Strings Of Time

XIII: Part One

A sorrowful face was etched on the young master's face, she was almost seeing Elise but it was too hazy, she couldn't make out a face. She wanted to see the young lady and so she reached out her hand to touch Elise's face. She wanted to make an outline of her. Curiosity was suddenly replaced by longing. She wanted to touch her lips and kiss it with her own. However...

"Don't..." stopped Elise. "Don't kiss me..." she looked down and bit her lip as she held up her breath. She knew her words jolted Alex back from reality. She then looked up at the young master and smiled bitterly, "Don't kiss me only because you feel sorry for me."

Alex blinked her eyes then massaged her temples, "I'm... I'm sorry..." she scrunched her eyebrows as she brushed her hair up using her fingers, "I should go..." the young master left Elise with a heavy heart and went straight to her room. They weren't even aware that Mr. Mathews was secretly watching them.

Hours later, the young master was called by the Russian house keeper for lunch.

"What?" asked the young master as if the request surprised her, "You know I don't dine with people? Serve my lunch here like before." Alex's eyebrows crossed as she sighed heavily. She felt this particular day was different, maybe because of the atmosphere where people are all over the mansion. They don't usually have guests.

"Your father insists. The maids already set up a plate for you. Besides, Miss Summerhall will be joining them." The Russian housekeeper smiled from ear to ear when she saw Alex's expression when she heard Elise will be there. "We will serve lunch at the west wing."

"You mean the deck near the garden?"

At the west wing, lots of circular tables were placed on the large deck. The scene looked like a lunch party. White linens were placed on top of each table and chairs were a vintage looking curved shaped steel with new upholstery. All the plates looked very expensive and was paired with silver utensils. The first course was already served when Alex Mathews came out. Immediately, she requested to have her own table and wanted to be left alone. Already, Mr. Mathews' brow raised when he saw that his daughter wanted to be separated from the rest. The man shook his head and frowned at the scene.

"Mr. Mathews...?"

He looked to the person sitting to his right and gave a sudden friendly smile, "Yes, Moira?"

"I wonder if I could sit alongside with your daughter." requested the young musician. Moira was Henry's star student and she could play lots of instruments, she could even sing like a professional opera singer as well as a pop diva princess. Also, she's a bit of a persuasive person.

"Don't bother, Moira. She doesn't like company." Henry peered at Elise who was sitting at his left side and was eating silently, hoping to catch her reaction.

However, Moira stood up and grabbed her plate, "I bet she'll change her mind when I sit with her."

"I bet she won't." said Mr. Mathews under his breath. He watched Moira walked towards Alex's isolated table and just as he predicted, Alex was not happy about it. Henry turned to Elise and saw her aching glances. "Elise?"

Elise snapped out and looked at Mr. Mathews. "Yes?" she said with a smile.

Mr. Mathews held Elise's hand and smiled warmly, "I was thinking about the last composition you submitted... and I find it very cheerless. I read the lyrics as well as playing the score, was it meant for somebody?"

Elise looked down and didn't answer her superior, she just forced a smile and went on to eat her second course that was being served to everyone. She snatched another peek at Alex and Moira who then looked like they were having a nice conversation.

"You should really come to the festival. I can be your date." Insisted Moira to the silent young master.

Alex was trying to be polite to the young musician due to the fact that she somehow humiliated her in front of her colleagues early on. "Luisa, was it?"

Moira chuckled and gently flogged the young master, "No, it's Moira."

"Right... right..." said Alex as she swallowed a piece of meat, "You see, Nora, I'm perfectly and utterly blind. I won't be able to enjoy all the lights and whatsoever you guys put in there because I wouldn't be able to see it."

"But... You can still hear..."

Alex wiped her mouth with a small linen and she was about to leave, "I told you... I don't like your kind of music."

"Wait..." said Moira halting the young master, "Alex, it's a festival. We all need to be with someone when the celebration starts. I mean, Mr. Mathews has already picked out a date."

Alex scrunched her eyebrows and was curious, "Who?"

Moira gazed at Mr. Mathews and Elise, "Who do you think? Of course, it's that assistant of his. He's always making decisions without asking Elise first. I would often see them giggling and telling inside jokes about something they did. He would always favor her whenever we have some sort of arguments with the musical score. It's sickening, really... I bet Elise is one of them hoes who likes the gold."

"What did you say?" at that point, Alex's eyelid was twitching as to which she was breathing heavily. The young musician was indeed what she calls 'a mouth flyer'.

Moira grinned and came closer to Alex, "If you could only see how she is with your dad, you would know. Of course, there are a lot more rumors spreading around about that girl. But if you asked me, I'm pretty sure... they're together. Like together-together. So with that being said—"

"Enough!" shouted Alex as she turned her hand into a fist. Everyone looked at the young master and Moira.

"Shush, Alex..." said Moira calming the young master down, "I'm not making this up. You can go and ask everyone in town."

"I'd shut my mouth if I were you." answered the aggravated young master in a low husky tone. Alex stood up and her maids helped her make way going back to her room.

Immediately, Mr. Mathews came to Moira and asked her what happened but the young musician just shrugged her shoulders and smiled like nothing happened.

Hours later, Mr. Mathews received a call telling him that the set up for the orchestra was already done at the park and they're just waiting for them to arrive. And so, Mr. Mathews ordered some of his men to bring all the instruments to the event and set it up as well.

On that moment, Alex was hiding in the gazeebo of the garden. She wanted to be away from all the ruckus and noise that the band was making and especially to the young musician who has been bugging her from time to time. Earlier, Moira went inside Alex's room and gave her a piece of paper. Alex was sure that Moira's number was written on that paper but to her surprise, the numbers was written in braille. Holes were poked on that piece of paper. When she asked Moira if she knew how to write braille, she just patted Alex's shoulder and said, "Call me." and left.

The whole company was already inside their respective SUV cars and only Henry and Elise were the ones they're waiting for.

Elise was helping Mr. Mathews with putting on his suit. "You look great, Mr. Mathews." Said Elise with a smile.

"Thank you, my dear. You look beautiful in your dress." Said Henry as he turned around and kissed Elise on her cheek and smiled. "Are you ready?"

The young lady nodded as they head to the door. However, the young lady remembered something and that halted the two of them. "Um, Mr. Mathews, I forgot something in the studio. You go ahead I'll catch up."

Henry looked at the young lady with curiosity, "O-Okay... but hurry up. We're gonna be late."

"I will."

Henry went straight to his car and waited for the Elise. On the other hand, the young lady did forget something. She went straight to the studio to get a stapled paper. There was something on that three paged paper, it was very special for Elise. She was hoping that it would be her ticket in knowing what's behind her questions. A hope would somehow be answered with a wish.