Next-Door Song

To The Duo of the Ages

Some lovely day it is, when Mandy meets Gio. They are shy towards each other, yes, for the first time it is. Gio is a rather energetic boy with massive love towards pop culture. Whereas Mandy is a shy reserved girl who is really good at playing music.

The circumstances couldn't be better for the two to have met. They lived next to each other, and one day, Gio wanted to go outside to play soccer when he heard classical piano sounds.

He thought at first to be a broken music record. But as he observed the origin of the sound, it was real. It was from a grand piano.

He immediately in love with it. He saw a girl about his age, playing it so peacefully. With no regards of being shy as it is. It was calm.

After she finished her music, the boy said, "hey! You're so cool!" He smiled. She was shy enough to put her hands between her face and ran away.

For about two months, these two little kindergarteners more or less did meet in a way or two. It took about that time for Gio to know her name. It was Amanda.

"Hahahaha! Amanda is a bit long though. How about I call you Mandy instead?"

He smiled. She nodded and said, "Y-yeah, nice to meet you."

There began a friendship like no other. Those two were often go home from school together and sometimes their friends cheered on them. Though Gio doesn't know what the meaning of it.

Time flies by, friendship grows as many more friends they have, made them felt estranged towards each other. Gio really loved movies and playing soccer, whereas Amanda is a shy girl with preserved mentality.

Nobody knows that this two polar opposites is best friends with each other.

Amanda became more open when Gio was around. She felt more relaxed, much more different than when she was a little kid. Gio made her heart bliss. She often smiled when they chat with each other.

Now they are highschoolers, and Gio and Amanda still goes home together. They often spoke about many things, about sports, about pop culture, and most importantly, about the music genre.

"Hey Mandy, I always wanted to tell you about.."
"Y-y-yeah?"
"Hmmm.. since we've been friends for so long.."
"Yeah?"
"Maybe we should.."
"Hmm??" She smiled.
"Play music together."
"That sounds wonderful." Although not the kind of idea she wanted to hear at the first place, it still felt great.

She still smiled.

And then they began practicing to play together. Gio, being an energetic kid, told all his friends that they will play together. His friends sound surprised, as if they don't know they were friends in the first place.

"Yo, Gio are you sure? She's way above your league man!"
"Hahahahaha!" Gio just laughed it off.

Back at home, Amanda was subjected to having more practices individually. Her strict mother wanted her to be recognized worldwide as a musical prodigy.

"Amanda!"
"Don't go when you're still practicing!"

But still, she managed to find some time to practice together with Gio, to play music. Gio said that they both had to sing together. She felt embarassed by it but he thinks that the music is better to be sang by a duo.

He never thought her sound is so amazing.

"What?! Mandy! You should be a singer! Damn!" He laughed, she laughed. That evening was a lot to be called the best evening out there.

As they practiced silently, more time than so, Amanda had to left early. She has to practice individually for a classical piano competition. She was taught by another musical prodigy, Edwin.

See, Edwin thought that Amanda is far more better than he is. And that's why he always encouraged her, even when the expectation is too high.

It encourages her. She felt something of a dillema. Edwin is amazing in her mind. She resent the idea of leaving Gio to do private lessons, but when she was taught by Edwin, the moments are redeemed.

As time goes by, they rarely see each other, Gio and Amanda. Gio suddenly felt bored. He wanted to listen to a song that they will play together.

He wanted to listen to it all over again. Until he founds her. But still, not yet.

Their days at school were rather reserved, as they solemn meet.