A Dream, A Destiny

Ash meets Alain

Unfortunately, enthusiasm was not enough to help us beat the last level of Halo 3. Two hours and countless attempts later, Ash put down his controller and conceded defeat.

"I can't do it anymore," he said, pulling at his raven hair in mock frustration.

"Don't give up until its over" I encouraged him, even though I personally felt that if I had to see Master Chief one more time I would go loco.

"Is that what it says on your locket?" Ash asked absently. I looked at him as he lay on his back with his arms behind his head, staring at the locket
which was hanging right above my - gulp - chest.

"No. My locket says 'we cannot rule over our destiny'," I said, running my finger over it. Ash grinned.

"That's deep. But- what does it mean?" he asked.

I shook my head. "Maybe one day I'll figure it out," I said softly.

"Yeah. So, tell me. About the whole piano thing. You planning to study music after high school? Maybe go to Julliard or something?" Ash asked me, turning on his side till he was facing me with his hair falling into his eyes. I felt an almost uncontrollable urge to brush it out of his eyes and sat on top my hands.

"I wish I could go to Julliard," I said wistfully. "But I know my limits, financial and otherwise. I'm probably not going to do anything related to music."

After all, hadn't a little birdie told me that even though I went to private school, I would always be a ghetto child? That was true, though. I rarely agreed with Alain on anything, but I couldn't deny that.

"Why? You got talent!" Ash was now on his stomach, his chin propped up in his hands as he looked at me. "I think if someone from Julliard heard you play, they'd be beating down your door, trying to get you to join their school. I mean, I think you're really good."

I flushed. That meant so much to me. "Thank you, Ash," I said softly, looking down at ground with a smile on my face then back at him when he spoke.

"Don't sell yourself short. They have scholarships and stuff. You might end up being lucky," Ash continued.

"Maybe," I shrugged. I doubted it, though. Me, at Julliard? Only in my dreams.

"So if you don't do music- what you planning to do after high school?" Ash wanted to know.

"Something to do with kids," I decided. "Maybe train to become a teacher. Or a daycare supervisor."

Ash laughed. "Yeah? Better you than me, I think I would go insane, hanging out with kids all the time. That's cute."

I hugged my knees to my chest, pushed my skirt down between my legs while looking down at him. "I just think that's the kind of job I'd like to do. Or I could be a social worker. What about you?"

"Well, from the day I was born, my dad was supposed to groom me to take over the family business coz apparently, its tradition in our family," Ash started, frowning slightly. "But somewhere along the road, he decided that I was no good and would be useless, even if I did manage to get hold of the company. I'm 17 years old, Sere, and my dad hasn't ever sat me down to tell me what the hell he does every day at work. Personally, I think he just plays golf all day. But the point is, someday I'm expected to take over the company and I don't even know anything about it."

"Maybe he's waiting till you turn 18," I suggested. I had never heard Ash sound so bitter. Bad relationship with his dad? Couldn't he see how remarkable his son was?

Ash laughed derisively. "Yeah right. He's setting me up to fail. The man can't stand me because I remind him of my mom, and he hates my mom. So for the past 12 years, he's been giving me crap just because I have the same eyes as her, the same smile as her." He snorted. "My dad's a jerk. I swear, the minute I turn 21, I'm out of here."