SOUL DORM

45

Tomorrow is closed...

***

CHAPTER 45:

LA LA LA LA

Despite the late hour, the path from the greenhouse to the Dorm was filled with souls. They were celebrating the arrival of the weekend, of course. I, too, had wanted to celebrate the same weekend quietly in my garden, with my flowers. Instead, I was walking silently between two guards, like a prisoner on her way to execution. To my right was Tarben, to my left Mars... The tension in the air was like a block of ice. With each step I took, it creaked, burned my skin a little more, but never shattered.

Although I occasionally felt Tarben glancing at me from the side, my eyes were fixed ahead. Oh, if only I could get Ursa's words out of my mind, maybe everything would return to normal. But... it wasn't happening. The more normal Tarben was, the more abnormal I felt. I was overly conscious of his every move, misinterpreting the most normal words, gestures, touches. Damn it!

And did Mars's presence make this situation any easier? Of course not. His words were etched in my mind with the same irritating certainty as Ursa's advice. Love, relationships, boys, loneliness, purgatory, life... I didn't want to think about any of these. I just wanted to live my life, pass my classes, take my exams, and get out of here as soon as possible. Unfortunately, none of that seemed likely to happen anytime soon.

At least we had reached the Dorm. I hoped that seeing Blue would put an end to this ridiculous tension. Although Mars's popularity threatened to slow us down several times, he didn't waste time talking to anyone. As always, he didn't let anything come between him and his music. For a moment, I wondered what he would be like if he applied this seriousness and dedication to the rest of his life. Realizing I liked the idea, I quickly pushed it out of my mind. After all, it wasn't real and never could be.

Trouble was the first to enter the studio, heading straight for Luck, who was dozing on the couch. Mars followed immediately behind, with me trailing him, and Tarben a step behind me. While Luck seemed annoyed by our - especially Trouble's - presence, Blue was equally delighted. She jumped up from the sheets scattered on the floor and shouted excitedly, "Olive!" Then her gaze rose above my head, her smile faltered, and her eyes widened. "Tarben?"

"Surprise!" Mars said in his most obnoxious voice. "When you take one, they give you the other too."

The only reason I didn't kick him from behind was that I was a well-mannered, sensible girl who knew social etiquette. Judging by the look on Tarben's face, he was having similar violent thoughts.

Trying to cover up Mars's rudeness, Blue said, "Oh, that's great! The more help, the better. Come on, sit down. We even have some strawberry milk here if you want."

Tarben and I both skipped the milk and settled down on the floor next to Blue. Instead of joining us, Mars sat at the piano. He shuffled through the papers on it. After selecting one and placing it in front of him, his fingers glided over the keys. I expected him to say something, give us a task, or annoy us with his silly jokes. None of that happened. The usual mocking expression was gone from his face. And when he started playing the piano... I think he even forgot we existed.

Accepting that Mars was good at anything was the last thing I wanted to do. Yet now, I couldn't take my eyes off him. It was as if he was created for music or music for him. The notes stripped away his facade, revealing the true soul within him. That soul was calm, free, and... real. More real than Mars would ever show to the outside world.

After a while, his eyes closed, and his fingers continued to play. It was a melancholic melody. I hadn't heard the words yet, but the reproach, anger, and rebellion within could be captured in the notes. Towards the end, that fury escalated. Mars pressed the keys more forcefully. He swayed back and forth, keeping rhythm with his body. I found myself nodding along with him, unconsciously. Then...