly.
While they stood aside, jealous youths joined their elders adding fuel to the flame, One in particular whom had a vicious stared aimed towards Rose since she arrived was the main leader.
This particular scene took Rose back to her past. Oh! How she hated being forced to be on the spot. She felt anger build up inside her, trembling from the pain that made her shake from the torment.
"Mommy?"
Nobody was brave enough to interfere except Kiara. She knew little of her mother's love for those keys, only that when she had wanted to learn, her mother took her through the understanding of each tune.
She was a curious child who her mother doted deeply on.
She remembered once she had heard people gossip about her mother being a piano genius so being a willful child she pleaded with her to teach her. She had a hidden desire to be like her mother.
But unfortunately it didn't come to her as natural as it did her mother yet she was strived to at least learn one particular song that she could play with her mother cause it required little keys on her part.
It was also because of the harmony they created when playing that grew Kiara's passion to learn to play.
"Lets perform together Mommy, like we always do."
All eyes rested on the little princess and her willful request. It also placed her on the limelight.
Rose was reluctant.
You could see it in her eyes her phobophobia of reliving her curse. The last she play live was in San Francisco as a special number for her clubs, but those were behind curtain or under bright lightings.
She did those once a blue moon to help boost her business as her last resort.
She found no joy in it anymore, not after committing herself to her business and the provision of her child.
Rose had lost a lot of things from her past and one of them being her love for the keys.
Now all she was a tuneless vessel, longing for the feel of having her hands on those keys, her soul longing for the thrills of playing difficult and fast paced numbers, the exhilirating feeling the crowd gave her.
And most especially going back home with the bouquet and trophies to her grandfather.
Her grandfather was her muse, her inspiration, a piano lover from his youth when he met her late grandmother.
He was the reason why she played, because he said it calmed him, it was what brought him closer to her grandmother. The memories of once upon a time dancing under the moonlight feeling young and free. His true love.
Rose remembered that each time she finished playing she would look up with a twinkle in her eyes while she always asked innocently.
(How did I do grandfather?.)
A long time ago, she found her joy playing for him, She was his own little Apollo, the god of music. Her passion for those keys that became meaningful impact in her life. They were also her escape from her condemning life, away from her father's disapproving frown and her mother ignorance and family war.
It was like a bond she formed with music enough that those keys were like her only best friend in the huge lonely mansion. To play meant to expression her feelings, to tell her story, to fix herself.
Rose hands became cold as they slightly shook.
She was scared. She knew what playing now meant. She knew she must be careful not to get trapped in the past, it was why she tend to forget her songs.
But as her therapist had countlessly instruct her, She also knew she would be one step closer to her past and one big step forward to healing.
Importantly like the born genius she was, she already had an idea of what song to play. A slow and fast pace double duet.
It was one of her grandfather's favorite.
But she trembled from the pain, was shaking from the torment of reminiscing about the past, for all it takes is 1 song to bring back 1000 memories.
"Mommy? are you alright?"
Kiara's voice brought her back, she stared into the bright eyes of her adorable daughter, She then felt her chest fill up like it was stuck with cotton.
Rachel never heard her play and that hurts so much. She had let go of so much of her past during those times, so why now?
Why now was it all coming back?
Was this the 'to move forward you haven't let go of the past and forgive yourself?'
But Rose didn't want to forgive herself.
"Rose?"
Dywen called softly with furrowed brows. Tears shimmered in her eyes making them appear lighter. Of course she understood his intentions, she knew he meant well and never intended to put her on the spot, he wanted her to heal, to move forward.
"Hmm"
She was made aware of every eye trained on her the moment she agreed, she knew the mindset of the multitude. They wanted to see her fail, she almost smirked to mock them.
These were the people who weren't accepting of Rose joining the high class through the Bachemans'. There was an unspoken rule about the inicitive of adopted and illegitimate children where they must go through hard core test before they are considered one of them. It didnt matter how wealthy the family was, it never saved them from the taunts and self depression of the high class. Rose understood very much of this process, she was after all once the ring leader for the trial.
So every pair of eyes anxiously slice through her, they wanted to see this haughty princess who got the title Ice empress fall, simply because she never was active to any high class function. She hauntingly refused them like they were nuisance when she was nothing.
Despite knowing she was the center of attention, Rose was calm, her face was expressionless as she approached the piano with Kiara. The beautiful sleek Piano she adored most in the Bacheman's mansion.
Afterwards, She helped Kiara sit on the seat before folding the end of her gown before sitting gracefully.
A keep eyes took note of how fluid her actions were. It was as if she had done it numerous times.
It had those who spoke out suck in cold breath.
Her chest rose before relaxing as she took in deep breaths before placing her ten fingers on various keys, she guided Kiara's fingers on the last five keys with instructions.
Next, she suck in another deep breath yet the way her eyes glanced at the keys, it was of calmness and familiarity. The little bun beside her had her eyes on her mother, taking in her every movements in awe. She was like a diligent student intimating the movement of the teacher.
Finally, each four fingers from her hand landed on the black and white keys creating a powerful sound that struck a chord within everyone's heart. The crowd felt their heart tremble from the raw emotion from the dark and echo sound.
Nordorway's Piano Sonata No.1 'Infinite love'