Rhythmic Hearts

♫ so

"What are you doing here?" I sternly asked this man standing infront of me.

"I'm here to pay a visit to my daughter."

"From what I remember, you don't have any daughter." I was about to close the door when he said something that made me stop.

"We're sorry, Suzu. For all of what we've done, for leaving you all alone, we're sorry. Your Mom isn't here anymore, but I'm sure she's happy up there to see you in a good condition."

My brows slowly furrowed. "W-What do you mean she isn't here anymore?!"

He took a deep breath. "Last week, she passed away because of cardiac arrhythmia. I've been trying to call you on the telephone, but you wouldn't answer. I'm sorry, Suzu, I—"

"Dad!" I cried, and hugged him. "Why?! You should've come back, the both of you! The telephone line was cut, for an unknown reason, and—and I.." I trailed off on my tears.

"I'm so sorry. I really am. I despise myself for being such a bad father to you. I regret calling you not my daughter, I regret every single thing that I've said to you, I regret everything! I hope you forgive me.." I could feel Dad's tears dropping on my forehead. We continued to hug each other, as we let tears roll down our faces.

I missed my parents. I missed them!

"Where were the both of you?! Where were the both of you when you left me.." I sobbed.

"I was with your Mom, taking care of her. Fortunately, after the misunderstanding we had, we got back to each other the day after, but unfortunately, she had a heart attack, and then she was admitted in the hospital for so many days."

"I-In those times when Mom was in the hospital, I.. I should have been there too! I should have told her that I love her before she passed away! Dad, I want to see Mom!" I continued to cry, although it was already hard for me to breath, I continued to speak.

"Dad, who will play the piano with you?! Who will be with you when you watch me play the violin on stage?! The both of you promised me.. that you will watch me.. perform the violin on stage! Please... please, I want to go back to the past.. I want to g-go back, so that I w-would be able to take care of her.. I would hug her to ease the pain away a-and tell her that I love her everyday!" Tears continuously fell down from my eyes, there's no stopping them.

"Let me go back.." I pleaded. I want to see Mom!

"Y-You can't..." Dad said as he patted my back.

"But, Mom.. Mom! Mom..." I whispered as Dad tried to calm me.

Mom, could you please come back?

"You've been through alot, and i-it's all my fault. I—I hope you forgive me and your Mom.. her last words, she t-told me that she loves you. And she told me that even though she won't be there at your performance, she'll watch you from above. Those were her l-last words, Suzu.." I couldn't stop my tears from falling, and my heart kept on aching.

"I came here today, so that you could visit her grave."

♫♫♫♫

"We're here," Dad said as he got out of the car. I got out of the car too, then I followed him.

Every step I take, it feels like the ground is about to break in any minute.

As soon as we stopped infront of her grave, my knees buckled. I slowly kneeled infront of her grave, and placed the bouquet of flowers me and my Dad bought awhile ago. After that, I lit up the candle. My vission became blurry again, as I covered my mouth from sobbing.

"M-Mom.. I.. I'm here now. I'm sorry, I wasn't there by your side when you were having your roughest times in life. A-And don't worry, I have already forgave the both of you. Being alone made me independent, b-but.. seeing you here.. I j-just.." I felt a hand on my shoulder, I glanced at Dad who is also crying silently.

I looked back at her grave. "I'll make sure.. that w-when I perform on stage, I'll d-definitely do my best. Y-You're probably watching me right now, from up above. I'm sorry if I keep on crying, I just.. miss you, Mom. I missed how you always sing me to sleep every night. I missed how you would always cook our favorite dish. I.. I missed how you would often play the piano with Dad. I just miss everything about you, Mom! I love you... you and Dad, I've always loved the both of you. Even though you broke your promise, always r-remember that I'll do my best just to make the both of you happy. And d-don't worry, I'll take care of Dad for you. I-I'll start a new life with him. I know it's unfair, b-because I didn't get the chance to take care of you, but... but just keep in mind, that n-no matter what, you'll be in our hearts forever... and ever. Thank you for teaching me to become independent, thank you for telling me that I should play the violin, thank you for keeping up with my blabbering mouth, thank you for everything, Mom. Thank you for being my mother. You're the b-best mother.. in the whole world!" I flashed a small smile before standing up. I thought everything would be okay, but then I was wrong again.

I hugged my Dad. "I'll.. miss her.." I sniffled.

"I'll miss her too.."

♫♫♫♫

"Suzu, I'm sorry to say this but, you'll be leaving this house from now on.." I froze as I opened the door.

"W-What? Why..?"

"You'll go with me to Tokyo. Life's better there. Our new house is much bigger than this house too. And, you'll be enrolling to a good university, and there you'll meet new friends. You—"

"No!" I spluttered. "No, Dad, no..." I whispered.

"I want to stay here! I want to stay in this house, this place! I want to stay with my f-friends.. I can't go to Tokyo, Dad. I'm sorry, I just can't leave this place full of memories.."

"But the title insurance of this house is already expired, Suzu. We need to leave this house as soon as possible." I paused, trying to stop my tears from falling.

"You told your Mom that you'll start a new life with me, right?" He frowned.

"Yeah, but.."

"And that you'll take care of Dad?"

I blinked as I swallowed the lump in my throat.

Kento, Maori, Czairo...

How about them?

"B-But.. how about my friends here?"

"We could pay them a visit, maybe next month, or next year." I looked at the house, as if trying to capture everything that's in here.

I want to remember this special place.

Tokyo is going to be far from here, and I would be far from them if I go there.

But—I need to.

"Fine," I finally said.

"But with one condition," I finally looked at my Dad.

"At the day of my performance, we'll go back here. You promised me that you'll be watching me perform on stage right?"

"Of course, we will come back for your performance. That's a promise."

Then, it's settled.