Chapter 8

It is said that music moves the soul. It calms the nerves and unites even the worst of enemies. For Derrick, classic music always made him feel a new sense of strength, he felt anew as if the world was light beneath his feet. The young man had been practising with Mr Henderson for two years. And his skill had greatly improved. His piano tutor was a man in his late 60's. He had a long beard, grey in colour. His hair was a neck long yet dyed in black. He preferred to wear formal and would always put on a bowtie. 

The old man was often strict with Derrick as he thought he was a lazy student, at first but then seeing how eager the young man was, he became slightly softer with him.

Derrick wanted to start competing with other countries but this meant that he had to train even harder to be eligible to compete. Things had become difficult now that he had been successfully enrolled to Regency Academy. He felt that much was expected to him. His schedule was almost always full and the only break he had was when it was when he had to eat lunch as well as at night when it was time to sleep. In total he's free time was only 3 hours, no more than that. 

Derrick was sitting at the piano bench, his fingers poised over the keys as he prepared to practise his lesson with Mr Henderson, his tutor. As he began to play, he couldn't help but think about Monah. His face brightened, he closed his eyes and reminisced about the moment he and the young woman were close together kissing. 

Mr Henderson wondered what was wrong with Derrick as he wasn't usually that way. The tutor was alarmed when the young man paused in his playing. 

"Can I ask you something?" Derrick asked. 

"Of course. What is bothering you? the tutor replied, his eyes focused on the sheet music in front of him.

" The thing is I met someone in chemistry class. She's quite special really. A flower to behold. A diamond that forever glows." 

Mr Henderson chuckled. 

"It sounds like you admire her." 

Derrick nodded. 

"She's worth the admiration. I wish you could see her. I think she may be the one.." 

"Then it is best to tell her how you feel." Said the tutor. 

The young man sighed. 

"I don't want to rush it just yet. I don't want to ruin our new friendship." 

Derrick turned his eyes to the sheet of notes and began to play the piano. The tutor corrected him here and there. 

The young man paused again. He began to laugh.. the tutor marvelled at his reaction. 

"I'm sorry Mr Henderson. I just can't forget Monah's reaction when I kissed her. She was so shocked. I think I took her by surprise." Said Derrick with a wide smile on his face.

"Should I give you a break so that you can call her on the phone?" The tutor asked. 

"No, we should continue." Derrick laughed. "Did I tell you that her ex sits a little behind us in chemistry class?" 

Mr Henderson breathed heavily. 

"No I didn't." He said slightly agitated. 

"He wanted to start a fight with me the other day." 

The tutor chuckled. 

Derrick called for a small break. He drank a bottle of water and smiled. 

Mr Henderson also took a drink then grabbed a bench to sit on. 

"You know you remind me of myself 23 years ago.. I too was in love." Said the tutor. 

"Oh really, with who because I've never seen you with a ring on your finger." 

"Her name was Sheridan. She was a little older than me but that did not stop me." 

"I bet she was beautiful but not as much as Monah" Derrick teased. 

Mr Henderson chuckled. 

"She was gentle hearted, to me that was beauty on its own." 

"Whoa. That's exactly how I see Monah. She is so beautiful and kind..". 

As they were speaking, Derrick's mother, Lillian burst into the room. She was a woman of imposing presence, with a stern expression on her face. 

Mr Henderson quickly stood up from his chair. 

"Mother, what are you doing here?" Derrick asked, alarmed. 

" Mr Henderson I need to speak with my son for a moment," she said, her voice firm but polite.

The tutor looked up from his piano and nodded.

"Of course, Mrs Olson. Please, go ahead." 

With that said, Mr Henderson excused himself out of the room until. 

Lillian sat down next to her son on the couch, her eyes fixed on him intensely. 

"Derrick, I need to talk to you about something important," she said, her voice low and serious.

The young man looked up at her, feeling a sense of unease. He knew that when his mother got that look on her face, it was usually a sign that she was about to deliver a stern lecture.

"What is it, Mother?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"I know that you might not like this, but I overheard your conversation with the tutor. Who is this Monah girl?"

Seeing that his mother had an angry expression, he decided to lie.. 

"She's my classmate, nothing more than that." 

"Don't lie to me. I heard the way you talked about her." 

Derrick stood up angrily. 

"You were eavesdropping on me?" 

Lillian folded her arms. 

"This is my house! I pay the bills here. Not you. I don't eavesdrop." She said

Derrick rolled his eyes. 

"Unbelievable." He said in a low voice. 

"I hope you know why I sent you to that school in the first place." Lillian pressed

"Because you wanted me to be like dad. Invent planes like he did." 

"I sent you there because I could see your talent for inventing. And I don't want that to go to waste. Forget about your Monah and start focussing on your school work. Don't throw away what I work so hard to support." 

Derrick felt his face grow hot with anger. 

"You speak like I'm not making any money for myself. I have the hotel. The only inheritance I got from dad and I run it not you." 

Lillian's expression turned cold. 

"Don't bring your father in this. Be responsible for once in your life and admit that you're wrong and I'm right." 

"You're not right. You're controlling. No wonder dad killed himself. He couldn't stand you." 

Lillian quickly and unexpectedly slapped Derrick across the face. 

A tear dropped from her eye. 

"Don't act like you know anything. You know nothing." She pressed then walked away. 

Derrick wiped off the tears in his own eyes. 

He returned to his seat and began to play the piano but his heart was in pain. He slammed his fist on the chair beside him just to help calm him down. 

Mr Henderson returned to the room. He could see the hurt in the young man's eyes. 

"We can do this again next time." Said the tutor. 

"No! Let's continue. I need to be perfect." 

The tutor continued in his lesson.. and made jokes in between. Which made Derrick feel better for the tutor was a funny man.