Chapter 14: Two Voices, Four Hands

The colors grew dim within the prison. I could see the teacher on the board as the rest of the fiends feigned attention. A few had their muddy lips curled into malicious smiles. Others pulled out their phones below their desks. My heart beat wildly as I stared from behind my books, hiding. Faint whispers blew through my implant. Each one a diabolic stab at my heart's strings.

Please let it be over, I want to play- my usual plea to heaven stopped midway. Remembering the piano, I noticed my hands started trembling.

"I don't want anyone to notice," a silent thought held me back from cuddling into a ball. Soon after, my head dove into a sea of her image. A sea filled solely with Ray. Her flowing brown hair, her golden eyes, her energetic roars and her shackles. Tunder ran through my body as I grasped my senses back. My teeth digging into my lower lip, keeping my frightened shriek to myself.

Ages passed before the bell blasted. It's raging roar knocking my wit back into terrestrial awareness. I fidgeted away in my seat, expecting the fiends to leave with me unnoticed. A few mischievous looks fell on me, shaking my heart to its core. Gladly, they left along with the fiends. A sigh of relief escaped my lips as I trembled my way into greeting the teacher and left the room.

Once in the hall I closed my eyes. If I can't see them, they can't see me. With these feeble words of self comfort, I entrusted my path to my mental road map of the hall. My untrusty feet stumbled to the left, where Jishi's class is.

"What's wrong with me?," I submerged in the thought. Why am I acting like this? Despite knowing the answer, I lost myself in the idea. Hoping for me to be wrong. After a few seconds, I feel something before me. The touch too soft to be a wall or locker. My clenched eyelids refused to open, so I vowed in a sign of forgiveness. Suddenly I felt something slide down my side. Cold sweat spawned out of my pores.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." a million regrets fired silently within me. Then I felt it take hold of my stomach, lifting me off the ground. Then I felt we began moving. Slow at first, progressively rising into something I would call mach 97. In my chest, I felt my heart's last words as I embraced my fate. I also embraced the will to puke, which I tried my best to stop.

"We're here, buddy" A childish tone exuded its energy upon my implant. My feet on the ground, I open my eyes. I'm met with the sight of a tanned guy with glowing dark eyes. My heart sighed of relief as my head screamed.

"WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL!!!" my hands shot out to relate this silent scream to Jishi. Who stood before me holding back his laughter.

"Sorry, it's just that when you bumped into me in the hall, you were a walking earthquake. So I thought I'd follow the usual plan and get you to the music room. And here we are,". So he says, but why is he laughing?

Wielding my anger, I asked away to cause only more laughter. He then inhales before blasting a reply in one breath.

"Because the looks they gave us as I dashed through the school were priceless. Also, because your hands stayed in a praying position the entire way." To his words, I felt my face burn up. My hands stuck to my face as I kneeled on the ground.

"But hey, it got your mind off whatever was bothering you." I felt my eyes widen out of my control. His energetic voice toned to a lower, embarrassed tone.

"When did you notice?" my hands timidly moved into words.

"The second I saw you. Not only because of the shaking. But your lip, you were biting it. Also, your face was too sad for me to see. Yeah..." his voice kept getting smaller, to the point his words turned to a feeble whisper. His face turning beet red as he turned to give me his back.

"Thanks," a wretched whisper escaped my lips. Cutting the awkward silence up to his ears.

"You know I'll always be here if you want to talk. We're friends no?" He turned to give me a bright, awkward smile. It squeezed my heart with warmth. I really am grateful for having Jishi with me.

Nodding to his words, I stand up and walk towards the door of the music room. Giving him a smile of my own, I enter the room. Breathing in the cold air of the AC, my eyes meet the piano. Despite this, I hear the alarms blast off in my head.

"I've been waiting for you guys, come on, come on," an eager, carefree roar breaks through my earlier peace. My heart pounding at light speed, I tremble. Her golden eyes glittered as they looked at mine. I felt my face burn with every passing second she looked. She wouldn't be able to read me like Jishi, right? Hanging to false hope, I walk towards the piano where she was.

"You... feeling better?" Jishi's voice broke the silence that struck at my heart. His voice in a worried tone.

"Yeah, thanks you though," She replied with a smile and an eager voice. But her eyes didn't look the part. Despite them glowing, like usual, they seemed down. I guess her mom's the cause. That aside, I can't play. Not beside her, at least. I am ready to blast out the door, but something unexpected reaches my ears.

"Hey want to help me play the piano Yata," her voice happier than before.

"Here I thought baseball was more your speed," Jishi tried to be funny not taking it too seriously. But looking at her eyes I could tell. She was dead serious.

"Well, if Yata helps me out I'll be okay no?" her innocent words made my heart beat even faster. I turn to look at Jishi, who in return breaks into his thunderous laugh. Squirming against the wall, slowly sliding to the floor.

"Now don't be shy, I saw a few videos so I think I might do something decent," her optimism only serves to light the fuse to kill me. Attempting to sneak away, I stand up. But that didn't work. Her soft, warm hand held mine, pulling me back to my seat.

"Come on, lets play a four hand piano, but play an easy song okay?" Her eyes invited me to play. That said, anymore off this and I'll die. Her placing both of our hands on top of the keys, she turned to look at me. I hope that she doesn't see hard my heart is beating. Finally, resolving to play the piano with her, I beg the piano to forgive me.