"Can I ask you a question?" Justin followed.
"Yes."
"I heard from teacher that it was you who persuaded him to take me in as his student," he said.
"I did speak to him, but I do not remember that I persuaded him to take you in as his student," she replied straightforwardly.
"Then, when you told me that you gave it your all in that competition, and I did great, do you have any other meaning to that?"
"The only way I can respect everything you put into playing the violin back then was to also do my best in my performance. That is why I gave my everything for the very first time on that performance. That is the only support I can give to someone who is striving to be more."
"You don't see me as your friend."
Harmony shook her head, "But that doesn't mean I can't give my support to someone working hard to reach their goal.
Justin looked at her eyes, he couldn't help but laugh, seeing how unwavering they were.
"Still, let me thank you for such wonderful support."
If she had held back to let him win, and he found out that Harmony was actually Wynter, then Justin would have been infuriated because she went easy on him just for him to win.
That is not a victory at all.
"How about now? Do you still not treat us as your friends?" he asked afterwards.
"I think I am taking a step towards that. Even though the future is unknown, I felt that I could allow my present to change, even just for a bit."
"You… are speaking in riddles," Justin commented.
Harmony shrugged, having no desire to explain anything.
"I'll go and check on Ken and Shawn, you guys continue chatting," he said in defeat.
He stepped out while the other three still had their attention on Harmony.
"But I think you have considered us as your friends already before this," Kathrine commented next.
She and Beatrice felt it during their vacation in New York, Harmony feels closer already.
"I suppose I did," she replied honestly.
"Thank you for this chance," Beatrice couldn't help but say.
"You should probably thank Shawn. I mean, I did start considering you as people I am closer to more than strangers, but he made me realize that I can still step up, I can still deviate a little bit more from all the plans I created."
They can all tell, there is more she could not say, but for now, this is more than enough.
"I am curious about something as well," Gabriel finally spoke up after they settled their own questions.
Harmony looked at him.
"Who's the real you?"
Kathrine and Beatrice both realized that this was indeed something they should ask, but they did not think about this at all.
Harmony shook her head, "No one."
They felt even more confused by her answer.
It was in time for Shawn and the other two to return.
She looked at each of them.
"I mean, half and half? I am both Harmony and Wynter at the same time, I am not. Both are merely characters I am playing out."
"Why?" Gabriel asked.
"That's just how things are," was her answer.
"I guess we can just look forward to the day you allow us to see the real you, then."
They all turned when the one who spoke next was Kenneth.
The person who angrily left moments ago.
"What happened to you?" Kathrine looked at him, bewildered.
"I just… have a change of mind," he answered.
Harmony slightly furrowed her brows before glancing at Shawn, wondering what he was doing.
Shawn simply smiled at her.
Gabriel squinted his eyes.
Kenneth can make the girls believe that he simply changed his mind. But for the four of them, he won't be able to deceive the three of them.
There is no way he'd suddenly change his mind with how stubborn he can be when it comes to those he deemed important to him.
Gabriel looked at Shawn, and Shawn noticed and smiled at him while winking.
-FLASHBACK-
When Shawn followed him outside, and stopped him by the shoulder.
"What is it? Are you going to ask me to be kinder to her?" Kenneth was obviously furious.
And Shawn understood it very well, just that he knew better.
"I'm sorry Shawn but his improvement in his violin is important to Justin. And Justin is my friend, even if you wish to be kind to anyone, from time to time, can't you choose us as well?"
Shawn was completely stunned.
It seems that all three of his friends have felt the same all along when it comes to his kindness.
Even though he had not spoken to Justin yet about this, he could already tell that he must have felt the same way.
"We have been your friends for far longer than you have known her, and she even pushed you away. Don't keep playing on both sides. Kathrine had already told us the effect on Justin when he was to face her again. Who would have thought that she was reading everything all along?"
"I understand where you are coming from, but I did not stop you to tell you to be kind to her, there is something I wish to show you. And for the record, I am trying to change, to choose who is more important when it comes to giving my kindness. I'm sorry if I made you all feel that way over the past years."
Kenneth clenched his jaws, "I did not mean to guilt trip you."