Reposted! I just added some scenes in this chapter. Nothing major. Feel free to reread it, though. Enjoy!

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"And now my life has changed in oh so many ways
My independence seems to vanish in the haze
But every now and then I feel so insecure
I know that I just need you like I've never done before."
-Help by The Beatles

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Chapter 27: Love's Greeting

| LANCE |

"There, happy?" Midgetzie said on the other end of the screen after I read the tweets that she recently posted. We continued our Skype session when I arrived home, but I was now using my real Skype account and not the dummy one anymore.

"Thank you for fulfilling my request..." I faltered, remembering what she'd told me before going home. "Kenzie."

There was a moment of silence before she said, "You calling me by my nickname still feels weird."

"You'd better get used to it, then. Er, no one calls you 'Mac'?"

"Nah. Don't like it; reminds me of that famous hamburger. Anyway, why do you want to remain anonymous, again?" Kenzie was giving me a teasing look.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, I said, "Your fanboys and fangirls will surely murder me if they found out I was the one who had a video call with you. And that it will create rumors around the world. You do not want that to happen, do you? 'Sides, that bidding took half of my allowance for this year." I stuck out my tongue at her.

But I didn't regret it one bit; everything was worth it, because it was like killing two birds with one stone: I got to help the foundation and became friends with Kenzie again.

"Hmm, you have a point there...though I do want to see you get slaughtered by my fans. It'll be a sight to see." Then Kenzie cackled.

I shot her an annoyed look, then glanced at the time on my laptop; it was almost midnight. "Well, I'd better go to sleep now. We'll continue with our piano lessons tomorrow after lunch at my house. Good night."

"G'night, Lance!" she replied with a grateful smile, then logged out from Skype.

"YES, YES, YES!" I cried triumphantly while standing from my seat, pumping my fist in the air. I was thankful that Kenzie was still my accompanist for the competition. I had high hopes that we'd do a great job.

I'd do my best to make her a great pianist under my care.

🎻 🎻 🎻

"Hiiiii~!" Kenzie cheerfully greeted me as she stood beside me, her best friend following behind her.

Raising an eyebrow as I closed my locker, I asked, "And why are you in high spirits today?"

"Just because." She gave me a paper bag.

I turned to her fully, accepted it, then looked at what was inside; the DHOH merchandise from the campaign. "Thank you."

"Um, about the handwritten letter...I'll give it to you on the day before the competition starts, okay?" Kenzie continued.

"No problem."

She was still smiling at me, and I felt something weird stirring inside my chest.

What is this?

"Let me guess." Rachel said as she put an arm around Kenzie. "My plan was a success...?"

"Yep! And I love you for it!" She hugged Chel.

"Thank you so much, Chel," I said, smiling, eternally grateful for her help.

Rachel clapped me on my back. "No biggie, Lance!"

"Soooo," Eunice arrived after a minute, her hand covering her mouth, looking dramatic, "all is well once again."

Cindy quickly appeared behind her. "Are we going to sing 'All Izz Well' again?"

While walking in our direction, Spencer was kicking a soccer ball with his foot into the air. It didn't escape my eyes how Dee secretly took a picture of him while he was doing that.

Sneaky Cindy.

"Don't bother, Evil Woman," Spencer deadpanned. "It'll surely rain cats and dogs if you do that. I didn't bring an umbrella with me, and I parked my car on the far side of the parking lot; I don't wanna run in the rain."

Cindy's mood instantly turned upside down and shouted, "NOBODY'S ASKING YOU, FEROCIOUS EATER!"

"DEE, NO SHOUTING IN THE LOCKER AREA!" Nis reprimanded her.

"You're being a hypocrite, Nis," Chel reminded her as she munched on her Nerds.

"So noisy," I said with a yawn.

Suddenly, there was a melodious laugh, and it was coming from Midgetzie. All of us stopped from what we were doing and stared at her.

"S-sorry," she said, joyful tears leaking out of the corner of her eyes. "I just...I just missed this--the six of us being together having fun. And I missed you so much, guys!"

"We missed you, too, Kenzie!" the four said, and all of us did a group hug. Some of the students were staring at us in confusion, but we just ignored them.

"Thank you so much for what you've done, for opening my eyes, for not giving up on me," Kenzie said, the tears falling down her cheeks now.

"What're you blabbering about?" Dee said with a grin. "We're your friends, remember? We were just helping you out with your stupid dilemma. If I see that good-for-nothing ex-boyfriend of yours, he'd better get ready, 'cause I'll surely kick him in the ba--"

Flinching, Spence told her quickly, "Stop it, Dee! No to violence!"

"I seconded!" Nis chuckled.

Cindy just rolled her eyes.

"Anyway," Kenzie said as we ended our group hug, "my paternal grandmother wants to meet and have tea with you all. I hope you could come to her house this Sunday afternoon."

"You bet! Can't wait to see Grandma Cels again," said Rachel as she finished eating her Nerds.

"Well, I have nothing to do this Sunday, so why not?" Nis said. Dee and Spence also said that they wanted to come.

"Your grandmother...?" I asked Kenzie. "The pianist, I assume."

She nodded. "Yeah, my grandmother Celestine Adams. She also helped me to realize things and make up with you. Are you really sure you're okay with her suggested piece?"

Kenzie had told me yesterday, when I'd been tutoring her, that she'd asked her grandmother for a piece we could play for the contest. When she said what it was, I'd agreed, since it was better than nothing at all.

I said with a frown, "Yes, I am. Why do you keep asking me that? Do you think I do not trust your grandmother?"

"Just making sure, Cocky Violinist Freak."

"Whatever, Midgetzie. And yes, I'd like to meet her in person as well and hear her play the piano."

Eunice squealed. "EEEEEE! I missed you two bickering with each other." Then she turned to Dee, Spence and Chel. "Our ship, Lancenzie, is sailing once again!"

"What the heck are you talking about, Nis?" Kenzie was flustered. "Lance and I are not a love team!"

I just sighed in defeat while the four were continuing to tease Kenzie and me.

Yes, all was well once again.

🎻 🎻 🎻

"Ah, so you're Grace's friends from Weyral High. It's finally nice to meet you," Grandmother Celestine started as Spence, Nis, Dee and I arrived at her house, which was just simple, but it was clear that she was already satisfied with it. She wasn't short like her granddaughter, heh. Her white hair was tied in a neat bun.

"Hello, Grandma Celestine," we greeted at the same time, and then introduced ourselves one by one as formality.

She noticed what we were holding in our hands. "Aww, you didn't have to bring me gifts. You being here is already enough for me."

"You invited us to come to your humble abode, so it is normal that we give you gifts as thanks," I told her, smiling.

When she looked at me, though, something flashed in her eyes, but I couldn't figure out what it was. "Ah, Lance Collins, the virtuoso. I'm so happy I finally got to meet you."

"Same here, ma'am." I bowed slightly.

"I still remember how Nathaniel Collins played 'Chaconne' by Bach as the opening for a classical music competition years ago." Grandma Celestine ushered us inside.

Hearing her say that name made me gulp nervously. "I see. I hope it was to your liking, ma'am," I uttered eventually.

"Of course I liked it. How he played it...it gave me goosebumps--in a good way." She clapped her hands once. "So, let's have our tea party now."

From what I'd observed, Grandmother Celestine was a very carefree person. A smile was usually on her lips. I was shocked to learn that she was already seventy-one; it looked like she was still in her early sixties. Must be the positivity.

I saw Kenzie and Rachel preparing the table in the living room.

"Yay! Now we can start our tea party!" Rachel exclaimed, and we couldn't help chuckling at her antics as we seated on the sofas. I was seating on the end with Kenzie beside me.

While drinking oolong tea and eating her baked chocolate chip cookies (they were good, I tell you!), Kenzie's grandmother shared with us how she learned to play the piano when she was still a child. I was amazed at how good of a pianist she was (from what Kenzie had shared with me) but she didn't join any competitions.

"Why?" I asked her, curious, then took a healthy sip of my tea.

She paused, then told us eventually, "I did try to join a music competition when I was thirteen, but that was only once." She laughed lightly. "Before it was my turn, there was this guy who was a year younger than me and he played Paganini's 'Caprice No. 24' with his violin. It was eerie that it made my knees tremble and I got scared. Thus, I backed out from the contest."

"You shouldn't have had bowed down to your fear," Cindy said while munching her cookie, but Nis and Spence quickly shushed her.

Grandma Celestine just guffawed at that. "It's okay, you two. I don't mind. My parents just 'playfully' forced me to join a competition anyway. I was, like, ninety percent introverted, so being on the spotlight gives me the creeps. I've never experienced playing in front of a large audience. I'm already satisfied with playing just for fun with my family and cousins."

That amazed me more.

"That guy was your grandpa, Lance," she continued, smiling wistfully. My eyes widened because of what she said. "Nathaniel Collins. He won in that competition. Disciplined and accurate--that was his playing style. Performed a Paganini piece with an orchestra at the age of seven...just wow. After a few months since that contest, I kept hearing about him winning in various classical music contests. He was on a roll." Then her smile turned mournful. "My condolences to his death."

"How...how was my grandfather when he was still a teen?" I questioned. I didn't know much about him when he was still young, except that he was a prodigy and was mostly the winner in the competitions he'd participated in.

She thought for a moment while pouring milk into her tea. "I can only remember that he was friendly with his competitors. He even encouraged the person before him to do her best."

Well, that wasn't what I'd expected. Though my father had told me before that Grandfather was a happy-go-lucky guy. But it all ended when Grandmother died from a car accident while she was on her way to watch his concert.

Look at what romantic love could do to a person--it would bring you happiness at first, but in the end, it would crush your heart into a million pieces and make your life full of negativity.

But I gazed around the room. It seemed like Grandma Celestine was the only one living here. Where was her husband? I was shy to ask her and Kenzie if Grandfather Adams already passed away. If that was the case, then why was Grandma Celestine so full of life even when her husband wasn't around anymore?

The six of us continued chatting with each other until Grandmother Celestine broke the ice. "I wanna play a piece for you young, intelligent, rich high school kids. Music should be shared with everyone, after all. And since music is for everyone, it can be enjoyed by everyone."

"Had she been listening to that song by Khalid and she just changed the two words oppositely?" Spencer asked in a whisper.

I didn't know what he was talking about. "Why are you asking me? You know full well I am not updated with this generation's music."

"But you know 'Titanium'..." he mumbled.

As Grandmother Celestine sat in front of her Yamaha upright piano, we held our breath. Then "Salut d'Amour" by Edward Elgar began to flow in the living room. She had her own interpretation of the piece--the dynamics in speed and volume and tempo were perfectly moderate. Her tempo allowed to feel her love for music so profoundly.

After a while, my attention shifted to my friends.

Kenzie looked proud of her grandma. Rachel seemed like she wanted to do a ballet with the music. Eunice was recording Grandma Celestine by using her phone while she was playing, smiling earnestly. Cindy closed her eyes, and I'm sure she was imagining a scenery in her mind that she wanted to paint. And then Spencer was still eating chocolate chip cookies with a serene look on his face.

But me? I suddenly felt jealous toward Grandmother Celestine. I mean, how...how could she make her audience marvel at her playing even with just a simple piece? My friends weren't like that whenever I play. It was majestic and enchanting, and that the music seemed to be overflowing with elegance.

And that...Kenzie had a grandmother like Celestine Adams.

I now knew what Dad had meant when he said that my music lacked something special.

They didn't notice that I headed to the backyard and sat behind a tree, staring blankly at the sunset before me. I know I didn't have the right to be jealous of Grandma Celestine, but I couldn't help it. She had the natural skill to touch the hearts of her audience.

I was startled when I heard leaves crunching beneath on someone's shoes, and it was coming toward me. There was a breeze, and I smelled strawberries. I already knew who it was.

"Why don't I have a grandparent like yours, Kenzie?" I began, my voice catching in my throat, and felt the dusty vault in my mind trying to break free again. I tried to stop it to no avail.

"Lance..." Kenzie sat in front of me, placing her palm on my cheek.

Tears were flowing freely from my eyes now. "I'm so jealous of you and Grandma Celestine. I wish I could play like her and make a mark on my audience. I wish I could put many emotions into the pieces I play. I wish that I had a grandparent like her, who would encourage me and say that it is okay to fail. I wish..." I couldn't stop sobbing. "I swear no one put onions around here, so why am I crying?"

"Because you couldn't hold the feelings you kept inside all these years any longer." Kenzie hugged me for comfort.

I hugged her back, burying my face on her shoulder. "Remember when we were firefly-gazing and then we made a wish?" I asked her, then I felt her nod. "My wish was to escape from my grandfather's shadows. Perhaps this is my curse, because I killed my grandfather."

"Wh-what're you talking about?" Kenzie ran the tips of her slender fingers over my neck, and then gently caressed my cheek. It was as if she was touching something fragile. I almost never would've thought her capable of touching me so gently.

I then shared with her how Grandfather died and that it was all my fault.

Kenzie fixed her deep forest green eyes on me after I was finished--those eyes that seemed as though they could see every thought and feeling that ran through my head. I had to admit I was entranced by them. "It's not your fault, Lance," she said with conviction in her voice. "What happened between you and your grandpa...you can leave it in the past. You don't have to carry that burden with you all the way, or else you'll just end up hurting yourself." Then she blinked. "Oh, wow. That also somewhat applies to me."

I chuckled lightly at her last sentence, my gaze meeting with Kenzie's once again. "My dad's music is affectionate and sweet. My music is nothing like his; I inherited it from my grandfather. I want my music to be like my dad's...someday."

"Hey, I'm sure you'll cross the bridge when you get there. You'll find a way to cope with what has happened. And besides," Kenzie grinned while wiping my tears on my cheeks with her hands, "Spence, Chel, Nis, Dee and I are going to help you move on, too. We'll get through this together, all right? We'll get through anything."

"I have a roll of Softie with me if you want to use--"

"No need," Kenzie said with a light chuckle as she continued wiping my tear-stained cheeks with her hands.

Out of the blue, a quote that I'd read from a book flashed in my mind: There's always a good lesson in meeting new people; it's enlarging your circle of friends. And though there are times you don't match with their likes, there are some whom you just blend well.

And I thought of Kenzie on the last sentence. Blend well, huh?

"Thank you, Kenzie." Smiling, I kissed her forehead. "So much."

I noticed her freeze for a second before she said, "Well, let's go back now. Grandma's playing another piece."

"Very well."

And so Kenzie and I headed back to listen to Grandma Celestine. We also ate dinner together at her home. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have friends like them.

I'll make you proud, Grandfather. I swear I'll make you proud.

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Happy 2018, friends! And this story is still not finished i cri. Haha! But the grand competition is near, so I hope you'll bear with me. I hope all of you are doing great. Mwahugsss~!