Chapter Four: Persistent Girl

Chrono

Si Laeron lang ang nagpakulay ng buhay ko noong umalis na si Mom. Siya rin ang tanging naging kalaro ko sa buong buhay ko (My brother used to tease me so I don't want to play with him that time). He said that I'm his bestfriend so we became bestfriend.

Palagi siya sa bahay namin kumakain at madalas nag-i-sleep over. Kahit na nakakainis minsan dahil makalat siya sa kuwarto at kung anu-ano pinakikialaman, I still felt comfortable around him. Natural lang para sa kaniya ang uri nang pananalita ko hindi tulad ng ibang kapitbahay na palaging umiiyak.

Tulad ng kapit-bahay naming babae na pinagalitan si Kiwi, pinangalan ko sa pusang gala na brown fur with green eyes, dahil sa pagnanakaw ng kanilang pritong tilapya. So I told him she's an apathetic monster. She then burst in tears, cursing me that she hates my existence, and reported me to her parents.

Though, si Kiwi talaga ang may mali, but I don't think it's enough reason to curse people just because someone accused you as a monster.

And I don't regret it. How could she have no empathy with cats? Kiwi has no owner so who do you expect to feed her?

Compared to her, Laeron isn't a cry baby. Tuwing nadadapa si Lae, he just smiled with tears and told me to be careful. Which I find weird because he should be the one who has to be careful.

He's also very optimistic. Even though the world is obviously against him, he always found ways to enjoy the situation. Just like when we were supposed to play basketball and it suddenly rained, we ended up jumping in the floods. And so, we caught a cold. But he's saying that it's worth it.

As far as I remember, he only cried when he confessed that he forgot to greet me with a happy birthday which he only realized three days after. I don't mind but I appreciate it.

"Kororo, sali ka sa banda!" alok niya kahapon.

"I'll think about it," I responded.

He used to sing while I played the keytar and had a formal piano lesson back then. But that was a long time ago. I haven't played piano since he left so I'm now lacking in skills. Now, I want to give it a try.

Habang naglalakad sa mall ay napahinto ako nang nakarinig ng violin. Tumingin ako sa kanan kung saan nanggagaling ang tunog at nakita ang isang music store. Doon rin ako papunta kaya pumasok na ako doon.

Sa dulo ay may maliit na entablado na naglalaman ng drums, piano, at mga nakasabit na string and wind instruments sa dingding. Naroon ang babaeng may itim na mahaba't maugoy na buhok--Lalesca. Dressed with black shirt, leggings and black strap in her left wrist. Nakapikit siya habang dahan-dahang kinikiskis ang kwerdas sa string na hawak na violin.

Each note pleases through my ears. Para akong tinatawag ng kama upang matulog. I also know that relaxing Japanese lullaby piece:

Tsunaida Te Ni Kiss Woo

Lalo naman siyang lumiliwanag dahil sa dilaw na ilaw sa paligid. Halos lahat ng mga mata ng customers ay nakatutok sa kaniya.

I also imagined hearing piano in the background. Lumapit ako at umupo kung nasaan ang piano. I touched the white keys, positioned both my left and right hands. Waiting for the right tempo, I created some weight through my fingers and it plucked the string inside.

The violin suddenly stopped, and so did I. She slowly opened her eyes and looked in my direction.

Lalesca almost jumped, "Chrono?" she shouted, "Bakit bigla ka na lang lumilitaw?"

"Please continue," ani ko't binalik ang tingin sa piano.

"Ah... okay," she agreed and went back to her position.

I started to hit D minor chords on my left hand and looped A, G, A, D in quarter note at my right, followed by A minor chords at left then back to Dm and A chords pattern once again before she started to scrape the bow against the string.

It had been 3 years since I played an instrument. Still, my kinesthetic memory remembers how to play this piece. Ito ang piyesang laging kinakanta ni Laeron simulang napanood namin ang anime na D. Grayman. At ito rin ang pinakauna kong tinugtog na kanta maliban sa twingkle-twinkle little star.

I see. She knows the manga I love and we share music in common. Maybe she knows Adolf Hitler and Sun Tzu as well.

Nasa kalahati na nang napahinto ako kaya ganu'n din siya. Gusto kong ituloy pero hindi ko magalaw ang mga kamay ko.

I'm lost and don't know what will be the next. But it's reasonable since I haven't played long time ago. Kahit na ganu'n ay nagpalakpakan ang mga manonood. Tumayo na ako.

"Where are you going?" She asked.

"Will grab something to eat," I excused and walked away. It's almost lunch time though.

"Sama ako!" aniya't hinabol ako. Hinayaan ko naman siyang sumunod hanggang sa lumabas ako ng mall.

"Teka, saan ba tayo kakain?"

Agad akong sumagot, "Sa lutong-bahay."

Kumain kami sa malapit na karenderya sa labas ng mall. Parang canteen lang ng school ang hitsura pero mas muliit. I'm starting to avoid fast food chains because their menus are rich in additives and preservatives which are harmful to our health.

"Uhm... Chrono..." Binaba niya ang kutsara't tinidor at Inalalayan ang kaniyang bibig gamit ang daliri. Bumaling muna siya sa akin bago bahagyang umiwas nang tingin. "I was wondering if you want to join in our band."

"Your band?" tanong ko at tinutusok ang nakakumpol na laing sa plato. It was disgusting but my mother used to cook this with us. Until I got used to the taste and sometimes, I liked it. But mom's version will always be the best.

"Y-Yes. And kasama ko 'yung kapatid mo."

Napakunot ako ng noo, "You mean, kuya Chris?"

Humarap na siya sa akin, "Kuya Chris? Wala akong kilalang Kuya Chris."

"Then, who?"

"Si Laeron," sagot niya.

"He's not my brother. He's a childhood bestfriend."

"Ahh..."

"Also, I'm not sure about his offer," dagdag ko.

"Huh? Bakit naman?"

"Because I'm not skilled enough."

Yumuko siya. "Sayang naman. Ma-di-disolve na kasi ang banda namin kapag hindi umabot ng five members in two weeks. Ganu'n kaiksing araw ang binigay kasi marami rin ang nagtatayo ng new clubs pero limited lang ang club rooms."

"Ilan na ba kayo?"

"Dalawa lang," sagot niya at napabuntong hininga, "Last year pa namin pinagplanuhan ito but we failed to comply with the member count requirements. Pero may next year pa naman," matamlay niyang dagdag at ngumiti.

"Marami pang oras. Imposibleng wala nang gustong sumali sa banda ninyo."

"Tama ka. Kaso. . .madami na rin kasing established na music club sa school. And just as I said, tulad ng dati, mukha wala talagang nagkakainteres sa club namin."

"It will be different this time," I said and looked directly in her red eyes, "Let me join and plan for it tomorrow."

This must be Laeron's longing dream. I can see how he has been passionate about music since we were young.

I'll do everything for my one and only friend--best friend. I can't afford to lose him again.

-mvcabusas