Chapter 66
Leifang's fingers flew over the keys as she played the upbeat fourth movement of Samuel Barber's piano sonata. The professor favored practical over theoretical classes, so every student was encouraged to have a little 'project' that they would play in turns after the theory was done, something that made him very popular with everyone in the class, and she had chosen to play this over the last few weeks to test her skills until the term ended, which was in a few days.
She was making good progress, barely needing to look at the music sheet anymore.
"Miss Gāo, would you be so kind and come to my office later today?" the Chinese looked up from the piano to Prof. Neuhaus. The man looked at her with a neutral expression on his face and she knew that it was about that something he wanted to talk to her about.
"Yes, of course Professor." she said.
"Good, please continue then."
She did so until it was time for their break. Grabbing her handbag she headed out of the room and made her way to the cafeteria. Halfway there she came across Hitomi, who walked in front of her and didn't seem to notice her.
The Chinese bit her lower lip and tip-toed her way up until she was behind her, careful not to let her heels touch the floor. Hitomi was just about to take another step when she felt a pair of arms circling her waist and a familiar voice breathing in her ear. "There you are, love. I was looking all over for you."
"Liar, you just came up behind me." Hitomi grinned. "I could hear your steps a mile away."
Leifang let go of her and the German turned around to grin at her. She tapped her index-finger against her left ear. "Can't trick these. I know your steps in and out. And you're always wearing heels."
"So I guess I should stop wearing them if I want to surprise you?" the older girl said teasingly.
"Good luck with that, don't you have like only one pair of flat shoes?" Hitomi chuckled and continued to walk side by side with her, placing an arm around her shoulder.
"Not true, I have a few flat." she poked the German in the side playfully, causing her to let out a small yelp in surprise. "Shows what you know about my wardrobe."
"Hey!" Hitomi hand flew to her side.
Leifang let out a girlish giggle and pressed a kiss on Hitomi's cheek. They walked together in comfortable silence until arrived to the cafeteria and, after getting their food, sat down at an empty table.
"So how was your day so far?" Leifang asked.
"Pretty good. Woke up next to my beautiful girlfriend, who's awesome by the way."
"Is that so?"
"Oh yeah, it is. Then I got to take a nice shower with her and the studies were pretty good too." Hitomi took a bite of her food, chewed it slowly, then nodded. "And the food's good as well."
She placed her elbow on the table and propped her chin on her left hand. "How was yours?"
"Well not counting the girlfriend thing, for obvious reasons, it's been going pretty good." she poked her food with the fork. "Prof. Neuhaus wants to talk to me later."
"Any idea what it could be?"
The Chinese shook her head and finally took a bite. "No idea. But I guess I'll see later."
"Oooh, maybe he knows someone famous and wants introduce them to you. This could be your first step as a famous composer. And before you'll know it you're composing the next big Disney movie."
"Yeah I'm sure you would just love that." Leifang shook her head. "I don't think so."
"Then he's probably gonna tell you that you're his best student."
Leifang chuckled. "More realistic, but I don't think that's it either."
"Then I give up." Hitomi said with a sigh and resumed eating.
"How long are you going to be here?" Leifang aked.
"Actually I wanted to go home right after this. Is it a problem if I don't wait up for you?"
"Of course not. I'm just going to read a little in the library and have that talk, shouldn't be longer than an hour."
After eating their lunch together they spent the rest of lunch with each other, chatting away until it was over. The couple parted ways, Hitomi heading for the exit while Leifang headed for the library like she said she'd do.
They really didn't have to be here, since all the exams had already been handed, but since some of the professors were still around for the rest of the time, to offer some additional lessons, a lot of students made us of the chance to review some things before the campus was closed until September, Hitomi and Leifang amongst them.
She had to chuckle as she thought of how Viktor had sworn off to even think of setting another step on the campus after handing in his last exam. He sure can be a drama queen sometimes, but I guess that makes him who he is.
As she walked she found that she was too curious about what the professor wanted to talk about, so she turned on her heel and instead headed in the direction of his office. She stopped in front of the wooden door, her eyes on the small golden shield that had his name engraved in it.
Lifting her hand she knocked on the door and waited until she was called in before opening the door.
"Ah, come in come in." he said when he spotted her and pointed at the chair in front of his desk. "Have a seat."
Leifang accepted the offer and sat down. "You wanted to talk to me?"
"Yes yes. I'm sure you have already heard about the open house day the university is holding?"
"Of course," she thought for a moment. "At the end of September, right?"
"Yes." He nodded. "You see I was planning on having some of my students perform on that day, and many have already agreed, but who I want the most to play is you, my dear."
"Me?"
"Yes, you. Of all my students you're the most talented with the piano and I was hoping that you would play this on that day." he placed a music sheet on the table for Leifang to examine.
Her eyes skimmed over the notes until she came across the title. "The Hungarian Rhapsody No.2, by Franz Liszt. That's...a very difficult piece."
"That is true, but I'm also very confident that you can master it. Of course we would spend the whole of September practicing for the event so it's not like I'm asking you to play it right off the bat." he told her. "Of course, I'm not forcing you, so if you don't want to participate..."
"It would be an honor, it's just that I'm not entirely sure. Could you give me some time to consider it?" she asked.
"That's understandable, and of course. Would tomorrow be appropriate?"
"Yes, thank you." Leifang got up from the chair and wanted to hand over the music sheet, but stopped and stared at it for a moment before making up her mind. "Could I take this with me until tomorrow?"
"Sure, go ahead. And have a good day."
"You too." Leifang left the office and walked through the halls towards the library, her gaze not leaving the sheet the entire time. When she finally arrived at her destination she just stood there, lost in deep thought.
After a while she nodded to herself and exited the library to go home instead.
Back home she unlocked the door, stepped in and placed her keys in the small bowl they had placed on the shoe cabinet, then took off her shoes and entered the living room. "I'm home."
Hitomi was standing on the right side, facing the wall on which she had hung a small painting and was trying, and failing, to adjust it. She turned her head towards Leifang, then checked the clock. "Hey. I thought you would be gone for a little longer."
"Yeah, I changed my mind." she said and walked over to Hitomi. Tilting her head she looked at it. It was a beautiful landscape painting of Freiburg as seen from the Castle Hill tower. "It's a little sideways, isn't it?"
Hitomi rubbed her chin. "I've been trying to adjust it for a while now."
Giving it a quick once over Leifang placed one index finger on the lower right corner and the other one on the upper left. With one movement she had it adjusted, causing Hitomi to look at her in disbelief and mutter something under her breath.
"Where did you find it?" Leifang inquired.
"I saw it the other day. It reminded me of our first date and I thought it would look really good on the wall."
"I really like it." How could she not? It was their special place. She patted Hitomi on the arm. "I need to use your computer, is that alright?"
"You know you don't need to ask." Hitomi smiled. "Go ahead. I'm gonna go out to buy some groceries."
"Thanks." Leifang headed into the bedroom and sat down at Hitomi's desktop, switched on the PC and started surfing the web, looking up video after video of people playing the rhapsody. She moved her right hand as if she was playing the keys in the air, trying to get a feel for the melody and the movements of the pianists on the screen, while she held the music sheet in her left.
All of a sudden a pair of arms gently circled around her and the familiar weight of her girlfriend's head placed itself on her right shoulder.
"I'm back." she whispered in her ear.
"Already?" Leifang asked confused.
"I was away for two hours, silly!" Leifang's eyes darted to the PC's clock and it was true, two hours had passed. She must have been so absorbed that she didn't notice the time fly by. Wow
"Whatcha doing?" Hitomi asked and took hold of the music sheet, careful not to wrinkle it. "Hungarian Rhapsody No.2. A little project of yours?"
"Something like that." Leifang said with a sigh under her breath. "The professor asked me if I would play this on the open house day."
"Hmm..." she looked at it for a little longer before finally handing it back to her girlfriend. "I think you should do it. You have the talent."
"I don't know. There will be a lot of people."
"So? You can handle it. You fought in a tournament that had people all around the world watch you, this will be a piece of cake. Just another challenge. Besides," she planted a kiss on her cheek. "I'll be there too, to be your lucky charm."
"You promise?"
"I promise. Wouldn't miss this for anything in the world."
Leifang turned a little and smiled. "How can I refuse then?"
"Simple, you don't." Hitomi said and let go off her. "So how about you put that sheet away and we go on a little walk? Then, when we return, I'm going to work on dinner and while we're eating we watch a movie or two, then go to bed and cuddle until we fall asleep."
"Only cuddle?" Leifang grinned playfully.
"Well maybe a little more."
Leifang placed the sheet on the desktop and shut down the computer before getting up and stretching. "That sounds wonderful."
The couple left the apartment and enjoyed the nice weather, walking hand in hand all the time.
On the next day Leifang walked purposefully towards the professor's office, knocking on his door and entering after being called in.
"Good morning." Prof. Neuhaus said, his eyebrows raised in surprise. "I didn't expect you this early, I was just about to go to class. So did you come to a decision?"
"Yes." Leifang nodded and handed him the music sheet with a smile. "I'm going to do it."
"That's fantastic!" he exclaimed. "Might I ask what made you come to this decision?"
"My girlfriend persuaded me and, well, it's a nice challenge for my skills."
"I see. Well then, I better get going. If you wish to join in feel free to do so while you still can, I won't be here tomorrow. The wife's been very insistent that we start our vacation sooner." he chuckled.
"I think I'll pass for today, I actually wanted to get some reading done yesterday, but changed plans at the last minute." they both left the office and the professor locked the door.
"Very well, then I'll wish you a nice vacation. See you next semester"
"Thank you, I wish you the same."
"Oh I will." he chuckled. "Good day."
With that said the older man walked down the hall. Leifang looked into the direction he walked for a few moments before turning and walking the other way.
And it's vacation time! I wonder what it'll have in store for our duo?
Let's find out, shall we?
See you next week.