This short story was written for the He(a)rd Zine, a Hong Kong-based magazine that showcases young student writers. The theme of this issue is Soundtrack.

“I think we can stop here. You are a prince charming for someone else. I am sorry that you are really not my cup of tea. Sorry, I wasted your time before. I hope you can move on.” Olivia apologized. “This will be the last time we meet each other, goodbye…”

The keys of the piano were being tapped; the right pedal was being stepped. The sound of the melody flowing out. The Nocturne Op.9 No.2 in E Flat major composed by Frédéric Chopin, the composer known as ‘poet of the piano’, perfectly describes Ken’s heart.

Ken’s placed the photo on the piano. In the photo, he was sitting with Olivia under the tree at the start of winter, the leaves fell down from the tree and the sun was setting.

Ken sat on the comfortable piano bench. His fingers were dancing elegantly on the keys of the grand piano in the middle of the grand concourse. While everywhere around the piano was totally quiet, the sound of the piano was very outstanding. “Others may feel warm when they see this photo, but me, I feel cold.”

His eyes stayed on the photo, and tears slid down. Pictures of romantic moments of he and his ex-girlfriend flew by.

They enjoyed an ice cream together at the beach. They looked at each other, as they tasted the sweetness of the ice cream, their smiles ran out.

Another moment came through! They went to see the snow. There wasn't anyone else on the platform, like God arranged that moment for them.

Ken started the piece sweetly with exaggerated notes, putting all his feelings and thoughts into the melody.

So, me’-ra’me’ ra’-do’, the melody was performed softly.

“This was our beginning,” thought Ken.

Along with the melody, lovely moments appeared. They watched Titanic together, as Olivia cried and Ken gave her a shoulder to cry on. They shared their lunch with each other, Olivia gave Ken some salad and then took away one slice of mackerel from him, and it looked regular to them. They even napped together taking the bus snuggling close to Ken.

“Why did you leave me, Olivia?” Ken murmured. The melody went to the climax, full of passion and then returning to calm. Olivia always ran away without any reason while they were dating.

“Oh, I am sorry, I forgot I am going to eat with my family members. I think I better go first.” “Sorry, I told my mum I would go home before eight, please enjoy yourself.”

Ken's eyes finally returned to the sheet music of The Nocturne. The world was black, grey and white. He felt the pain on his heart and the itch of the scar.

Time is a thief.

It was the last page.

The melody slowed, calmed, and then to nothing.

The melody stayed with Ken, from the start to the end of Olivia and Ken’s story. From the days full of passion, until Olivia indifferent to Ken. At the end of the piece, it read “ppp” and the melody disappeared quietly.

Two hands dropped onto the piano bench without energy. Ken walked down the stairs from the piano stage and plodded to the little table next to the great piano. Ken’s left hand borrowed the violin on the table, his right hand picked up the bow. He put the violin on his shoulder, his hand started to dance again. Going through four strings of the violin. Ken was playing out the Caprice in A minor no. 24.

At the start of the piece, Ken performed as quickly as possible, stress surrounding the room.

It was quiet like a normal talking voice telling a secret, like unexpected things were going to happen.

“Dik dik dik dik, dik dik dik dik.”

Ken's mind fired up. The melody was full of passion, colourful and hope. This was Ken’s dream with Olivia.

They used to date every day, usually in the instrument room at school. Both of them are interested in music. Olivia is talented at playing violin and singing. This is also the reason Ken put more time into practising instruments. Only because he connected with Olivia in music. They played guitar together, even holding a band in school.

Sometimes they met on the beach in the summer, and they shared an ice-cream together. People around cheered for them. Ken had learnt how to swim, after he realized Olivia’s hobby was swimming. Ken really committed to this relationship, as he learnt and kept practising swimming every day and night.

One day, after a regular swimming training, Ken was exhausted, as he had changed, Olivia visited him.

“I know you are learning to swim for me. Thank you.” She thanked Ken in a soft, kind voice.

Olivia hugged Ken, and then she said, “Have you had dinner yet?”

“Not yet, Olivia,” whispered Ken next to Olivia’s ears.

“Me neither. Let's have dinner together,” Olivia suggested with a smile.

Olivia’s adorable smile with a little pink on her face… Ken totally fell in. Olivia grabbed Ken’s hand and brought him to the fast-food shop.

Unfortunately, there was just a burger for them.

“Would you mind sharing the burger with me, Ken? You can have it first, just leave half of it for me.” said Olivia.

“Sure, and you can have it first, please,” replied Ken.

“You really are a gentleman, Ken,” appreciated Olivia.

While they were dining, Olivia asked, “Hey Ken, can you tell me why you like me?”

“You are open, friendly and we have the same hobbies.” replied Ken. “How about you?”

“Same as you, we have the same hobbies. You are knowledgeable and kind to everyone.”

“Any bad habit you find from me and you want me to change?”

“You put too much time into music. I want you to put more effort into school though you still get good results in regular exams.”

“Sure, I will balance the time between music and study, I promise.”

“I bet you do, you know, boys who care about their promises are pretty charming…”

His heart was full of hard feelings as those memories went through.

Tlick!

Ken pressed the Stop button on the vintage cassette player, opened the cover, and took the tape out. He put the tape in the envelope and mailed it to Olivia, putting it in a letter box.

Ken took a deep breath and rushed into the toilet. He turned on the faucet and soaked his face into water.

“Everything has passed! Move on, Ken!” He put their photos in a paper box, and hid it in the storeroom.

The next day, which was Monday, Ken walked to school with a smile.

From that day onwards, Ken didn’t intentionally have activities with Olivia. Also, he put a sign next to his bed, “No more love for girls, no more hurt from girls.”

Moving on from these feelings, Ken found himself thinking about music. “What does music mean to me?”

Ken opened a notebook, and began to write…

Music is the best way to express feelings.

The Best Way