It had been a long time since I had picked up the violin.
After returning home and entering the room exhausted, I saw the maid cleaning the room and placing my violin bag on the bed. I took the opportunity to pick it up, dust it off and play a little. I chose "Canon in D", since, to be honest, it is the only piece of music I play well; all the others I have to read the sheet music. As soon as I picked up the violin, I was taken by the melody I knew how to play best, even though the feeling was not the happiest.
They say that music conveys the emotions of the one who plays it. I really don't know what kind of sound came out when I started playing. However, after playing for a while, I ended up stopping in the middle of the piece. I noticed that Janephop
had been behind me for some time, watching. Then, he commented, with that familiarity of someone who knows me better than anyone:
"It sounds so sad."
"What do you mean? How can it sound sad?"
"That's what I felt. I'm not good at music, but I could hear the sadness. Was it a bad day for you?"
"Well... I guess so, more or less."
"Miss Arun didn't like the gift you gave her?"
"Then you already know. Can I hide anything from you?"
Although I hadn't told anyone, not even Janephop, about the plan to give Arun an apartment, I wanted it to be a surprise that only I knew in this world. But of course, he knew everything, even without me telling him.
"Yeah, she didn't like it."
"It was probably too expensive. You need to understand her side."
"I understand."
I put the violin on the bed and looked at my friend, who knew me better than anyone, wanting to hear his opinion.
"Jan, can I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"Besides my father's money, what good do I have?"
My question made Janephop frown. He looked away, as if pondering something, looking angrier than I expected.
"Did Arun say something like that to you?"
"I just asked you a question, so answer me."
"You're sad about it, aren't you?"
"Oh, don't be silly."
I got up from the bed and cupped his face with both hands, squeezing it lightly.
"It was just a question that made me think. I really realized that if I didn't have my father's money, if I wasn't rich, I wouldn't have anything good, Jan."
"Where is the confident Miss In I know? You always made a point of saying 'because I'm smart and pretty' at the end of anything you did. How can you let someone undermine your confidence like that?"
"You didn't answer my question."
"Miss In, you're someone who does everything with seriousness and determination. That's a trait few in the world possess."
Janephop squeezed my shoulders firmly, conveying his support.
"You're a race car driver, you can beat your opponents on the track. Even if you lose sometimes, you usually come out on top."
"Hmm... I think I'm starting to see my qualities. But if my father wasn't rich, I wouldn't have a good car, nor could I compete."
"You play the violin very well and beautifully."
