Green-minded (EDITING) ✔

T H I R T Y: The piano

"Do you want more?" I offer him.

"Yes please." Tony bobs his head.

"Here, open your mouth."

Tony takes a forkful of lasagna and smiles back at me as a sign of his thank you. He swallows it immediately, "How about that mushroom soup?"

"Sure thing." I give him a spoonful of soup.

We sit particularly at the far side of the restaurant so Tony can have a bit of privacy. This is a beautiful Italian restaurant that he also owns in this hotel. He carefully instructed the staff to leave the other tables besides us empty but there's an old couple who wishes to sit near the pianist, who's playing at our right side. Tony nodded at the staff earlier to just let them be.

"That's nice, what a sweet couple." The lady in her senior years has short, white hair with her actions displaying fine elegance. Her physical attributes remind me of my grandma, yet my grandma has a more carefree and childlike attitude.

"Yeah, right!" The old man's voice thunders through the room, his voice seems to be naturally loud and authoritative like a retired man from the military, he didn't hide his disgusted face, "The guy's like a baby."

I notice Tony's hands form to fists, I touch his hand as a reminder to keep his composure, "Let it go." My voice is barely a whisper.

The lady stands up and hits the man using her handbag. Ouch. He scratches his nape as a reaction, "Apologize now! Samuel, don't make me repeat myself!" Gosh, what a turn of events, though grandma is like this sweet, little, harmless human being, she's got quite a temper and maybe a bit dangerous. I laugh heartily inside my head.

"Okay, okay, sorry." No eye contact was made, however, he tells his apology loud enough for us to hear, "It's just that I notice that he's always the one getting food. The pretty, young lady didn't even have time to touch her meal."

That's true, he made a point. Tony's face turns red, maybe out of embarrassment.

The old woman replies, "Let them be! You're not a psychiatrist anymore and they don't need your services. Let's just get back to our hotel room, if you're going to act like such a dick!" Wow, grandma's got some sass.

"There's no need, it's fine, Ma'am. Sir, you're correct. I apologize for my behavior earlier. Let me treat you for this lunch as my gratitude for your advice." Tony is now standing up beside the couple with his head bowed down.

The old man clears his throat, folding his arms over his chest looking uncomfortable while the woman clasps her hands together, eyes shimmering with a wide smile towards Tony, "You're such a gentle, young lad. Bless you."

"Thank you, grandma. Let me play you a song as my apology." Tony signals at the pianist. The pianist starts to play a classical piece, nevertheless, Tony goes to the pianist and whispers to his ear. The pianist stands up and Tony sits on the chair and begins to play the grand piano.

He interprets the classical music that we heard inside the supermarket earlier. It's a bit familiar but I'm not aware of its title. His fingers are fast, moving fluidly to harmony.

I gape at him, is it all an act? Not being able to eat by himself, cannot tie shoelaces? His fingers look soft, no sign of any difficulty to move, not rigid at all. I can't believe I let him play me... Again!