Title: A Butterfly, A Louvre, and (Not) A Freer (3-III/3-III)
Author: Heiji Hatsutori
Length: Three-shot
Genre: Angst (I guess all my stories are angst-y)
Proclaimed: I own them all, even the characters (take note I don't put the name whatsoever, so they can be consider as mine, no? LOL).
Paring: Just put anybody you like from any fandom existed (I'm only familiar with DBSK and SuJu fandom, really).
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters anymore if you decided to put your OTP or whoever in the fandom to the act. Though I would love to have them~ (seriously, who don't? LOL)
Rating: PG-13 (just because...)
Summary: Before the worst, before we met, before today, before too long
Let's try and take it back before it all went wrong
A/N: I rambles quite a lot at the bottom of this page...*gets bricked*
A BUTTERFLY, A LOUVRE, AND (NOT) A FREER
-Part 1- -Part 2- -Part 3-I [The world we knew won't come back]- -Part 3-II [The time we've lost can't get back]-
Part 3-III [The life we had won't be ours again]
Day 95
It is 5 days to go before the festival, not that he is counting. The bandage on her wrist seems to be less than the last time he notices it, and somewhere inside he feels glad. He eyes her smiling and laughing with her friends and cannot help but thinking if those is real or not. Immediately his mind flashes the image of her smiling at the rooftop before and he feels cold all of the sudden. This abrupt change of events is messing with his head and he still cannot believe that she manages to make him agree with the plan, but then, he thinks, the hollow expression he sees from her is too familiar, it caught him by surprise. Still, the thought of playing the piano shivers him up almost at an instant.
He is not lying when he said the song is finished. He hears it most of the time now and he did finish it a long time ago, back when it is just a normal school holiday while doing errands on the part-time job. He does not think he can play now though, it has been too little too long since he last did, he does not think he can afford to mess up the performance. He remembers her telling him that the piano she showed her before can be use if he wants a bit of practice but he does not think he can go to that room that casually, no.
He packs his things and heads to the rooftop, as usual. The wind blows soft, playing with his hair and uniform. From the bag he takes out the papers of the plan, laying it out before him. Everything about it screaming memories and he has this sudden urge to jump off the 4th floor. But then, now that he thinks clearly, everything starts to make sense. Everything is always there, while he is being oblivious to it all. The painting he once did for the Arts gallery is the spitting image of the poster, the tune is the song he wrote, and the white presence is her dancing in his dreams. He might not really forgotten it somehow, just buried somewhere along the way.
Maybe, just maybe, I can stop running now, he thinks.
He packs his things back and walks away, heading to the small room at the end of the hallway on the third floor.
Day 96
The anxious feeling starts building up inside and she knows that is not really a good sign. She has been looking for him since this morning and the piano guy is simply nowhere to be seen, much to her irritation. This guy really knows how to disappear; she remembers the seniors told her before and cannot help but agrees with them now.
Somehow, her legs bring her to the third floor, to her surprise. The hallway is deserted and she can hear a faint sound from the end of it. No way, she thinks. It could not have been...
She walks over to the room slowly, and through the small opening of the door, she peeks in, and a great sense of déja vu greets her all of the sudden.
“Want to come in?”
Behind her he stands, with a smiling eyes and a shy grin that is familiar to her years ago, and she has the great urge to cry but knows it will only make her feels bad, so she choke it all back down her throat.
“Yes.”
As she slowly closes the door, she can almost hear the voice of the seniors laughing past her ears.
Somehow, later, he manages to make her promise him that she will not come to the room again until after the festival finished, much to his amusement and her chagrin.
Day 97
He sits down by the door, leaning against it. He is alone, and knowing that she will not come gives him relief somehow. The piano is still there, tempting him. He has the urge to play, like always whenever he sees it but he always pulls back just when he almost hit the keys.
He remembers before when she briefly explains to him how the performance will go and how she has been staring a bit too often at him and the piano to the point it hurts. He promises her that he will go on with the plan, and he is not one to break promises, but still, this is beyond his reach. The light from the window baths the piano and the reflection of his mirrored on it as he tries real hard to keep his composure.
Worse, he knows he will not feel even better when night comes.
Day 98
She bumps into him first thing in the morning and a simple glance is enough to tell her that he is falling. He still keeps his calm demeanor and pretends that everything is going good but she knows fully well that it is not.
Hence the question, or rather the confirmation she asks.
“You haven’t hit a single key, do you?”
It hit him straight at the heart.
Day 99
Everything is crumbling.
They are at the rooftop now, his eyes unfocused and tired while another layer of bandage wraps tight on her wrist. They both know that they are at the edge, and it is whether now or never.
He falls on his back, eyes closed. His hands reach for a paper to hide his face from the sun. She hangs her head low, fingers trembling.
“We need to come clean with each other, for this to work, I think.”
She eyes him from the corner of her eyes.
“You have a point there.”
Day 100
There is still two hours to go. They decided to give it a shot, regardless of how it will turn out to be. She refuses his offer to help preparing the stage until the last minute, saying it will steal the magic. He seriously has no idea what does she means by that and decides to focus on the song instead. There is another piano to be used for the performance so he can have the one in the small room as much as he wants. Still, it is not that he can use it yet, so he just takes a walk around the school.
This is crazy, he thinks. But then, he who agrees to it must be much worse, no?
The sun is shining bright, and the wind blows softly, that he feels his eyes become heavy. He feels somebody shakes him up moments later so he must be sleeping now. But then, he does not remember sleeping at all. He blinks once, and he can see her, worry paints up her face.
“Are you okay?”
He only manages to nod twice and gets up. They are at the rooftop, and he sure feels damn confused now. Why and how in the whole world am I here, his mind screams.
“This is taking its toll on you, I’m so selfish. Let’s just call it quits and...”
“No.”
“But you...”
“We’re doing it, might as well get this over with, no?”
She grips her hand tight, and nods.
“We’re going to hospital after this, no buts. I know you’re not well.”
He simply smirks at the remark.
“Yes, and I can see a new bandage there.”
They smile truthfully at each other and both he and she know that the smile is real, especially when it has a similar expression in the eyes.
*******
He stays in a small room backstage as she prepares the last setting for the performance. Most of the people helping her are her friends and some guys from the class and whenever he voices his desire to help he will get himself rejected flat on the face, not like he does not know he will.
When it is finally their turn, she calls him out and all the helpers are smiling knowingly at him, much to his dismay. He does not know what did she told them and he does not think he wants to know.
He reaches the side of the stage and he can see her at the middle of it, in a white dress, her long hair is let loose on her back. A piano is at the end side of the stage and the only spotlight used bathes on it dimly from afar, making it looks like it was just sunlight from a random window, which makes him, cringed at the sight.
It is familiar, too familiar in fact. With the curtains still closed, it feels like a carbon copy of the room he left years ago. Her eyes caught him and when she smiles, pointing at the piano, he feels his body shivers. The floor is messed with sketches, his sketches and the piano, is eerily the same like the one he used to play. He can almost sees them smiling and waving at him, their laughter ringing in his ears. He walks slowly to the piano and when he past her, there is a whisper.
“It’s that one all right. Play, senior.”
He loses it. And he knows it well when there is no trace of hesitation in his voice.
“Okay.”
The curtain rises.
Day 123
He packs his things and notices yet another note for him beneath the canvas. Ever since the festival his quiet school life seems to be disappearing altogether. He remembered playing the piano, he remembered hitting each key, and he remembered the tears of the whole audience as they clapped and give them a standing ovation.
He remembered crying himself, too, not that he is telling.
She packs her things and notices yet another note for her beneath the text books. Ever since the festival she has become happier and more honest with herself. She remembered dancing on the round stage, she remembered each steps, and she remembered hearing the cheer from years ago fresh in her ears, drowning the whole hall in front of her.
She remembered crying herself, too, not that she is telling.
Day 149
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I know it will eventually be like this sooner or later.”
The look on the doctor’s face is expected and she can feel his grip on her shoulder tightens. She should be crying, but somehow, she does not do so. Her hand unconsciously grips her legs and she can feel it grows heavy at an instant.
Day 2++
“This is the first time I’m here.”
“Me too.”
The sky is clear, and he feels himself at ease. Walking slowly up the hill, he takes up the surroundings. This place is still the same just like when he left years ago.
“Let’s walk faster.”
“Sure.”
She can see a big shady tree that looks like an enormous umbrella in front and knows that they are near now. She smiles at him and glad to see it reciprocated. Their pace slows and she can see two white tombs lying beside one another under the tree.
“You sure you’re okay?”
“Of course.”
“No, not that, I mean...”
“Of course. I’m fine.”
He smiles reassuringly and she knows immediately that he means it. They put a bunch of Iris on each tomb and sitting quietly for a moment, both having no words to say.
Eventually, he starts off.
“I should have come sooner. I...we’re sorry. So many things happened and...”
He never finishes it. Neither does her.
Day -864
“Don’t stop...”
The rain may drown the next words though.
“...believing.”
Day 99
“Let’s finish this, once and for all. Maybe, just maybe, if we did, things will be much better than now.”
He exhales deeply and let it all out of his system. She nails it perfectly, he thinks. It has been too long already after all.
“Maybe this time we can really let go.”
He nods.
Day 92
“Make sure you have a proper sleep. If the situation keeps worsening I might have you stay in ward for a couple of days. You have to have a grip on reality, trust yourself, okay?”
“I’m not crazy.”
“Wait! Your medicine!”
“I don’t need that, at any rate it won’t save me anyway. I still might cut myself up.”
His doctor gives him a smile.
Her doctor frowns at her.
They both turn the opposite direction and see each other.
Day 82
He lays down on his back, unable to move. His head hurts and dizzy and he can feel the world spinning beneath him. He tries to close his eyes but it only makes it worse so he drops the idea off. There are images in his head for sure and there are moments of gold and there are flashes of light and-
He knows that he is awake, but then he is dreaming, so does that mean he has been sleeping? Heck, he does not even care anymore. One thing for sure, he remembers something, everything, and he feel both bitter and twisted in the gut.
Maybe I am crazy, he thinks.
Day 54
She leans on the cold wall, her body stiffens. It hurts, her heart, her head, everything. She tries to close her eyes but all the images are haunting her now. All the memories from years ago are attacking her and she feels herself suffocating.
Her visions turns into nothing but red, her hands, her clothes, her books, her wall, everything. She reaches for a mirror, a glass, anything and finds a knife, which surprisingly shiny and not red. When she comes back to her senses, the only thing red is her wrist and a part of her clothes from the dripping crimson red liquid.
I am going crazy, she thinks.
Day 12
She is not one for assumption. If there is something she is unsure or doubts, she will go at extra lengths to find the answers. Like now, when everybody is busy spreading rumors about the disbanding of Ballet Club, she makes the next best move, she goes straight to the club advisor.
“I’m sorry.”
She goes back to her empty apartment to pack her things and ready to transfer schools. Luckily she already applied to many schools, and receives offers back beforehand. She settles the office documents and whatnot and takes the first train leaving the town.
She does not say goodbye to everybody, not like she have anybody to leave and say farewell to at first place.
Day 1
It was a dream.
She does not quite sure at first, but when her legs gives out in the middle of the routine it becomes clear enough for her to understand. Still, even after repeating the examination a few times later she refuses to believe it. She blames it on the long walk she has to take to reach school every morning; due to lack of bus or any transport at the area.
“I suggest you to meet an osteopath.”
She deliberately closes her ears, heart, and mind.
“You might not be able to dance again.”
She did not buy any of it.
Before the worst, before we met, before today, before too long
Let's try and take it back before it all went wrong
A/N (or rambles): Yes, that's it people. THE END! *cheers* Thanks a lot for following this till the end with me, your support and encouragement, I'll held them dear forever! Special thanks to
Nazo,
Saise/Kimmy Ai,
Didy and my imouto Ainin for the enormous support and not giving up on this lazy writer and bugging me till I finish this xD
This is the first time I'm writing a 3-shot, usually I just end it quickly as one-shot I'm lazy like that or end up writing too much like Literally, but that's a different story, of course. What makes this more special is, I, at one point, always plan out the ending, regardless of how the story is, the ending is usually fixed thus the cliffhanger and whatnot but somehow, I can't seem to able to do same with this one. I have to admit even I am surprised with how it turns out to be, and I'm super satisfied with it, especially when I can include a lot of song lyrics in certain parts. Heck, I have a special playlist just for this! XD
I'm really, really glad with this but then this is worthless if there's nobody reading it, so finally, thanks a lot to YOU who reads this! I'll try my best in my next stories so do continue take care of me. Thanks! *bows*
Any confusions, suggestions or questions? Feel free to comment me and ask! ^^
xoxo