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Lǐ Míngqín
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Staring at myself through the bathroom mirror, I couldn't help but gasp. My once white skin had turned an eerie bluish-greenish color. Flashback of the girls warning me to stay away from Tàiyáng causes me to feel dizzy and nauseous. I thought I had shielded myself from most of the blows.... all well.

I'll have to start avoiding Tàiyáng if I want to last through this semester.

"I'm glad he doesn't know where I live. I think this place may raise questions for him." I thought to myself as my eyes gravitate towards the bars on my bedroom window.

***************

When I entered the classroom, the atmosphere in the air was tense as everyone's nervousness permeated through the air causing the classroom to be clouded with some sort of dark energy. What could cause such an atmosphere that effects an entire classroom?

Two words: Performance Assessment.

If they had practiced like they were supposed to, they shouldn't have to worry.

Because of what happened yesterday, I noticed this morning that I couldn't help but frown every time I moved my arms or legs. Trying not wince when I sat down, I attempted to find a comfortable position that didn't put pressure on any major bruises.
Having free time before the Assessment, I take out a blank notebook and my music player.

Turning the music up loud so that the background noise of the classroom gets drowned out, I tap my led pencil on the blank paper.

"Hey, Lǐ! Can we borrow your notes?" Some of the classmates had gathered around my desk while I was lost in my thoughts. I was about to refuse when I remembered what they did last time I had refused.

Reaching for my notebook, a hand stopped me. Startled, I look up to see Tàiyáng's piercing eyes. Shaking his head, Tàiyáng looked up at the students and gave them a fake smile. "If anyone needs her notes, it would be me since I'm new."

Sighing in frustration, they nodded their heads at the transfer student. "Her notes aren't that great anyway." One student muttered as he kicked my book bag

When the teacher walked in, everything became quiet as he passed out the order of performances. Girls first and then the Boys perform.

After finishing signing my name in the time slot I wanted, I checked my watch and calculated that I had enough time to go to my hideout before school ended. So I silently leave the polluted classroom and make my way to the empty auditorium.

Finally, a place where I can find peace of mind!

A soft light bathes the stage that made the ivory keys on the grand piano gleam. I walk up onto the stage and the sound of my feet echoed throughout the empty room. Seeing myself reflected from the instrument as I circled the baby grand piano, I couldn't help but frown. I can't even recognize myself anymore....

Propping open the lid for better sound, I walk towards the piano bench and adjusted it to my size. Sitting down and testing the feet pedals, I begin with simple scales to warm up. Once the muscles in my fingers were warmed up enough, I began to play more intense songs that tested the flexibility of my fingers.

Closing my eyes, I can almost feel the notes surround me as they harmonize and danced around my head. Ahhh my first love.... When the climax of the song came, I applied more pressure to the keys trying to search for the reason why I once loved to play.

Memories of my brother hazily dance in my head. How could I forget? My brother taught me how to play my first song on the piano.......

Sweet Memories. Forgotten Memories.

Slowly, I dragged the melody to a slower tempo. The slower I played the notes, the softer I touched the keys until the notes went from barely audible to silence. On the last note, I paused, waiting for something.

Anything.

But I came up empty handed. Now that my brother is gone.... why do I continue playing?

When I sat on the piano bench for a while, a sudden thought struck me. For me to regain my old love of music, I should return to the past. What was that song I use to play all the time that made my brother smile down at me?

Oh, I know!

The melody was light-hearted, and it sounded even more beautiful with the lyrics. But unfortunately, with all my talent, the one thing I was not given was a voice.

Since my imagination was at its peak, I could almost hear a soft voice sing the lyrics to my song. At first, the voice entered the song quietly as if unsure. But then as I became entranced into the piece, the imaginary voice grew louder with confidence. Warmth covered the whole stage, melting my fears and nervousness of today's performance away.
My surroundings turned a bright color and I could feel a sense of nostalgia. When the voice began to fade away, so did the warmth that enveloped me. Too bad the voice is only a figment of my imagination. I could listen to it for hours....

Finishing the song, I open my eyes and smile.

The sound of clapping echoes throughout the empty room.

I jumped from the piano bench and turned to stare at the culprit.

Gēgē?

Rubbing my eyes, I look at the boy again and notice that it was Chén Tàiyáng, the new transfer student. They look so similar at first glance, but my older brother didn't have dimples when he smiled.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you." Tàiyáng backed away to a safer distance.

"H... ho....how... long have you've been here?"

"Actually, I was here before you came." He motioned towards his violin that was placed near the black curtain in the back. "I was going to say "Hi", but then I noticed that you were not aware of my presence. When you started playing, I just sat down and listened."

My face immediately turned red. Ducking my head so that my long hair hid my embarrassed face I mumbled something unintelligent.

"Pardon? I'm sorry, I didn't hear you."

"Were you by chance the one who was singing?"

He smiled. "My voice isn't very good, given the violin, but when you played that song, it made me really happy and I couldn't help but join along."

Then silence. Awkwardly I looked at everything, but his face.

"So.....how were you able to sing that song? Only the people from my village know about it..."

"I recently read a book about a place filled with music called the Fènghuáng village. I thought it would be useful since I am studying music for college. "

"Ahhh... Yes...I miss it. My people are a minority race in China,

that's why I'm somewhat ostracized by my classmates."

"That makes a lot of sense." Tàiyáng nodded as he had a faraway look.

"How come you don't seem surprised?" I wondered out loud.

"The students and the school faculty thought it was important to tell me on the first day of class." He grimaced as he saw my countenance fall. "I'm sorry, Míngqín."

"Wait...that means that you knew about me before you......?"

He nodded his head.

"Why did..."

"Why wouldn't I?" He interrupted me as he shrugged his shoulders. "Race doesn't dictate who a person is."

I smiled at his words.

Silence fell upon us again as we struggled to keep the conversation alive. What do I do? This feels so awkward! Sensing my discomfort, he offered to play his song for me.

"It's only fair since I listened to yours. Maybe you can sing along when you feel like it," he winked as he went to get his violin. "Oh, no. I can't sing." I managed to whisper out.

"Haha, it can't be any worse than mine."

"The irony that I was named after a songbird and yet I never inherited its voice." I laughed bitterly.

What were my parents thinking when they named me such? The name almost mocks me...

"Songbird. It sounds very pretty.... you should use it more often."

"No one can pronounce it but you." I laughed in mirth.

"Reminds me of my American friends when they tried to say Chén Tàiyáng . So, I just gave up and let them call me by my English name."

"How did they try to pronounce it?"

"It's a secret."

I smile as I tried to imagine the many way you could mess up "Chén Tàiyáng".

"Say, what if I start calling you by your English name? You can call me by my first name in exchange. It will be like we have special nicknames for each other." His eyes brightened as he looked at me expectantly

"It's Chinese custom to call each other by our last names unless we become close friends or relatives."

"Yep, I know. Aren't we friends already?" He winked at me which made me frown.

"I've only known you for two days."

"If close friends won't work then let's be close relatives. You can be my future wife."

Shocked, I turn to look at him in surprise until I saw his mouth twitch in amusement. Pretending to be upset, I gently pushed him in the arm while bubbles of laughter escaped my mouth.

Jumping down from the stage, Tàiyáng gracefully lands on the ground. When he stood up straight he could look me in the eyes, even though I was still sitting on the edge of the stage. How tall is he?

"Choose. We either become close friends or girlfriend and boyfriend. Because I will start ignoring you if you call me anything but Tàiyáng. "

"Are all Americans this forward? If I agree, will you do me a favor?"

"Depends, what is it?" He looks at me curiously.

"Xiǎo is having his 12th birthday in a couple of weeks and he asked if you were going to be there. His birthday will signify that he only has one more year until he can no longer be adopted. I think he looks up to you, so maybe you being there will help him feel better. But I understand if you are too busy to come. It wouldn't be hard to tell Xiǎo that you had other things to do."

"Of course, I will come. Just tell me the time and the address and I'll be there."

"Thank you so much!" I said with relief. Xiǎo will be so happy! He's been so fascinated with the foreign boy who gave him candy lately.... I wonder why.

"Are you sure you want to come? I don't want you to feel forced..."

"I promise on the song of my heart that I want to come." He said as he placed a hand over his heart and bowed.

"What does that mean? I've never heard of that before."

"I'll tell you eventually," he said mysteriously.

And with that our conversation sweetly ended because the bell rung signaling all students to enter the auditorium for the Assessment. As he was about to leave for his seat, I suddenly thought of something!

"Wait!" I said as I grabbed a piece of his dress shirt from behind. Turning around he shot me a questioning glance.

"How will we I tell you the address and time?"

"Easy! I need your phone number."

What?!! I don't remember this in the agreement....

"Was this all just a ploy to get my phone number?" I looked at him suspiciously.

"Maybe."

He looks so guilty!

"Hey, isn't it normal for a boy to have his girlfriend's number?"

"Girlfriend?!"

"Yep, last I checked we were friends. And I might be mistaken but I'm 100% sure you are a girl....so thus you are my girlfriend."

I couldn't help but laugh. When was the last time I have had a good laugh? If I give him my number, then this semester might be interesting......it's worth risking the older girls' wrath for.

With that thought, I wrote down my number and gave it to him. He typed it in and called my phone. When I answered his call, his number was automatically saved into my phone.

"Are you performing first?" He looked at me hopefully.

"If all goes well, then yes. I'm going to be playing a piece that I've been learning."

"Awesome! See you later, Songbird."

*******

My performance went well. I didn't even freeze up in fear like last time which made me happy. When Tàiyáng stepped up to the stage, I perked my ears as my eyes slowly watched him walk up onto the stage and bowed.

His face was serious, but even though he wasn't smiling, his eyes twinkled with mirth when he placed the horse haired bow onto the strings. The next eight minutes was like heaven. The notes of his violin danced and floated throughout the whole auditorium. Giving warmth to the otherwise cold building. When the last note was played, we were all dazed as if just waking up from a dream. One after another, when we awoke from our stupor, our hands started to automatically clap.

Even though one does not clap until the whole performance is over, we were all spellbound by the song. I've listened to so many songs in my lifetime, but the song he played was unknown.......I'll have to ask him later what the song is called....