September 5th

Chapter 2

With all my determination, I waited for the next day to catch the mysterious pianist red-handed. After class, I waited for him near the music room, leaning against the wall. Students were pouring out of the classroom, glancing cautiously at me, the notorious school bully. But I had absolutely nothing to do with them. I waited until the music room was clear, hoping that the one person who had been playing beautiful melodies for three days in a row would stay behind.

Looking through the open door, there was only one student in the room – Xiao Ming, who just happened to be the last person I expected to see. The class representative was collecting his school bag and without bothering to turn his head, he said, "Looks like it's your turn to mop the floor now."

"Looks like it's none of your business," I replied, frowning because I didn't like his tone. Damn it, we almost never exchanged words, when did he start holding a grudge against me!?

"I'm going to close the room," Xiao Ming snapped. "Do you want to stay for the night?"

I looked around the classroom and leaned against the door frame, convinced with disappointment that apart from this nasty snob here, there really was no one inside. The piano stood silently against the wall, as if determined not to spread enchanting music around school today.

"So what, no one intends to disturb my eardrums today?" I asked casually, trying not to reveal my true intention.

"What are you talking about?" Xiao Ming asked indifferently, not eager to continue the meaningless chat.

"The past few days, someone has been desperately trying to prevent me from serving my punishment in peace," I replied reluctantly, hoping that my nonchalant look would not reveal the curiosity lurking beneath. "That's why I come here to see who it is, the kid who's been disturbing me from my holy duty by strumming on the piano."

Xiao Ming winced, and one might think that he saw some kind of hairy spider or a fat cockroach under his foot; or ate something sour.

"You can't strum on the piano, it's not a guitar. You play it," he said, as if trying to explain the simplest of truth. "I don't know what you're talking about. No one comes here after class, especially in the last few days since we all went to the competition."

Xiao Ming pushed me out of the classroom, intending to lock the door. I awkwardly stepped aside, wondering what purpose he had for lying to me, if that was his intention. It was clear that he didn't want to hang out with a problem student whom he had already had a beef with. Moreover, his very calm reply sounded unnerving. It didn't look like he was lying, it was more like as if he had prepared it in advance. But it couldn't possibly be some kind of auditory hallucinations that I was hearing all this time... could it?

"Why did you set your mother on me?" I asked instead, changing the subject now that I was sure I had failed to get the answer I needed.

"It was a misunderstanding," Xiao Ming shrugged, intending to walk past me.

I stopped him. "Why are you avoiding me? If there was a misunderstanding, wasn't it necessary to resolve it in the first place!? Why on earth did I have to listen to all those nasty things your mommy said?"

Xiao Ming just looked at me indifferently, as if I had been mere dust on his shoulder. His attitude pissed me off greatly. He made me feel like a poor slave kneeling next to a shiny prince; a scum of the society, regardless the fact that I was also a half prince. But who cared when the other half of me prevailed over the fact?

"Are you expecting an apology from me?"

I crossed my arms over my chest, showing with all my might that it was worth starting at least with an apology. However, I had known Xiao Ming was not going to do this. It was beneath his dignity. A wry grin appeared on his face, and then he turned around and walked away, not saying a word.