Falling

Although she might not have been gifted enough to get accepted for Curtis Institute of Music, she could still play a tune. So take that! She stepped out of the room, feeling satisfied. Her unhappiness disappeared suddenly, replaced by a touch of sadness.

It would have been great if she could get into Curtis, she thought. At least she would get food and accommodation for free. She wouldn't need to be stuck here under false pretences and live this kind of miserable life that depends on people's moods.

Sefi grabbed a glass from a waiter's tray. Taking a sip, she felt calmer instantly and she began walking towards the balcony to get some fresh air before the same suffocating feeling was back again.

The moon was big and bright tonight, almost a full moon. She stood alone on the balcony, raising a toast to the glowing orb.

Her first piano teacher was an old lady in her 70s, a retired music teacher she was. Her style of teaching matched her grey hair that was put up into a bun - traditional and meticulous.

She used to hate going to piano lessons. One year, their family home was burgled and the burglars turned everything upside down and made off with a considerable number of valuable items.

She had asked her mother, "why couldn't they have stolen our piano instead?"

That was when her mother decided what she had in talent couldn't make up for her lack of dedication, therefore, stopped forcing her to attend future piano lessons.

For Sefi, it had been like Christmas Day came early. She rolled around the bed celebrating. If she could go back to the past now, she smiled bitterly. She would do anything to see her family again. Even if it meant she had to practice ten hours per day.

"Where is Jin?" A male voice spoke.

Sefi was startled slightly, and after seeing who it was, her eyebrows frowned in annoyance. What was he doing here?

A tall figure walked out gracefully from the shadows of the balcony. With a devilishly handsome face, eyes colder than ice, he could be mistaken for a creature of the night.

"How would I know?" She retorted with her own question. Why did he ask her? She wasn't Jin's personal secretary.

"Aren't you two inseparable?" Nathan's sharp eyes fixed on her face as if he was trying to see if she was lying. He didn't realise how his accusative tone resembled a husband who was jealous.

Since when? Sefi was taken aback again, "whatever." She said, not in the mood to argue with him.

"Pretending to be dumb again?" He said accusingly, crossing his arms in front of his broad chest.

Sefi's long eyelashes twitched, and she stared at him angrily. Her evening was already ruined thanks to that stupid twin sister of his. And now here he was acting all high and mighty accusing her of all sorts!

Well, it's not on! If he thinks he can just stand here and speak to her in that tone of voice, he's got another thing coming. She slammed down her champagne glass on the table and stormed off. She had no time for crazy people!

Unexpectedly, he strode forward, reached out and grabbed her arm in a tight grip. The next minute, he pulled her towards him.

"Let go of me!" Sefi tried to pull back her arm in protest, but his hands were like shackles.

"Not until you've answered my questions," Jin said, still holding onto her hand and didn't let go, but this time he didn't increase his strength.

Seeing that she couldn't escape his imprisonment, Sefi stared at him angrily, ready to kill him with her eyes.

"What's going on between you and Jin?" He asked.

She turned her face away, refusing to answer. She had the right to remain silent!

"Pretending to be dumb again?" Nathan asked, his face was serious, and his body was radiating anger signs.

Sefi was fuming, she looked like she was ready to claw his eyes out!

"For your information, I wasn't pretending to be dumb! I had lost my voice!" She spat.

"And we know how you managed that, don't we?" He retorted; unaware he was being so out of character. It was very unlike him to act so pettily.

"Get lost!" She pushed him in the chest roughly.

It must've caught him by surprise because he stumbled backwards a few steps but he didn't release his grip nonetheless.

The next second, he grabbed her waist with both hands and picked her up before carrying her over to the edge of the balcony.

"What are you doing?!" She screamed in protest as she kicked her feet in the air.

He sat her on the edge of the balcony railings and she stopped wriggling immediately. Sefi was terrified. They were on the third floor and it was a long way down.

She quickly hooked her feet into the gaps between the railings, and her knuckles turned white as she firmly gripped the railing bar for fear of falling.

Falling down from this height was guaranteed to make her paralysed, that is if she didn't die first. She gulped. He stood close in front of her, clasping his hands firmly on her tiny waist.

"Are you going to talk now?" He asked, carefully watching her paled face.

"Let me down!" She yelled nervously, her voice trembling. She was ready to cry soon.

"Answer my question first," Nathan said casually, seeming to enjoy her embarrassment.

"Ok, what do you want to know?" With tears in her eyes, she blurted out. Just let her down already, couldn't he see she was scared of heights?!

"Why were you two together yesterday?" He asked.

Sefi widened her eyes in surprise, how did he know they were together? "Were you following us?" She asked accusingly.

Nathan was slightly stunned by her response. She had always been amenable, he certainly wasn't expecting her to answer back. His ego felt a little bruised as a result, he said, "of course not."

"Then how did you know?" She lifted her chin defiantly.