Forbidden Melody

His dark eyes roam over me from head to toe and I suppress the urge to not squirm under his fiery gaze. "Yeah I am. I'll be waiting for you." He throws the maroon colored green vine printed shirt back on and leaves.

Only me, Levi and the servants. Levi sits beside me at the table. Ahh...stop it my stupid heart. I sip the plain green tea, asking, "I don't see Myria today."

Levi stops chewing his toast to answer me. "She's gone to meet Aiden."

"This early?"

"It's ten of the morning Loretta..."

"Then why breakfast is this late?" I forget to control my lips yet again. Then I correct myself, "Must be something to do with my old timey mood swings huh..." I laugh awkwardly.

"Young Lady, breakfast used to be at 8 of the morning. Then oneday you suddenly got so angry yelling you don't want to get up so early. So you ordered us to change the time to 10. It's been like this for more than a year," Sofia fills me in. This Loretta's had anger issues, hadn't she?

"Guess she's hungry today," Jeremy, the youngest housekeeper comments. He's not usually talkative.

"And you're talking today huh." I couldn't help teasing him. Jeremy could be above 25, two years older than my previous age. His work in this mansion mostly includes serving food and watering the backyard plants and flowers.

This time Levi gives me a bland look while Jeremy continues serving salads without replying to my teasing remark. Suddenly I'm hit by another possibility that perhaps Loretta had something to do with Jeremy's silent demeanor around me. And I'm not so excited by the foods all of a sudden. I finish the remaining of the orange juice and stand up.

"Um...aren't you gonna finish your breakfast?" Levi puts his fork down.

"I don't feel so hungry anymore."

Jeremy hastens to me. "I apologise Miss Loretta. I shouldn't have said that..."

A crease forms on my forehead which I even out using my thumb and index. "It's not about you Jerry."

Suddenly Jeremy's eyes shoot up, looking utterly shocked, as if hearing Jerry. Why did I even call him Jerry? "I just lost my appetite." I stand up abruptly and leave. But their dumbfounded gazes follow me straight to my room.

I sigh locking the door. After sometime I hear whispers just outside of my room. "Should I apologize again?" Jeremy whispers. "If she said it's not about you then stop overthinking silly," Sophia whispers back. "But she has never called me Jerry. Is she super upset for some reason? I have been in this house for more than 5 years Sophia and she never had this depth in her voice. You seeing anything different?"

"Maybe that's just your imagination...Jerry," she teases him by stretching at the end of his name.

Crap... different he says? How long would I be able to keep up with this facade?

I hear them scrambling down the stairs and give a sigh of relief. I really need to listen to her old piano pieces.

I stand outside Mr. Morgasson's room vacillating whether I should go in or not. I have seen him before but we haven't talked yet. On Myria's account I learnt that he care about me and that he was terribly upset and worried. It's just his legs don't allow him to climb up and down the stairs. I take a long breath then peek into his room. He's laid on the bed staring at the ceiling. He is not asleep. When I think of backing off and come another time when he'd be asleep, he calls out to me. 

"Lori, my child...took you so long to visit me huh... Come inside."

I hope he's not too upset with me. I edge closer to his bed with ease steps. Finally I look at his face. There are bags under his eyes and he's got glasses—the frame's beautiful. Even though he's old enough it's evident that he was a total Hunk in his days. He gestures me to sit. "Heard Levi's keeping you company. Hope that boy's not giving you troubles. Though he is capable I know," he says with a tired yet firm voice.

I smile. "Honestly having Levi as a companion couldn't impossibly ever trouble anyone. Mr. Morgasson crooks is nose. "Of all people, you are saying this?" Ha ha."

Oh boy... I don't know what he implied. Did Loretta have a strained relationship with Levi too? Is this why he acts so distant and weird around me? So many loose ends ah... 

I decide to change the topic. "So Mr...err... Grandpa, how are you really?"

He pouts. "Shouldn't I be asking this?"

"Ehh...I feel fine. I'm good," I manage my sincerest grin. "I composed this new piece, Death of a Nightingale. I think things are gonna get better for good."

He raises his hands to cup my checks in an adorable manner saying, "I do wanna believe you my child."

I revolve my eyes around the room when I notice a steel shelf of which second part a bunch of cassettes inclined in a line. I steel myself from him to walk over there. "Grandpa, this shelf has my... do you listen to them often?"

"Ah...those are just my favourites my dear. The other ones are in that almirah," he answers with a nostalgic gleam in his eyes. "Yes I listen to them... I love the older and the earlier ones, the melancholic ones. Aha...let me recall the album name." He removes his glasses then massages his temple. In the mean time I take out some of the cassettes from the shelf to inspect them. I begin to read the tities from their outer body.

"Ah got it!" He exclaims. "Ashes to the Ocean. That's the first album. You remember that, don't you? It's been a long seven years."

Wow...this Loretta sure is a passionate pianist huh... Ashes to the Ocean—sounds really faraway...distant and lonely. I want to listen to this.

After fidgeting my fingers around this particular cassette for a while I muster up my guts to ask, "Would you mind if I take these for some days? I want to...reminiscence those old memories."

He gives me a skeptical look then agrees. "Just return them once you're done please. You may had had composed them yourself but these are very dear to me."

"Understood." I gather them in my arms and take my leave quickly.

••••

For the next few days I listen to Loretta's piano pieces. I liked Ashes to the Ocean in G minor. Levi—busy and distant in these days. Maybe something related to his dad? 

Another day has passed and I can't help feeling a bit bored. I mean surely I won't be playing piano all the time?! I was thinking all these when my phone rings. Who could be now? I have always loved my afternoons all by myself and now the peace is disturbed. I pick up the call from the unknown number though I get a feeling that perhaps Loretta knew this number... After all the previous phone broke.

"Hello."

"Hello. Miss Knight, how pleasant to hear your voice. I hope I didn't disturb you. We really need a moment with you," the manly voice requests. There is someone else whispering beside them.

"What is it?" I ask him in anticipation for I don't know what the matter will be.

"So...we all have...err...heard about the delicate situation Miss Knight and our deepest apology for we couldn't see through your facade of happiness..." The man stops for a moment, perhaps choosing what to say next. I realise that he's talking about Loretta's suicide attempt.

"We waited... Two weeks. But I guess time is precious huh. I hope the contract didn't slip from your mind Miss Knight. We are just waiting for your come back," he politely adds.

Contract? What contract?! Aghh... I guess life's never easy. Whether rich or broke... Now how am I supposed to ask for anyone's help in this situation?

The call hasn't ended yet. I hear another woman telling that man, "Give me the phone Lloyd." Then she speaks in an equal polite tone, "Loretta, I hope you are faring well. Forgive Lloyd's curtness; even though we all know time is precious...but we wouldn't want to rush you. But I just want to ask about that music which you wanted to compose for Aiden. I know things didn't turn out...well. But if it doesn't bother you...did you happen to work it? You know before all that, you dedicated all your time to finish it. So..."

She waits for me to speak but I find my throat becoming hard and dry like a piece of wood. "Uhh...I am on it actually. But I just need few weeks more."

I hope no one especially Aiden lets the air out that I have already finished it.

"Alright. Would three weeks be sufficient? Because your concert is supposed to be held in August...according to the contract."

And this is barely the first week of July. they really can't give me rest huh... Not even a month. I wonder if I have the contact copy in this house somewhere. I really need to see what else is in there. "Okay...I guess. If that's all this is about, I have understood. Now can I be excused?"

"Sure. Apologies again Miss Knight for calling at this hour. Have a nice evening."

Levi...can I ask Levi? Or Myria? Documents like this should be... I remember noticing a locked mini compact cabinet at the backside of the piano room. But where are the keys?

I search any possible places in the house but find nothing...not even a file or something that can be marked as 'Important document'. I slump down on the long plush sofa near the balcony. From here one can get the full view of the garden. And it's a nice place to get a bit of fresh air or to think. But right now I couldn't get any...for my mind is in knots. "Ahh...who has the keys?!" I speak out loud in frustration. 

"What key?" A voice that I have come to know well in these days, echoes behind me. Levi! Where was he for the last few days? I hardly saw him. 

But I quell my frustration and growing excitement then turn around. "Nothing important."

"Doesn't look like it. You got creases 'tween your brows."

"And you're here to ask me why I have creases 'tween my brows?" I try not to show my emotions but I really missed his company.

"I only will ask what's bothering you?" I see his eyes giving attention to mine perfectly.

"Will it change anything?"

He comes to stand next to me, close to the balcony. "Maybe not but who knows? Perhaps I'll end up lending some of yours?" His puzzled reply brings a lopsided grin on my face. I recall Lloyd's name and the matter in hand.

"Lloyd called a while ago," I answer. "About my August concert." I feel thankful for that woman mentioned Lloyd...otherwise I wouldn't be able to tell him who called me then.

"And..? Do you think it'll be...too stressful?" He gives my elbow a gentle nudge. "I know you're tougher. Concerts are no groundbreaking feat for you. But I understand if you feel you need more time. Trust me I know the feeling."

"No, you don't! Otherwise you couldn't have disappeared for five days!" I curse myself for not shutting my mouth.

Levi's pupil dilate and for a few minutes he doesn't speak. Then he speaks in undertone, "I guess we both need to go out for a while. Would you like to..?"

I nod agreeing with him.

So it's a cottage. From outside it looks quite spacious and wide spread. Levi drove us in this secular solitude embraced place. Took us half an hour.

"So peaceful... I feel...like if I even breathe a bit faster or louder than usual, the peace will be shaken."

"This used to be my art teacher's house."

"Where's she now?" I ask raking my eyes over the outer cornice of the cottage house.

He without steeling his eyes away from the fern covered main gate of the house answers, "He passed away three years ago. He had no family. He loved me dearly and made me the heir of his little remains."

"Wow...that's... You never told me this." I immediately regret what slipped off my tongue. Maybe Loretta knew about this already but forgot? Ah...now I'll be in trouble. But thankfully it never comes.

He opens the gate. "You never asked anything about me."

What...really? Why? Now I really want to know how long Loretta and Levi are known to each other... And even if it's long enough, I bet she knew nothing about him.

We enter into the cottage house. The insides are really on a different plane. Polished vintage wooden floor, furnitures, a medium sized chandelier, a worn out yet beautiful white fall leaves printed table cloth covering the mahogany table, big wooden framed glass casement windows with three bonsai near it. A thin line of the afternoon sun entering through the almost shut window, a couch old enough to be eaten away at some parts of the legs by termites, a night lamp on a short table and lastly an eye catching book shelf. 

I'm so engulfed by this woody old vibes that I forget to sit. My zoning out breaks at Levi's comment, "Why don't you take a seat?" 

He glances at my way, now I perceive a lostness in his eyes. "Is something the matter?"

"I just didn't think..." He hesitates.

"That I'd love this place?"

He tilts his head at the left. "Right."

"Why..? I've always loved places like this... Forests...woods..." I can't help clicking my tongue again for another tongue-slip moment.

"Last I knew you didn't like forests." He comes to stand near the now open window. "A particular unknown plant once gave you allergies... And you hated mossy woody fragrance."

Ahh...knew this! That stupid Loretta indeed was my polar opposite. To avoid the matter I inch closer to him. "Why did you stop?" I ask putting my hand on the window frame.

"Stop what?"

"Art?"

"It wasn't my passion. I just kinda felt intrigued by it at that time. I don't know... Maybe Nero's an expert and I didn't want to be his competitor."

So this Nero, the third character is an artist. What's his full name? Is he famous too?

"What are you thinking?" He removes a flying lock of my hair from my forehead. 

His touch gives me an unknown shiver. "Uh...competitor? Why?"

"To earn your affection."

The released words fall on me like thunderbolts and it surprises me even more that it becomes harder to manage my expressions. What? Levi and Nero... Were they both trying to earn Loretta's affection? Through painting? Then where does Aiden fit in all these?

Noticing my quietness Levi makes some space between us. "Those were some good old days huh..."

How old are we talking here? How will I eve

r know anything without asking anyone about it? I unconsciously touch my temple.

"Looks like you could use a drink. And so do I," he say heading to the kitchen in the other side.