8 Airi

The sky was glowing behind his back. The lovely color of tangerine dying the afternoon sky. The noises of the students by the hallway, the stairs, and the school yard.

It was summer of my second year in high school. Another four days before the first term ended and we welcomed our summer break.

His arms were around me, hugging me tenderly as if I was a delicate being that a little force from him might break me.

He rested his head atop mine as I rested my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeats.

It was just us inside the classroom. No words. Just silence.

I opened my eyes and took a peak over his shoulder at the school gate. Everyone was leaving. I wasn't sure what was it I was feeling to suddenly stretch my hands and grab a tight hold of the man in front of me. It was like a reflex. My hands squeezed his shirt.

I heard the small chuckled that escaped from him. His breath tickled my ear.

I smiled shyly. Although he couldn't see it, but I was sure he noticed the smile because the next thing I knew his hand was caressing my hair. Maybe I was strange but I always enjoyed the feeling of him rubbing my head.

I let him did his thing as I looked up at the sky. Staring at the cloud, my mind began to wonder at the thought of cotton candy.

"Lian-ge?" Finally, I broke the silence.

"Hmm?"

"Are we still going to buy cotton candy?"

He giggled. I knew he was gonna laugh at me. He slowly let go of his hold and gazed at me.

"Let's go?" I asked.

He caressed my cheek. "We still have time."

I blinked. At first I wasn't sure what he meant. Then a thought came to me.

'Ah, he means the shop closing time.'

"Airi."

"Yeah?"

"Shall we relax in the class for a while before going?"

I nodded right away. I could see from his eyes, he wanted to stay alone with me a little bit longer. How could I deny it?

I also wanted to be with him a little while longer.

"Ah!" I exclaimed all of the sudden.

His eyebrow rose.

"Let's go to the music room!" I excitedly swing his hands. "It's been a while since I heard you play."

He sighed helplessly at me. "What does my little Airi want to hear today?"

I thought hard for a moment. I wasn't familiar with classical songs which he was good at and I also didn't want to hear pop songs. My forehead knitted into a frown.

All of a sudden, I felt a cold touch on my forehead. I looked up and saw Lian-ge was brushing his index finger on my skin to ease the wrinkle.

"Why are you thinking so hard, Airi?" He chuckled.

"Because it's been a while and I want to hear a good one from you, Lian-ge. I always love the way you play the piano. That's why I don't want to waste this opportunity."

There was a pin drop silence after I said that. I stared at Lian-ge who appeared speechless. His eyes weren't looking at me. He was looking down at the floor.

I tilted my head in confusion. Before I got to say anything, he rubbed my head.

"Silly, Airi. Come, I'll play you a song."

"What song?" I asked curiously as we walked hand-in-hand towards the music room.

"Don't worry. You'll love it," he said, tapping his index finger on my nose.

"Okay."

I excitedly headed towards the music room on the second floor with Lian-ge. Our fingers were intertwined with each other as we walked down the hallway.

We chatted about small things until we reach the music room. As soon as we entered, the first thing I saw was a grand black piano sitting quietly in the middle of the room.

I quickly dragged Lian-ge and sat him on the stool while I took another chair and sat not too far away from him, hugging my backpack on my lap.

Afterwards, my eyes were fixed on him and the piano.

"All set, Princess?" He asked with an amused voice.

I nodded vigorously. "Yep!"

I watched as he turned his attention towards the keyboard and his delicate fingers touched the black and white keys. They danced fluently on the keyboard with every moves of his fingers creating a sweet melodious song.

It was a slow piece but held a powerful emotion in every strand of its tune. It was what made the song different, alive.

The evocation of joy in my heart that beat along the taste of melancholy as I listened to his melody was like an addiction. I was craving for more.

I was an amateur but even I realized at this point, how pleasantly endearing this piece was.

I was mesmerized, entranced, and lost in words. And without a moment of notice, the tears trickled down my cheeks along with a smile, an expression hovering between sadness and joy.

I never knew a song could make you feel like this. A dozen of feelings invading your heart at the same time.

In that moment, I had a thought, if words could move people, music was what made them persist.

As the song continued to fill up every corner of the room, my eyes remained unmoved from the figure in front of the piano.

His expression was serene. Occasionally a slight smile would blossom on his face as he closed his eyes, enjoying the song and the moment he shared with me.

Whenever his deep gaze found mine, he held for a second longer. I could feel the bare affection in his eyes holding out to me.

I couldn't bear it. I couldn't bear the strong emotion buried in that pair of eyes. So I closed mine and pretended to enjoy the song.

But even then, I could sense the prickling of his intense gaze. My heart trembled.

It seemed... I had fallen in love all over again. I truly was a foolish girl.

Only when the music stopped, I finally opened my eyes. I looked up at him. Our gaze was instantly interlocked.

"Do you like it?" He asked.

"Very much. What's the title?"

He smiled.

"Airi."