Professor F

Chapter 63

August sent Flynn a message but he didn't send any reply. She then spent the morning with her family

and relatives. They decided to go grocery shopping while she's left with the kids.

She heard from her Aunt Ruth that Pierre's band is practicing until the Thanksgiving concert. She didn't

bother messaging him after what happened. She didn't ask about him and he wasn't with his

bandmates practicing when she was asked by her Aunt Ruth to bring them snacks since her secretary

called in sick.

She was thankful somehow. She wasn't sure how they'd interact after what happened.

It's the day before Thanksgiving when her Aunt Ruth asked her if she wants to join her watch a music

competition since her parents and Uncle Jim are all busy with work and the tickets gifted to her would

be a waste. Grey and Tucker will be staying with the kids so she agreed to accompany her.

It is a classical music competition so she had to dress for the occasion and forget about her

comfortable sneakers, jeans and hoodie. She's wearing a black off shoulder knee length dress and

stilettos while her Aunt Ruth wears a silver below the knee long sleeve dress paired with her silver

heels.

Her Aunt Ruth drives her husband's black car and when they arrived, she saw the people wearing

formal dresses and tuxedos heading towards the music hall entrance. They went to take their seats

next to her Aunt Ruth's colleagues and friends.

"One of my colleague's niece will be joining the competition." Aunt Ruth exclaimed. "She was the one

who gave me the tickets. We're just in time for the competition to start."

The lights on the stage dimmed as the host welcomes the guests. She loves listening to music but

she's not a classical music junkie. The first competitor played the piano which she enjoyed. The

audience gave a warm of applause.

The next competitor played the violin and she admired how beautifully it was done by the young kid. It

was so good she couldn't take her eyes off of her on the stage.

She joined the audience in clapping their hands before the next competitor was called on stage.

And she's beyond disbelief. She saw Pierre on stage wearing a black tuxedo, sitting on a chair with a

cello in front of him. Her mouth dropped in shock.

"A—August, isn't that your schoolmate Pierre?" Aunt Ruth asked her in awe.

All she could do is nod at her as Pierre started to play his piece. He really looked good and he plays so

well, too. His music was so soft that she felt the sadness in his music.

Her eyes were glued to him and she only realized it's over when people gave him a standing ovation,

even her Aunt Ruth rises to her feet and clapping her hands.

She stands up and only looked away from the stage when Pierre left for the exit and she could hear her

Aunt Ruth sniffed. She then hands her a tissue.

"W—What's that for?" She asked.

"You're also in tears, dear." Her Aunt Ruth said.

"W—What?" She touches her right cheek and realized her tears. "I didn't—"

"You were moved, too? I didn't realize how good Pierre is with his music until now. For a cello, at that!

He's an amazing kid. I'm looking forward to their performance tomorrow although it may not be as

moving as this. We should see him after the competition and maybe have dinner with—"

Her Aunt Ruth's word faded as her thoughts lingered on Pierre's sad performance. What is it? I know

I've felt that same kind of sadness from him in the past.

Then she remembered the night of the concert when he said something about the people he loves

being taken by someone or something, when he said the last song was about her.

That's it! That was the same sadness!

She wondered what happened that made him this sad.

Who was it? What happened?

He never mentioned this to her in his emails and settled telling her that he's busy with practice. He also

didn't say anything when her Aunt Ruth invited him and his band for dinner at their house.

So it seemed to her that he's keeping this side of him from people he knows.

Why do I have this feeling that he really planned joining this competition and used the band as an

excuse to come here?

Her Auth Ruth insisted to wait for Pierre when the competition ended. Too bad, Pierre and her Aunt

Ruth's niece didn't win the first prize but it was a very memorable experience for her.

She was quietly standing next to her Aunt Ruth. She told Flynn about her attending with her aunt so

Flynn never bothered sending her any messages.

"Oh! There he is!" Aunt Ruth said in jest and grabbed her arm to approach Pierre who now changed his

clothes—wearing his University hoodie, jeans and sneakers while carrying his cello on the back and his

backpack.

He looked surprised to see them, almost looking pale. She saw him taking a step back and halted with

his look pinned on her.

Pierre had no choice but greet them and bowed his head. Her Aunt Ruth kept talking about how good

his performance was and invited him to dinner. All she did was watch Pierre as he avoided looking in

her eyes.

"What do you think, Pierre?" Aunt Ruth asked.

He kept quiet for a few seconds.

She took that chance to speak. "Congratulations, Pierre! It was a wonderful performance." She smiled

at him. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

For the first time, he looks at her in the eyes and saw how his expression softened and nodded at

them. "Thank you, and yes, it would be nice to have dinner with you." He agreed but it seemed to her

that he's only saying it to her.

"I'll get the car." Aunt Ruth said and left them.

She cleared her throat and suddenly felt the awkwardness filling the air between them. "I d—didn't

know you play the cello."

He smiled. "No one knows until today."

She looked at him. "W—Why? I mean, you're so good with the cello. You should pursue it besides the

band!"

He stared at her, as if she said something surprising then he smiled, looking away from her eyes. "You

think?"

She looked at him and saw his smile still not reaching his eyes. "I don't see any reason for you not to.

Is this the reason why you needed tutoring?"

He chuckled, and again she could still the sadness in his eyes. "Yes. Since the accident, I—" He

stopped, realizing he's starting to open up to her. He cleared his throat. "I—I'm sorry. I—I was, what I

mean is,"

She smiled. "It's okay, Pierre. We don't need to talk about it."

They were both quiet while waiting for her Aunt Ruth. She then saw her Aunt Ruth driving turning

towards them from the parking area. She was about to step forward for them to wait near the curb

when Pierre started talking.

"She was my music teacher back in London and my girlfriend. S—She was the one who encouraged

me to learn cello and we're supposed to study music together but she had an accident."

"Where is she now?"

He smiled sadly, almost in tears. "She can't remember who I was."