The Blue Love

Episode 27

DO NOT BELITTLE ME
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JAJA’s Point Of View
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I stood up and decided to get a food after
Dad and Auntie Fely leaved me, Frederick
might return and bug me again. Ben has
not come back yet.

I smiled to people I passes by that is
smiling at me. I can see that other ladies
are staring at me but as Ben had said, I
shouldn’t be conscious and anxious to their
stare, I should make them aware of my
presence.

“Hi! You’re Benjamin’s date, right?” A lady
approached me. She’s wearing the necklace
that I have designed. She must be one of
the relatives of Mrs. Vallo.

“Yes,” I answered.
“I am Danna, the granddaughter of Mrs.
Vallo.” She extend her arm to me, inviting
for a shake hand.

“I’m Jaja,” I introduced myself and
accepted her hand.

“Jaja. You’re the designer of this necklace?”

“Yes.”
“Great! I love this necklace. You are very
talented.”

We talked for a few minutes and then she
leave. I went to the corner after I finish the
food. I grabbed the glass of wine from the
tray held by the roving waiter. I stayed at
the corner. While drinking the little by
little, I watched the musicians play their
piece. I know these musicians, they a great
performer.

“So, you’re here. Are you feeling happy to
see me being rejected by your date?”
I turned to face the lady. It was the lady
who approached Ben and was rejected by
him in a rude way. Have not she moved on
yet?

“Of course not,” I answered and faced the
musicians again.

“Don’t turn your back at me if I am still
talking to you. Don’t you know who I
am?!”

God! Did we offended her too much for her
to keep on bugging me?!

“I don’t know you.”
“What an arrogant lady.” She laughs. “I am
Leah, the pianist princess of this country.

You still don’t know who I am?!”
“Well, sorry, Leah, but I still don’t know
you.” I turned to face the musicians again.
They have just finished their piece. Their
performance is great.

“You b—h!”
I faced her. “Do you know who I am?” I
asked.

“No!”
“Then stay away from me. You don’t know
what I might do to you if you keep on
pissing me off, Leah.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Why? Are you threatened?”
“Of course not!” She rolled her eyes. “Your
dress is expensive. Only rich people can
afford to buy that.”

“Why? Can’t you afford it?”
“Of course. In fact, I have lots of Donna
Karan’s gowns.”

“I don’t care,” I said and grins at her.
She knitted her brow and was about to pull
my hair when I stopped her.
“Nah-uh! You are a pianist princess, right?”
She nod.

“Are you going to make a scandal that
could bring down your fame? Think, lady.
Use the brain.”

She gritted her teeth. “I challenge you.”
I furrowed my brow. Now she challenge
me.

“As I can see, you are rich. I challenge you
to have a duel with me, in terms of playing
piano.”

I sighed. Piano? I looked at the piano
beside me. Piano is one of the way to
determine if a person is rich or not. Piano is
a piece of instrument that requires a great
time to study. And only rich people can
afford the fees of music school.
“Play one music you know. I will start.”
Leah sit on the chair and started pressing
the keys. She had caught the attention of
people around. They gathered and circled
on us. They are watching Leah. She is
indeed a better pianist and she’s really
professional the way she press the keys.
Seeing a great pianist playing in an
unexpected time and place is amazing. She
finished her piece and the audience give
her a round of applause.

“You’re next,” she said boastfully and let
me follow her.

I sit on the chair and gulped. I stared on
the keys. They are beautiful but I don’t
know how to use them properly and in
tune. I love music, indeed, but I haven’t
studied piano. I have no idea of which song
or who’s legend should I imitate because I
do not know any piano song!

“Are you just going to stare at the keys?
You challenged me, right? Now where’s
your bravery?”

Leah is making fun of me. People around
us are now laughing and I can feel their
stares. I gulped again. I have set myself in
trouble easily and I don’t know how to get
out quickly.

I took a deep breath and think of a piece I
know. I look at the keys and placed my
fingers there and started pressing the keys.
I closed my eyes and remember Mum. She
use to teach me this piece before, it was
her original piano song. It was a melody
song with full of feelings. It is the only
song I know. I pressed the keys as I feel
Mum’s presence beside me. I really miss
her. I cast away the presence of people
around me and just feel the every keys like
I was a professional pianist. I smiled when
I finished the piece.

Silence filled the air.

As I open my eyes, I saw Ben in front of the
piano. He’s smiling widely and proudly. I
smiled at him and stood up.
I faced Leah who was dumbfounded just
like the audiences.

“Where did you learn that song?” Leah
asked. “It’s not familiar to me but it is the
best piece I’ve ever heard.”

“It was made by the very special person in
my life. By the way, I don’t know how to
play piano but I play with feelings. I am
poor but I am educated. Do not belittle me.
I have a lot of talents that can surpass your
talent,” I said to her.

“Where did you learn that song?”
I turned to face the lady who asked me.
“My mother taught me this piece, lady. It
was her original piece.”

Mum said she was a musician before but
when she met Dad, she let go of her
passion and choose love over the
profession. She had missed the great
opportunity in her life when she married
Dad.

Mum once said that if a thing is really made
for you, even you let go that opportunity
grab it, it would return to you. There are
lots of opportunities in world but one
great love is only one, so don’t ever let go
that one great love.

“Who is your mother?” I can see hope and
longing in her eyes.

“Jane Relativo, lady,” I answered.
I was surprised when she hugged me tight
suddenly, crying.

“Lady, what’s happening to you?” I asked
in concern.

Ben walk towards us. “What’s the matter?”

“I don’t know. She asked where did I learn
the song and when I said the name she
hugged me.”

“I knew it. You look like your Mum,” the
lady said when she let me go from the hug.
Indeed, my Mum is my resemblance.
“You know my Mum, lady?” I asked,
surprisingly.

“I know her very well. Mother know her
daughter very well.”