"And—you now officially have your instrument, Teseia." Instructor Noe said as she took the paper I signed, giving me a small case in return.
"Thank you." I took the case from her with care and opened the case. It was a violin, alongside the bow for it. It would be something I would need to carry with me, but it wasn't heavy or bulky so it wasn't going to hinder me.
"I'll still give you some more csses after school on top of the videos recommended to you before I let you join the others in their performance." I nodded. I was beginning to be able to understand the musical notation of the music sheets, but I had no idea how to connect it to the violin - even after watching some videos. "But for now, watch our violinists py and see how they hold and move with their instruments; both the violin and bow."
"Yes." I nod again before moving to my seat. I took Noe's advice and observed my seniors.
As I listened, I took the time to simply enjoy the css and everyone's performance...
Everyone pyed so well. Every so often the css would pause as Noe guided the students with advice and feedback. It made me realize that as an instructor, Noe was loved for her teaching style and ability to both teach and guide students and their passion.
At st came the end of css. The final note of everyone's instrument reverberated through the room before falling silent. "Good work students!" Noe excimed as she closed the cover of the piano. "Those that I gave recommendations to, keep practicing to refine those points. Everyone else; continue practicing your part at the pace we py. Everyone, dismissed!" With that css ended as students put their instruments back into their cases before leaving. Noe also quickly left the room as well... I—err, I assume she would come back?
As everyone left, I stayed in the room and waited to see if Noe would come back.
I waited, looking around the music room. My eyes were drawn to the piano in the center of the room, "I remember touching a piano..." I thought back to the times I visited my younger cousin Goldia. Even though I had no musical experience, Goldia still tried to teach me and py the piano with me. I think I did moderately well pying the piano with her basic instruction, but—well... I wonder how I would do now. I opened the cover of the piano, seeing the many bck and white tiles. I sat on the seat and started pressing a combination that came to mind.
"Gah~?" That sounded... terrible. I changed what I pressed again and again until I got something that sounded nice - something that sounded like what I heard. "I—it should be somewhere here..." I pyed the same sound again and again, adjusting little by little until I got something that somewhat sounded the same as the reminiscent tone Goldia used to py. It was different - but I felt like I actually knew how to slightly adjust it to my own style... Maybe it was my new music experience and knowledge that allowed me to adjust it myself, pying my own version. It was unique, yet simir; though how Goldia pyed it was still much more complex and smoother than how my simple version sounded.
"Do you want to learn the piano?" Aaah—? "Oh, did I scare you? Apologies about that Teseia." When did she...?
"Was... I that focused?" Music really was a scary thing. For me to be so absorbed, turning a blind eye to everything else...
"Music is a wonderful thing." Yet I couldn't disagree with Noe. "So don't worry too much about it - you didn't look weird at all either, so don't worry; in fact it looked like you were enjoying yourself." With her words, I felt a little better.
I got off the piano and practiced the violin with Noe for half an hour, and then some basic csses on the piano for around thirty minutes before leaving for lunch ter on my own.
I came in for my after school css and practiced with Noe before heading to the Legal and Law Club once I was done practicing with Noe. Kaeu and Qualtia were there already, and I plopped myself down at my seat.
"You py an instrument Teseia?" I thought I hid my case well. Well—Kaeu has always been sharp.
"Yes, though not very well, ahaha..." I let out a dry, nervous ugh. I couldn't really do much to expin my musical talent - I was still learning right now.
"Well, I know you'll be fine. After all, you are quite studious and dedicated, so you'll do well."
I... Sigh - honestly... "Thank you..." I put my case on the table, "Would it be okay if I practiced a little?"
"Of course Teseia! Let me—..." I see Qualtia stop reading her book, pulling out a sketchbook out of nowhere again.
"Feel free to practice Teseia." Having both their approval, I took out my violin and began pying the simple practice sheets Noe gave me.
I wasn't sure how what I pyed sounded - honestly to me it felt more repetitive than anything... But I think it sounds nice - albeit repetitive. I did that over, and over, and over again... and again. For around 30 minutes. By then, my arms were tired. I id down my violin onto the case with the bow, done for the day.
-Cp cp-, I look at Qualtia to see her cpping. "It—sorry, it must have been boring to hear me py the same thing over and over again..."
"No, it sounded nice." Qualtia told me, "Plus you looked beautiful, entranced in your py."
"Agreed. You looked rexed, and it was wonderful having you py here." Kaeu—?
"I—... I—..." I was at a loss - I mean...
"Are you okay Teseia?" Kaeu...
"... idiot..." I utter - I forget these two are great smooth talkers...
Still, seriously—what are these two? Saying such praise? More so to simply a retively unknown junior... I put my hand to my face - it was hot...
... I need to be more careful around those two... I wasn't good with compliments before, and now it just felt like I kept getting compliments after compliments...
I took a deep breath, "... sorry, it's... embarrassing hearing that..."
"..." Kaeu looked at me, "Well, sorry. If it is embarrassing, just know we're not bothered. I'll keep in mind to be a little more careful, but you are free to continue Teseia." Yet hearing him, I could only return a smile... though I still felt displeased seeing how he looked - I felt like he was talking and reassuring me as one would do to a child...
I returned home, making dinner before returning to my room. I changed out of my uniform into loungewear before lying on my bed, looking at my ceiling.
"..." My heart couldn't handle being with 'those' two... Back then - despite us being close -, we all knew each other well. They were direct and concise with me, yet we still held countless 'fun' banter between the three. Yet now, "It's... like they're treating me like a little child..."
I was never good with compliments before... Normally I would simply take them at face value, and return a professional response. But with those two... Well, at least Kaeu could read and understand others decently well, but even he slips up with his 'smooth talk', and it still felt like he treated me like a child.
"Muu—," I recalled my school life in general; I felt like I've been getting compliments everywhere... From my cssmates calling me 'cute', to those two and their compliments. I—... It wasn't that I disliked hearing them, but I felt conflicted hearing them said to me so bluntly. With the girls - it was whatever if it was one, but when I get swarmed I can't help but be flustered. With Kaeu and... Leicia, I can't take it to myself to just take it at face value - they speak their minds well, and I know they don't lie so easily to those they feel comfortable with.
"..." I tried to recall when I was st complimented before - long before I became who I was now... My head fumbled - but I couldn't think of an instance at all... The three of us acknowledged each other, but that was it. We never really went beyond that.
There... was one instance though. It wasn't even with my close family; it was with our branch family, Goldia and her parents - my aunt and uncle.
... It wasn't that I envied her, but... Maybe I did envy her. I understood why my own family was like they were. After all, my grandfather was an Imperial Advisor, and we as the main family head were to follow. We were constantly busy, yet,
"... it would be nice to have a normal family..."