Chapter 3

The wind blew from the east, I suddenly felt a chill. The feeling is great though, I'm currently on a break after practicing for hours and I was feeling really hot so I quickly left the music room and went in my usual break-time spot, the rooftop. The month of May is about to the end, hence the hot atmosphere. But the wind just now was pretty strong and it came from the east which is really weird. There is an old saying that 'When the wind is in the east, it is neither good for man nor beast'. Whether in England, Europe or here, east wind blows no good, it signalize that the weather will be turning sharply colder. It doesn't make sense though, summer is approaching after all.

This weather is like music sometimes, unforeseeable, unpredictable. During the supposedly hot season, the wind is strong and freezing. During the supposedly passionate performance, the music is confined by distressing feelings, resentment and unpleasant sentiments, like a cold, bitter wind.

The east wind reminds me of my last recital a decade ago. Such a small kid in front of an enormous piano, playing Mozart's 12 Variations in C major, the legendary pianist's solo piano piece on the French folk song "Ah! vous dirai-je, maman". There were a few mistakes but for a six year old kid, that performance was magnificent. People were praising me, they were saying that I am a prodigy that will definitely have a name in the future. Little did they know that I was upset the whole time, from the first note till the end, all I could think is "I just want this to end!". Even with the praises and good words, the feeling of bitterness inside me didn't disappear. That was my last piano recital.

I used to love the piano and trumpet equally, I don't have any friends in the band but I have a single friend to play the piano with. I did have a hard time managing practice time but I just can't let go of either one of the two. So I doubled-down, I worked hard to excel on both.

"You will never understand my feelings, Reina-chan" my piano companion told me while sobbing. We were practicing a piano duet by Liszt, as we were planning to have a piano duet at the upcoming piano recital. We were practicing for months now, she's having a hard time but I believe in her. I know we can make the audience happy if we worked hard. So I encourage her every time she's down but this is the first time I saw her cry.

"Why are you saying that?" I cannot believe she's giving up now. There's still some time left, she can't do this now, we have worked so hard for this.

"You keep on telling me to try hard, but I don't have a piano at home like you Reina-chan!" she walked out after saying that. Is she blaming me? Did I put too much pressure on her? I was really upset, she was my only friend and yet she abandoned me. I want to blame her for making me feel this sad but I just can't. I don't understand her.

I asked our music teacher to change our piece to Mozart's 12 Variation in C major, I also told her that I'll be performing solo. What I said made her really happy, I was so surprised.

"I'm so glad Reina-chan! Your friend is getting good but she's still having a hard time. We need to have the best performance so I'm glad you decided to play solo." I hated her for it, what she just said really made me angry. My friend was trying really hard, I know she gave up in the end but hearing other people say things like that to her doesn't sit right with me. Why am I feeling this way?

After that recital, I decided to quit playing the piano at school and started focusing on the band. It made my music teacher sad but I didn't care. My social skill is poor so the piano is perfect for me but I chose the band over it even though I have to put up with rude band mates and cruel upperclassmen. Well, maybe deep inside me … I'm still hoping that I'll get along with people? Hah, Yeah right.

"Reina, you okay?" Oh that's right. I'm with someone. Kumiko's giving me a worried look.

"Yes, why do you ask?" Was it obvious that I'm reminiscing about something unpleasant?

"Well, I thought you looked sad. If you're worrying about something, don't hesitate to share it with me okay?" I can't believe someone is worrying about me. I was just thinking about how I'll never get along with other people but here I am now, spending break-time with a friend.

"No, it's okay" But is this really okay? I decided to hang out with her because she's interesting but what if I get too attached? Will that make me give up on trumpet too? No, no way. I will never let that happen. Then, should I stop being her friend? The idea strung me.

"Hmmmmm?" She's giving me a funny look. It made me chuckle a little.

"I just remember some piano recital" I told her half of the truth.

"Ah! Is it the upcoming one at the ABZ Theater?" Kumiko asked me. She knows it?!

"I'm surprised you know about that, do you also play the piano?" It really surprised me. Ah that reminds me, I still have extra tickets for that piano concerto.

"No, but I'm a musician too, and it's a small world" Kumiko lay down, not caring about the dirty floor. She put her hands under her head, then closed her eyes while smiling, it seems like she's enjoying the cold wind. I lay down next to her and did the same. It feels good, oh east wind, you may be a bad thing but please don't leave yet.

"Hey, Kumiko" I called her with my eyes still closed.

"Yes?" she sounds sleepy. We still have a practice after this, don't get too comfortable.

"Wanna go to that piano recital with me?" It's been so long since I've watched a piano concerto. I feel like I want to hear the piano right now. In this very moment, with her beside me, a soothing piece from the Romantic Era might fit well.

"Eh?!"

The ABZ Theater or the ABZ Hall, it is the most prestigious concert venue in the city for both classical music and modern music. It has more than 3000 seats, divided among its three auditoriums. Today, about 10 well-known pianists from Europe are going to perform here.

"Kousaka Reina-san, just who the hell are you?" Kumiko asked me after we sat on our respective seats. She always asks me the weirdest things. I didn't answer her, I just gave her the 'what the hell are saying' look.

"I mean, you have extra tickets for such a big event like this and that's surprising enough, but for premium seats?! Where did you get them ?!" Kumiko looks so confused and surprised. It's natural for her to react like that, after all, I just casually asked her to watch this recital with me. After that, I just told her the time and place to meet. We are currently seating on the premium seats, the most expensive seat at this concert hall. Aside from the high price, the premium seats are limited too, they are usually sold out a day after the start of the ticket sales. A mere high school student like me could never afford these tickets.

"My dad gave them to me a month ago". I can't believe that my dad bought me a premium ticket too. He was so happy when I told him that I will watch the recital and when I told him that I'm going with a friend, he was so surprised that he almost cried. Thanks to that, I found out that my parents knew that I had no friends before and was bothered by it.

I'm really glad that we have the best seats and view. The recital finally started, the first piece is Chopin's Ballade No. 1 in G minor 23, it came as no surprise to me, it is the most popular Chopin's piece after all. It was so enchanting, I can almost feel Chopin's love for Vienna, the handsome city. The pianist's played it with feelings and simplicity. The next one is Rachmaninoff's Prelude in G minor Op. 23 No. 5, I remember how I love to play this prelude, it was really beautiful but has too many notes, as expected from Rachmaninoff. For me, his works are the hardest to play. The pianist is doing a very good job, I found myself tapping my fingers to the armrest of my seat, I want to play it.

After the fourth pianist finished the piece, some guy in a suit announced that there will be a 30 minute break. "Reina, can you play the piano?" I looked at the source of the voice.

"How did you know?"

"Well, you brought me here. And these" she suddenly held my hand and started playing with my fingers while smiling broadly at me. "I saw these cute little fingers playing earlier"

What she did made me smile, such a cute thing to do. I intertwined our fingers. "Yeah, I used to play the piano"

"Used to?" she caught my words instantly. "Why did you stop? You're the great Kousaka Reina, I bet you can even outdo these performers"

I blushed. People always praise me that I got used to it but hearing it from a friend gave me a different feeling. It feels warm, it was embarrassing but it's a good feeling. "Y-you over..overestimate me" I stumble over my words. I lowered my head because I feel like all the blood in my body had rushed to my face. Damn, this is so not me.

"Haha cute, but I'm being honest you know" she moved her face closer, trying to meet my gaze. My eyes met hers, she's wearing a smug smile and I immediately looked away. The hall is air-conditioned but I feel really hot.

"Well, it's me after all." To cover up my embarrassment, I decided to brag. Kumiko laughed at me, she's enjoying the situation too much.

"But that's too bad, I want to see you play" she said, still making fun of me.

"I'll play for you, then. What piece do you want me to play?"I started getting serious, if I get more flustered, she will just continue to make fun of me. It's not like I completely stopped playing the piano too.

"If it's you Reina, anything will sound great. Trust me" if she's still kidding around or not, I absolutely do not know.

"Then I will play something from the –"

"Romantic Era" Kumiko cut me off.

"You said anything and now you're demanding, and from the romantic era huh, so cute" I smiled at her. She is the one getting flustered now. She didn't have to interrupt me though, since I was thinking exactly the same thing.

I looked at our hands, our fingers are still intertwined. When Kumiko noticed it, she instantly backed away. "Opps, sorry" she said awkwardly.

I was about to say that I didn't mind it but someone entered the stage, indicating the continuation of the recital.

Kumiko is definitely acting weird. During and after the recital, she hasn't talked that much. Normally, she's being hyperactive or talking about dumb things but she's being quiet now. Is she tired? Then she should have not agreed to drink coffee here with me. Or maybe she wants me to start a conversation? That's.. that's too much for me.

I took a sip of my black coffee to stop myself from over thinking things. I'm just socially awkward, maybe she's just tired after all. Then I looked outside the window, the beautiful view is helping me calm down a bit. We are at the second level of Starbucks and we are completely alone.

"Reina" she finally spoke.

"Yes?" I asked while smiling. I suck at these things but I thought that maybe smiling will lighten the mood.

"Haha. Black coffee huh, so intense" Great, she's back to normal. "Anyway, you didn't answer me earlier, why did you stop playing the piano?"

"Eh?" She still wants to talk about that? Maybe she noticed how I watched the recital with enthusiasm. Did she saw right through me? As expected from this girl, well that's what makes her, her. "I didn't like it. I didn't like playing alone"

She looked dumbfounded. After all, I, the person who hates associating with people, just said that she didn't want to play music alone.

"Weird, right? My last recital was one of my worst memories, not because I messed up or what. But I just felt so lonely while playing back then, and it wasn't supposed to feel that way. Music should take you to happy places, not the opposite" I don't care if she gets me or not, I just said what's on my mind.

"That may be the case back then but you looked really happy earlier, it's never too late to start again you know?"

Her concern made me happy but it's not really what I desire right now. I am contented with my life, with the band, with my trumpet. She's right, I still like playing the piano, I still have one at home, I can play it whenever I want. I just stopped entering competitions or performing at the recitals. I decided to focus on the trumpet after all.

"If you're saying that I should enter a piano competition or something then thanks but no, thanks." I said while laughing, trying to show that it's not what I want at all. "But you're right, I like playing the piano. I will play it the moment I got home"

"Are you sure? You're fine with just that?" she asked me, still having that worried look.

I showed her my most genuine smile and said "Yes, I enjoyed playing my trumpet the most now"

Her face finally broke into a smile. "That's right, you have the trump-"

I cut her off, "and I get to play with you. Two birds with one stone." I showed her my sweetest smile this time.

Kumiko's face instantly turned red after that. She's being so cute, it makes me want to tease her more. She's so red and yet she's not hiding it. She's looking straight at me, I can't tell what she's thinking though. But the look in her eyes is different, it's like she's longing for something, for someone.

Minutes have passed but she's not saying anything, we are just looking at each other. Then she moved her face closer to mine without looking away.

I'm not going to avert my eyes. There's no way I'll lose, heh.

I thought she was still just playing around until she closed her eyes and pressed her lips lightly against mine. My mind went black in that instant. With my eyes still open, I tightened my hold on my black coffee, not caring how hot it is. I'm feeling hotter inside, my heart is beating like crazy, this maybe the first time I felt something like this. Why are my first times always with her? She pulled me closer and deepens the kiss. We stayed like that for a while until she separated her lips from mine. Our faces were still so close, maybe an inch apart.

"D-do you think this is wrong?" she asked me with a low voice, panting.

"Yes" I answered honestly. After all, we are not dating, we are just friends. What we just did was so wrong.

"Do you want me to stop?" she sounded hurt. She looked at me, her eyes pleading for understanding.

"N-no" it was an honest an answer. She smiled, then moved her face closer once again and gently kissed me. Her lips are so soft, I feel like my head is going to explode. This sensation is overwhelming.

It feels really good, it was exciting and enjoyable….but that's just it.