As Slade and I sat by the waiting area, I noticed how he kept tapping his foot on the floor. I noticed the expression on his face, as if he was lost in thoughts.

"Hey, it's going to be okay." I reminded him for the nth time.

"I hope so." He smiled as he held my hand tight.

Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang beses nang pinanghinaan ng loob si Slade mula nang aksidente niya. Hindi ko rin naman siya masisisi dahil kung ako ang nasa kalagayan niya, baka nga mas malala pa ang mararamdaman ko.

It wasn't easy trying to cheer him on but we knew how worse it was for him, so we all tried our best to make him feel that he wasn't alone. Ever. The last thing we wanted was for him to fall under depression.

The therapist suddenly called Slade, snapping me out of my reverie.

As Slade undergone therapy, I kept my promise and stayed by his side for as long as he wanted me to. 

Time flew by so fast that next thing I know, we were sitting in another waiting area, in the same hospital, but in a different floor and under a completely different situation. This time, it was Slade who was holding my hand tight, trying to calm me down.

"It's going to be okay." He reminded me with a smile.

I nodded as I sighed. "It's going to be okay."

All of a sudden, the door right in front of us opened. Dad came out with a big smile on his face. It was enough to melt my worries away. I let go of Slade's hand, ran up to Dad and hugged him tight. Finally, our little bean arrived.

Slade and I were giggling like a pair of excited idiots as we went inside the private room where Mom was resting after giving birth to little bean. We were told the little bean was also there so we knew it was the perfect time to announce the name we came up with.

I was almost brought to tears the moment I saw Mom lying in bed while cradling my little brother in her arms. Mom looked like a total wreck but she looked so happy. Dad on the other hand couldn't stop smiling as he sat next to them.

"What's that?" Mom chuckled as she pointed the rolled up sheet I was holding.

"We're excited to reveal my little brother's name." I couldn't stop giggling.

"May pa banner pa talaga kayo." Komento ni Silver na nasa silid na rin pala at tahimik na kumakain ng mansanas. Nakasuot na siya ng nurse uniform niya, palibhasa nagsimula na rin ang internship niya sa ospital.

"You guys ready?" Natatawang tanong ni Slade sa mga magulang ko.

Mom gulped as she looked at Dad with worry eyes. "Mas kinabahan ako ngayon kesa sa panganganak ko kanina."

Dad forced a smile and held Mom's hand. He actually looked more worried than she was.

The little bean on the other hand remained asleep, no idea that Slade and I were about to rock his world. Thanks Mom for giving us such great power!

Slade and I both made drumming sounds as we rolled out the banner that revealed the name that we came up with.

All of a sudden there was Silence. Mom and Dad were both left dumbfounded while Slade and I continued to grin proudly. 

"Ano ba pinangalan n'yo?" Curious na tumayo si Silver mula sa kinauupuan at sumilip din sa nakasulat sa banner. Kahit siya ay natahimik din.

"Drummer De Juan?!" Sabay-sabay nilang bulalas.

I laughed maniacally. "It's awesome! Just imagine the future conversations he'll have! Like, someone will say 'You told me you were a drummer! ' But that little bean will then say 'No, I'm Drummer!'" I even mimicked an angry voice just to prove my point.

"Genius right?" Humalakhak si Slade at umakbay sa akin. "Nagtalo pa kami kung Bassist ba o Drummer. She won." Dagdag pa ni Slade. 

Ngumiwi si Silver at umiling-iling. "You guys are so stupid. Bagay na bagay talaga kayo."

Drummer brought a big change to our lives. A good kind of change.

Magno was right, after Drummer was born lagi nang pumupunta si Lolo sa bahay. Iyon nga lang, hindi niya masyadong kinakausap sina Mommy at Daddy unless si Drummer ang pinag-uusapan. Other than that, wala silang kibuan. Wala naman akong magagawa dahil matatanda na sila at may sariling mga pinaniniwalaan.

Halos lagi na ring may bumibisita sa bahay namin. Magno's parents would always visit, even our other relatives from my Father's side of the family. Kahit sina Braylee, Piper, Riley ay lagi ring bumibisita.

Drummer was also beneficial to Slade and I. Masyado na kasing busy si Daddy para pagbawalan kami na magkasama nang matagal. 

Of course, Slade and I weren't all rendezvous and hanging out. We also helped taking care of Drummer especially because Mom and Dad became busy managing Reika's, our family guitar shop. Nagbukas na kasi ulit sila ng Branch sa Filimon Heights. This time, nangako si Lolo sa akin na hinding-hindi na niya ito pakikiaalaman.

****

When the new school year began, bumalik na rin sa pag-aaral si Slade. At dahil sa iisang university na kami nag-aaral, lagi na kaming magkasama at nagtutulungan sa pagre-review sa tuwing may mga quizes or exams. We were each other's study buddy.

Akala ko masyado siyang mahihirapan lalo't pinagsasabay niya ang pag-aaral at therapy pero hindi naman pala. Para pa ngang mas lalo siyang ginaganahan sa pag-aaral dahil patuloy ang pag-iimprove ng braso niya.

"Rei..." Bigla siyang nagsalita habang nasa kwarto niya kami, nakasandal sa isa't-isa habang nagbabasa ng libro.

"Hmm?" I asked.

"Ano nang plano mo pag naka graduate ka na?" Tanong niya kaya napabuntong-hininga ako at ibinaba ang libro ko.

Normally i'd be annoyed if anyone would ask me that kasi kahit ako, hindi ko rin alam anong gagawin ko oras na gumraduate ako. Masyado kasi akong naka-focus na gumraduate.

"I don't know." I shrugged. "Maybe i'll just figure it out when I get there."

"Hindi ka magtatrabaho sa lolo mo?" Tanong niya.

Umiling ako. "My entire life, I always depended on him and his connections. I want to have it my way this time." Tumingin ako sa kanya. "Ikaw ba? May plano ka na?"

Ngumiti siya at tumango. "My parents want me to take over the business."

"Yan ba talaga ang gusto mo?" Hindi ko napigilang magtanong. 

Tumango siyang muli. "Yeah... I actually grew to like it. Besides, hindi lang mga magulang ko ang matutulungan ko, pati na rin ang mga staff namin. I really want to help and make my parents proud."

"Babe, they're already proud of you." Humarap ako sa kanya at tinitigan siya sa mga mata. "I'm sure they're proud of you. They're just not vocal about it."

He chuckled softly as he nodded.

He moved his face closer to mine and as our foreheads touched, I felt his hand caress my cheek. I couldn't help but smile when I realized that he was using his right hand. Sa sobrang saya ko, niyakap ko siya nang mahigpit at hinalikan.

We were both breathless and smiling as our lips parted. 

We both looked at his palm. It was trembling but it was still a good news that he was able to close and open it, unlike before na hindi niya talaga maigalaw.

"Hindi na ba masakit?" Tanong ko.

Umiling siya. "May kaunting kirot pero hindi na gaya ng dati. Sabi ng therapist ko, kung ipagpapatuloy ko ang therapy, may chansa nang lumakas ulit ang kamay ko."

"How about play the guitar?" Tanong ko.

Umiling siya habang may ngiti pa rin sa kanyang labi. "My therapist told me that I might not be able to play the guitar, but at least there's still a chance for me to write and move my hand freely."

He held my face again and I couldn't help but close my eyes. "It's okay if I can't make be in a band anymore. I'm Slade Villafranca. I'm more than just a guy in a rock band."

I smiled, hearing my own words coming out from him. "As long as you're happy."

"I am." He chuckled as his lips landed on mine.

"Tito andito si Reika sa kwarto ni Slade!" Biglang umalingawngaw ang boses ni Silver mula sa labas. Bumitiw kami ni Slade mula sa isa't-isa at kapwa napasimangot.

▬ end of 62// thank u ▬