Chasing Bliss

Chapter 4: Fur Elise

I looked past through the crowd searching for my mom. It was not too long until I saw her chitchatting with her older sister, Ruby. I can’t help but roll my eyes when I saw her. How can you not? She’s a woman full of herself. She’d turn every defeat into arrogance. Like when I was 8 playing with her daughter.

We were playing tug-of-war back then. We were both doing our best as granny was about to give a Ferrero Rocher to someone who would win. It was I against her child, who’s the same age as me, playing for the last round. Aunt Ruby was sitting at a far corner holding her ‘expensive’ hand fan right at her chest level. Eyebrows raised with a mischievous smile decorated on her devilish face. “Show some mercy to Seiya, dear. She’s your cousin afterall.” Pft. It was as if she was so sure Amethyst would dominate me. It was a complete turn out of event as I won the game. Aunt Ruby then made an excuse that Amethyst was sick so she lost. She gave me a warning that I should never compete with her when she’s feeling better or I would walk out as a loser and splash; she evacuated granny’s place almost immediately. That event happened 7 years ago but it’s still fresh in my mind. As fresh as the thought of me leaving this place.

I was a few meters away from mom but I can already hear what they’re talking about. “I see that your 2nd daughter, Mara, also happened to be the 2nd child in the family to graduate as a valedictorian.” Aunt Ruby said trying to sound fancy. Mom crossed her legs raising her glass of wine a little closer to her head. “Impressive, isn’t it?” she shotted back. Aunt Ruby then rested her back at the chair saying, “Indeed, it was. The only problem is that Crolls were known to be academic smart,” she flipped her hair, “but not so evident enough.” Mom’s eye darkened at what she heard. It was evident that she went furious but is trying her best not to answer as she is biting her lower lip. “I mean, you all graduated with a degree but you haven’t put your education into practice. What a shame. Tsk tsk.” She said calmly that for sure triggered my mom. Mom put her glass down the table aggressively and there I knew it was my cue to turn my back. Getting her approval is definitely my biggest mistake today.

“Oh yeah?” I heard her said before I felt a hand gripping my wrist. I guess it was too late to back up now. I know she was upset but what does it have to do with me? It’s not as if I don’t want her fighting back but can’t she do counterattacks without holding me? “Aren’t you just jealous because none of your child graduated with a degree?” I heard an ‘oh’ from the crowd as mom’s rebut was pretty powerful and yet I felt ashamed as people were looking at this direction. I faced the floor wishing my mom would let my wrist go immediately. I don’t know. Like, right now. “You know what? My youngest is really good at piano.” Mom said that made me raise my head and look at her. She was mischievously smiling while continuously nodding her head. It was obvious that she was pissed off but at the same time, it was as if she’s sending me signals to go and play the piano. “Come on now, honey. They’re all pretty bored. Why don’t you entertain them?” Dad backed her up. I looked up at him and he just nodded his head waiting for me to play. I looked at Amara and she just mouthed, “prove that b***h wrong”. Everyone else was already anticipating for me to play and make aunt Ruby’s mouth shut. How could I ever say no? I sighed deeply trying to ease my mind before I finally got to say, “Okay.”

I walked towards the piano which is right into the corner not too far where their pretty little surprise is held. I was walking nervously past through the crowds making sure my head was clear so I could play like I normally do. Few more steps and I finally reached for my piano. I quickly sat down and positioned my hand in place. I looked back at mom as I let an anxious sigh. I put my gaze back on my keyboard and secretly wished my hands won’t tremble in fear or I won’t finish this piece as they expected to. Since the thought made me anxious, I thought having a hand warm up would be nice. After minutes of making sure my finger joints work perfectly, I began to play.

I’m not sure how I want to turn things out but I am certain my family wants aunt Ruby to say none so I decided to play the famous Fur Elise. It was a busy piece, I admit, as fast hands and transition is required but I managed to perfect it 5 months ago. I was certain that this piece won’t let me down. It won’t let us down. It must not let anyone down. Well, except for aunt Ruby.

Upon playing the keys, I have become one with the piano. I wasn’t playing it for it became me. Every note that I play is making me more and more into the song. It was as if I was Beethoven himself playing his own composition in front of the crowd who’s standing in awe at this masterpiece. The simple right-hand melody being accompanied by the broken chords in the left hand sounded so nice and neat that it makes me feel more of a musician. I feel so in love while playing this song. Maybe like the way Beethoven fell in love with Therese that made him compose this piece. Ahh. What a true masterpiece. Then again, I know Beethoven felt blue when he dared marry Therese only for her to refuse. The same amount of sadness that I have right now knowing I’m not playing this song because I wanted to but because I needed to let aunt Ruby burn in her own fire.

Lost in my thoughts, I haven’t noticed that I finished Fur Elise. Everyone was clapping. I looked back to see their reactions and they were all pleased by the way a 15-year-old lad played the piece. What’s even more surprising is that I saw aunt Ruby clapping her hands slowly as her eyes were closed. Obviously, she doesn’t want to be amazed but was caught off guard with the way I played.

“Oh, I thought you whispered my daughter doesn’t play that impressive. Why are you in awe?” Mom said pointing out at aunt Ruby. “Oh, I almost forgot, Hodkins are really good at eating their words.” Mom said with a sarcastic smile and the crowd started laughing. Oh gosh. I guess Amara’s important day was nothing more than a complete and total disaster.

I looked past through the crowd searching for my mom. It was not too long until I saw her chitchatting with her older sister, Ruby. I can’t help but roll my eyes when I saw her. How can you not? She’s a woman full of herself. She’d turn every defeat into arrogance. Like when I was 8 playing with her daughter.

We were playing tug-of-war back then. We were both doing our best as granny was about to give a Ferrero Rocher to someone who would win. It was I against her child, who’s the same age as me, playing for the last round. Aunt Ruby was sitting at a far corner holding her ‘expensive’ hand fan right at her chest level. Eyebrows raised with a mischievous smile decorated on her devilish face. “Show some mercy to Seiya, dear. She’s your cousin afterall.” Pft. It was as if she was so sure Amethyst would dominate me. It was a complete turn out of event as I won the game. Aunt Ruby then made an excuse that Amethyst was sick so she lost. She gave me a warning that I should never compete with her when she’s feeling better or I would walk out as a loser and splash; she evacuated granny’s place almost immediately. That event happened 7 years ago but it’s still fresh in my mind. As fresh as the thought of me leaving this place.

I was a few meters away from mom but I can already hear what they’re talking about. “I see that your 2nd daughter, Mara, also happened to be the 2nd child in the family to graduate as a valedictorian.” Aunt Ruby said trying to sound fancy. Mom crossed her legs raising her glass of wine a little closer to her head. “Impressive, isn’t it?” she shotted back. Aunt Ruby then rested her back at the chair saying, “Indeed, it was. The only problem is that Crolls were known to be academic smart,” she flipped her hair, “but not so evident enough.” Mom’s eye darkened at what she heard. It was evident that she went furious but is trying her best not to answer as she is biting her lower lip. “I mean, you all graduated with a degree but you haven’t put your education into practice. What a shame. Tsk tsk.” She said calmly that for sure triggered my mom. Mom put her glass down the table aggressively and there I knew it was my cue to turn my back. Getting her approval is definitely my biggest mistake today.

“Oh yeah?” I heard her said before I felt a hand gripping my wrist. I guess it was too late to back up now. I know she was upset but what does it have to do with me? It’s not as if I don’t want her fighting back but can’t she do counterattacks without holding me? “Aren’t you just jealous because none of your child graduated with a degree?” I heard an ‘oh’ from the crowd as mom’s rebut was pretty powerful and yet I felt ashamed as people were looking at this direction. I faced the floor wishing my mom would let my wrist go immediately. I don’t know. Like, right now. “You know what? My youngest is really good at piano.” Mom said that made me raise my head and look at her. She was mischievously smiling while continuously nodding her head. It was obvious that she was pissed off but at the same time, it was as if she’s sending me signals to go and play the piano. “Come on now, honey. They’re all pretty bored. Why don’t you entertain them?” Dad backed her up. I looked up at him and he just nodded his head waiting for me to play. I looked at Amara and she just mouthed, “prove that b***h wrong”. Everyone else was already anticipating for me to play and make aunt Ruby’s mouth shut. How could I ever say no? I sighed deeply trying to ease my mind before I finally got to say, “Okay.”

I walked towards the piano which is right into the corner not too far where their pretty little surprise is held. I was walking nervously past through the crowds making sure my head was clear so I could play like I normally do. Few more steps and I finally reached for my piano. I quickly sat down and positioned my hand in place. I looked back at mom as I let an anxious sigh. I put my gaze back on my keyboard and secretly wished my hands won’t tremble in fear or I won’t finish this piece as they expected to. Since the thought made me anxious, I thought having a hand warm up would be nice. After minutes of making sure my finger joints work perfectly, I began to play.

I’m not sure how I want to turn things out but I am certain my family wants aunt Ruby to say none so I decided to play the famous Fur Elise. It was a busy piece, I admit, as fast hands and transition is required but I managed to perfect it 5 months ago. I was certain that this piece won’t let me down. It won’t let us down. It must not let anyone down. Well, except for aunt Ruby.

Upon playing the keys, I have become one with the piano. I wasn’t playing it for it became me. Every note that I play is making me more and more into the song. It was as if I was Beethoven himself playing his own composition in front of the crowd who’s standing in awe at this masterpiece. The simple right-hand melody being accompanied by the broken chords in the left hand sounded so nice and neat that it makes me feel more of a musician. I feel so in love while playing this song. Maybe like the way Beethoven fell in love with Therese that made him compose this piece. Ahh. What a true masterpiece. Then again, I know Beethoven felt blue when he dared marry Therese only for her to refuse. The same amount of sadness that I have right now knowing I’m not playing this song because I wanted to but because I needed to let aunt Ruby burn in her own fire.

Lost in my thoughts, I haven’t noticed that I finished Fur Elise. Everyone was clapping. I looked back to see their reactions and they were all pleased by the way a 15-year-old lad played the piece. What’s even more surprising is that I saw aunt Ruby clapping her hands slowly as her eyes were closed. Obviously, she doesn’t want to be amazed but was caught off guard with the way I played.

“Oh, I thought you whispered my daughter doesn’t play that impressive. Why are you in awe?” Mom said pointing out at aunt Ruby. “Oh, I almost forgot, Hodkins are really good at eating back their words.” Mom said with a sarcastic smile and the crowd started laughing. Oh gosh. I guess Amara’s important day was nothing more than a complete and total disaster.