Deep Down Part 2

Elliot stood alongside Luna in the quiet hallway of the fourth floor that felt oddly spacious and empty, just outside the room with a white door. Unlike the lower levels, where classrooms buzzed with life, this floor seemed almost abandoned. From what he had heard, the rooms up here were reserved for various clubs or perhaps extracurricular activities—maybe even counseling sessions—but he wasn't entirely sure.

The lack of students and the hushed atmosphere only added to the mystery, leaving him to wonder what exactly took place behind these closed doors of the silent rooms.

The moment Luna pushed open the door and stepped inside with him, Elliot followed, only for the door to close softly behind them. As the quiet enclosed them, a strange mix of emotions stirred within him—surprise, certainly, but also something deeper, and something unexpected.

A faint sense of nostalgia settled over him, creeping in like a long-lost memory just out of reach, and stirring feelings he hadn't anticipated.

At the heart of the room sat a sleek, modern white piano, its polished surface gleaming under the soft overhead light. The space itself wasn't particularly large, yet it never felt cramped either—just the right size to settle into with ease. There was a quiet sense of balance here, an atmosphere that invited comfort without feeling too open or too confined.

"Wow… how did you know…" Elliot began, a broad smile spreading across his face as he strode toward the piano with his excitement evident. Yet, the moment his fingers brushed against its smooth surface; his words faltered with a sudden wave of emotion catching him off guard. Turning his gaze toward Luna, he found her standing there casually with hands tucked into the pockets of her jeans, and her expression unreadable.

"You seemed like the type… to enjoy music," she replied impassively, her tone calm and matter-of-fact. "So, I thought this room might be a place where you could not only enjoy yourself but also have the time to… clear your thoughts."

Elliot nodded, his fingers lingering on the piano's smooth surface before glancing back at Luna. Curiosity flickered in his eyes as he asked, "Then… can I really play it? Are students even allowed to? I mean, other than those officially enrolled in the club?" His voice carried both eagerness and hesitation, unsure if this moment of unexpected opportunity was truly his to take.

Luna gave a slight shrug while nodding as she replied casually, "Go ahead. No one's going to stop you. The classical music club became unofficial a long time ago, so there aren't any students left who actually enjoy playing the piano. That's why this room has been left abandoned." Her tone was indifferent, but there was an underlying truth in her words—this space, once filled with music, had long been forgotten because of the change in tastes and trends.

Elliot let out a quiet, "Oh," in response before lowering himself onto the cushioned piano stool. Its sleek, white rectangular design indicated it was meant for two, though he was the only one seated now. Despite the thin layer of dust coating the piano, he paid it no mind, his fingers instinctively pressing a few keys to test its condition. The rich, resonant notes filled the air, and to his satisfaction, the instrument sounded as pristine as if it were brand new.

With an endearing smile, Elliot let his fingers glide over the keys, easing into the melody as if reacquainting himself with an old friend.

The notes flowed effortlessly, each one drawing him deeper into the music until he lost himself completely in its rhythm. It had been so long since he last played, yet with every touch, he felt more in sync with the instrument, as if no time had passed at all.

He only stopped when a sudden warmth enveloped his shoulders, causing his heart to skip a beat.

It was then he realized—Luna had settled beside him, her presence quiet yet a little too acknowledgeable. She was no longer wearing her coat, having it draped over his shoulders so he wouldn't feel any colder than he already did.

The gesture was subtle, but it carried a warmth beyond just fabric, one that lingered in the silence between them and etched itself on his heart.

"Oh, you don't have to…" Elliot fumbled over his words, his voice trailing off as warmth crept up his cheeks. The moment he met Luna's gaze—calm and expressionless—he felt even more flustered for some reason. But then, just as unexpectedly, a small smile tugged at her lips and without a word, she reached out with her fingers being gentle as they ruffled through his hair in a soothing motion, making his chest bloom with unseen warmth.

"Don't worry," she murmured, her touch lingering for a moment as she added, "I'm not cold."

'BADUM...'

'BADUM...!'

'BADUM!'

Elliot felt the wild rhythm of his heartbeat pounding in his chest with each thud echoing louder than the last. For a moment, he wondered if his heart had finally lost its sense of reason—perhaps after enduring so much from such a young age, it had simply decided to go crazy out of nowhere.

Pushing aside his foolishly erratic heart for a moment, Elliot found himself wondering—had she noticed him shivering earlier? Dressed in nothing but a beige full-sleeve shirt, skinny blue jeans, and sneakers, he had done little to shield himself from the cold. Not that he could help it—he had forgotten his jacket at home before leaving, something that had become a habit whenever his mind was too preoccupied to focus on the little necessities. It wasn't the first time, and he doubted it would be the last. 

With a bashful smile, he gave a small nod and murmured, "Thank you. Please let me know… when you're cold, so you can—"

Before he could finish, Luna interrupted him by calling his name with her voice effortlessly silencing his words.

"Elliot."

Her voice was calm yet firm as she spoke his name before lowering her arm and resting her cheek against her fist atop the piano. The simple movement held an air of quiet confidence, one that made Elliot instinctively fall silent with his attention drawn entirely to her.

Then, as her cold yet subtly gentle eyes locked onto his slightly wavering ones, he found himself unable to look away.

"Don't worry," she said, her tone steady, unwavering. "I told you already."

For a fleeting moment, Elliot felt as though the room had grown colder with an almost eerie chill settling around him.

But he quickly brushed it off as nothing more than his imagination. With a warm smile, he gave a small nod to Luna even though an inexplicable shiver ran down his spine which left him unsettled for a moment.

Still, he turned back to the piano, letting his fingers find their place on the keys once more. As the melody resumed, his heart stubbornly refused to settle and pounded faster than its usual rhythm, as if responding to something unseen.

"You're pretty good at this. Do you perhaps, still practice?" Luna asked, her voice softer than usual—an exhausting effort, maybe, since gentleness and consideration weren't exactly second nature to her.

Yet, despite that, she wasn't all that bad at it—at least, not when it came to Elliot.

Elliot shook his head gently before replying in a soft voice, "Not really. The last time I played was back in high school. I always loved it as a hobby—it used to calm me down—but then… life got super busy. Things changed, and before I knew it, I had graduated. I guess I just never found the time to play again… well, not until today."

Luna hummed thoughtfully, her gaze lingering on him as the soft melody filled the room. As she listened, she finally remarked, "It seems you have a talent for playing emotional pieces… but your music carries a certain sadness. And it's tinged with a touch of quiet melancholy if I'm not wrong."

Elliot frowned slightly, though a small smile still played on his lips as he turned to Luna with his fingers never faltering on the piano keys. "I didn't realize someone could actually tell that the piece I'm playing is both sad and emotional," he admitted. "Back in the day, my friend Sam used to say, it sounded a little emotional, but he never mentioned anything about it being sad."

A thoughtful small chuckle escaped him before he added, "Maybe no one ever pointed it out because Sam's a bit of a fool when it comes to music—easygoing and not the most perceptive type. Besides, I always played after school… usually when it rained. So, in the end, no one had ever truly listened to me play the piano."

Elliot's smile grew just a little wider, though his eyes remained soft with a tad bit of overwhelming emotions as he added, "But then again, this is the only piece I've ever been able to play… even now."

Luna tilted her head slightly with a hint of bafflement sparkling in her eyes before she asked, "Why is that?"

Elliot's fingers stilled on the keys as he turned his full attention to her, and for a brief moment, Luna found herself caught off guard.

The sunlight streaming through the windows bathed him in a golden glow, making his light brown hair appear almost like warm blond silk. The soft rays danced in his honey-brown eyes, causing them to shimmer with flecks of iridescent color as if holding a quiet universe within them.

And then he smiled—a smile too sorrowful for someone with such delicate and almost ethereal features.

"That's because," he murmured, his voice gentle yet tinged with something unspoken, "this is the only piece I ever created."