"Thanks for coming. We really needed a hand, the noise was getting annoying," Esterphina said as she turned on the tap to rinse the plate she and Leo used to eat cake. Leo smiled at her, removing his weight from the aged wooden counter he had been leaning on before he walked over to Ester who was at the sink. Leonardo had come over to help Ester out with the leaking ceiling in the bathroom while Alejandro was out practicing with Kenneth.

"It's no problem. I'm happy to help," he said, watching as she dried the plate before putting it away in the cupboard above. Al's sister then turned and smiled at him with her eye wrinkles on full display. She looked a lot like her brother with her bronze skin, roman nose, and dark as night-long hair.

"I'm so glad Master Rutherford paired you with Alejandro. It was like fate," she said as the smile on her face widened. She'd grown excited and happy when she had found out about her brother and Leo's undefined relationship.

"I used to be very worried about him, and now I'm just glad," she said before making to leave the small kitchen. Leo followed her out and walked into the living room with her. He had become a regular visitor at the apartment Al and his sister shared. Usually, he would have dinner with the two of them and they would talk until someone offered to play the piano. Esterphina also played well despite the fact the piano wasn't her focus in college. Leo had learned that their mother had taught most of them how to play, and only two of them out of their six siblings ended up pursuing music.

"What are your plans after you graduate?" Leo asked Ester as they settled down on the brown sofas across from each other. Leo watched as Ester shrugged in response to his question, biting the bottom of her plump lips before letting out a low sigh.

"I still have three more years. I'll think of that later," she laughed, making Leonardo chuckle too. "What about you?" she asked, making Leo turn to her with wide eyes.

"I'm planning to be a conductor," Leo said before resting his head on his raised hand. "I actually have a few offers now, but I'm only really looking into one," he said, breaking the news for the first time since he started receiving them. He watched as Esterphina let out a small oh before balling her hands into small fits on her lap.

"Where's the orchestra based?" she asked, making Leo let out a small sigh.

"They travel around North America, but it's based in Vancouver," he replied, watching as a confused frown formed on Esterphina's face.

"Canada? But Alejandro might have to move to France," she said, making Leo nod, gesturing that he understood what she was saying. The room went silent after that. The only noise left was the faint sound of the leaves rustling on the tree outside the living room window.

"It's not final. It's just an offer," Leo said, breaking the brief silence. Esterphina didn't look relieved, and her worried expression remained on her face. To her, her brother had just found happiness, and she wondered if the world was so cruel that it would rip him away from its source in just the span of a few months. Ester didn't like the idea. She didn't like it at all.

"Have you at least told him?" she asked, watching as Leo shook his head in response. "Why not?" she asked in a firmer voice right after. Her tone surprised Leonardo a bit, making his eyes go wide briefly as he looked up at her.

"As I told you, it's not final. I don't want him to worry," he said before running his fingers through his blond hair. He felt cornered and a bit shaky.

"Will you at least try to find something in France? France had the best orchestras anyway—"

"What if I do, but the orchestra is in a different city from Al's? It's not that simple Ester, and you know it," Leo sighed before bending over a bit and covering his face with his hands.

"I know," Ester sighed. "I'm just worried, she said before giving Leo a forced smile. She looked on at the handsome man with dirty blond hair and bright green eyes, the man that had been the source of Alejandro's greatest pain and happiness.

"I hope you two get to talk about it soon," she said, and Leonardo nodded.

Ester started asking Leo about the school orchestra, changing the topic to a less tense one. After a while Esterphina got up, telling Leonardo that she had to leave to pick up Alejandro from his practice session.

"I'll just wait here then," Leo said, watching as Ester checked the time on her watch before heading over to the bookshelf at the corner to pick up her car keys.

"You can wait in his room," she said with a smile before heading out of the living room. After a while, Leo heard the front door opening and clicking shut. He then looked around the small living room before getting up and walking towards the keyboard piano at the corner. He let his fingers press against some keys in succession, smiling when he realized he'd been playing one of Alejandro's favorite songs unconsciously.

He walked out of the living room after a while of standing behind the piano. He walked into the hallway that led to the bedrooms, and he stopped at Al's bedroom door before turning the knob and heading in. He walked over to the neatly laid queen-sized bed, sitting down on its edge before looking around the room. There was a small keyboard piano, stool, and old-style CD player where a study table would usually reside. The room walls were a dull brown color, but Leonardo supposed that it didn't matter — Al really couldn't see them anyway.

A sigh left Leo's lips as he closed his eyes and tried to empty his thoughts of the worries and doubts. He knew he should be happy that Al had gotten an offer, and he was. It was a good thing for Al. It had been all he had ever wanted at a point. Leo also knew he should be happy that he himself was getting conducting offers, but it was had.

They'd expected this when they'd gotten into their undefined relationship, but the mere thought of being apart for months on end still hurt and made Leonardo distressed.

Leo bit his bottom lip before resting back until his back hit the soft mattress that was covered in a cream-colored bed sheet and duvet. The room's window was open, letting in the evening light and breeze. How long will it take until they come back? Leonardo wondered as he reached out to take one of the pillows by the headrest of the bed. He hugged it to himself, closing his eyes as he inhaled its scent. Al. It was his Al.

Leo decided that when Alejandro came back he was going to give him a big tight hug and avoid explaining why. He needed to calm his mind and remind himself to think in the present, and think with his head and not his heart when concerning the future.

It was extremely hard.

Extremely hard to do the right thing.