17.MUSIC

It loosened its grip on her and led her to the location of her instrument. This is what handed her the violin which she immediately took.

After that, she felt its distance. She took a few deep breaths before playing the violin. She just closed her eyes so she could feel the music more.

Drake kept staring at the woman as she played... As he listened to the music something stirred in his heart. He grabbed his chest...

"What's going on with me?" he said in his mind.

He stared at the woman's face again and he did not want to take his eyes off it as if it could disappear at any time. When the music was over, there Drake seemed to wake up from a dream. He felt very light, not like before. He clapped softly.

"I'm sorry if I scared you. But all I really want is to hear you play. I'm Drake Summertime. You?"

"E-Erein Dashwood... That's my name."

"Thank you so much for the wonderful music you play. I feel better."

Because of what the man said, Erein lost her fear. She smiled.

"If you want, I can teach you to play the violin. You can come back." she presented.

Drake smiled and stared at Erein's face for a long time. It has no idea what he is because it does not see him.

"Thanks for the offer, but I'm not interested." he replied

After that, he immediately left the room. Erein was left confused. She could not understand how she suddenly felt with that stranger.

"Funny, I said I was not interested. But, I went to her again the next night. I see no reason, as long as I just want to see her. As before, I asked her to play music with me. Every time I hear the music she creates, I feel peace. Especially when I look at her beautiful face. Soon, I also wanted to learned how to play the violin. I ask her to teach me. But the truth of that... I just want to have a reason for me to go to her and be with her. You know... Gradually, I got closer to her. She also gradually changed me. If I had not met her, I would not have known what was happening to me. That's where I started to get away from Vampire World..."

Rane couldn't help but smile as she listened to Drake's story. The latter continues to tell...

Drake is currently playing one of Beethoven's symphonies when...

"I hate you!" Erein said suddenly.

Drake stopped playing and worried staring at Erein.

"W-Why? Did I make a mistake?" he asked.

Erein smiled at him.

"No... I'm just annoyed with you because you better play the violin with me."

He laughed softly at what it said. He approached it and caressed its face ..

"I will not be good if you are not good. You taught me."

He removed his hand that was holding her cheek and handed her the violin he was holding... But Erein did not accept that.

"Why?" he asked.

"My violin is yours now. My gift. I think it's better for you to have that."

Drake's face warmed at that moment. He didn't know what to say.

"W-Wait, I guess it's unfair. You taught me to play. You'll even give me your violin. I guess, that's too much?" he said.

"It 's my gift... I'm grateful because you're already here. Since I went blind, I have never had a friend. I have always been alone. So I just poured all my time and I feel like playing music. That's all I have ehand because of that, you came. I was happy again, so thank you... Drake."

Erein was surprised when Drake suddenly hugged her. She did not expect that thing.

"You are wrong... You have done a lot for me. Honestly, not only did you play the violin for me. If I didn't know you, there would be many things I would not understand and know. If it weren't for you, I would never see myself again."

Erein could not speak at that moment. She is said to have done a lot for it? She kept crying. Drake wiped away her tears and she smiled. Drake also smiled when he saw a simple smile shine on Erein's lips. Then, he thought of something...

"Erein... Do you trust me?" he asked.

"Of course why?" she asked in amazement.

"Would you like to go out for a moment? We'll just get some air."

"W-Wait, where are we going? My roommates can't see you here at home. Maybe what will they think when they see us come out of my room together." Erein said worriedly.

"We won't go through the window so that's not a problem. I'll load you. What, do you trust me?" Drake asked.

"Yes... I trust you." Erein replied with a smile.

When Erein answered, Drake immediately loaded it and they came out of the window... From their house, he took Erein to the forest where the garden of pink lilies was. They seemed to glow in moonlight. Erein blinked as Drake gently lowered her. Because her feet felt the grass. They were cold because of the dew.

"W-Where are we? Besides, how did you do that? It looks like we were flying earlier ah?" Erein asked one after another.

"You just thought we were flying. But, I was just running earlier. We are here in the vast garden of lilies. They are all pink... Full moon today so they look good. I just discovered this place." Drake said with a smile.

"In that case, this place is beautiful... Alas, I do not see." Erein said sadly.

Drake's smile faded and was replaced by concern. He don't think what he did was good. He approached it and put his arm around Erein.

"Sorry ah? Looks like I made you sad..." he apologized.

Erein shook her head and turned to face Drake. She stroked his face... Like his hands, it was also cold... But she didn't care.

"You didn't make me sad. In fact, I was happier. By the way, I haven't told you yet... I will soon see again. My eyes are about to be operated on. You are the first person I want to see..."

Drake was stunned by what he heard. He felt scared... Intense fear. He smiled bitterly. He grabbed her by the hand holding her cheek.

"I-Is there a problem, Drake?"

"N-Nothing. Don't dream of seeing me... I'm ugly." he retorted.

"Liar." Erein smiled.

Drake was silent and stared at her face for a long time. She had no idea what he was. Everything can change when it finds out who he really is. He felt scared... Very scared. None of his own he hugged it. Then he quickly kissed its lips. That kiss was sudden and quick. He doesn't want to do anything wrong here.

Erein rubbed her lips. she can't believe what Drake did. Is it possible..? She wanted to ask why... But she lost her courage.

"Come on, let's go home. You might be get cold because of the dew." Drake just said.

"A-All right..." Erein replied.

Drake loaded her again and took her home. And that was the last time the man went to her...

Erein is upset because she does not know the reason why Drake left her. The operation on her eyes was successful. She can see again. But still, she feels... Nothing has changed, she is still blind. She did not see what her eyes wanted to see. And her heart, longing for him. If she only knew that was the last time Drake would go to her, she would have just said how she felt... She was staring at the big window of her room almost every night. She was waiting. Until...

Erein was sound asleep when Drake entered the room. He slowly approached her bed. He was carrying a pink lily. He bent down and kissed her lips. After that, he gently laid the lily next to it. He immediately left the room.

Meanwhile... Erein was startled when she felt the strange cold in her room. She opened her eyes and she was surprised at what she saw. A very beautiful pink lily. She quickly got up from lying down. The window of her room is open. She knew, she had closed it before she went to sleep.

"Drake!" she called the man's name.

But she did not hear a word. She was stunned when she heard music. Someone is playing the violin. And the music is... All I ask of you. She went to the window. Her eyes widened and she rubbed her lips...

A man is standing on top of a house near them. This is the one playing the violin. She cannot see its face because it is covered by a shadow. It is turned away from the light of the big moon. Erein smiled bitterly.

"Your trick, Drake..." she retorted.

When Drake finished playing, he waved to Erein. A wave of farewell...

"That was the last time I saw Erein's beautiful face. I know, I was so unfair. But the fear of that time really overcame me. And that is something I regret very much. How many what if? What if I showed her and told her the truth about what I was? What if... Just, I can not answer all that because I can not bring everything back. So when I first saw you in front of my house then. I thought you were her... I thought, the opportunity came to me again. When I saw your face, I remembered that very beautiful part of my life that I wanted to give a continuation but could not. So you Rane... Do not imitate me in case the time comes for you to fall in love...

I know, you are too young for me to tell you this... But be brave, learn to gamble and face what you have to face. Do not imitate me so that you will not regret it." Drake said at length.

Rane sighed deeply after hearing Drake's story. That's why, it was like that to her because he remembered someone on her face.

"I think you should move on. It's been a long time." she said.

Drake looked at her and smiled softly. Then she suddenly slapped it hard on the face. He looked at her in shock. It rubbed its cheek.

"W-Why?" Drake asked in shock.

Rane smiled mischievously.

"That's for what you did to Erein. Just think that she slapped you today. You deserve that because you are ENGOT. But you better move on. You saw your mistake eh...We can’t change what happened."

Rane stood up and held out her right hand.

"Come on. They're waiting for us. And we're all looking forward to the good music you play. You'll make us happy when you play that beautiful music." Rane's lively language.

Drake stared long at Rane's outstretched hand. He smiled voluntarily. Because of this strong slap, he was freed from the past. Because he felt, Erein had already retaliated against him for what he did. He reached out her hand and he stood up. They walked back home...