Chapter Three: A New Opera Singer
Naru pov
I had the strangest dream last night. There was this girl, a young girl that came into my room. In my dream, she was scared that I saw her. She has a scar on her face. Bumps on her right side, it looks like a deep burn or something, but it spread from her right forehead, down to her right bottom eye giving the illusion that is half closed. She had long brown hair knotted and wild, besides that, her face is pale, but it had a strange glow. Her eyes are like milk chocolate and had the most impressive look I saw in a woman. I don't remember what I told her, but I still can feel her warm skin. My dream was too vivid. I'm not sure why, but for a reason, she looked like hurt angel. I can't explain it. All I knew, she somehow captures my attention.
"Place that down." Yasuhara snaps me out of my thoughts while we lower the broken bricks from the roof. I picked the last part and place it down.
"Ah, this place looks better and better." I heard behind me. I paused and turned to see Lin and my boss standing next to each other. I dusted my hands and walk up to them.
"Morning," I bowed. My boss, an older middle age man. He has long dark hair with gray hairs on the side. He has a long black mustache and a bear. His eyes are dark and have a thin face. Dress very elegantly.
"Morning Oliver. Come with me," he asks. I nodded and turned towards my companions.
"Go and rest," I told them. Yasuhara and Housho nodded and went down while Lin stares at our work. Turning around, we start to follow my boss.
"So what is this about opening this opera house in a few days?" I asked as I remove my gloves. My boss turns and shrugs at me.
"I grew up in this place, it's always been my passion. I want to relive my childhood a few more times before it becomes into dust. Sorry, I didn't mention this to you before. That's one of the reasons I wanted to get caretaker. I have known your skills since I seen you work in this line of work before. I'm just glad you haven't left yet." I rose a brow at his sudden words.
"What do you mean?"
"The rumors, the other caretakers didn't last a day, due to the damn phantom." he spoke in a low tone, so the others won't hear.
"Why is that? They are just rumors after all."
"Didn't you tell him?" he turns to face Lin. Lin shakes his head and turns to face him.
"I didn't want to scare him, I just told him the rumors and the corpses," he explains to him.
"Exactly what happen?" I cross my arms, my boss turns and clears his throat.
"The others kept hearing things, and when they finally saw the phantom, it tried to kill them. They ran out of this old place like the seven-headed hell dogs were after them."
"I see, don't' worry, I won't run away, I don't scare that easily," I told him. My boss sighs out a relief breath because of my words.
"Tomorrow, the most famous opera singer in England, Masako Hara will come to start her practice, so please wash the stage and fix the roof," I nodded, turning around.
"Also one more thing." he added.
"Yes?" I turned my head to stare at him.
"If you find this phantom, can you get rid of it?" he shivers. I felt a sweat drop, but I nodded at him.
"I'll even buy the phantom train tickets if you want." I spat.
"That's why I like you young man, good day," with that my boss nervously laugh and turns, heading out with Lin.
'Masako Hara? I heard of her, the talented opera singer. Great, and here I thought I will have peaceful days ahead. I hate opera, singers.' I move my legs, and something on the second floor caught my attention. I slowly lifted my gaze and saw the dark shadow once again. I smirked and started to move once again.
'If you're the phantom of the Opera, then this should be fun after all.'
Mai pov
I move, the next day, watching Oliver and from what I can gather their names, Housho and Yasuhara scrub the stage. I lean the side of my head on the wall and kept my eye on him.
'How can I help him?' I thought, and smiled gently, watching him wipe his forehead. I look down at my wrist, where he touched me, and something filled my stomach.
'His hand is so warm and rough.' I look back up, to see him breathing unevenly.
'He needs water, well the others as well.' I ached to get up and help, but stop myself, when Oliver turns his gaze towards me. I gasp, and hide.
'Please don't see me.' I prayed.
"Ah, welcome." I heard Lin speak, hearing his footsteps move swiftly. I turned to see a young woman enter from the front. A familiar woman. I move closer, to see the woman with ear length hair, dark eyes, and a doll-like face.
"Masako Hara, I presume?" Lin asks. My eyes widen in fear.
'No, it can't be her.' My body shook.
'Why is she doing here?'
"Yes, you must be Lin, your boss told me about you." Lin nods at her, then I watch Oliver turn his gaze towards her. He gave her a fast glance, then turns back to work, scrubbing the stage. I frowned. Masako moves swiftly inspecting my house.
"So this is the place I'm going to sing, I have been in better places.." Masako run her finger on the chair, and dust it off, then her eyes landed on the three guys.
"Excuse me," she spoke out. Oliver sighs and turns around,
"Yes?" he asks in an annoyed voice. I watch Masako eyes widen, and her pale cheeks turn red. I frowned, feeling a strange feeling fill my heart. Housho and Yasuhara stare at Masako, but don't say anything to her.
"Are you this rude to guests?
"Depends on who they are. Lin, please show the young lady to her dressing room. I need to finish here." he commands, turning back and starts to scrub.
"Excuse me? I never met such a rude man," she huffs, turning while Lin shakes his head.
"Excuse my lord, he doesn't like to talk to people, come, I'll show you your room." Lin turns, heading towards the back. Masako gave Oliver one last glance, then follows Lin. I dug my nails into my flesh, as I turn back towards Oliver.
"Wow, she's very beautiful, what did you thought of her?" Yasuhara asks Oliver. Oliver stops his movements and lifted his gaze up.
"I agree, she's beautiful," he tells them.. My heart pounded oddly once again.
'He thinks she's beautiful, well she has always been.'
"Then why did you treat her like that? If you think like that? What? Are you shy?" Housho wiggled his brows, but before Oliver could answer, the door slams open. I turn to see an older woman with long red hair, wearing a blue dress and heels.
"Damn that woman, she always does this." she hissed, I glance, watching the boys turn to look behind.
"Who are you?" Oliver asks her. Housho eyes landed on the redhead, and his eyes widen. Yasuhara just smiles.
"Ayako Matsuzaki, I'm Masako assistant." she tells them. Oliver rose a brow, but nods.
"Housho, please show Ms. Matsuzaki, Ms. Hara dressing-room," he asks him. Housho turns and gave him a wide eyed look.
"Me? Why me? I'm just a worker, you're the caretaker." he asks. Oliver gave Housho a dark look.
"I'm your boss, so do what I told you. Also, I don't want to see Ms. Hara," he mumbled the last part, Housho didn't get to hear it, but I could read his lips. I raised a brow, now confused by his words.
'Is he shy? Wait, is Oliver a shy person around beautiful girls?' I frowned, and that bother me. I don't know why, though.
"Come this way," Housho sighs in defeat, as he goes around the stage and went down the small stairs. Ayako stares at him, then bow at Oliver.
"Thank you," with that, Housho and the new girl Ayako move towards the back.
…...
I watch again from the sidelines, about two hours later. The stage looks wonderful, outstanding and breathtaking. Everything shined, and the once dirty floor shine, the curtains are almost done, it almost has a life. I smiled, watching Oliver roll his shoulders, as Yasuhara and Housho, sigh in relief.
"Finally is done. Wow, it took forever, I'm starving, want something to eat?" Yasuhara offers, Oliver nods, but they didn't move, as Masako and Ayako came into view. Masako wore an elegant green dress, that puff out in the bottom, and low-cut in the front. Ayako threw dagger glares at her.
"Now, where would I practice? Also, where's the music?" She asks, looking straight at the guys. Oliver lifts his gaze and gave her the coldest expression I have ever seen.
"As you can see, we are still working on it, and second, is obvious this is the place you're going to practice, you don't have to be a genius, to know that common sense." he brawls out
"Seriously, what I have done to you? Normally, men treat me as a princess," she tells him. Housho and Yasuhara move up towards her.
"Don't listen to him, he's a bitter old man, so please practice with confidence and as well, the music, I can play the violin pretty well, so that can help until tomorrow." Housho offers.
"Okay, then who are you again?" she asks both of them. Housho and Yasuhara glance at each other then bows at her.
"I'm Housho, and this is Yasuhara, we are here to fix up the place," they introduced themselves to her.
"Ah, well, I see them, if you please, help me with the music, if you say if you can play the violin," she bows. I frowned, watching both males nod at her.
Ayako tilts her head to the side and raised a brow.
"Well hello there," she spoke, moving to the side. Housho turns his gaze towards her, and for a reason, I can see his cheeks turning slightly pink.
"Sorry, didn't see you there," he nervously rub the back of his neck. I lifted a small part of my mouth upwards and watch Ayako get furious.
"I see, do I need to be a famous person to get a hello?" she snaps at him. Housho eyes widen and shook his head.
"No, that's not what I mean, I meant.."
"Oh whatever," she growls at him, turning to face Oliver.
"I heard that you all were going to eat, if you want, I can cook something up, I'm very good in the kitchen," she offers them. Yasuhara and Housho face light up, while Oliver nods.
"That would be greatly appreciated," he only said. Masako moves up towards the stage, in doing so, she suddenly trips on her own dress and falls backward.
"Ahh!" she yells, I watch Oliver move rapidly and catch her in his arms. Her chest heaved, as he stares at her eyes.
"Thank you," she breathlessly said. Oliver straightens her and turns around.
"About that offer, I take an arrange check, I just remember something," he tells her. Ayako nods her head and turns towards Masako.
"I'll bring your lunch soon." Masako is still flushed, and nods at Ayako.
"Okay," she didn't have no words to say to her, she looks very flushed, her eyes never left Oliver. Oliver, sighs, and walks out of the stage.
"Oi, where are you going?" Yasuhara asks.
"I told you, I just remember something, we return in an hour," with that, Oliver swiftly moves away from the other.
…...
I follow Oliver, he walks past the backyard. The yard itself is quite something, it has massive statues of weeping angels, or other statues I don't even know all in the color gray. For a reason, I felt right at home. There's old trees, covered with autumn leaves. Oliver stops at the front of the weeping angel statue and glances up.
"DAMN IT TO HELL!" he suddenly screams, kicking the bottom. I was taken back by his sudden outburst.
'What is wrong?' I asked, Oliver sat on the ground, and look down at the floor, as though he heard my question, he spoke.
"I want is peace and quiet, not this. I can't live through this again," he hissed under his breath. I move quietly and sat on the opposite side of the angel statue.
'What happen? If you don't mind me asking.'
"This is why I took the job, I thought it would be quiet for the next few months. I'm trying to regain my bloody life back.
'So explain to me, what change?' Oliver lifts his gaze, as I move a bit closer to the edge. I move my hand, as he lays his hand exactly like mine. If I would have moved a bit closer, we would have touched.
"I'm mad, because.. Its not fair, not fair for him."
'Him? Oliver, please tell me, what happen, I want to help you, you asked me to help you, so please tell me.'
"Forget it," then everything went quiet. I frowned, so I waited. About ten minutes later, I didn't hear anything at all. I quietly sneak a peak, and saw him sleeping, with his arms cross, and his head bobbing down.
I hesitated on getting closer, from what happened two nights ago. I frowned and stretched my arm out.
'Poor Oliver. Everything will work out. You haven't eaten anything, and you must be famished, wait here, I'll get something for you.' I bow, and stood, hurrying my steps to get food from my kitchen.
…...
'I hope he likes it, I'm not a good cook, but luckily sister showed me how to cook.' I smiled gently at my food, wrap in a nice purple cloth. (Hot soup and hot fresh bread,) I rushed my steps towards Oliver.
Upon returning back, I stop in my tracks, to see Masako talking to him. My heart froze, as he nods at her, and takes some food from her hands.
"Thanks," he said. I watch him lift his gaze, and his eyes almost landing on me. I move swiftly and hid behind the statue. I watch them leave, and I bend on my knees, looking down at my soup and bread.
'Right, he wouldn't even eat it, if I left it by his side.' I felt tears gathering in my eyes, as I undid the tie, and took the hot bread, and bite.
'He doesn't even know I exist.' I wipe my eyes and kept on eating.
Naru pov
I watch Ms. Hara, sing, her tone is high pitch and on point. I mentally groaned as I move my head. Once again I see that shadow from the second floor. I kept my eyes on it.
'It followed me in the backyard, I wonder if it heard me speak?' now as time passes, the more and more I want to know about this shadow that follows me. I didn't mind, though.
"There you are," I heard behind me. I awoke from my short nap and turn to see Ms. Hara looks down at me, with a container at hand. I mentally groaned, but stood up and dusted my pants.
"What is this for?" I asked her. She timidly hands it to me, and I look down.
"To thank you for saving me, and as well, I want to start again. Hi, I'm Masako Hara, I hope we can become good friends." she bows. I blinked at her, as I look down at the container.
"Thanks," was all I said, when I lift my gaze, I saw a white dress fade behind the statue. I smirked and turned around.
"So what you think of her voice?" Yasuhara asks of me jolting me back to reality. I turn my gaze and shrug at him.
"Is okay." I told him.
"Housho can play," I added, watching Housho in the background playing hard with his violin, the music flow beautifully with Ms. Hara voice, it echoed around the whole auditorium. While Ayako stares at him. She sat two seats down from me. I leaned back and cross my arms.
"He started to play when he was a young lad, making a living, but unfortunately he wasn't good enough on some peoples' ears, and he couldn't' make it as a musician."
"I see, I'll talk to my boss about that, he has a talent, and I hate seeing good talent going to waste." I told him. Yasuhara eyes widen, turning to face me.
"Really?" I nodded at him.
"Of course," Yasuhara turn his gaze back, as Ms. Hara finish her last line. Yasuhara and Ayako clapped while I stood up.
"Very well, come in tomorrow again." I told her, turning around, to head for my bed. I am aching worse than two days ago.
"That's it?" she asks. I breathed out and turn around and gave her a blank look.
"Did you expect something else?" I asked her. Ms. Hara flushed in embarrassment and turn her head.
"No, good night then." with that, she stomps away, while Ayako bows.
"See you tomorrow." she turns and follows her out. I move and left the others alone. Finally entering my room. I locked it and flop down on my bed. Covering my eyes with my hand, I groaned out.
"She is annoying but very good at singing. Apparently she likes me too. Great, just what I needed." I stood up and started to remove my shirt.
Then my mind flashes back to the girl I dreamt about last night.
"She looks too real." I look down at my hand, and I remember how small her wrist is and how warm.
"Is she was really an angel? I just dreamed her, but why with a scar like that? If she was real, then what happen to her? I want to know her story." I thought out loud, placing my hand on my desk and stare at my reflection. I move my arm and touch the glass.
'Gene,' I thought, as this sudden ache in my heart.
'Please, forgive me one day.'
Mai pov
'Masako became famous from her voice, she sings lovely, not only she has looks, but she's very talented.' I felt depressed about that thought. I move my head and saw Oliver sit on his chair, turning to face the mirror.
I watch him trace the mirror, as he wore no shirt. I blushed madly, but I was curious, why is he doing that?
'Is he a narcissist?' I thought, but his eyes look so sad. I press my hand on the wall and frowned at him.
'Please don't be sad.' Oliver, stands up, and removes his pants, my eyes widen, and I turn around covering my face.
'Sister said to never see a man naked unless he's my husband.' I thought, feeling my heart race. I gave it a few minutes. When I turn, Oliver already dressed in his night garment and sat on the edge of the bed. I turn my gaze and saw my soup.
'If I leave it in his room, he'll have it for breakfast, right?' I thought, after a long time of waiting, he finally fell asleep. I open the door, and sneaked in, placing my container down, and smiled gently at him.
'Please enjoy,' I bowed, but then he snaps his eyes open once again. He looks up at me. My heart stops.
"Angel, your back," he dazedly says. I gulped, noticing his eyes dazed.
'He's still asleep.' I breathed out. I nodded and took a step back.
"No, wait, I want to know your name," he started to get up but flops down.
"Damn it," he hisses, as he glances down. I took this moment and run towards my secret door, and closed it before he could see. I get on my knees and huddle.
'He's asleep, but why he keeps waking up when I go in his room? Does he know? Does he want to hurt me? Mock me?' With those dark thoughts, I headed for my safe heaven.
'I want to help him, but if he's doing that in purpose, then I can't,'
Naru pov
"Ouch," I flop down on the floor, hitting my chin. I rubbed it and hissed.
"Okay, what just happen?" I asked, looking everywhere, to see if I can see the angel. No one was here, but a strange canteen, a small canteen that looks very old. I move to grab it and open the lid. I raised a brow and lower it.
"Chicken soup?" I lifted my leg up and look down once again.
"So she isn't a dream? I locked my door, and no one has my keys besides me. I shrug and lift the canteen up towards my lips.
'Smells good, wonder if it tastes good.' with that, I slurp down and lower it. My eyes widen, to find it edible, and as well very good.
"Well, damn, she can cook." I smiled, finishing the rest of the soup. After I finished, I place the container down and went back to my bed. I lift my leg up, and place my arms behind my head, looking up at the ceiling.
"So if she is real, then she is an angel, if she's from the rumors, why hasn't she tried to kill me yet?" I move my body and stare at the wall once again.
"Either way, I want to know more about you, and if you are what the rumors says? One thing is for sure, I'm already curious about you, and I won't stop until I get to know you."
'Thanks for the reviews; I hope you enjoy.
A disclaimer: I Don't own anything.
