The Men In Blue (TTM#2, boyxboy)

Chapter 7 - Be Alright

[Photo: Leonard Caro. Video: Bohemian Rhapsody - Panic! At The Disco)

(Sonata No.1 Allegro Mov.2, G.H. Handel)

I had my head in my hands, my fingers in a desperate attempt to massage my scalp even for just a little bit. I had already rented this practice room out for the whole night until five in the morning, so that's how long I have to practice. 

I'm singing each note of the piece I've been given to play, my eyes scanning through the triplets and the sixteenth notes, trying to get the rhythm engraved in my head so that I won't have as many problems once I pick my violin up. The piece is fast, that is agreed, but I literally have no idea if I'm able to play it or not. My fingers haven't adapted to the rapid shifting that the music sheet demands, not to mention the bowing that I have to do. 

Maybe I'm just procrastinating, I maybe even have the rhythm taken care of, I'm just too scared to grab my violin and give the piece a try. The thing is, I don't have an alternative piece, if I fail to play for my professor at ten in the morning, I fail the subject. 

Instrument Proficiency is one of the most challenging classes I've ever had, that already includes Music History. The professor barely shows up at classes, but the students go to the assigned rooms just in case he decides to go in that day. He doesn't teach us anything and says that we could use his class time to practice for tests, tests where he will assign a piece to you to play and learn within the course of a week, if you fail to show up on time or refuse to play for him, you immediately fail his unit, his subject. Hell, even if you do show up and play for him, the possibility of you failing his subject still exists, he'll still have the guts to give you a failing grade if your performance does not meet his expectations. 

I hear a knock on the door, which makes me lean back with a sigh, reaching to grab my phone and check the time. 

2:47AM. 

"Fucking shit." I curse, running my hands through my hair. My eyes are already heavy, but I haven't tried playing the piece yet even once. 

Leo comes to view, peeking half of his body inside. "You doing okay?" 

I send him a tired smile. "I haven't picked my violin up, not once." 

He shakes his head, allowing himself in as he closes the door behind him. "I've just woken up from sleep, noticing that you still weren't there. Yes, I drove all the way here to see how you're doing." He smiles, placing a paper bag on the top of the grand piano that the practice rooms have. On top of the grand piano was also the music sheet I was studying. "I brought you food in hopes that it'll cheer you up." 

"Appreciate it." I sigh, reaching for the bag. Inside it was a burger from our favorite little family-run burger place down the street, a couple blocks away from our apartment. I started munching on the fries that came with it. He takes a seat across from me, by the other end of the grand piano as the keys were towards me. 

"What're you stressing about?" He asks,  pulling my music sheet closer to him with his fingers. Taking a closer look, he starts bobbing his head with the tempo of the piece. "Allegretto from Sonata No.1, ironically it's fairly easy to play on the piano." 

"Isn't piano generally an easier instrument compared to the violin?" I retort. 

"Okay," He huffs. "I didn't come all the way here just to get the attitude from you. But anyway, you're totally right. They say that the violin takes almost ten to eleven years of practice to be able to be considered "good", and on the other hand, you can find piano tutorials on the internet. So, yes, the piano is generally an easier instrument to play compared to the violin, but that doesn't make it any less worth learning."