“ Lulu!” my father suddenly shouted, “ I thought something happened to you, I was worried”
“ I’m fine, I was just thinking about something,” I said
I should’ve excused myself when he asked me how was school today. Ughh, I thought school’s boring and there’s nothing to do except sit around and listen to the teacher mumble on about useless information that I have already studied. The only class that was interesting was Music; today we got to play the violin, which made a very smooth sound. Also, it was very like the piano’s sound just that the piano has more keys than the violin. Maybe I should switch my main instrument to violin instead of piano; I could get violin lessons from a professor that my father knows. But, of course I wouldn’t want to disappoint my father so I just said that it was pretty good, but in my head I was thinking that it was the most boring thing in the day.
The next morning, I find the courage to ask my parents if I could live by myself for a month then I would come back. Lulu knew they would object anyway but I still asked my parents. Climbing over the fence wasn’t as easy as I thought, Lulu had to wait until the guards and parents were sound asleep before I was going to sneak out. But, the operation was a success; no one knew where I was. Although she felt really bad that her parents would be very worried they wouldn’t be able to find the time to search for Lulu. As Lulu expected her parents were in an uproar when they discovered that Lulu was gone from the mansion, they sent maids and servants to search the mansion but no one found where she was. While on the other hand, I was having quite a time with money; I forgot to bring money with me. But, at least I brought my violin. I’m confident that I have enough skills to perform on stage with my violin with lessons from Professor.
As I stepped inside a store, I went to the counter and asked to meet with the person in charge of the restaurant. The person in charge agreed to meet me. Now, all I need to do is to think of another name to cover up for myself so that they won’t discover what my real identity is.
“Hi my name is Lulu…no I mean Anna Rosenthal.” I greeted, hoping he won’t think that I’m lying.
“May I perform on your stage and get a three meal for free?” I asked
“Ehh, if you can play,” said Mr. Krown. “Now play something for me, I’ll see if you are worth to stand on that stage and perform.”
I take out my violin and start to play a melody that was smooth like water. The music notes danced around her as if giving her magic and were gone in a POOF! When she stopped.
“Alright I hire you for a one- night stand since my other player is late tonight,” said Mr. Krown.
“Thank you! I will try my best,” I said with excitement.
When I stepped on stage, the spot light was on me and everyone turned around and looked as if they were unhappy that a girl wearing a slightly dirty dress is on stage. But, I told myself that I could do this even though I haven’t performed before except to my parents. As I started playing another music piece, the commoners that where eating dropped their meat that they were eating and listened to my music until I was done. But, when I opened my eyes to see, more people entered to just hear my music. When I finished everyone started clapping like a thunder, Mr. Krown was pleased to know that I played well and helped him earn more than usual.
“To add a bonus since you helped me earn more than usual, I will give another days worth of food,” said Mr. Krown, and then he walked out of the room skipping to his delightful fortune today.
Who would’ve thought, I also get to stay the night. I myself was pretty proud of myself since I could actually please people when it was my first performance. “I think I can just live by myself and work as a musician.” I thought to myself. NO time to waste got to go to sleep. As night passed and dawn came, I bid my farewells to the people from the tavern.
“I am very grateful to be able to make such kind people who will offer help.” I gave him a bow.
“No no no, WE must thank YOU, for helping us earn money that was a record of this tavern,” Mr. Krown answered. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay for another day?”
“No I couldn’t trouble you. I have to get on my way. I only have one month to explore,” I answered.
“Well then I hope you get to explore the world out there as much as you can,” Said Mr. Krown. “There are many fascinating things out there, who knows, you might even find someone you will cherish a lot on your one month journey.”
“Yes, maybe I would find one, but for now I want to explore the world outside,” I answered. “Farewell, Mr. Krown”
As I step into the sunlight, I started my journey again with my food and clothes. On as I go into the next city, Tabula a city of flowers. How I would love to see a city full of flowers, no snap out of it I told myself now is not the time to daydream about things. I should quickly get on my road; I need to eat up the hill. But, on my way up the hill, I saw a poor man begging for money near the entranceway of another tavern. I walked up to him and saw that he was poor with clothes that had patches and dirt, unsown shoes openings, messy hair that smelled like rotten vegetable. Also, in front of his lap, lies a broken bowl for money. Although I don’t have any money, I could still offer a bit of food since I did get extra food from the Krown tavern. Maybe I could share some of my food since I was about to eat my lunch. “Would you like to share some of my lunch, mister?” I asked. He nods as a sign of yes. I help the man up and saw that he was pretty young himself; I think he probably lost a job or something. The man ate with hunger, gobbling down the chicken leg, stuffing his mouth with bread and then lastly he slowly ate the apple that I saved for snack. He almost ate my whole lunch!
“Ahhh……… thank you, young lady, I am Ikuto Tokura. How may I address you?” Ikuto asked.
“Hi Ikuto, I am Anna Rosenthal,” I replied. Thinking to myself proudly, I’m pretty good at hiding my identity myself. “I have never saw a person eaten so much before in my life,” I said.
Ikuto looked embarrassed “Well…I’m very sorry that I ate most of your lunch, that’s because I haven’t eaten anything for three days straight,” He answered. “How may I repay you?” he asked.
“Oh no you don’t have to repay me, I have to thank you for eating lunch with me,” I said. “Usually I eat lunch alone by myself, and it’s pretty lonely.” It was true; my parents went to work everyday and didn’t come home until it was late at night. I rather have them stay home than go to work to earn money.
“Mmm… know what, where are you headed?” Ikuto asked lifting his head.
“I’m headed to Tabula” I answered looking questioned
“I’ll take you there,” offered Ikuto. “Since I haven’t been there for a while to visit my parents for a couple of years.”
“Your parents?” I asked “Shouldn’t you be living with them?”
“Well, it’s a long story,” He answered. “Long ago when I was young, I wanted to explore the world outside of the city walls, but I haven’t got the money. That was till I got a job that needs people to travel around towns to deliver things. But, I was robbed of my merchant items and I got fired from my job, so now I’ve become like this.”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have mentioned it,” I said, looking depressed. “So then, how did it feel to have a job?”
“Wait; don’t tell me…..YOU haven’t worked before?” Ikuto questioned.
“Well…I guess you could say that I never thought about getting a job,” I said. But in my head “actually, my house is full of servants that do every single little thing. Which leaves me sitting there bored with nothing to do,” I thought.
“Oh, then you should try to find a job, also you actually get to see what you can complete in life,” Ikuto responded.
"Hm... it does seem interesting,” I said. “But, I only have one month to explore, so I don’t know yet.”
With that, we set out to Tabula, the way there is far. Ikuto estimated that we would probably get there in three days, good thing that along the way there are taverns where I play my violin to get us meals and we get to stay for the night. As the days passed, I didn’t realize that my feelings for Ikuto grew; but I don’t know what feeling it is yet. Also, when he speaks to other girls I get this feeling that a knife just pricked my heart and it hurts. Until one day when we rested at a tavern that was decorated by green leaves and with a can of chopsticks in the middle of the table.
After I finished performing and was about to take a stroll, a girl came and offered to take a stroll with me.
“Hello, my name is Annge Balurn,” she replied with a bow.
“Hi, my name is Anna Rosenthal,” I said as I took a bow.
“You were great at playing the violin!”Exclaimed Annge.
“Thank you! That’s the first time someone ever praised me,” My face reddens as I say this. I was so happy that when she said something after, I was confused.
“I do think that your music was great, but it seemed like your heart was somewhere else. Were you thinking of someone else?” she asked.
I was stunned that she could tell, I was staring at Ikuto at the first half of the music that I was playing. Then an abrupt shake from Annge brought me back to reality, I just remembered that I was taking a stroll with Annge. “Um….no I wasn’t,” I whispered.
“Now don’t lie to me Anna, I know you were thinking of someone while you were playing,” she asked with amusement. “Could it be Ikuto? He used to stay for a night at this tavern when he is traveling or about to reach Tabula. Ikuto flirts with the girls at the tavern but never was serious about them. He was bored I guess.”
“Oh…,” I said with disappointment. “I never thought that I would fall for someone like that.”
Wait…don’t tell me, you love him?” she asked with excitement.
I blush red immediately that Annge said that I was as red as an apple. “Well…yes, I do,” I said silently.
“There, got the beans out of you. You know, I think Ikuto was listening to your music, but he pretend to not listen to your music to make you jealous. Also, when he flirted with the girls when you were playing was because he wanted to make you jealous too,” she remarked. “Did you feel a sting in your heart? Like a knife just pricked your heart?”
“Yea, exactly that. But I’ve been wondering why, also there are times when my heart is all fuzzy and nervous when I’m with him sometimes,” I replied. “Also, I thought that it was just a feeling that came whenever it wanted to.”
When I got back to my room, my heart was pounding against my silk clothing. “I better go to sleep, we have to set out early tomorrow,” I thought when I was floating to sleep. However when I slept, I dreamt about Ikuto. He came into my room and was staring at me as if I was something that was really precious that he couldn’t lose. Not knowing that it really did happened, I wished upon a star to wish that Ikuto would find happiness.
While on the other hand was sitting on his bed and thinking about Anna. “I can’t fall in love with her, she will hate me,” he thought to himself. She would never think of me as her lover, I’m just a stranger that fell in love with her when I first saw her. I loved how Anna had a kind heart, believed in what she thinks and that she doesn’t hesitate to help someone who’s in trouble.
As dawn reached Ikuto and I set out to Tabula, we’ll be there by nightfall; he estimated. But along the way when we sat by the tree for lunch I became thirsty and wanted to go to a river nearby to get a drink. The river was only a couple of yards away, who would’ve thought that I would suddenly be kidnapped by a thief. I wonder if Ikuto would come looking for me since I am gone for a while. God thing that if he did, I was smart enough to leave a shoe to mark where we’re headed. Hopefully he finds it and comes look for me, now all I need to do is to leave another thing to help Ikuto to fine his trail. Now I’m tied to a tree, I need to try to trick him into freeing me. “Hey! Untie me! What do you think you’re doing,” I ordered.
“What does it look like I’m doing,” he commanded.
“Kidnapping me what else,” I responded in a rude way. “Anyway what’s your name?”
“Bingo! You’re right I kidnapped you,” he joked. “My name’s Ryo, not telling my last name.”
“Fine, whatever my names Anna,” I retorted. “By the way can you just loosen the rope a bit? My hand’s hurting.”
“No can do lady, I’m waiting for your little friend to come rescue you,” he insisted. “Until then you can talk if you want but I can’t let you go.”
“So, why am I being kidnapped? I don’t remembering making any enemies,” I requested.
“You know Ikuto? I saw you talking and walking with him,” he questioned.
“Duh, I know him,” I replied. “Now tell me what you want.”
“No, I don’t want anything I want to challenge him in a fight to see if I’m stronger than him,” he said. “I can’t believe that he beat me in that fight the other day, I should’ve won. Now I’ve come back from training in the mountains. I’m going to challenge him again, not to lose face like last time.”
“Interesting, but who would’ve thought that he’s good at fighting,” I joked. “Now I love him more~”
“He’s not going to win this time round, I will beat him. He stole my woman,” he blurted.
“Your woman? Wait he was with your woman?” I asked. “I thought that he never dated anyone before, that’s a surprise.”
“Well, actually my girlfriend wanted to break up with me cause I lost the fight,” he sobbed. There was a tear in Ryo’s eyes, who would think that a man like this would actually cry. He had brown hair, muscular, tall, and was buffed. He wore a white shirt with a brown trouser; his hair was a little messy like he hasn’t taken a bath for a couple of days. Well, one thing I know is that he’s pretty desperate that his girlfriend left him.
“She isn’t with Ikuto anymore not that I’ve seen. Besides I think she never even dated Ikuto, I think you’re just seeing and imagining things too much.”
“Well thanks anyhow, I feel better,” Ryo replied “You know, you are really kind, I think that Ikuto loves you. You know he went into your room at night when you were sleeping? I never saw an expression on his face like that.”
“Huh? I thought that was a dream. Nah I don’t think he loves me, he’s just kind.” I replied. Though I wish that was true though, but that would be impossible.
When night time fell Ikuto was worried and was frustrate that he couldn’t even protect Anna. “ I should’ve gone with her to drink, why didn’t I think that it was dangerous for a girl to travel that far away by herself?” Anna left tracks with her stuff, but I lost track of it when I was wandering too carelessly. I hope she’s alright, I won’t forgive myself if she’s hurt. I’m so tired, just like that I fell sleep until the next morning.
Morning arrived and Ikuto hasn’t searched for Anna yet. “ I’m worried, Ikuto hasn’t come yet,” she whispered to herself. Ryo was still asleep right now and I can’t move. On top of that I’m hungry, I have to eat something. “ HEY! Ryo can you get something for me to eat? I’m hungry, wake up!” I shouted.
“ Huh? Be quite I’m still sleeping can you wait for a while?” he yawned.
“ What…no I’m hungry get me food right now,” I exclaimed loudly that he sat up immediately and went to get some bread from his pack. I ate when Ryo untied m hands, but the other parts of my body were still tied. After I finished eating, Ryo tied my hands back and he ate his breakfast. When he was about to finish, Ikuto appeared out of the bush and was stained with dirt. I turned and he rushed to me like I was about to be put to death. “ WAIT!” Ryo said with a sinister smile on his face. “ You get hear her she’ll get hurt.” He took out a knife and put it near my throat. “ You better not move another inch, Ikuto. If you do, then I don’t know what will happen to Anna.”
“ You know her name?” asked Ikuto.
“ Duh, what villain won’t know the person’s name that they held captive,” Ryo murmured. “ Never mind about that. Now if you want Anna back unhurt, then you have to have a contest with me, a fight. I won’t let you win this time after that disgraceful scene last time when my girlfriend left me.”
“ Fine, I’ll fight you, but you have to release Anna or else I’ll hurt you,” Ikuto hissed.
The fight started with me standing by the tree. They fought pretty hard, both Ryo and Ikuto had bruises from each other’s attacks. They started from punches to kicks to flying kicking; they both were breathing hard and they were tired. But, neither of them resisted letting the opposite side to hurt them. I was so worried about Ikuto, he could be dangerously injured and Ryo seems like he could really beat Ikuto.
But, I also understand how Ryo feel when his girlfriend was snatched away, jealousy was in his heart and he wanted revenge. Finally, Ryo punched Ikuto in the stomach; and Ikuto fell to the floor. But, as Ryo was about to walk away to declare that he won, Ikuto mustered up his strength and put a final blow to Ryo that knocked him down unable to stand up again. I hurried over to Ikuto and took to his injuries, but I couldn’t do anything to help him but to carry him to Tabula. When we walked for awhile, a man saw us and came to our rescue. In a couple of days Ikuto healed as I cared for his wounds. We thanked the old man and his family for taking us in for a couple of days and started out to Tabula with some food that the old man gave us. When we reached Tabula, I realized that I only had 7 days left of exploring, which makes this my last stop before I turn around and head back home again. “ Ikuto, ummm I only have a couple of days left to explore then I have to go home,” I said disappointed. “ Also, I have to tell you my real name, it’s not Anna Rosenthal. It’s Lulu Moon.”
“Ummm….I have something to tell you,” he mumbled. “ Come here with me” and he took my arm and we ran to a narrow space between two shops. “ I…..Love…..You…..” he said.
I was so surprised and happy that he felt the same way as I did. “ Ikuto, I love you too,” I said gently. For a moment there my mind was blank and then Ikuto slowly reached in and kissed me lightly on my lips. My legs were weak that it gave in and Ikuto had to carry me to the place that we’ll be staying at; which is his home. Then, suddenly I realize that I only had seven days left and my times up. I told Ikuto and we set out again after a couple days at Tabula.
When I reached home, my parents rushed towards me and hugged me tightly. Then, they looked behind me and saw Ikuto. “ Hi, I’m Ikuto Tokura, I love your daughter so please let me date her,” he swallowed and gave a bow nervously.
My parents were astonished that I brought a boy home and said that they wanted to talk to me in their room tonight.
During dinner Ikuto and I couldn’t stop looking at each other that I almost spilled my soup. After dinner, Ikuto was brought to the guest room and stayed there for the night. I went to visit him and told him that I’ll convince my parents to approve of us together. “ I promise that we will be together always,” I said. “ Also, I have to tell you my real name, it’s not Anna Rosenthal. It’s Lulu Moon.” Then I left the room.
In my parent’s room, they were sitting on the chairs that were made of wood and covered with cotton that had red delicate patterns on it. “Mom, Dad, I love Ikuto and I hope that you will approve of us together,” I said.
My parents looked at each other and said “ Of course we will approve of you together with Ikuto! We have never seen your face so happy before!” they exclaimed. “ But on one condition, you have to tell mama and papa where you are. You don’t know how worried we were!”
“ I agree,” I said happily. “ Now will you excuse me?”
“ Yes, you may go now, but remember our promise,” Mama said.
“ OKAY!” I giggled I can’t wait to tell Ikuto this news. When I told Ikuto this, he was overjoyed that we’ll be together and hugged me tightly for a long time until I said that I couldn’t breathe.
