Music Piece7: Wounded Feelings

" Oh yes Takara, have you met my son, Tamaki? "

Of course I did except we got off on the wrong foot when I slammed the door shut in his face. Mummy really had a good laugh. She thought but instead she spoke just the opposite.

" No, I haven't. "

Tamaki looked at her in askance but she deliberately ignored it.

" But, I've seen him around, " she added, quickly.

His father nodded, thoughtfully.

" The Host Club? "

Takara frowned.

" The what Club? "

Immediately, Tamaki chimed in, cutting his father to the chase.

" The Ouran High Host Club, not the what Club. Our club aims to help the female population achieve happiness."

(Might be because these guys are hot-blooded and have too much testorones as well as having too much time on their hands until they do not know what to do with it.)

" I heard from Tamaki that you are an excellent harpist. In fact, you're famous for your music pieces in France. " Chairman Suou spoke up. " Maybe you could play for us sometime. "

The girl could only fake a tight-lipped smile. She really was in no mood to continue a conversation involving her past life.

" I'll try… " Was all she could reply.

" Maybe you could play a duet with Tamaki. He's skilled in piano playing. "

Takara nodded politely although she could not care less.

Can't you see that I don't want to touch another harp?

" Father! "

Chairman Suou's eyes were filled with mischief, Takara noticed.

And fatherly affection as well…

Suddenly, she felt jealous and hurt. Her heart ached for her own father. She missed him, a lot more than she realized. She yearned for his warmth. His touch. His love. His undivided attention. His cooking. His kisses. His hugs. His voice. His words of encouragement. His praises.

Everything…!

Unknowingly, tears streamed down her cheeks in little rivulets.

Why did he have to die?!? Why did he have to leave mummy and me?!? What sin have I done to deserve this intolerable punishment?

" Takara? "

She blinked and quickly wiped away her tears.

" I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that. Please, excuse me. "

The girl stood up and dashed out of the office before anyone could stop her.

NNN

" Takara! " Tamaki yelled but his voice could not reach her as the door slammed shut in his face again.

His father looked at him, wordlessly. He sighed and got up.

" Father, you shouldn't have mess around! In the first place, you should have stated the reason why you called her and not beat around the bush like that! "

" What did I do? " Chairman Suou argued, looking defensive.

Tamaki sighed again and shook his head.

" Did you not notice Takara's reactions towards your questions? Her own father, Gail Satake, just passed away a few weeks ago. The wound in her heart has not yet healed. Everything related to her father is a sensitive subject for her. I'm going after Takara to see if she's all right. "

With that, Tamaki turned around and went after the girl.

The Chairman leaned back in his chair and a worried expression crossed over his face.

" Satake… " He muttered to himself.

Just then, his secretary rushed in.

" What happened, Chairman? I saw a girl crying when she ran off followed by your son. Is everything all right? "

He nodded slowly.

I hope so…

NNN

Takara sniffed and rubbed her eyes. She pulled her legs up and hugged them close to her body. She felt pathetic. She knew she probably would be missing her English class but she did not care. It was not her idea of an ideal school. She was forced to attend this school so as not to go against her mother's wishes. She squeezed her eyes shut. Just then, the sound of footsteps reached her ears and then a shadow fell over her. Takara looked up and then she looked away.

" Go away! "

Takara got up and was about to walk off but Tamaki grabbed her arm.

" What do you want? " she demanded rudely.

She glared up at him venomously.

" I wanted to apologise about my father on behalf of him. He didn't know, " Tamaki answered quietly, his grip on her arm did not slacken.

For a moment, Takara's mazarine eyes softened but they hardened again.

"It's okay. Forget about it. "

Her reply was short and stiff.

" He didn't mean to hurt your feelings. So please, I ask for your forgiveness, " He replied, his own eyes never leaving hers.

She stared down at the grass. Takara really could not meet his eyes. Soon after, there was only silence. She really did not know what to say. She was hurt, sad and lonely. There was a dark void in her heart that was filled with nothing but emptiness. It was like a part of her persona was torn away. Her father was gone. He could not come back. Then, her mother was critically ill and she could not walk again. Her career was ruined. In fact, both their lives were ruined just because of that plane crash which caused their destinies, which were differently before to veer off track and intertwine together. She was helpless to take control of her life again. Takara knew that she was too weak. She knew she had fallen but she was too weak to try and pick herself up again. She had given up. She will just follow and go blindly with the flow.

Suddenly, the bell rang.

" Yo, highness! We thought you were dead or something. Normally, you were always the first one in the Host Club meeting place, " Hikaru Hitachin spoke up, and popping out from behind Tamaki's left shoulder while Kaoru Hitachin appeared on his right.

" Ooh, what do we have here? Highness is holding hands with a girl in broad daylight! " Kaoru put in gleefully.

(Actually, he's gripping Takara's arm, mind you.)

A light pink colored both their cheeks and quickly the fifteen-year-old jerked her arm out his grip.

" Just leave me alone, Tamaki-senpai. I'm sorry, " Takara whispered before she fled.