The Luster of Stars in Moscow
⁇ 49
Cheri placed a wreath on his father's navel with his mouth clenched. But his heart began to complain.
Fathering…
I-i'm sorry!
I exchanged my father's death for a chance to go to Moscow to ballet school. But…
I found a world more exciting than the ballet I once loved.
Cheri closed his eyes to dampen his tears that began to spread. The look on his face was flat but the tremors of his eyelids implied sadness as well as a deep longing.
The shadow of Rafael's face instantly flashed and milled in his mind.
At first I jumped into the world with a heavy heart.
Rafael's arrogant hard face also flashed, then changed his fragile figure at the end of the scene of the drama The Beautiful and the Ugly.
"Beautiful.I want to say a boring sentence that I have been saying to you for a thousand nights. Will you be my wife?"
But then I was fascinated…
The more I live my role…
Rafael is captivating my heart!
So strong that I can't wiggle.
Fathering…
I want to go with him!
Together he created a world of drama from all his works.
But he would rather go alone!
Fathering…
Is there no other way for me but to return to ballet?
"Is that really Cheri?" Little aunt Cheri was flabbergasted to observe the girl from the funeral gate. "I remember he was just a spoiled kid. But it seems like he was so stoic today. The look on her face looks a lot more mature."
"I was just surprised when I met him at the airport earlier" said Cheri's mother. "Somehow he suddenly became an adult. I heard a lot of things happened in Moscow!"
The two women watched Cheri for a while, before finally joining the girl around the tomb. Cheri's younger brother trailed behind them, while the other brother did not enter the cemetery.
"I'll just wait in the car" he said. "Entering into the cemetery isn't one of my favorite activities!"
Cheri was still bowed looking at his father's belly button with a grim look on his face when his mother and aunt were already crowding behind him.
"Cheri.." her mother approached while gently touching her shoulder. "What happened in Moscow?"
Cheri raised his face and looked at his mother. But don't say anything.
I can't say that Rafael has multiple personalities, he said in his heart. Even to Mom!
"You don't want to tell Mom?" Her mother asked again, as if she could guess the contents of her heart.
Cherry tried to force a smile. "I'm sorry to worry you" she said. "Can I borrow Mom's chest?" she leaned her head against her mother's chest without waiting for approval.
Her mother and aunt exchanged a glance. Then her mother rubbed her shoulders affectionately.
"You look like a baby" cried Cheri's sister.
Cheri stroked his sister's head while smiling sadly.
"Listen, Cheri!" Cherie's mother started the conversation. "Your father's last wish is for his three daughters to do whatever they please to his fullest."
Cheri pulled his head from his mother's chest and blinked looking at his mother.
His mother smiled faintly. "From the day of his death, your father was planning to do many things he didn't think he could do for the three of you. Who would have thought he was too late. Age no one knows. Regret is of no use either."
Cheri gulped and bowed.
"Dad's death wasn't your fault, Cheri!" Mother added. "So, go after your dreams! You are free to do whatever you like. That's your father's wish!"
"Your mother isn't trying to cheer you up, Cheri!" Auntie Cheri mediates.
Cheri now turned to his lips.
"What your mother said sounds a bit typical, indeed" her aunt added. "Your father used to say this to Auntie. When something that you really wanted to do came true, you wouldn't forever be a child! Because only when you grow up can you get everything you couldn't achieve when you were a kid."
It's true, I have a wish, but…
No matter how big the desire is…
"Mother! Brother!" Cheri's sister who was waiting in the car approached them with a sour face. A bunch of gardenia wreaths were presented to Cheri with a heavy heart. "Someone put this away!"
Cheri flinched and wide-eyed.
How not?
The flower always reminded Cheri of the two men he loved. Rafael and his father!
"Dad, for me ballet is not just a hobby. I want to take ballet seriously. So, let me go to ballet school in Moscow."
"For this time, please come to my final exam. If you change your mind after seeing me dance, at the end of the show, give me a gardenia wreath…"
"Are you waiting for this bouquet?"
"Your father asked me to give this to you!"
His mother took the flower and examined it. "There's no name! Didn't that guy mention his name? Is he a boy or a girl?"
"Male," replied Cheri's sister. "His man is tall and handsome. Looks like a famous guy. I've seen him appear on TV a few times. He said he came from Moscow. After that, he left immediately!"
Rafael!
Cheri spontaneously turned around and rushed out of the burial area.
"Cheri—" his mother tried to hold him.
But Cheri's aunt later hinted that her mother would let him.
Cheri ran after passing through the cemetery gate without looking back.
Maybe it was another personality, Cheri thought. But maybe he is also Rafael. Anywhere.it's okay!
But after he reached several hundred meters by running, he found no sign of the man's presence.
Where is he? Cherie wondered in her heart. Then stop running. He should still be around here!
Cheri researched the surroundings and. froze!
The Olympus Palace City Hall loomed before him.
Inhere…
In this place, my fate changed!
On that day…
In this place, I danced a marionette.
"Marionette Rafael!" Vladimir Valensky's voice suddenly flashed in his mind.
In this place my father died.
"So your father fell in the lobby. The paramedics have handled it and now your father has been taken to the Palms of Pasadena hospital."
In this place…
I met Rafael for the first time!
Rafael's faint voice instantly hissed in his ear with a gust of wind.
"You're going to be an actress in my theater! Understood?"
Cheri looked up at the magnificent building in front of him in a solemn manner, like someone was honoring a historic day.
I want to go back to Moscow, Cheri hopes inwardly.
I'd like to see "Marionette" Rafael once!
Least…
See once again the fake "Marionette" stolen by Vladimir Vallensky!
"Lost anyone?"
The voice of the man behind her made Cheri flinch and spontaneously twist his body.
A tall man knew he was already standing half down while grinning. "Phone Rafael!"
Cheri screeched restrained while smothering his mouth. Then inched back away from the man in front of him. "Kau—" Cheri stuttered. "Why are you here?"
The man grinned again, then slipped both hands into his pants pocket. "Dramaku received an award from the spring theater festival. The surrender ceremony will be held at this town hall!"