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You have arrived at your destination: 4205 Roundabout Court! The GPS chirped, much to Klavier’s relief. The teen wiped the sweat off his brow, leaning against a nearby tree.
Klavier considered it a blessing that his older brother, Kristoph, now lived so close to the Themis Legal Academy. All it took was walking a couple of blocks, crossing a couple of roads, then he showed up at his doorstep.
The caveat, however, was that he had to walk ten minutes in his school uniform while it was over 80 degrees outside. Not even unzipping his jacket helped Klavier withstand the heat. Although it garnered attention from his classmates as he strutted past them, that wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted a chance to use the bathroom to freshen himself up like the rock star he is. Well, future rock star.
Klavier pulled out his key ring. The heart-shaped carabiner held the key to an air-conditioned salvation. He received it along with the house invite a few days ago, allowing him to enter once he arrived. He let the key ring twirl on his finger as he looked ahead.
To be honest, when he thought about what Kristoph’s house looked like, he pictured what he saw: a home painted blue with white trim decorating the roof and patio. Neatly trimmed bushes in the front lawn, with the grass kept short and green. A tree shielding any guests from the sun as they walked across the stone path. Everything seemed fresh and new; there wasn’t even a stray leaf in sight! Klavier couldn’t help but sigh. Same old Kristoph, keeping everything tidy, he thought to himself as he stepped forward.
The clack of his shoes against the stone accompanied his humming, the jingling keys keeping count to the beat. He couldn’t help but let his mind wander, thinking ahead to how his future band could appear on stage. The opening act would play their set, maybe two or three songs. Then his band’s music would begin to play, quiet at first but slowly growing louder. Get the crowd’s suspense building up then-
He stopped, flipping the key upright in his hand. It went in with a click. Then rising from under the stage would be him and his band. With a flourish, Klavier opened the door. A cool breeze embraced him, a crowd of fans rushed toward the stage and him. The teen opened his arms wide before stepping in, closing the door behind him with a hip swing-
The door slammed behind him, sending a jolt down his spine. Ach! Just play it off, Klav, play it off. He straightened himself out before sliding off his shoes. “Hullo, Kristoph! I’m here!” He yelled, tucking shoes to the side.
There was no response. G uess Kristoph’s not back from work yet. Klavier peeled off his school jacket and hung it on the nearby coat rack. The teen sidestepped and shimmied past folded boxes in the hallway as he walked to the stairs. As much as he wanted to explore, he felt his shirt sticking to him. Eugh. I hope the bathroom’s upstairs. Kristoph didn’t give a lot to go off of in his invite.
He went upstairs. Once he got to the second floor, he looked around. There was only one door open. In the crack, a glimmer caught Klavier’s eye. There it is. He wasted no time getting into the bathroom, immediately swiping a towel to wrap around his shoulders.
When he looked in the mirror, he noticed how shiny his face was from sweat. His bangs stuck flat to his forehead. Ach. Klavier took off his sunglasses and turned the faucet on. He leaned down to splash water on his face, sighing with relief as the cool water contacted his skin. After a few splashes, he dried his face with the towel.
Looking back up again, though parts of his hair were wet, his face was now clean. Ah, much better. He still had a little way to go to perfection, but he could face his brother without feeling embarrassed.
“Klavier?” A familiar voice echoed from downstairs. "Where are you?”
Aha, speak of the devil. “Upstairs, Kristoph!” Klavier called back, sticking his head out. “Welcome back, but what took you so long? You could’ve picked me up instead of making me walk in the heat this time.”
Though he couldn’t see Kristoph from here, he knew his brother was crossing his arms as he spoke. “And have you wait at school? As safe and secure as the Themis Legal Academy is, I don’t believe that would’ve looked good for your cool school image.”
“Alright, you got me there,” Klavier laughed. “Anyways, I’ll be down in a second, just fixing my hair.”
“Actually, I’d prefer if you stayed up there for a little longer.”
“Oh? And why’s that?”
“Do you wish for me to ruin the surprise?” Surprise? Klavier retreated into the bathroom, humming thoughtfully. Kristoph wasn’t one to do surprises. Surprises were more his style than anything. Was it a special occasion he somehow wasn’t aware of? All he could think of was his birthday, but that was a week away. Knowing Kristoph’s busy schedule though receiving an early present wasn’t too out of the question. But what was it? Hopefully, it wasn’t anything like law books or school supplies. Sure, he needs them, but it’d be an embarrassing early birthday present-
“Klavier?” Kristoph’s voice rang into his ears, snapping him out of his thoughts. Klavier stuck out his head again.
“Well, fortunately for you, Kristoph, I need a few more minutes to be sure I’m ready for the stage. Just let me know when it’s time to come on,” he responded, closing the door.
“Thank you, Klavier. I’ll let you know when to come downstairs. No peeking.” Klavier listened as his brother’s footsteps clacked along the floor. Once it grew quiet, the teen looked again in the mirror.
Kristoph should have a comb or brush somewhere in here. He looked around, peeking into a couple of drawers. Inside one, combs neatly lined in rows. He picked one up, flipping it around in his hand. He gestured to the mirror as though it was a microphone. Let’s rock!
“Klavier! Come downstairs to the living room. I’m ready for you.” Kristoph called from downstairs.
“Coming!” Klavier called back, leaning away from the mirror. With the last swipes of the comb, along with a quick blow dry and hairspray, his hair returned to its regular raring look. Putting his sunglasses back on, he gave himself a wink. Now, he was stage-ready.
He made his way downstairs, straightening out his dress shirt as he turned into the living room. It reminded him of their childhood home: a traditional space with a variety of antiques placed thoughtfully throughout the area. Bookshelves were tucked perfectly into the corner of the room next to the chairs and coffee table. A rug separated the furniture from the dark oak floor. What made Kristoph’s living room different from what Klavier remembered, however, was the use of blue and magenta. Not a bad look by any means; if Kristoph can make himself stand out from average defense attorneys with those colors, he could do so here as well.
Klavier whistled. “Nice interior decorating, Kristoph. Certainly suits you well.”
“Thank you, Klavier. Take a seat.” Kristoph gestured to the chair in front of him, which Klavier promptly sat in.
“So, what’s the gift occasion? I figured it was only an early birthday gift. If it isn’t, you’d have to forgive me for not getting you anything.”
“Your deduction is correct, Klavier. And really, I should be asking for forgiveness since I’ll be occupied with work the week of your birthday,” Kristoph said with a slight frown.
Klavier waved his hand. “No worries, I get it. As long as you don’t forget how old I’m gonna be. Speaking of which,” He leaned forward, flashing a smile at Kristoph. “How old will I be?”
“15,” Kristoph responded promptly, causing Klavier to drop his smile.
“Ach. Thought you would humor me with a bit of brotherly teasing. I suppose we can’t always get what we want for our birthdays,” Klavier said with a dramatic sigh.
“Not to worry, I promise for your next birthday, I’ll have some gifts prepared for you. In any case, you have this one here.” Kristoph stood up, went around the chair, and pulled out a large box. It was wrapped in metallic purple wrapping paper with a shiny silver bow.
Klavier’s eyebrows piqued with interest, reaching for the present. “You know me all too well, Kristoph. Favorite shade of purple and all.”
Kristoph slid the gift over into Klavier’s waiting hands, smiling. “Of course. An older brother needs to know everything about his younger brother to get the proper gift.”
“If you weren’t my older brother, that would’ve sounded way creepier than you intended, Kristoph.” Klavier laughed as he examined the gift in his hands, standing up. “This is a lot bigger than I was expecting. Should I open this a certain way or?”
“Horizontally would be best,” Kristoph said, sitting back down. “I wouldn’t want for it to fall out.”
Klavier nodded, moving the gift and himself down to the floor. He let his fingers run over the wrapping paper before starting at the top corner. Slowly, he began to unwrap the gift, careful not to create large rips. It would look stunning as my band’s future stage decor. I’ll have to ask Kristoph where he got this. “I don’t want to rip this at all,” He said aloud, glancing over to see his brother nodding in agreement.
“That is is, Klavier. I understand why you want to save this for later.”
“Exactly.” Once he got the wrapping paper down halfway, Klavier looked at the revealed box. It was tall and black, with a sleek finish coating the lid. What is this? He hummed as he continued, pausing to pull the box further out. After a few minutes of work, he laid the box on the floor and pushed the wrapping paper aside. He lifted the lid, eyes widening with shock.
“No way.” Inside was a guitar case, a deep purple. Klavier looked up at Kristoph. “Did you seriously get me a guitar for my birthday?”
Kristoph said nothing, merely smiling at him. Guess I have to find out myself. Klavier got to work undoing the metal fasteners. One by one, the fasteners clicked toward what lay within. With the last one undone, he opened it. What greeted him was an acoustic guitar, tan with a cream trim along the sides of the body. Klavier stared for a moment, hands trembling with excitement. No way, no way, no way-. He lifted it out, setting it in his lap. His left hand rested on the guitar's neck, fingers running along the smooth strings.
With his right hand, he rested them over the sound hole strings and strummed. A rich, warm sound filled his ears. His hands trembled more. Don’t cry, Klav, don’t cry. He told himself, blinking away forming tears.
Klavier looked at Kristoph, who simply asked, “Well, do you like it?
“ Like it? I love it, Kristoph, with all my heart and soul. It’s so beautiful,” Klavier paused to clear his throat. “How did you get a guitar like this?”
Kristoph moved to the floor, kneeling in front of Klavier. “If you’re that curious, it was a favor returned to me from a former client. It was a roadie of a popular guitar player that goes by the stage name Gee Tar-”
“Gee Tar? The Gee Tar?!” Klavier said with a gasp. “But that would’ve been such a public case, what with their popularity. How did you manage to keep it under wraps?”
“Well, it was a roadie that had yet to go on tour with them. They were an amateur, and rarely had any personal connection to Gee Tar. That made the case go rather smoothly. In any case, upon hearing the news, Gee Tar offered a gift to me along with their payment. I said that if it were possible, they could handpick a guitar for you. That is how I got that guitar for you.”
“Oh my god, that is… fantastic! Excellent! Thank you, Kristoph, I don’t know what else to say. I’ll have to find the perfect gift for your birthday,” Klavier said. After I get enough money, that is.
Kristoph chuckled. “Don’t stress yourself out about it. If anything, I’d prefer the gift of promises instead.”
“Promises?” Klavier raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, promises.” Kristoph folded his hands. “Promise me that you’ll take excellent care of this guitar, Klavier. Make music that’ll have you achieve the stardom you’re aiming for. And lastly, don’t allow anyone to handle that guitar. That was handpicked just for you. Understand, Klavier?”
Klavier nodded. “Of course, I’ll take care of it! I’ll care for it as though,” He trailed off, thinking for a moment before an idea struck him. “As though it was my lover,” he said with a sly grin.
“Your lover? Certainly a promise I’ve heard.” Kristoph pushed up his glasses with a sigh.
“Why not? You’re practically describing a relationship- at least, your idea of one,” Klavier said with a chuckle.
Kristoph looked straight at him, prompting Klavier to play a quick riff on the guitar. The older brother’s expression relaxed, causing him to chuckle. “Now then, would you be willing to participate in a ‘photo op’?”
“You know I can’t say no to the cameras, Kristoph,” Klavier said with a smile. He adjusted his hold on the guitar as Kristoph moved closer to him with the phone camera. The teen felt his brother’s hand on his shoulder as he fixed the camera.
“Ready, Klavier?”
“Course I am. Lights… camera… action!”
Snap!
Looking at the guitar, hidden away in its case in his home studio, Klavier now felt a multitude of emotions. Gratitude, as well as grief.
Gratitude, for in the past and the present, Klavier remained touched by this gift. He took the guitar everywhere with him: abroad to Germany, where he formed the Gavinners with his close friends. To every songwriting and composing session, where he experimented with riffs and chords before replicating them on an electric guitar. Even around the world with him, whether he was on tour or not, to play a song or two as a way to wind down after a long day. It was a reminder of his brother’s pride and support for him, no matter where he was.
Grief, for in the present, Klavier could barely bring himself to look at the guitar anymore. It served only as a reminder of what was lost: his admiration and trust in Kristoph. Once the hourglass tipped with the first trial’s resolution, the sands of illusion began to slip through. As Klavier grasped at the grains, the truth revealed itself to him. Slowly but surely, the truth about his brother showed through the glass. No matter how much he distracted himself with his work in the office and onstage, it lingered in his thoughts. And with the fatal blow served in the decisive trial, he could no longer deny it: Kristoph was not the pure figure of justice like he thought. So the hourglass shattered beneath him, pressuring him to gather the pieces together.
Your feelings are valid, Klavier. His therapist’s voice echoed in his thoughts. You have gone through so much with little time to process them. But now that you do have the time, you don’t know what to do to move on. All that you know is that you have to decide what to do to move on.
It’s not as simple as you make it sound. (Though I wish it was.)
It never is. But we can start small. Like the guitar your brother gifted you. Why don’t you try playing a melancholic song on it?
Melancholic?
You wrote the basis for all of your songs with it, right? Those were pop songs meant to be upbeat and rock the crowd. But if you try something more somber, perhaps it’ll give you the answer. You told me that music is a feeling rather than a memory, after all.
Hahaha, I did, didn’t I? …I’ll give it a shot.
I wish the best for you.
Klavier grabbed the guitar case and went onto the balcony, the gentle night breeze tickling his face as he stepped out. He sat down on the floor, opening the case. Even after all these years, the guitar remained as pristine as the day he opened it. As he promised, he treated it well. If only Kristoph saw how much he upheld his promises.
He sighed, taking it out to set on his lap. Normally, he’d be performing for all the world to see and hear, letting them experience the glamour and flair that was Klavier Gavin and the Gavinners. But tonight, he was performing for himself with only the night sky to hear him. He was performing in the hopes of moving forward into a brighter future.
With that, he closed his eyes and began to play.
He began on a lighter melody, letting his heart lead his mind into the memories of simpler and happier times. Times when he and Kristoph played the piano together, the way their hands played simple melodies for their parents’ enjoyment and pleasure. Times when he would pester Kristoph long enough to draw him away from his classwork to play with him instead. For a brief moment, Klavier felt a deep yearning in his heart. A yearn to return to those times- or a chance to feign ignorance of his brother’s behaviors when he could.
Inevitably, his mind wandered toward the events of those two trials. Klavier let the melody gradually dip into a somber one. He recalled those moments vividly in his mind, the way his brother broke down on the stand as he realized he couldn’t run anymore. How his laugh echoed through the halls of the court as the verdict was read. The moment when Klavier’s heart betrayed his mind and forced him to flee, to save himself from the paparazzi that would bombard him with questions they demanded answers to.
All of those feelings of conflict, and betrayal, he wove expertly into the melody despite his trembling fingers. He let them be carried off by the wind into the forgiving silence of the night. He let himself think of the future: the future where he would no longer let himself be held back by Kristoph’s actions no matter how difficult the journey. The future where he could push through and find the truth shining in front of him. Alone or with friends, he’ll find it and grab it with his hands.
His fingers slowed to a stop, ending the song on a high uplifting note. Klavier opened his eyes, letting the tears flow freely down his cheeks as he glanced up above him. The moon shone brightly and clearly in the sky, soothing his aching heart with its gentle glow. Thank you for listening, Fraulein Luna.
He brought the guitar closer to him, wrapping it tightly in an embrace. And thank you for performing with me, old friend. Let us perform together again soon. He carefully placed the guitar back into its case and left the balcony, wiping his eyes with his free hand. Tonight’s performance, although difficult, was a step forward towards a brighter future for himself.