章 101: Chapter 29.1
Alina, Michelle, and Asami watched the two leave with mixed feelings. Asami and Michelle were concerned with Emily's sickness while Alina looked at the two leave with hesitation; she knew that both had feelings for Jason and she felt that the two would probably be discussing him privately.
Aw hell, Alina thought with exasperation. It's always like this wherever he goes. Damned horndog …
"So … that's that," Asami said, trying her best the levitate the mood. "What are you two planning now?"
"Nothing really," Alina answered while turning to Asami. "Why?"
"She's planning quelque chose," Michelle replied while staring at Asami with suspicious eyes.
"What? No, I'm not planning anything," Asami said in a sheepishly nervous voice. Michelle continued glaring at her like a criminal and Asami shuddered "Really. Please stop looking at me like that."
"We'll stop if you tell us what you're planning," Alina said with a grin.
"Okay, fine, let me ask you," Asami said, giving in to Alina with a roll of her eyes. "Is there ever a dull moment with Jason?"
"Nope," Alina answered with a shake of her head.
"Exactly!" Asami said excitedly, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "That's why I'm gonna follow him and see what he's up to! C'mon, let's go and find him, my reporter senses are tingling!"
"Êtes-vous sûr que votre estomac ne grogne pas?" Michelle asked, with a dash of insipidness evident in her voice. Her jab at Asami's tingling being only because of her hunger made the latter bristle with indignation.
"Your stomach is grumbling!" Asami shot back. "Your whole family's stomach is grumbling!"
"How puéril," Michelle muttered.
"Yes, I'm childish. Whatever," Asami replied while rolling her eyes and sticking her tongue out playfully. She skipped to the doorway before turning back to them with a smirk on her face. "Coming?"
Michelle rolled her eyes when she saw how smug Asami looked: the latter knew the two well enough to know that they would be following her.
***
Jason held Alice's hand as he took her around the school, giving her a tour of the place. He had already taken her to the courtyard, the gardens, the Dome, and the gym. The place that he led her to next was the auditorium, a place he knew she'd enjoy. And indeed, as soon as Alice saw the large room with a stage full of instruments, her eyes widened and she ran towards them gleefully.
Guess she loves music. Must be in the genes, Jason thought as he followed her with a smile.
"Whoa, look at them, they're so cool!" Alice ran up to the stage but didn't climb since a band comprised of students was already sitting there practicing their band.
"Hey, kids," Jason greeted the students with a wave of his hand that he pulled from his pocket. He gestured at them to sit when he noticed them standing to greet him. "You don't mind if we join you?"
While Jason picked Alice up onto the stage, Asami sneakily led the other two inside, where they hid from Jason's sight, sitting at the farthest seats at the back.
"Just a sec," Asami muttered while tapping consistently on her phone. Leaning forward, Alina noticed that she had accessed the theatre's system. "There, got it!"
After she was done, Asami activated the live recording system, connecting it to her phone while accessing the sound system and bringing it online.
"Uh, dude? Why are we hiding?" Alina asked Asami in a low voice.
"I don't know," Asami whispered back. "It just feels right. You know, like how reporters sneak and take pics of celebrities."
"Sneaky paparazzi techniques," Michelle muttered.
"Say what you want, you'll be eating your words soon enough," Asami replied quietly in hopes of keeping their entrance a secret.
Michelle opened her mouth to retort when the delicate keys of an emotional piano piece interrupted her. All three sat in stunned silence along with the band as the song flowed through their ears. In their minds, they could see the silhouette of a lonely figure walking down a road in solitude as harmonious people, friends, couples, families passed by him like a mirage. The figure yearned for company and affection like those around him, but at the same time, he appeared to cherish his loneliness. The back of the silhouette merged with the figure that sat in front of the piano, his fingers rhythmically dancing across the piano keys. Only when he stopped did everyone return to the real world.
"You can sing?" Alice asked in surprise as she leaned close to Jason with sparkling eyes. Her voice was amplified by the special sound system that was active throughout the theatre whole the students on stage recollected themselves.
"I was a singer," Jason admitted with a small smile. "For a short while."
Fond memories passed through his eyes as he recalled the past. Jason smiled as he spoke and he could vividly remember the first time Elizabeth forced him to sing. It was horrible, in part due to the fact that, when Elizabeth discovered his singing talent, she forced him in her play of The Phantom of the Opera where he was cast as Christine while, ironically, Elizabeth and an acquaintance played Raoul and the Phantom. At the time, Jason felt like committing suicide; he was forced into cross-dressing at the age of twelve and his voice was rather high pitched since he was in the middle of puberty hence his singing was quite girly. But looking back, he couldn't help but smile affectionately when he remembered this.
"You know, I once sang for your mother?" Jason said to Alice after a moment and the latter looked at him incredulously. "I - I have issues … expressing myself. Someone once told me that singing how you feel makes it better. Easier, than talking. She taught me how to sing and play."
"What was the song you sang for her?" Alice asked curiously.
"Want me to play it?" Jason asked and Alice nodded eagerly. He turned to look at the students and noticed that they were also eager in listening to his singing.
Up at the seats, Alina's heart jumped to her throat and her vision blurred from the impact of Jason's words.
Her mother? Then she really is his daughter … I - I have a niece? She - she's my niece?
Michelle also paled, even though she didn't understand her feelings towards Jason, the fact that he had a child with someone else was a blow to her. Before Alina and Asami could see her reaction, Michelle covered her face, changing back to her stoic, expressionless look but her sapphire eyes glimmered waterly with sadness.
クリエイターの想い 
Drakonous
Drakonous We've reached 100 chapters! It's been a little over two months since I launched this novel on this platform and I can't thank you all enough for sticking with me. Of course, improvements can always be made so I'd like to hear your opinions on my story through comments or reviews.
As a thank you for sticking with me, I'll be releasing a short mass release today.
週次パワーステータス
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