Professor F

Beep! Beep!

That horning sound from Aunt Ruth's car broke the awkward silence embracing August and Pierre.

Aunt Ruth extended her arm and opened the front seat, calling Pierre's attention. They both looked at her. "Pierre, you can put your cello on the front seat. And you both sit on the back, okay?"

"After you." Pierre said as he pulled the door open of the back seat.

She blushed and awkwardly got in before he puts the cello on the front seat of the car. He then gets in the back seat of the car.

"Are we good, kids?" Auth Ruth asked with a big smile on her lips. "I know this great restaurant nearby. Let me put it on wayz." Her aunt being her usual talkative self filled the awkward atmosphere she and Pierre has.

She was silently listening to her aunt talking to Pierre. "You're really good up there, Pierre. Have you joined other competitions in the past?"

"N—No. It was actually my first." Pierre answered politely.

"Oh! And you're that good already! I'm so amazed! Of all the competitors, you have moved more people than the others. You even got a standing ovation! I wonder why that guy won."

Her Aunt Ruth speaks her mind as if she's known Pierre since he was a kid and it made her feel uncomfortable. Pierre must feel the same and uneasy talking about not winning when he got that standing ovation.

Pierre discreetly and

"Let's just

shortly. "I'm

answered an incoming

to Becky! Oh, that's fine. We're on our way to have dinner with

loudly—realizing it's been a month since she was

saw him looking at

forced a smile.

was a quiet drive going the restaurant and they were left alone in the table while her Aunt Ruth went to the

from the glass of water. She can't look at him—not after remembering

"Are you okay?"

from

that I'm making

her drink and cleared her throat as

He said looking down on

the reason you

a distraction—the gig and this cello competition. I know you're in love with someone else. And I can't like someone who's already taken. I was confused of so many things. But you can't blame a guy like me. I was broken and when I was trying to fix myself with music—I

"W—Wait, hold on."