145 JOYFUL NOTES


    ANDRE’S POV


    I stood still, eyes fixed on my mother as she walked up to me. I was supposed to go pay Ariel a visit at


    the hospital, cause I had a feeling she would be there. Now I was being dyed by my parents. Just


    great, I was the one who brought this upon myself. I woke up, got ready for work, forgetting that about


    Ariel.


    “You’re going to work?” My mother asked, she had gotten a little bit closer to me.


    “Yes. But I’ll be going to the hospital first to see how Ariel and Luke are doing.”


    “Oh right. We should go and see them, don’t you think?”


    “You want toe along?”


    “Yes, of course. Ariel is like a daughter to me, so I really need to check up on her.”


    “Okay then, we can start leaving now.”


    “Woah woah woah, young man. Not so fast” my mother spoke, and I gave her a curious look.


    “Anything?”


    “Yes, I thought you were woundedst night.” She crossed her arms.


    “Yes. Yes I was,” I responded.


    “And you’re feeling better now?”


    “Yes,” I answered and let out a sigh. “I am feeling better now,” I added. Honestly, when I woke up this


    morning, took my bath, and put on my clothes, I totally forgot I got some scars on my body. Like, it


    wasn’t even painful. It was like nothing happenedst night.


    “Are you sure about that?” My mother gave me a skeptical look.


    “Of course Elizabeth,” my father chimed in. “Can’t you see how he’s standing and talking boldly?”


    “Well I can see that.”


    “Exactly! My son is a strong man, and he took it from his father.”


    My mom burst intoughter immediately.


    “Why are youughing?” My dad asked, giving her a puzzled face. “I’m strong, right? Bold like the


    Batman.‘


    My mom refused to answer, as herugh got harder. And seeing her cracking up like that, caused me


    tough silently.


    “Oh Manuel. Aren’t you just so funny?” She fixed her hand on his shoulder.


    “What?” My dad gaped at her.


    “Remember this one time when we went camping and you got chased by bees,” my mother reminded


    him.


    “Okay, those weren’t no ordinary bees.” He tried to defend.


    My mom continued with her elfish tone, taunting him. “Oh tell me more about it.”


    “You know what? I’m out of here.” My dad marched upstairs.


    My mom continuedughing, but I rolled my eyes, not giving her the yful mode. “Mom, you got to


    stopughing. Time’s not on my side.


    “Oh sorry,” she said, putting an end to herughter. “We should get going then. But have do you


    perhaps know where Mason is? I haven’t seen him since morning.”


    “I don’t know, but he stormed out of the housest night.”


    “He did that?” she raised an eyebrow.


    “Yes,” I sighed, and walked out of the house.


    “Hey, wait for me!” I could hear her screaming from behind.


    ****


    ARIEL’S POV


    In the sterile hospital room, I sat perched on the edge of my ufortable stic chair, gazing out the


    window at the dreary cityscape beyond. The beeping of machines and the faint murmurs of nurses


    outside the door created a dull backdrop to my thoughts, which were heavy with worry and exhaustion.


    I had been in that room for what felt like an eternity, waiting for news about Luke’s


    condition.


    The moment we entered the hospital, he just fell on the floor, and began to shudder. The scene was


    really frightening, but thank God we had already arrived at the hospital when it happened. He was


    rushed to a room by the nurses, and doctors. Now I just hoped nothing bad would happen to him. The


    silence was suffocating, and I longed for a moment of respite from the anxiety that gnawed


    at me.


    music, growing louder with each passing moment. I furrowed my brow in confusion, wondering where


    the festive sounds could being from in such a somber ce. Then, as if materializing out of thin


    air, a group of Mexican musicians burst into the room, their vibrant energy filling the sterile space with


    life.


    Dressed in colorful traditional attire reminiscent of old Western movies, the musicians sported wide–


    brimmed hats, embroidered shirts, and polished leather boots. They carried guitars, trumpets, and


    maracas, their fingers flying expertly over the strings and keys, producing a cacophony of joyful


    melodies that seemed to dance through the air.


    My eyes widened in surprise as the musicians began to y, their infectious


    mncholy reverie. The room was transformed


    rhythms coaxing me out of my around me like a whirlwind of sound and color.


    into a fiesta, the music swirling


    The musicians‘ voices rose in harmonious chorus, singing songs of love, loss, and everything in


    between.


    As the music reached a crescendo, the musicians broke into a lively dance, their movements


    exaggerated andical. They twirled and stomped around the room with exaggerated ir, their


    laughter ringing out like a peal of bells. I couldn’t help but be swept up in their infectious joy, my lips


    curving into a wide smile as I watched their antics unfold.


    The lead guitarist, a charismatic man with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, caught my gaze and


    winked yfully. Encouraged by his gesture, I rose from my seat and joined the impromptu dance, my


    movements clumsy but full of heart. I twirled and pped along with the musicians, my worries


    momentarily forgotten in the whirl of music andughter.


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    As thest notes of the song faded away, I sank back into my chair, my chest heaving with exertion and


    mirth. The musicians beamed at me, their eyes twinkling with satisfaction at having brought a moment


    of light into the darkness of the hospital room.


    Then all of a sudden, Luke entered the room, and their song continued, he was dancing to their music.


    My eyes widened that very moment as I was shocked, and surprised to see him. Like seriously, what


    the hell was going on? This was the same Luke that fell down minutes ago, and it was as if he was


    dying. But here he was, smiling and dancing, like nothing had ever happened. I needed some answers


    in this mirth, cause I was confused as hell.


    I didn’t take my eyes off Luke as he continued to dance, and he winked at me multiple times. I was


    smiling broadly, and the fear that was in me, had disappeared.


    /*


    The song eventually came to an end, and Luke moved closer to me, a smile etched on his face. He


    held my hands gently as I stood up from my chair.


    “Luke, you’re alright. What’s going on?” I asked, but he didn’t say anything, his smile still lingering on


    his face. Instead, he pulled me closer to him, and we could just gaze into each other’s eyes.


    “It was all a prank,” one of the musicians told me.


    “A prank?” I made a bewildered face, looking into Luke’s eyes. “What is he talking about? I thought you


    were..”


    “There’s no need to worry, Ariel. I’m alright,” he spoke softly. And I just stared at him, happy, joyful, and


    infuriated at the same time.