Dispirited Sonata

SUMMARY: "With this series of calamitous events, it turned my life upside down, tossed and turned me, creating a whirling storm in me, and made me fall into ruins."

Of all the ordinary days, Hino Kahoko's life as a common General Education student turned into a life she didn't expected and didn't even bother considering. Living inside a very big and vast villa, wearing extravagant clothes and high heeled shoes, learning etiquette when eating at a five-star restaurant and what the hell? An engagement!

And where are the guys, anyway?

DISCLAIMER: I don't own La Corda D'oro and the characters.

Chapter 2-

Kaho's POV

"She owes me an explanation." I whispered hoarsely but still with a hint of respect towards my mother who clearly kept everything from the whole entire time. My hands trembling when I was reaching for the shiny, gold-painted doorknob. Momentarily, the door swing open, and there she was, her face is pale, and her eyes were puffy. Great, she cried.

"Kahoko." She said. "You know what time is it now?" I narrowed my eyes toward her, although I already knew that I have the obligation to, at least, be as respectful and polite towards the person I owe my life, what she did is painful. "I was not aware. A friend of mine walked me home, so I feel secured and I don't think you should be worried about me." I replied flatly.

"At least be reasonable for once in your life, young lady. You're still a high school student and you act so rebellious." She scolded wistfully. My mind suddenly wandered carelessly through the series of events that occurred the past few hours, I realized that I, too, still have a lot of things to say against my mom, and possibly, I would like to be frank about it. "Mom. I am reasonable enough. Besides, did it come into you that Dad visited me today in school?" I asked incoherently. "Since when did you knew about this?"

She sighed incoherently. "I knew sooner or later this would happen. More or less, a few weeks ago." I rolled my eyes, a stabbing pain suddenly barged out of my chest, making my tears fall. "You dare try to keep it from me!" I solicited angrily. All I can suddenly hear are the footsteps of people descending from the wooden staircases, staring at me with eyes of curiosity and guilt.

"Get in, Kahoko. It's quite a chilly night." She whispered. "I will explain everything. Eat dinner if you like. And I'm sorry."

"Mom.." I said, my arms wanted to hug her and say how awfully sorry I am. She had to keep it from me, with very acceptable reasons for me to comprehend. "I'm also sorry. I didn't know what came into me. Probably I was blinded by anger and confusion, without giving you the chance to explain fully." She turned around and smiled at me. "I know, Kahoko. I know."

–

"Hearing? When?" I asked with utter confusion. I laid the letter from the court on the surface of the table, my older sister holding my arms, trembling in worry while my older brother just stood beside the couch, motionless. My mom, looking at the letter, was crying helplessly. "Probably, one week from now. Your dad wants it to be finished, take you away for all he cares." She explained.

"Dad is a powerful person. I can't actually measure it with my hands, but literally, he is. Having numerous connections with the business world is a disadvantage for us. He can hire all the best and most influential lawyers out there. He's deliberately torturing us." Kotoko-neechan muttered in defeat.

"That's not helping, Kotoko."

"I know you three knows his story. Could you please explain me on how I became his daughter? I wonder if that can help me to understand." I suggested, although the situation is becoming tense as the clock moves with every second. "Right. It's actually complicated, Kaho. Not as easy as you think." Kenji-niichan said monotonously.

"It never crossed my mind that your Dad will be having a fiancee. All I thought he was just a normal, middle class man since he was living in a tiny apartment. But I was wrong. He was born in a very high class, rich family. His relationship with me is vague, I felt like I was only played on his palms, he's manipulative." Mom uttered, her eyes depicting the pain she felt years ago. "His relationship with me must have been just a playful pastime."

"What's worse is that he left me when I was carrying you inside, Kahoko. The fact that he left me the burden in raising you three, it was hard. Life is hard." She trailed off with a whisper. "Before you, Kenji and Kotoko would see him drunk every single night, not knowing whether or not that he will still have money to spend for the next days."

"But hell, he still has loads of damn money flooding in his wallet." Kenji-niichan shouted angrily.

"Doesn't he help you? Like financial support, or whatever?" I asked, hurt and confused.

"He does, since he is forced to do it." Mom replied. "He's the father, after all. He has the obligation."

"If he didn't, that squandering bastard is rotting in jail." Kenji-niichan angrily bellowed. "No. Wait. The jail is readily open for him, waiting for his entrance."

"What does he want from me, Mom? I mean, why does he want to get me? Away from the three of you? Away from the place I grew, the place I love? Away from the people I love and care for? Mom, tell me." I asked, anger started to build up inside me, while my brother's soothing hands rubbed my back.

"Probably taking the fact that he didn't get a chance to see you." Kotoko-neechan answered hypothetically. "Take it as a possibility, Kaho." I nodded in agreement, but with slight dismay, when Kenji-niichan suddenly banged the table. "Impossible! That bastard? You knew her, Kotoko. He will take Kahoko for his use. He wouldn't be that kind towards her." He argued hotly.

"You are so kindhearted, Kotoko. He'll probably use her just to expand his business or whatever. Plan an engagement or what not." He added. "That's what is running his mind. Money. Power."

"Okay, kids. Stop badmouthing that father of yours. Sleep, now." Mother commanded. "It's already late. Nobody asked for this. And whatever is in the mind of your Dad, we will fight against him."

"He's no father of mine." Kenji-niichan blabbered.

"Right. I'll just see you in the morning. With the best face, probably." I answered.

–

"Hey. You seem pretty gloomy." The voice said, which, from this proximity, I can identify that is Tsuchiura-kun, walking beside me.

"I couldn't agree more." I answered bluffly.

"Hey, come on. What's wrong?" He asked, looking at my face intently while walking. I thought that he shouldn't do that, it feels awkward for me. "Nothing." I simply lied. "I didn't catch my sleep last night, thank you very much Physics." I shouldn't tell anyone about my problem under any circumstances, they wouldn't understand it, would they? Then he laughed hysterically.

"Physics? Please." He chuckled. "It's not that hard. Should I tutor you?" I smiled crookedly, laughing inwardly without him hearing it. "Thanks. A lot. But I guess I'm already taking too much of your time. So thanks, but no thanks. Don't you have soccer practice?" I replied sheepishly.

"Nah. I don't. Soccer can wait, and they could go on with their training without me. I just wanted to refresh my nerves and have a change of environment." He joked.

"Come on, Tsuchiura-kun, you're the ace player. And may I remind you that your soccer finals will be two days away?" I answered back. Then he suddenly snapped his fingers noisily, jerking me involuntarily. It surprised me, truthfully. "You got me. I thought you didn't know about the finals." He replied, making me smile again. "The news about the finals is circulating around the whole school. And may I remind you, it came from your shrieking fan girls." I chirped. "I have fan girls?" He asked, his shock echoed in his tone of voice.

"Well, obviously." I said. "You joined the concours after all, plus you're part of the varsity of the soccer club and one last thing. You're probably one of the most eligible guys a girl can date, not to mention you have a great looks and an attitude and personality any girl can fall for."

"Did you just praise me?" He asked weakly.

"Precisely."

I smiled when I saw this random girl, eying Tsuchiura-kun with eyes of admiration walking just a distance beside us. "See for yourself." I said, when I saw this random girl walking slowly to us.

"Uhm. Hi. Tsuchiura-san." A random girl timidly said, who passed by us, and almost dashing towards the school, her face red.

"Guilty as charged." Tsuchiura-kun suddenly blurted out of the blue. "They do exist."

"Why not consider giving her a chance? She looks honest, and true to her feelings." I suggested eagerly. "She might enjoy your company while playing the piano, after all, you're a very skillful pianist."

He laughed softly, placing a hand on my skinny shoulder. "Playing matchmaking eh? I'm sure it's only infatuation. It's too early for us to find our true love." He answered. "Besides, someone means to me so much. I have a special girl both my mind and heart." Tsuchiura-kun smiled inwardly, sighing in please. "Now you left me in curiosity. Is she someone I know?" I asked.

"You know her better than anyone else. Don't come and ask me who it is." He replied bluffly, leaving me confused when I suddenly thought of my two best friends. I blinked my eyes twice and took the initiative to say it to him. "It's one of my two best friends, isn't it, Tsuchiura-kun?" I said, my face lit up in excitement. "They're very lucky to have you."

"You're hopeless, Hino." He snorted.

"Wait. Gimme a day to think about it." I requested, stopping myself from taking another step and raising my hand with my index finger pointed upward. Tsuchiura-kun laughed lightly and sighed. "Not a chance, Hino Kahoko. It's so evident, after all." He said, walking towards me.

"Come on. Who?"

He stepped towards me, putting his two large hands on my skinny shoulders and faced me, eye to eye, and I can smell his minty breath. "It's you, Hino." He confessed, his eyes sincere. "No one else." Involuntarily, my face turned into every possible shade of red and I jerked away from him. He smiled pleasingly, and ran his fingers through his hair. "I'm stupid. I know. Sorry for surprising you so suddenly." He said, walking again, with a faster pace. "It's not like I can stop myself from falling for you."

"Uhm, right. Can't stop." I mumbled. I suddenly felt so awkward walking with him side by side, but he seems happy just by walking with me, like a perfect ordinary school day.

"Thanks Tsuchiura-kun. It's not like I am the best girl you can fall for, but just by saying those words, I feel special. So thanks." I said, although I didn't face him.

"I won't take 'no' as an answer, Hino. I want a positive answer, and I will wait, an eternity if possible, but I will. I will wait for you." He said, determination in his tone of voice.

I gulped suddenly, when I remembered my time with them is temporarily limited. "Okay, Hino? An eternity will be enough if I will get an answer from you."

He's practically expecting too much, and deliberately torturing me.

–

"Hey, Kaho-chan."

"Hmm?" I answered to the call, besides the fact that I am busy with my scattered notes and papers.

He walked to me, studying my face with his happy-go-lucky expression and quickly smiled. It's Hihara-senpai. "Kanayan wants us in the music room." He said charmingly. "If you're not busy, that is." I took my step to stand up and looked at him. "I'm not, why?" I replied, smiling at the same time.

"Well, you see. Your table is filled with papers, and I just thought you're busy." He answered. "Are you studying?"

"Uhm, yes. Physics is taking a large toll on my grades, and I thought that it might help me understand it better if I tried studying and re-reading my notes during break times. Besides, our examinations is just a few weeks away." I said, gathering my stuff and quickly placing them inside my bag, or otherwise, my folders.

"Great, it's settled." I whispered. "Well then, we might as well get going to Kanazawa-sensei. He might be fuming in anger due to my unaccepted tardiness, don't you think, senpai?" I quickly faced him, my face was painted with a smile and he suddenly jerked away from me with a reason I don't have any idea about.

"Yeah. Sure. But we need to fetch Kaji-kun and Tsuchiura." He answered, in a somewhat, uneven tone of voice, practically shy or embarrassed. "Like they say, they are probably in the gymnasium or in the soccer field. They're pretty athletic, making them really stand out among those normal individual." I chuckled slowly, shouldering my bag and grabbing my folders between my arms. "They're like you, senpai. Besides, aren't you athletic during your junior-high days? Besides, I saw you play basketball sometime in the past. You're amazing!" I said, walking side-by-side with him.

"Oh. Right. That day." He whispered again, although it was pretty loud and clear and a hint of smile came across his face. "But you know what, it was really hard to choose between track and field and music, but thanks to music, I really appreciate the fact that I have met people like the concours participants who taught me a very valuable lesson in life, well, especially you. Then again, it's I don't regret changing my track and field with music. " He then made stuttering noise and turned into every shade of red. "Forget what I said, Kaho-chan."

"Why?" I asked. "You did teach me a lot of things too, senpai. Thanks a lot."

"Anyway, there's another ensemble, am I right?"

"Yes. And we expect you to be playing with us, Kaho-chan, since Director Kira was pretty impressed when you played your solo piece during the ensemble." I laughed softly and sighed. "It was pure luck, no more no less." I said humbly. "Besides, I am an amateur."

"Yes, you are an amateur. But what matters most is not the skill right, it's the feeling you have when you play music. So I'd say, you're one good violinist. Hey, don't contradict me, okay?"

"Thank you, Hihara-senpai." I said, smiling.

–

After the meeting with Kanazawa-sensei, the concours participants and Kaji-kun about the upcoming ensemble two months from now, we walked out of the music room. Kaji-kun walked up to me and smiled. "May I walk you home again?" He asked. I smiled back. "Sure, no problem. I'll just probably go back to the classroom then gather up all of my stuff." I replied. "How about you?"

"Oh. I need to return to the classroom, too." He answered.

We walked slowly from the Music Department Building towards our own building, and I felt he became quieter than usual. "Kaji-kun?" I said, breaking the silence and the awkwardness between us. Kaji-kun suddenly jerked before looking at me in the eyes. "Yes, Hino-san?" He replied earnestly. "You look problematic. Is there anything bothering you?" I asked.

"I could say the same towards you." He answered straightforwardly. "You have that smile but it seems that it's not real. Do you think I can stand up for it?" I smiled, although not a single drop of happiness can be pictured from it. "You're right. I'm not happy. And it feels like I will be soon distancing from you and everybody else. I couldn't lie to you, Kaji-kun."

"Tell me then." He requested.

Suddenly, a man dressed in the finest suit approached me and Kaji-kun and bowed slowly. "In any way, are you Hino Kahoko-sama?" He asked me. I blinked twice and my ears ringed with the words 'Kahoko-sama.. Kahoko-sama'. "Yes, why?" I answered.

"Taiki-sama is waiting for you in front of the school gates. He is delighted to send you home in his car." He said in a monotonous tone. "Taiki-sama, you mean, uhm—him?" I said, pointing my index finger on the red-headed man behind his 'butler', or whatever. He smiled, his smile shaping his young face.

"Good to see you, Kaho, my child." He greeted. I looked at Kaji-kun, while he looked at me with confused eyes. "If ever, I will probably go home ahead of you, Hino-san." He whispered, and then bowing slightly in front of me and my Father. "Excuse me then."

"Don't I have the right to send you home safely, Kahoko?" Father asked sternly, his smile disappearing from his face, changing his cool expression into an angry one. "You're my child, right?"

I sniffed quietly. "How can you call yourself my Father when you are that heartless?" I said angrily.

He walked up to me and looked at me in the eyes. "I only wanted what's best for my daughter." He said, calming himself for a bit. "What's best for Kahoko."

"We better take you home. We'll see each other once again in court in two days time." He mumbled softly.

–

Second chapter's done. :)) Sorry for taking a very long time to update. :DD