Chapter 26: Curiosity

Curiosity

• • • • •

After all, it surely is still rare seeing him like this so without a second thought, I grabbed the opportunity and did as what he had told me to. It was not long after time has passed and he was fast asleep.

"Cutie." I smiled at him. His action was so precious that I want to just protect him from anything bad that could taint his innocence - which is already impossible since he has already chosen a path, but even so, I want to bring back the genuineness that he once had. If he doesn't want to, then I'll find and do it my way. 

I placed both of my hands on my chest and squeezed myself more into him. He moved closer to me too and tightened his arm that was wrapped around me as I close my eyes and fell asleep.

• • • •

"Old man? Where are you?" My voice echoed through the big and empty space while I was standing just outside the room. When I woke up a while ago, he was gone and I felt...sad. Very sad and I don't understand why. I have started feeling things that I shouldn't be having. So, for this to go away, I decided to search for him.

I walked around but then stopped upon noticing that one of the rooms was opened a bit. Isn't this one of the rooms that Neal told me to stay away from? That night where he commanded - no, more like forced me to sleep with him in his room? His excuse that time was that it's dusty and dirty inside but I'm guessing that he was just hiding something from me.

What could be in there?

Because of my curiosity, I walked closer to it. Taking a glance on the inside wouldn't hurt, right? Before I could do anything, I looked around first to make sure that Neal wasn't near - to avoid getting caught or worse, getting scolded at and when it's clear, I rested my hand on the doorknob, opened it a bit more, and slowly peeked inside.

"Wow." My jaw dropped and I went inside. There are a lot of instruments! This is crazy! Why, Neal? would you hide this from me? This is awesome!

I scanned all of it one by one and raised an eyebrow when I've noticed that I could only name a few that I'm most familiar with.

There were a lot of instrument cases, big and small. There's flute, ukulele, guitar, violin but what caught my eyes was something so magnificent that stood out of the rest.

A grand piano.

It was placed on the center stage. A crystal orb chandelier was above it and red curtains hanging low on the ceiling, nicely edged, giving you the feeling that you are really on stage; the lights, space, and the audiences.

I roamed around the room and stopped in front of a guitar that was leaning on a corner wall. The image of Josh suddenly flashed on my mind.

He knows how to play the guitar. He even taught me a lot of times but even with all the tutoring that he has done with me, I still don't know how to play it. Even until today.

I guess I'm just not into instruments.

But to be totally honest, seeing all of this right now, I'm quite shocked. Does he really play all of this? 

Well, I bet that Ate July knows how to play some of these too. Talented siblings.

Ah, I can imagine how amazing it would be to actually see the two of them play something together. Does Ate July have an angelic voice? Does Neal sing, too? Damn, now I can't get the thought out of my head. I'm totally curious and a bit excited to hear them do it. Especially when I have heard Neal's lovely hum last night.

He has a very stunning voice, so it wouldn't be surprising if he really has a talent for singing, right? Well, some people sound good only when speaking but not in humming or singing, like me - only when snoring lol, but we never know. Only because of last night that I wanted to hear Neal sing. Never did it cross my mind if not for that incident.

Not to mention how the instruments right in front of me didn't even help in toning down my curiosity. 

Ah, it's probably nice to be like him. He has everything. The total package.

"Gosh, Kira." I shook my head at the crazy thought. Why am I thinking of something like this, again? I'm already grateful for what I have and what I am now so I don't need to think of things like that. 

Returning here down to earth, I looked at the piano and went near it. It shouldn't be a problem if I'll try playing it, right? It's still safe since he's not yet here so I'll take this chance before he comes. 

I would not mind if he'll scold me at least I have tried it. Just a scold will be okay, no involving of something violent which I am pretty sure is impossible. However, we still need to be cautious.

I tried pressing the first white rectangular thingy—which I don't have any idea what it is called so I'll just call it with that, it made a familiar sound.

"Do?" Do re mi? Isn't this the same with playing the flute? With my finger, I pressed it again and listened.

"Hm." I do think it is because I have played it once when I was in elementary and we even have to perform something so, yeah.

I pressed the next one and the next and it did make the sound of 'Do re mi fa so la ti do'

"Omg, this maybe isn't so hard after all." I clapped my hands with joy and sat on the wooden bench. This probably is the first step in becoming good at playing the piano.

I have never seen nor played the piano before and this is my first time. I can only see people performing it in movies or on YouTink. It looked really hard because they use both their hands. 

It also amazes me how fast their hands could move from one white or black rectangular thingy to the other one.