Hey everyone...
So, I edited some stuff with this story especially with the pairing. I just realized that I sucked royally in the grammar and I didn't know then that the tense is supposed to be past tense.
I didn't edit everything, mind you. I'm a loyal slacker so I guess you could see that in the story. I think I started in chapter 2 with the major editing...
Anyway, I've written two new chapters after a very long hiatus (sorry i didn't warn any of the guys waiting for almost a year-major problems came up in my family and school). Second year high school was hectic in Phil-Sci. At least in my third year this year, it won't be so hectic.
I'm done with promising you guys for a certain time for my update. I'm done with breaking my promises. I can't even tell you guys how sorry I am.
Since those who had been waiting for this story to update probably got sick of waiting, I'm just going to say sorry and i hope you'll forgive me. To those who had been reading my stories and making Story Alerts and some even gave a few reviews, thanks a lot. I really appreciate it.
P.S. : This note is just going to repeat from the first chap until the 22nd chapter of my story.
Chapter 19 – Have a surprise TIMED
I gulped before calming myself down. Then, I fumbled for my violin before going up the front shakily and fixing myself. Then, my geeky side surfaced.
"T-this piece was originally made by Tchaikovsky. This is Black Swan or Swan Lake," I said meekly and held the violin with my left and tucked the body to my chin.
(To search, go to YouTube and search for Tchaikovsky Swan Lake)
Finally, after taking in a deep, cleansing breath, I began to move my fingers.
I closed my eyes as I focused on my piece. I listened to my violin's humming tune and let my heart control the fingers that were moving to create the piece. I felt the bow's constant back and forth movement and how it harmonized with the violin's strings. It felt magic whenever I do it. It felt like I was the only one there with my violin. It felt like I was in heaven.
Then, with a final strum with my bow, I ended my performance.
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, and clap.
No, only Serina-sensei, my friends, and others who just woke up and clapped to make it look like they were awake clapped for my performance. I was actually expecting a lot of applaud but I remembered that I wasn't on stage as Equinox but only as Tera Waname. Of course, nobody listened to classical music that much. But I had to live to the fact that I was not the only one in the 4.9 billion people in the world who loved classical music.
"Exceptional! You have chosen a beautiful piece, Waname-san!" sensei exclaimed as she clasped her hands together with a proud smile.
"Thank you, sensei," I said to her and went back to my chair with my head bowed in embarrassment.
As I reached my friends, Permy was the first one to compliment.
"That was amazing!" she said with a happy smile. "You glowed back there!"
My brows met together and I snorted. "You're exaggerating, Rin."
Hotaru bopped my head again. "Accept it, you pessimistic idiot."
I grinned at her while I scratched the back of my head. "Aw, shucks," I teased her.
She narrowed her eyes before turning away with her arms crossed.
"Why did you choose that piece?" She went straight to the point.
"Yeah," Permy agreed like a Jack-in-a-box. "You're way more talented than just playing a simple-noted Swan Lake."
I shook my head. "I dunno. I just kinda felt like it. Was it too inferior for me?"
Hotaru snorted through her nose. "It's the melody that counts, you idiot. Jeez, what do you learn in playing violins? Eat a bow 101?"
"Hey! That was a long time ago!" I snapped with a pout.
Permy grinned at me mischievously. "Is three years too long for you?"
My pout deepened as they enjoyed themselves by teasing me with my first lessons of violin three years ago. Yeah, I admit I ate the bow. But that wasn't my fault! Some doofus bumped into my hand and forced the bow into my mouth because my mouth was open because I was breathing through it because I had a cold.
Okay, true story was that I was so hungry and I didn't have any snacks. I thought the bow was a big chocolate stick. There, happy?
Just a few moments later, I heard Serina-sensei pause as she adjusted her glasses when she was about to call the next person. It was as if she was trying to clarify something.
Finally, she cleared her throat. "Luna? It's your turn."
Unconsciously, I snickered. Some hateful eyes looked at me and I faked by coughing and sneezing and they turned away from disgust.
"What the heck is their problem?" Permy whispered in an annoyed tone.
"Fake-goddess worship," Hotaru muttered sarcastically before inserting a cough to cover her voice.
I couldn't help but giggle at their comments and just kept my mouth shut. Just in case I barf again like earlier in class, I brought with me a black plastic bag that's big enough for a book to fit in.
She snapped her ridiculously manicured fingers before some of the boys brought a portable CD player. She put in a disc and pushed some buttons. And speaking of buttons…
"This song is dedicated to my Natsume," she purred and I caught sight of Koko gagging mockingly while Hyuuga's face was emotionless. "I hope you like it," she added with a wink.
Like Koko, I was gagging but for real. I saw Hotaru shake her head while Permy smiled sympathetically before she rubbed my back.
"I'll get Anna to make a five-course dinner later," Permy whispered while I scowled at her. They're really having fun of my anti-slut instincts.
The music started with a slow beat but it sounds seductive to my ears. Either way, I can't help but feel sick again when she started to dance because all she needs now was a pole to finish it off. Or I think she needs a guy to be her pole. Yeesh!
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons babe
But you keep frontin'
Sayin' what you gon' do to me
But I ain't seen nuttin'
(repeat)
Typical and hardly
The type I fall for
I like it when the physical
Don't leave me askin' for more
I'm a sexy mama
Who knows just how to get what I wanna
What I wanna do is bring this on ya
Back up all the things that I told ya
You've been sayin'
All the right things all night long
But I can't seem to get you over here
To help take this off
Baby can't you see
How these clothes are fittin' on me
And the heat comin' from this beat?
I'm about to blow, I don't think you know
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons babe
But you keep frontin'
Sayin' what you gon' do to me
But I ain't seen nuttin'
(repeat)
You say you're a big boy
But I can't agree
'Cuz the love you said you had
Ain't been put on me
I wonder if I'm just too much for you
Wonder if my kiss don't make you just
Wonder what I got next for you, what you wanna do?
Take a chance to recognize
That this could be yours
I can see just like most guys
That your game don't please
Baby can't you see
How these clothes are fittin' on me
And the heat comin' from this beat?
I'm about to blow, I don't think you know
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons babe
But you keep frontin'
Sayin' what you gon' do to me
But I ain't seen nuttin'
(repeat)
Come on baby loosen up my buttons babe
(Loosen up my buttons babe)
Baby won't you loosen up my buttons babe?
(Loosen up my buttons babe)
Come on baby loosen up my buttons babe
(Loosen up my buttons babe)
Baby won't you loosen up my buttons babe?
(Loosen up my buttons babe)
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons babe
But you keep frontin'
Sayin' what you gon' do to me
But I ain't seen nuttin'
(repeat 4x)
"Oh," Permy gasped.
"My," Hotaru continued unenthusiastically but disgust could be heard in her voice.
"GOD!" I exclaimed and threw up in the bag.
I had to close my eyes while listening to the loud applause my classmates were making.
"Thank you, thank you!" I heard her say. I felt and heard her tip-tapping shoes go back to her seat near Hyuuga.
"Well," Serina-sensei started. "That was…"—she inserted a cough—"rather creative of you, Luna. Thank you for the performance."
"You think?" Permy hissed. "Didn't anyone see her touch herself? That was disgusting!"
"It reminds me of the time Mikan accidentally pooped in her underwear when we were in fourth grade," Hotaru muttered quietly but amusingly.
That made me better in a way.
"Hey! You put in pooping seeds in my drink as far as I could remember!" I retorted back at her while I closed the puke-smelling bag.
"No wonder you have a small brain," Hotaru fired back while she flicked my forehead. I rubbed the sore spot while I stuck my tongue out to her.
Permy just giggled at our silliness and composed herself once again as if she knew what was going next.
"Now could we call in Hyuuga-san again with his joint performance with Yome-san?" Serina-sensei called out and I could hear the shuffling of chairs as people quieted down to hear their act.
Hyuuga went ahead and brought with him a Slash Appetite for Destruction Les Paul. He plugged it in an amplifier and tested its tune. Koko went behind and tested the drums for slight off-tune beats. Then, both of them took a microphone and stand each and put a CD player near them.
"Hey everyone!" Koko greeted. "I know it's unusual but my man, Natsume and I are having a joint performance for ya'll."
Everyone whooped and whistled while he looked at Serina-sensei for approval. When she nodded once, Koko faced us again.
"So, the CD player is for the other instruments since we aren't complete," Koko explained.
"Rest assured, we aren't cheating like some numbskulls are thinking," Natsume muttered through the microphone. Harsh as it may be, his voice still made the girls faint into a fantasy with him. Gross…
"Hope ya'll like it," Koko added. "This song is just a revision of a legend a long time ago. Actually dedicated to someone I met when I was a kid."
Then, he beat the drumsticks three times before Hyuuga started his solo.
"I know this song!" I blurted out before my friends could comprehend Hyuuga's flowing fingers.
Then, Koko started the drums while the CD player inserted the bass and the other guitar while Hyuuga repeated the solo. On cue, Koko started to sing in his slightly raspy voice. I guess he meant it to be like that.
She's got a smile that it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where everything was as fresh as the bright blue sky
Now and then when I see her face
She takes me away to that special place
And if I stared too long
I'd probably break down and cry
Oh, sweet child o' mine
Oh, sweet love of mine
It seems to me that Koko's the lead here and Hyuuga's going to be the back-up and guitarist for this song. But I felt the words cutting through the heart of the person sitting beside me.
Hyuuga's started to work once again as he went through the riff. I stared at the way he moved his fingers so easily as if I was studying them. Then, too soon, Koko started the next verse.
She's got eyes of the bluest skies
As if they thought of rain
I hate to look into those eyes
And see an ounce of pain
Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place
Where as a child I'd hide
And pray for the thunder and the rain
To quietly pass me by
Oh, sweet child o' mine
Oh, sweet love of mine
Huh, he could still remember her eyes, eh? Crap, as much as I want to help, they just can't be together. Even though he was drumming, it was as if he wasn't singing and drumming at the same time.
Hyuuga repeated the riff again but it was changed in some notes.
Oh, sweet child o' mine
Oh, sweet love of mine
Oh, sweet child o' mine
Oh, sweet love of mine
After Koko's voice faded, Hyuuga backed away from the microphone started the main solo and I gaped at it.
"Whoa," I whispered.
"He's good," Permy commented.
"He knows guitar," Hotaru commented sarcastically.
He was bopping his head to the beat and he was fiercely holding his guitar as if he was having fun with it. After he let the guitar screech for a note before forwarding towards the microphone and sang in a low-baritone with Koko inserting every now and then. The beat slowed down a bit and they let the harmony settle in.
Where do we go
Where do we go now
Where do we go
Where do we go
Where do we go now
Where do we go
Sweet child (Hyuuga)
Where do we go now
Then, they started the fast pace again with Hyuuga doing solos and Koko drumming energetically while singing.
Where do we go
Where do we go now
Where do we go
Where do we go now
Where do we go
Where do we go now
Sweet child
Sweet child o' mine
Koko hit the drums once and Hyuuga slowly played the notes one-by-one until it faded to the finish.
The audience's applause caused the uproar in the hall as the whooping and whistling and screaming never stopped. I also clapped my hands but only in my seat. I gotta admit; they weren't one of the top bands in Japan for nothing.
"Thank ya'll!" Koko said through the mic before running off to his seat with Natsume trailing behind him while his guitar slung behind him in a casual way. He turned to look at me with a smirk while I glared at him hard.
"That was awesome!" I said to Hotaru and Permy who was still in a daze.
Hotaru snorted. "Whatever." Then she crossed her arms. But I could see that she was impressed with their performance.
"Rin?" I asked the girl beside me who was looking at nothing. I shook her and she nervously turned to look at me.
"Did I miss something?" she asked casually but I could see pass her mask.
"Yeah, you did," I said to her. "You missed the part where Yui agreed that you like Koko very much."
To say that she was flabbergasted was an understatement.
"WHAT?" she half-yelled at me. "I refuse to believe such lie!"
"I know," I replied. "Because I'm lying."
She blinked a couple of times before she narrowed her eyes at me and Hotaru who was nonchalantly crossing her arms and inspecting her nails.
"Honey," I started and put a hand on her shoulder. "That song was for you."
She shook her head in disbelief. Yeah, she's a stubborn girl like me.
"You're the only girl he'd ever seriously talk to when we were kids," I reminded her. "He's missing you."
She shook her head sadly again. "You know I can't meet him once again," she murmured. "I can't risk our identity for him."
I nodded in understanding. Hotaru was right—having three lives was a pain.
"Well," I started as I patted her shoulder. "Correct me if I'm wrong but I think if you both could meet each other as Rin Usumiko then it's a cinch, right?"
"Yeah, but it's still dangerous, idiot," Hotaru cut-in swiftly.
I sighed. She's right once again.
Then, a loud clapping could be heard from behind us. A figure of a man could be seen in the shadows.
"The performances were amazing though some need some work," he said in a tenor as he stood upright. He walked out of the shadows and we could see his slightly long, light-blond hair having some graying parts on some parts, his shining brown eyes, and his three-piece, black suit.
He looked at me a fraction of a second and I smiled just in time.
"May I announce something, Serina?" he asked and sensei bowed respectfully.
"In two months time, there will be an interschool competition here in our beloved school between us and our rival, Gakuen Alex," he said. "It would be a Music Showdown. The limit for the performers is two bands and ten solo performances that would represent our school. The other school has the same numbers as well. Tomorrow, we would formally announce the competitors but for now, we have one band in mind."
Others started to whisper about who the band is. Well, duh, it's pretty obvious.
"Another thing is…" he paused as if to make sure if the next thing he says didn't give it away. "There would be a surprise at the end of the competition. So hopefully, everyone would attend the event. Thank you."
Then he left the whooping class after he gave me a lingering glance. I nodded at him just as he exited and I looked at my friends.
"I guess you're going to go there in lunch, huh?" Permy asked me with a knowing stare.
I shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know what it is but I'm guessing it has something to do with the B and M words," I replied.
Hotaru just stared at me with a suspicious look in her eyes. I really hate it when she did that… that just meant she didn't feel right with this.
Well, me, too.
But I looked back at Permy's face and imagined the blue eyes that had once occupied hers.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
I rapped the door three times before a voice called, "enter". I opened the door slowly as I peeked in to see him wearing his glasses while reading the newspaper with a mug of coffee on his desk.
"You wanted to see me?" I asked him with a respectful bow.
He nodded back at me while he kept focused on his paper. "Yes. And it has something to do with this." He threw the paper lightly at me.
I caught it easily and saw what he was talking about.
I snorted. "This is already solved."
He raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know you had a boyfriend…particularly your brother."
I rolled my eyes. "Lemme tell you a little story of my life…"
I then told him about Hyuuga and the other things I didn't want to put here because I'm tired of repeating it over and over again.
He sighed. "I see…"
Just then, someone barged in the room without bothering to knock. Futon strode across the room while he held a paper up.
"Father," he growled through clenched teeth. "What is this all about?"
I became confused and took the paper from him. I read it over and over again not believing it to be true. I looked back at the man who was casually clasping his hands together in front of his mouth with a serious look.
"Uncle," I choked out. "What is this all about?" I repeated Futon's last statement.