The Pianist [DoHwan/HwanYoungz]

December, Monday 4

It's cold.

The heater is on, but outside the house, is freezing. I know, since from my window I can see how my neighbor's backyard is sleeping under that white blanket. The fountain's water is frozen. Bushes, trees, the greyish stone benches and white marble statues are all covered in snow. So is the forgotten piano placed on the terrace. But unlike everything else, when spring comes, the piano won't wake up.

At my neighbor's there's no one who plays the piano anymore.

To be honest, no body lives there anymore.

It has been like that for these past eight months.

When Mrs. Kim found us that afternoon, her first take was to yell at me, completely out of herself, and even when I tried to explain myself, trying to tell her what just had happened, she just kicked me out of the house. I can't blame her.

I just stayed outside, on the street, looking at how the paramedics arrived, and rushed inside, straight to his bedroom.

That night I couldn't sleep.

The next day, I couldn't go to school. That afternoon, Mrs. Kim came to my house, saying she was sorry, for reacting as she did. As she cried, she said she actually didn't blame me for anything, and on the other hand, she was actually happy that I had fulfilled his son's last wish.

"This house had never sound so alive before you came." She said one last time, and soon added. "So I want you to have this."

She offered me the music sheets. I said I couldn't take them, but she insisted.

I've been practicing, quite a bit less than I would like to. Much less than I'm willing to admit. But I try. I think Kim Doyoung would be proud of me at the fact that at least I'm trying.

If there's something I regret, is not asking him to record the rest of his interpretations. The only memory I got of them all, is the names that are written in the music sheets, and my memories.

That, and the recording from my birthday. Dearly Beloved.

I'm still years away of being able to gift him my own rendition of any piece (plus my mom didn't want to buy me my own piano, as she expects I'll get tired of this new hobby in six months or less), so the best thing I can offer him with my current level and resources, is to unlock my phone and look for that recording I ended up editing last afternoon.

My piano teacher records my lessons. She says listening to them will help me train my hearing, and it would be good for me to pinpoint my own mistakes and fix them. So what I've done is take those parts where I've sound the best, and paste them all together in an audio editor, in order to get the best version of my seven-months practice career.

"You know?" I say to no one, as I stand in front of my window. "My piano teacher told me something the other day. 'To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable.'"

I can't help but smile. I'm pretty sure he has heard this quote before. After all, it's Beethoven. I hope those words, pronounced two hundred years ago, resonate with him tonight.

I slightly open my window. The cold immediately pushes in, but tonight, I don't mind. It will just be for five minutes. It's the least I can do for him, who can no longer feel cold, nor hot.

I place my phone in the window ledge, volume to the top, and press play. I know my interpretation of Für Elise won't reach the forgotten piano, which is slowly rotting from being exposed outdoors for eight months and counting, but it's the least I can do.

"Happy birthday, Dobby." Is all I can whisper, hoping Für Elise will reach Kim Doyoung, no matter where he is.

~The End~

So this is it. I hope you liked it. Altho I never said it would be an angst (?, I hope you still have a warm feeling in your heart for the way their relationship developed.

Next story won't be a HwanYoungz, but I can asure you it will have a less bittersweet ending (?

With this said, Happy birthday Doyoung! I love you, Teume loves you, Hwanie-chan loves you, and Treasure loves you.

Hoping to see you guys around, happy holidays in advance.

Xoxo, Ribo~