Look Like Love

28 ღ Kapatawaran

"I have never had a doubt
But for you I'll take time out
I'll push his love far away from me
and then I'll be completely free
I'll give up my security
for just the possibility
that we could be together
for a while."
--We Could Be Together by Debbie Gibson

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 28: Kapatawaran

| KENZIE |

A week before the competition, the news "finally" spread at Weyral that I was Lance's pianist for the 40th Annual Denver Music Competition--High School Division, and that I could play the piano. Most were surprised by these revelations, and an article about it was even written for The Weyral Chronicles, Weyral's official school paper. It was published twice a month.

One time after school, when I was heading to our reserved room at the music building to practice, I heard voices coming from inside. As I took a peek into the slightly-open door, I saw Lance and Alice face-to-face, and they looked like they were debating over something.

Or someone.

"Why her?" Alice asked him, clutching The Weyral Chronicles in her hand. "And why didn't you inform me 'bout this? You could've chosen me instead!"

Lance sighed, defeated. "I cannot, Alice. Did you forget? Cyan Wings also has a competition on the last week of November. You already got your hands full, and I did not want to disturb you with your cheerleading practice."

"For Pete's sake, Lance! Don't you trust me? Even with the cheerleading competition, I can still be your pianist. It's not gonna be a hindrance for me, I swear. And the piece you chose is too easy."

I almost did a double take when she said that. I already knew who they were talking about.

Ha-ha. Too easy, she said. Good for her.

"And she's a newbie! What do you expect from a newbie? Failure!"

I must admit that hurt. Why did I even pursue this? Alice did have a point...

"Enough, Alice!" Lance bellowed, causing Alice to freeze and me to widen my eyes. I rarely saw him being indignant. "I don't want you to belittle Kenzie again. Yes, she is a newbie and an unskilled performer when it comes to piano--that is very much well obvious--but I've taught her all what I know, even with the limited time that we have. I believe that she could pull this off, especially when I am the one who is training her."

I was flattered that Lance had defended me. That ego of his, though...

"Also, her music can touch someone's heart, like how it touched mine," Lance continued.

It's well-known that Lance rarely gives compliments, but this time..having him compliment me like that made me feel happy and embarrassed at the same time. And wait, why was my heart beating so fast?

"Hold on a second. You...you just called her 'Kenzie,' not 'Mackenzie' anymore," was what Alice said instead. "Don't tell me you two are now very close...?" I heard the slight tremble in her voice. Oh, dam. I knew where this was going.

Tilting his head to the side, Lance said with a grin, "Ah, yes. She now lets me call her by her nickname. We became very close because of our practice time."

I almost banged my head on the door. Lance really had no idea what he was saying. That freak! Did he forget that Alice had a crush on him and saying something like that to her would surely make her jealous of me? He was making things worse.