The calm and soothing sound of the work of Beethoven's ninth symphony could be heard echo through the entire mansion which came to an end. "..." The father and son pair were completely silent as they looked at Andrew.
He stood of the seat as he glanced at the two before shifting his attention towards his phone and back at the two. "Andrew, I didn't know that you're so good with this?! Why didn't you audition for the pianist competition?"
Hector mused as he was bewildered with Andrew's performance. "Andrew, it would seem that you have a wide variety set of skills. From sports to music, you truly do have a wide future ahead of you."
Sullivan mused as he recalled his work. 'Not even the country's finest could replicate such an artwork like he did. It could be on par with the original work.' He was still in disbelief with his performance.
"I'm glad that the two of you enjoyed it." He brushed it off as Hector took the seat and tried to replicate his performance which was nowhere near to his masterpiece. "Ugh!" He let out a frustrated groan at his results.
"I could set you up with whatever you want to pursue. Be it a pianist or a professional tennis player." Andrew however didn't seem all that invested with what was presented to him.
"I'm greatful Sullivan but I have an audition for a martial arts tournament later this week thus I would be grateful if you were patient." Sullivan gave a knowing nod.
"Wait! A martial arts tournament? Charlotte isn't going to love that." Andrew glanced at hector who had given up on trying to play the piano. 'Because her love of interest is participating in it.' Despite his awareness, he wasn't planning on stepping down from it.
"But if you do change your mind, don't hesitate to inform me. Well excuse me as I have to make preparations." And with that, Sullivan took his leave leaving the two alone in the musical room.
"Can you teach me as to how you were able to get so good at the piano? Maybe impress my mother when she comes back after their holiday." He mused as he glanced at Andrew.
"That will however take time, a month or if depending with your discipline shorter to a week less." His mind however was gauging the outcomes that were to precede for the next few weeks.
"It would be better if you sever your connections with those three you had invited earlier." Hector was taken aback as to why Andrew would tell him this. "But why?" There had been times where he had advised him earlier and they always paid off.
It wasn't out of doubt but curiosity that he wondered as to why he would tell him this. "Hector, stop living in your own delusional world. It's clear that the two are clearly not interested in you and that goes for most of those who are around you."
The atmosphere fell silent as Hector cracked his knuckles to loosen the tension. "Okay Andrew, there's no need to get so out of place." Andrew could tell what choice Hector had chosen.
"Just don't host a party is all." And with that, Andrew took his leave off the grounds and headed back home. Hector was left alone within the silence as his fingers traced the keys of the piano lightly, his eyes distant.
"I thought that he'd never leave." He was brought back to reality by the words of his sister. "I'm assuming that he was the one who played the piano." She mused as she drew closer to Hector before noticing that something was off about him.
"What? Dad focused so much on him that you feel bad?" Her tone was ridiculing to which he shot back. "I'm not a child Charlotte! As for your boyfriend, tell him to watch out for Andrew." There was a look of irritation on her face upon hearing this.
"Great! I have to see him again." Her tone expressing fatigue. "Just as long as he never comes here again. I'm glad that mom and dad are leaving for the week." She went on as her mind already had plans.
...
Looking at his phone, he received a message from Juliette.
[{It's ready and thank you very much.}]
As his figure made his way back home, it was much more peaceful as he noted that Miss Clara had chosen to go back home after her relentlessness at the hospital. After a quick shower, he made his way to his laptop and made an order.
It was something for his leisure rather than something that would usually be of benefit to him but it would work both ways. He went outside and to a shop to buy a pallet and some colors.
It was still pretty early thus he chose to waste his time by dabbling in a bit of art after heading back home to which he made a series of various paintings. Some depicting his state of mind, others the world through his eyes and his mother.
The first was nothing but a monochromatic taint of grey to it coupled with a touch of blackness. The second was a shade of white and darkness and the last had more color and vibrance to it.
It perfectly encapsulated her mother's charm and elegance. From her dark obsidian eyes to her long dark hair that drooped perfectly behind her back. Her sin tone was a light shade of white and beige white stood out from her grey and lifeless background.
It could have been considered a perfect imitation of her, as if it was an actual picture of her as her smile radiated a warm and cozy air to the one looking at it. He blankly glanced at it.
In his mind, he failed to feel what the image brought to the one who would see it and that was reassurance. It felt more of a copy and paste of the image of his own mother rather than something he felt about her.
It didn't take long for the night to set and Lucy came back home to be met with the portrait drawn by Andrew. "It's perfect, Andrew." Her praises seemed endless as she went on as the artist seemed oblivious to it all.
"I know but none of it feels out of the ordinary. Just a paste of your image in front of a blank cover." He brushed it off to which drew Lucy's attention. Her hands cupped his face a the two locked eyes. "Andrew, I know that you feel that it's worthless but I assure you that this means a lot to me."
Her lively and warm eyes clashed with his dead and cold beads on his face. "If you say so." He mused flatly, still unsatisfied with his work. "And just to show you how much it means to me..." She started off to which he already knew what she was going to do.
'You're going to put it in the sitting room.' The thought ran through his mind before the subject changed. "By the way, Clara told me that you had somewhere Diana would stay, where is it?" Lucy asked as the two took their seats in the dining table.
"Juliette, she said that she had room in her own apartment to accommodate he perfectly." Andrew mused as he dug into his meal. "I hope that it's not too much for her is all." Her statement applying to the two ladies.
"I'm sure that she'll be fine." He responded as he went on with his meal. After that, he cleared the table and made his way to his room and brought out his phone. He was scrolling through the social media as he glanced at the famous figures.
He hadn't aspired to become famous or at the least known however that was contradictory to what he was doing. The reason as to why was due to a number of reasons however his purchase would help curb that to a certain extent.
He glanced once more at the prize of the competition.
[{Welcome all to the Graire Martial Arts Tournament. The prize for the winner will be a flight abroad to continue with the martial arts while second and third place will receive a handsome cash prize of 100,000 thousand dollars and 50,000 dollars respectively.}]
As he put his phone down and ready to turn in for the night, he contemplated with the actions that he did and the effects that he would cause. For Hector, he didn't care all that much given how carefree he was as for Diana, he felt that it came off as a responsibility on his shoulders for Kevin's sake.
But the drive and necessity was lacking as what was really pushing him was the mentality that he had forced upon himself to do so. He felt that despite the advantage that he had, he always felt a tinge of helplessness in the end, with nothing more than a shell of a body to work with.
The thoughts of self harm had crossed his mind but he would postpone them for later. 'Selfishness.' Was his conclusion. 'But then again, aren't they that are the selfish ones for imposing that the idea of such an act is selfish so that they don't have to face the grief of it all. Both selfish and cowards.'
But in the end, despite he never felt the need to keep on going, he did it for the sake of his mother. For all the wrong reasons at that but he did it anyway. Contemplating further, he fell asleep.
...
"These are the clothes that Andrew had sent for you to wear." A nurse mused as she brought said clothes to Diana who was just about to get out of her bed.
She glanced at the clothes that she was presented with. 'Oh!' She hadn't thought that what she was gifted with by Andrew to be so extravagant and lavish.