His suffering

'' So this sums up today's lecture. For the next semester...'' the class ends.

'' Dante, are you free after this?'' asked a boy from behind.

Dante looked behind him to see his friend calling him. He is a boy around his age, with glasses and bob-cut hair.

Dante picked up the books into his bag. '' Why? You have any business with me, Ryzen?''.

'' Yes, are you free? Then I'll take you with me. Tell me you have nothing to do after this?'' he pleaded.

Dante thought for a while. He stared at his hands then at the bag.

His eyes went to his friend.

'' Yes, I am free. Why do you need me?'' he asked.

'' Great, come with me,'' he dragged Dante out of there right away.

Dante Crux is a boy in his twenties.

He has ash brown hair with blue topaz-like eyes hidden behind the pairs of glasses that he wears because he feels comfortable in them. His hair is straight which is parted in the middle with the locks falling over his face.

Lilian saw his friend drag him somewhere so she goes after them.

His friend had dragged him towards the inner part of the university.

Dante was starting to recognize the place where he was taking him. So he gripped onto the hand of his friend stopping him in his tracks.

They were standing in the middle of the hallway.

His friend was confused so he glanced over.

'' What are you trying to do Ryzen?'' Dante asked in a passive tone.

'' Why are we going towards the Light music club? You have to give me some explanations shouldn't you?''.

Ryzen wanted to avoid the matter. But it didn't seem to him that Dante would go with him without hearing that.

'' Come on man, I need your help. Can't you help your friend out somehow?''.

'' And what help is that?'' Dante left Ryzen's hands right away.

Ryzen looked at his hands then replied,'' We need a stand-in for today's show at the freshers. You know how to play all kinds of instruments right? Can't you help us out?''.

The look on Dante's face changed right away after that. He took off his glasses and puts them on again.

'' I am not interested to help you out. Look for someone else,'' he backed away saying that.

Then Ryzen placed his hand on Dante's shoulder stopping him from leaving the place.

'' Why are you acting this way with us? If you can help us out then why don't you want to help us out?''.

Dante clicked his tongue out of irritation. His fists clenched so hard that his nails were digging into his palm.

There was a moment of pause between them.

'' I don't play instruments nor do I want to associate myself with music. So forgive me.''

'' Why are you lying? I know that you can. Why do always run away whenever I tell you to play any instruments? Why do you hate music when you have such a nice voice? Why Dante?'' Ryzen asked.

Dante glared at Ryzen.

'' You know very well why. I hate music. That's why I don't like performing music also. Don't you know that? Or are you pretending not to know?''.

'' I hate this thing about you. Even though you know everything you pretend not to know. I forgive you for your mistake. But don't force me to sing or play. I can't do that. If that's clear to you I am leaving.''

Dante removed the hand of Ryzen from his shoulders right away.

'' But Dante, we need someone to play for us. Won't you help us out when we are in the problem? I didn't think that you were so heartless.''

'' Does your pride matter so much to you that you won't help us out?''.

'' Or don't you think of me as a stranger. That's why you don't feel going out of your way to help us perform?''.

With the last question, Dante couldn't keep his sanity anymore.

When he was about to say something, someone interrupted in between them.

It was Lilian. '' He has his reasons for not playing. You can't force him to play without his will.''

She's a woman with a small face and small height. With long black and straight hair and black eyes. She was tying her hair in a ponytail.

'' Or do you wanna use your force to make him play? That's not the way to anything is it?''.

She walked closer to Dante. She patted him on the back to make him feel better.

'' Lilian, even you know very well how much well he can play. I had heard him play some years ago. Because of him, I got interested in music. But now he has stopped playing for his reasons. Why? NO one has stopped him from playing did they?'' Ryzen asked.

'' That's his matter. Don't interfere in his matters. If he doesn't want to then don't force him. Let's go away from here Dante,'' She grabbed him by the hand.

Dante was silent.

But Ryzen was not gonna lose so easily.

'' You can try playing. If you aren't able to play then I won't force you to. How does that sound? We both don't have anything to lose here do we?''.

'' No need to listen to him. Let's go,'' she said.

But Dante didn't move from the spot. Lilian looks at his face in confusion.

He left her hand and faced Ryzen with a straight face.

'' Do you want me to play so much for your band?''.

Ryzen nods in approval. '' Yes, a lot. I want to see you play once again. Won't you play for me?''.

'' Fine then,'' Dante replied.

'' I'll play for you. But if I am not able to do it then don't force me to. I won't be able to help you. Is that fine with you?''.

Ryzen gave a smile back to him. '' Of course buddy, I don't mind at all.''

Lilian was surprised by this. ''But you, how can you?''.

'' Don't worry, I am not gonna force myself to it.''

'' Let's go Ryzen.''

'' Sure, come along.''

They all went to the room where the light music club usually performs. There are four people in the band which Ryzen is in. But the guitarist has a fever so he couldn't come.

So they are only left with the drummer and the bassist and singer.

Hearing about everything Dante was convinced to help them. But he wasn't able to accept it from within his heart.

Lilian was able to feel the same for him.

When Dante was made to stand in front of the guitar, his hands trembled.

'' If you can help us then do so. Please play,'' begged Ryzen, who was standing beside him.

Lilian was standing beside him watching everything along with his reactions also.

Dante gulped, then extended his hands towards the guitar. When he did that his eyes were focused on the guitar.

He was able to recall the very face of his dad very well now. His face, with a sad expression, was visible to him.

It was paining in his heart. As if a sharp edge knife was used to pierce his heart in two.

'' Dan, won't you sing with me?'' the voice of his dad was whispering in his ears.

Ryzen saw that he was not moving from his spot at all. So he came forward and grabbed Dante's hands forcing them onto the guitar.

'' Touch it.''

The moment he touched the strings, the smooth surface and the texture it was all coming back to him. The memories which he had kept hidden for all those years.

'' Pick it up and try to play,'' Lilian said.

Her voice sounded empty to him.

He picked it up forcibly onto his hands. The time has come to cross all the barriers. To amend with his past.

He can't be the way he's staying anymore. Not anymore.

So he lets out a deep sigh.

Then picked it up, holding the guitar firmly in his hands. He closed his eyes and began playing.

When the sound was piercing through his ears he was starting to feel ill. Every sound of it was piercing at his heart.

The image of his dad playing and everything, made him feel empty from inside out.

But when he played he felt guilty and better at the same time. The music which he once loved is now the thing that gives him pain. Nothing in his life gives him satisfaction anymore.

This is not his job, even he was able to feel that very well. The sounds that the strings made, the feel on the guitar, everything was causing him pain.

Lilian was staring at him with eyes of pity as she could feel what he was going through. On the other hand, the bandmates of Ryzen were kinda impressed by what he was playing. Ryzen was smiling also.

But with the last sound, he recalled the voice of his dad playing in his ears. Dante took off the guitar and placed it in the hands of Lilian saying,'' I'm sorry. I can't do this anymore.''

He ran out of the room in a hurry. No one could stop him back then.