Halcyon Symphonies
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 5 –
Len's POV
I walked down the path that leads to the music classroom. From a distance, my line of sight caught the two General Education students conversing with the other concourse participants. They seem distraught and anxious, though. I did not want to bother with their personal business, but I cannot help overhearing their banters with each other. "Hino-san's not in attendance today." Kaji Aoi said frantically. It was exceedingly evident that they are not aware that she already dropped out of school a few days ago. I felt a great rush of strong affection for her that she only said her farewell to me alone, however, it is intensely throbbing not to see a glimpse of her face anymore, not to receive a lingering kiss from her and not to hold her close to any further extent.
"Ugh." Kanazawa-sensei sighed profoundly, passing by me and immediately entering the music classroom. "Apparently, we lost one participant in the ensemble and the school deeply aggravates it." He threw a small pile of paperwork on the table, immediately scattering through different directions, and he instantaneously sat on the wooden chair.
"What do you mean by that, sensei?" Yunoki-senpai asked, taking the seat beside Hihara-senpai. "Surely you would explain it to us." Kanazawa-sensei problematically scratched the nape of his neck and sighed heavily. "One of you is incapable of joining the ensemble as of this moment. Ousaki and I are, of course, distressed because of it. We must, without delay, find a replacement for her in less than week."
"Who is incapable, sir?" Shimizu-kun inquired.
"Hino Kahoko." Kanazawa-sensei replied. Just by the sound of her name makes me wince in unbearable pain behind my stoic façade. It makes me wonder if she feels the same as of this moment, I wonder if she misses me, longs for me. "Hino? Why? We thought that Ousaki-senpai was able to persuade Kira-rijichou to let her play a piece during the ensemble?" Tsuchiura muttered angrily, his fists coiled. "She should play a piece during the ensemble!" Kanazawa-sensei heaves a sigh once again and shifted from one position to another on his seat. "Well, this matter is beyond the Director's hands by now." He answered. "She dropped out of Seisou a few days ago."
"Dropped?" Kaji Aoi bellowed lowly. "Is there such a reason for her to drop out of school at this time? Although it was palpable enough that she was undertaking a series of tribulations and anxieties in the past few days."
"Her father, Hino Taiki, won her custody after an intense hearing in the court just recently." Kanazawa-sensei elucidated. "I know that it is impossible to believe that she is the child of the multi-millionaire industrialist of the century, but it's the legitimacy and we cannot argue with that. The director somehow did not want to sign her dropping papers because the ensemble is near but he cannot do a thing against it since the man we are talking about is Hino Taiki." I studied the expressions of the people inside this room; their expressions were indisputably cheerless and revolted. "Also, Hino Taiki asked us not to divulge any more information to the students of the school, although, Director Kira says that you guys must know about this."
"So, nonetheless, how is the practice going?" Kanazawa-sensei asked, shifting the subject from Kahoko to the ensemble. "Even if Hino is not around to play a piece during the ensemble with you guys, the Director, certainly, wants a performance worth watching by thousands of people." No one intends to speak up, though. I, without delay, stood up from my seat. "It has apparent flaws, still, sensei. Nevertheless, I believe the performance has been above standard prospect of the Director." I said stoically.
"I see." He replied. "If that is the case, I shall take my leave, then. Ousaki and I should find a replacement for Hino as early as possible." He gathered up his papers and walked out of the room, closing the doors gently. I stared blankly on the door where Kanazawa-sensei disappeared through, contemplating. In a few moments, I gathered my belongings neatly stacked on my table and took my leave. Before I can even touch the door's handle, a strong pair of hands gripped my shoulders devastatingly and it made me turn angrily.
"What's your problem?" I asked furiously, glaring at Tsuchiura. He grimaced at me and glared at me with the same intensity. I brushed his hands off my undersized shoulders and turned to leave. He did not speak a word, not until I was able to leave the music classroom where he and Kaji Aoi followed me. "What's your problem?" I repeated with more anger and strength. "I do not have time for you guys to meddle in my business."
"Be like that, Tsukimori, but don't you have the slightest tinge of wretchedness for her?" He almost bellowed. Me? I don't have the slightest tinge of wretchedness? Don't fool with me. I should be feeling the worst blow when she left me standing by my lonesome on the rooftop the day she dropped out of Seisou. I feel an extreme case of regret because I acted coldly and foolishly towards her from the start and yet you will rub into my face and question me that I don't care about her? That is completely absurd.
"For her to leave is none of my business and I wish not to be entangled with her mess." I lied. The moment I lied, I felt a strong prick of throbbing in my chest and it seems so tight that I imagined myself that I cannot breathe. "Please excuse me." I added and walked away before any sort of sentiment show on my face. I felt a mix of unnecessary nervousness and anger towards Tsuchiura, towards everyone and towards the world. Before I can disappear completely through the corridors, Tsuchiura shouted at me. "She loves you!" He said and I instantaneously stopped in my tracks and stared at him, wide-eyed, from behind my shoulder. "Hino loves you." He repeated with a gentler voice. "She always does."
"How would you know?" I challenged. I stared at him, easing my glare at him. He's filled with melancholy and I fully realize that he doesn't have any idea on how will he respond, yet, he looks at me with assurance. "I don't know. But I can feel it. Without words, her eyes say it all. When she looks at you, it's there." He replied. "So if I were you, I would feel damn miserable to know that I cannot see her anymore. She loves you, Tsukimori." A small smile crept through my face, almost indiscernible. I turned away.
"I know." I mumbled.
I pass through numerous corridors as I traverse my way back to my own classroom. Multiple groups of people were chattering noisily alongside the corridors and I find it hard to walk along it. It came across my ears that some groups were discussing the matter about Kahoko. The hearsays around the school have become amazingly widespread in a matter of time, like a burning fire. I stare at those groups accusingly, unable to discern as to where they have picked up such rumors.
I hear one group mentioning their startling disbelief that she is the child of a very prominent icon in the business world. Well, to be honest, I myself am quite dumbfounded; Kahoko mentioned to me a few times that her father met a terrible fate even before she was born and she profoundly grew up without having a father figure to look after her. A few times, I take notice of several groups mentioning Tsuchiura and Kahoko's relationship in one sentence. I feel a prick of resentment towards such matter, as a matter of fact.
"Hey, hey, did you hear? Tsuchiura Ryotarou, the pianist from the General Education Department?" One said piercingly, enough for the whole corridor to hear it. Multiple curious heads turned towards their direction. I, apparently, was curious enough about them that made me stop in my tracks, and instantaneously walked, as if I am not bothered. "Aya-chan heard him confess to Hino Kahoko a few days back. It was quite dubious that they go to school together recently, not until it the school was properly convinced that he really likes her!"
"Did she give a reply? Surely, she must have given him a response, before she left, that is." I felt my eyes turn wide. I recall him mentioning about her true feelings towards me, who he considered as a rival, despite the fact that he already confessed. Is he completely insane? I feel a pang of guilt strike through my chest. Before I entered my own classroom, I heard the conclusion of the conversation with a loud and clear, "No. She didn't." Another blazing rumor became widespread yet again for their sympathy towards Tsuchiura.
Sympathy, huh? I need it, too, apparently. We're, as a matter of fact, ill-fated lovers.
Kahoko's POV
"Shut up! I don't even know why you're here! Get out! I don't need a sister! Leave me!" He bellowed. I instinctively left his room, closing the door with a soft thud. I did not have any idea how much he loathes me. Without further thought of the undertakings the during preceding minutes, I entered my own room, My room was of cream tinge, and has a similar arrangement as Shouei-niisama's room, although there were two doors, one to the right of the study table, and the other at its left. My suitcases were settled in the corner and my violin case was on my study table. I did not bother checking the contents of the whole room and I threw myself on the softest bed that I ever laid.
I stared at the ceiling for an outwardly long stretch of time and perhaps, I did not realize that Ryuu-san was standing by my doorway, holding a tray of cooking. It smelled great, if truth be told. I did not imagine that two hours had already passed, and I was just staring idly at the well-decorated ceiling, embellished with flower patterns. "Your dinner is served, Kahoko-sama." He said, his mouth curved upward. "The cook hopes that his cuisine suits your tastes." It crossed my mind that probably, this family does not bother eating together.
I don't feel particularly hungry as of the moment; tons of things are going on in my mind as of the minute and I feel a prick of resentment, disappointment and at the same time, unbearable wretchedness. I sat at the edge of the bed, gave Ryuu-san a courteous nod. "Thank you. Please leave it on the study table, beside the violin case." I said. He did as I have instructed. Ryuu-san bobbed his head and closed my door. The aroma of the food served fills the whole room, almost confounding me from my delirious state and yet, I cannot bring myself to stand up and approach the provisions provided for me.
And there I was, staring blankly yet again on my violin case, settled peacefully on the wooden table. Moments later, I found myself crying again. My chest clenches painfully, my eyes blurry with tears and my hands tremble hysterically. I curled up on my bed, my head on the soft pillows and I hid under the blanket. I hear my rasping breathe escape my mouth, and tears still sting my eyes and wet my cheeks.
Before I knew it, I woke up with the sun's rays peeking through the indents of the cream curtains. The provisions on my table disappeared without a trace as if it was not brought by Ryuu-san last night, but still, the arrangement of the room is still unchanged from I remembered last night before falling asleep. I immediately sit up on my bed, my eyes swollen, puffy and it throbs, my head spins with pain. My pillow evident with tear stains. I feel extremely famished, yet I don't have any appetite to eat anything.
"Kahoko, are you awake?" A small voice mumbled from behind the door. "May I enter?"
"Uhm, please do." I replied softly as I stand up from the bed and at once opened the door. My father, Hino Taiki, was standing on my doorway, dressed in a black corporate suit and red necktie. I evacuated the pathway along the doorway as he entered my room and sat on the settee at the center of the room. "Is this a bad time to talk to you?" He inquired. I shook my head, and sat on the sofa across him. He remained unspoken for a full minute and I just stared on my own clamped hands on my lap. "I took notice of your uneaten dinner last night." He started. "Did you not like the food served?" I shook my head again, while I remained silent.
"Is there any problem, sweetheart?" He asked gently. Dad stood up from the sofa and stood beside me, his hand on my shoulder. "Please, you can tell me anything." I hesitated for a moment; all I want to say was that I want to go home this instant and live with all and sundry back home because I feel empty and tremendously out-of-place in this misery. I feel a hole in my chest, I feel so incomplete without everybody back home. This is no home. "I want to go home." I said incoherently. It was quite relieving that he did not know of the commotion between me and my stepbrother.
"What was that?"
"I want to go home. Now." I repeated, with more intensity and absolution. "I cannot live here anymore." Dad sighed croakily and sat on the wooden coffee table adjacent to the sofa. "You know I cannot allow that." He replied, his voice terrifying. "I made myself clear a few days ago that you are under my custody and it is not entirely possible to let you wander on your own, let alone bring you back to your mother." The tone of his voice is extremely petrifying that I cannot even look at him directly in the eye. I wanted to debate against him, yet when I opened my mouth, I cannot find my voice.
"Fine," I said frostily after a full minute. He stared at me sternly, and I felt how futile will be my efforts if I try and argue relentlessly. He snapped his fingers loudly, and I immediately noticed Ryuu-san enter my room, a small, black case in his arms. He is dressed in the same black coat and tie and the only noticeable change is the color of his necktie. Ryuu-san is smiling credibly at me and my stern-eyed father. "Ryuu, please do inform Kahoko of her schedule today." He muttered, the intensity of voice he used at me instantly vanishes.
Ryuu-san nodded attentively, opened the black case and quickly scanned it. "This afternoon, at exactly 1:30 PM, Kahoko-sama, together with Taiki-sama, will be meeting with the headmaster of the institution Taiki-sama will send you for your education." He said instructively. "Nonetheless, no other activities and agendas will follow." Dad nodded knowingly and stood up from the coffee table he sat on. He whispered several matters to Ryuu-san in shushed voices I can barely comprehend and he bobbed his head in haste.
Ryuu-san quickly left the room and left I and Dad in awkward silence. "Since you are awake early today, I asked Ryuu to fetch the designers and such to prepare your new clothes. I do not wish to see you lurking around the house in your old clothes that reminds you of your home." He said austerely and gave me one hard, serious look. I quickly looked away. I know he is this harsh and controlling person, but where is that side of him that he showed me at the airport, when he entered my room awhile ago anxiously? The apprehensive and gentle father I long for and yet, within minutes, it quickly disappeared.
Dad must have sensed my distraught and swiftly approached me from the doorway. "I do not mean to scare you nor hurt you." He said consolingly. "I only wanted to give you a future you once thought is too impossible to grasp because you are my daughter." Then he left with the sound the click of the doorknob.
I instantaneously wanted to believe him, but I cannot bring myself to consider any of it as the legitimacy that it burns me angrily to the core.
Author's Note: Wee, :) this is the fastest update, so far. xD Hope you enjoyed this chapter as much I enjoyed writing/typing it. Advance Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! :)) I do hope that you will always enjoy celebrating Christmas with the joy of giving and sharing. Aww 33