A Musician's Tale

Chapter 6: Multilingual

-3rd person pov-

Miya ran to the three women hugging them tightly. “I missed you guys!” Said Miya.

“We missed you too, Miya,” Said Jade stroking her hair. “I think you’ve been wanting to take a look at this?” Ingrid had pulled out a small book. It was Ingrid’s notebook where she had recorded all the unique musicians she had met all over the world.

“Kyaaa!” Squealed Miya as she kissed Ingrid’s cheek. “Thank you, big sis!” Marie called all the kids and they all started running.

“Big sisters!” Everyone went to hug the women one by one. “Hi! Who are you?” Himari had approached Catherine.

“My name is Catherine, and you?” Catherine addressed Himari kindly.

“I’m Himari!” She introduced herself cheerfully.

“Come on, Melodious! You have to meet the big sisters!” Hugo had dragged Melodious out of his hiding spot.

“Oh, okay,” Melodious ran to the others. “Hi, mom, hi, aunt Jade,” Melodious kissed both of their cheeks.

“You are Melodious right?” Asked Marie.

“Yes, ma’am,” Answered Melodious politely

“Sister Jade is your aunt?” Asked Evelina shocked. “Uh, yes?” Answered Melodious.

“Wow, I wish I was related to one of them,” Said Rob cooly.

“Same here!” Shouted Alisa. “And me!” Agreed Melaine. 

“I think anyone would want to be related to them,” Laughed Miya. “You’d have to tell my sister that,” Sighed Jade.

“Ate, meron ba akong pasalubong?” Asked Michael.

“Finally a language I can understand! Of course, I have a present for you!” Jade pulled out her phone.

“I’ve sent it to you now. Now, where’s my kiss?” Michael quickly kissed Jade’s cheek and said a quick thanks.

“What did he say?” Asked Marie. Like Jade didn’t know french, Marie didn’t know Tagalog which was Jade’s native language.

“Ate means big sister, and pasalubong means gift. He asked his big sister if she had a gift for him.” Explained Ingrid who was multilingual and the only one besides Catherine who understood most languages.

“Stiamo tutti parlando nella nostra lingua madre ora?” Asked Rob.

“Huh?” Both Jade and Marie didn’t know how to speak Italian.

“He was asking if we were all speaking in our native languages now.” Translated Catherine.

“Please no.” Said Jade rubbing her temples. 

“Il n'y a pas besoin de cela!” Exclaimed Marie dramatically. 

All the kids looked at her confused since none of them except Skyler and Melodious knew french.

“She said that there was no need for that,” Chuckled Ingrid as all the kids laughed with her.

“これはとても分かりにくいですね。” Sighed Himari.

“Ha! That one I know! She said that this was very confusing!” Shouted Jade as everyone laughed.

“It’s nice to meet you, Miss Catherine, my name’s Roberto but you can call me Rob,” He said formally.

“You can call me sister too if you’d like.” Said Catherine kindly.

“Sister Catherine! Here! My name is Evelina, and I hope you like it!” Eveline came up to Catherine with a flower crown and put it on top of Catherine’s head.

“Wow, thank you very much, Evelina,” Thanked Catherine.

“¡Muy hermoso!” Exclaimed Hugo. “Thank you,” Laughed Catherine.

“And you are?” Catherine asked Hugo.

“¡Me llamo Hugo, hermana Catherine!,” Hugo said bowing.

“What did he say?” Asked Alisa. “He said that Catherine looked beautiful, and introduced himself in Spanish,” Translated Jade.

“Oh, I wish I knew how to speak more than one language,” Said Alisa sadly.

“I can teach you Japanese if you’d like,” Offered Himari.

“We can teach you too! We know french,” Offered Skyler and Melodious together.

“¡Sí! And I can teach you Español!” Offered Hugo.

“Me and my siblings would be happy to teach you Tagalog.” Said Miya happily.

“I want to teach Alisa Italian with my brother too!” Said Evelina excitedly as her brother laughed and agreed.

“Well, it seems that you kids are going to be busy. You can’t learn a language in one night so you guys should start now.” Said Catherine.

“Okay!” Said Alisa happily.

The four women headed farther into the garden to the fountain of Bella Notte.

“It’s been a while since I’ve last been here. I guess even the children know about the incident?” Said Catherine looking away.

Marie, Ingrid, and Jade exchanged looks. “You know they loved you a lot. You and your family.” Said Ingrid.

“How did you know they knew?” Asked Marie putting a hand on Catherine’s shoulder.

“It was the way they were looking at Melodious… I can't believe even children who weren't born yet know the story…. And Miya… she was still young at that time and she loved Jasper…” Said Catherine sitting on the fountain.

“Right… Your life became a cautionary tale after Cannon died… ” Said Jade with a small chuckle.

“Never mind that. About that boy Kai, who told your boys about Bella Notte… Did he ever go back to their school?” Asked Jade.

“No, he didn’t. But the boys told me that he was going to Bella Notte.” Catherine told them while biting her thumbnail.

“You really should stop that,” Jade said taking Catherine’s hand away from her mouth.

“Who do you think I got this from?” Said Catherine looking at Jade.

“Who decided to copy me? Copy cat,” Said Jade laughing lightly.

“Kai… Do none of you find that name familiar?” Asked Marie pondering.

“It does sound a little familiar…” Said Ingrid. Jade looked back through the glass doors of the mansion.

“Guys… Was there really that many people in the ballroom when we left?” Jade asked, sensing something off.

“I don’t think so.” Said Ingrid squinting trying to get a good look. “Definitely not.” Marie said gathering her skirt to go warn the children.

Suddenly the glass windows broke and a high pitched note rang in their ears.

“Ah!” Marie was blown away by the sound and was knocked into a nearby tree.

“Marie!” Shouted Ingrid. “That’s definitely the sound of a trumpet! Ugh, come on, Catherine!” Jade pulled Catherine to a secret place in the middle of the garden maze as Marie followed suit after telling the children to hide. 

“It’s time for plan B.” Jade said removing her dress to reveal a red one underneath. Ingrid and Marie did the same. Now all three were wearing the same red dress as Catherine.

“Catherine, you didn’t forget to bring the wig did you?” She asked wearing the same wig. Catherine nodded her head and grabbed her wig from the secret compartment in her dress.