Our Symphonies | satosere

10 ;

「 ten 」

"he'll mess up"

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The next two weeks had gone in a flying blur of Ash's afterschool practices which in turn had my ruined my neatly penciled-out schedule; by that I mean – turning in late for assignment submissions and catching sleep at odd hours.

It sucked. And I know I could've done better, but my unstable mental health had turned me a deaf ear - not willing to cooperate. It just became a lifestyle, and I grew used to everything.

"I still think that Ash'll manage things by himself - we shouldn't be going." I calmly suggested the brunette walking beside me, eyes narrow.

"Serena, he's a catastrophe on two feet," She imitated my whispery voice, "I know he needs to be left alone right now - but judging by his track-record, I can bet that he'll mess up due to stagefright."

My lips formed in a hesitant smile at her know-all face, as though she was proud for being aware of his antics, likes and dislikes - proud of how close she and Ash were.

And I wasn't grinding teeth with envy here, hell, we had barely interacted within this rehearsals timespan. He was more into honing his musical techniques, and not creating heartfelt friendships in the meanwhile.

True that our bond had developed at the end of the day, but it was needless to say that we still weren't that close. In fact, I think he used to press the wrong key whenever I was watching him perform at oftentimes -- as though my gaze was weighing heavy over his actions.

And since it was me who had convinced him to take part in the competition, it would've seemed rude to mind this indifferent behavior. What did I get myself into?

"What was he like - during childhood?" I randomly asked upon coming to the conclusion that the walk through the hallway is way longer than I had expected; and a chat could perhaps help in passing time.

There were little specks of light in May's eyes when she realized I was talking about Ash; and with a dignified smile, she started, "Just as he's now - reserved, clumsy, but responsible. I don't think he ever changed, and maybe, he never will."

I rose an eyebrow, still walking beside her and watching as formally dolled-up contestants brushed past us. "So does that mean he was just as musically gifted back then as he's now?"

"Yes - but actually no," She giggled at her own joke, then shook her head. "He was never gifted with that talent. It wasn't like he started playing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata a second after taking birth."

I felt somewhat provoked at her punny voice; regardless, I kept questioning, "Not just music but - was his personality the same too?"

"That might be true - But perhaps the only trait that I think majorly changed in him was -" She briefly sighed, eyes falling on to the spotless floor. "His innocence. He lost it at a young age from -- some unimaginable disasters."

I winced at the crack in her voice when she said 'disasters'. My inquisitiveness was now three times more itchy.

"Disaster? What type of -"

I was cut short by a shove on the shoulder. Whilst hissing in pain, I composed myself and looked upwards to discover who swine of a person had I bumped into.

Yes, swine. That too a female one.

My eyes met with a pair of red salsa ones, and they were definitely not welcoming - scowling, rather. The on-point winged eyeliner, plucked eyebrows, the Flowerbomb cologne, and the front-slit mermaid gown [that coordinated with her eye color] were prominent examples of her upper-class background.

I almost shrunk to the size of a seashell in my plain boxy top and striped culottes, belitting myself under her dominating aura.

"Can you at least watch where you're going, Ms Locomotive?" The fierce bluette growled in her French-ish accent, adding an extra 'h' after vowels; something that I found laughable but at the same time felt quite envious of.

I would've gained that Frenchie twang too if it wasn't for my parents issues, if they wouldn't have abandoned me and my sis at such brittle age. If Vaniville town was still my home sweet home.

Fixing her dress as though I had put an unwashable stain on it, she then shot me a straight-up dirty look.

I frowned, "You were way more hasty than I was. Be more careful."

Her brows dramatically rose as she readied a perhaps sassy answer for me, and when I thought she had computed enough, her eyes landed on May by my side - who, all this time, was just wordlessly taking in the scene.

But when I looked more cautiously into her eyes, I was punched with the realization that she was, instead, scanning the bluehead stranger. And the more noteworthy thing was that she appeared totally aghast, as if - she already knew her.

The brunette swallowed, ignoring the puzzled look on my face and gritting her teeth at the superlative girl standing in front.

She shook her head. "Miette Musette - what're you doing here?"

Her name legit explained what all the snobbishness was about. Plus, judging from the sullen look May was giving this rat-of-a-woman, I guessed that if they knew each other from before - they were definitely not on good terms.

The Miette chic scoffed and pursued to shoot self-centered looks at me and then May.

"Fancy seeing you here, my old friend," She quoted the last word with distaste. "Not gonna lie, I really wouldn't have thought that I'll meet you again. Especially after the unfortunate situation we had gotten into and –"

"And we don't have enough time to spend on a filthy let-down like you," May boldly interrupted, snapping her fingers. "Get outta the way."

Miette scoffed again, this time with more ego.

"In a hurry as always, I see. Have you taken participation in this event or," She turned to look at me, considering; and a chill ran down my spine. "She has?"

"You've got no business regarding that," May retorted and then pointed her index finger at the latter - like a warning. "So please, Stay away from us."

With that, May took hold of my wrist and rolled her eyes to the ceiling, meanwhile Miette gathered the material of her gown and walked past us, as if we disappeared into thin air.

With the crowd making way for her, the bluehead was soon out of sights.

After a pause of a minute or so, I couldn't help but tap the brunette beside me on the shoulder and ask,

"What was all that about? And - what is she to you?" with furrowed eyebrows.

May let out a sigh, her frustration still visible.

"A friend - but I doubt that's true anymore. She ain't even related to me in the first place." She distastefully shook her head.

I frowned. "Then -"

"She and Ash were," She sighed for the nth time, clenching her jaw and drilling holes with her eyes on the floor between her feet. "Miette is Ash's ex-girlfriend."