Parallel

1

Atlanta, Georgia, 2021.

A simple and peaceful life, far from the place where I experienced the downfalls. The life in the past where I sacrificed all, even my hapiness. I started to regain myself, and build a new life with no access to my past.

Tahimik akong nanonood sa TV, news about the country. I looked at the clock, and it's already 4 pm which means that my daughter will be home from school. When I hear the doorbell from our condo, I stood up and opened the door.

“Hello, welcome home” agad siyang yumakap saakin, pagkatapos ay dumaretso sa kanyang kwarto para magbihis.

Inayos ko agad lahat ng gamit niya, including the snacks that she will eat. She smiled at me and sat beside me in the living room, holding her phone.

“You're a Filipina right Mom?” I smiled at nodded at her.

“How come we don't visit the Philippines?” nawala ang ngiti ko nung tinanong niya yun.

“My family there and Mommy are not in good terms. So I decided to stay here to avoid arguments.” I can't even say that they disowned me for having a child.

“You stayed here and didn't reconcile with your family?”

“Hmm, that's the safest decision, even if it's hard.” she just nodded and went back to her phone while eating the fruits that I've served.

“Someone from the Philippines is trending in Facebook.” napatingin naman ako sakanya.

“Do you know Key Hernandez?”

What? My mind went blank when I heard his name. My daughter's pat on my arm woke my senses.

“Oh yeah, he's like the heartthrob during our time.”

“Really? Did you fell for him too?” she said while chewing.

“Some of my friends did...” I did. “He's a great artist.”

---

Philippines, 2002

“Sa tanghali, sa gabi, at umaga. Huwag ka sanang magtanong at magduda” mabagal at mahina akong pumapalakpak kasabay sa beat ng kanta.

Key Hernandez, the vocalist, together with his friends Jake, Roman, and Francis are performing on stage for a competition in our school.

I don't know what the others saw on Key, why they fell in love with him. But for me, I fell because of his passion, the way he sings, you can really see how he loves it.

I fell for those smile whenever he's performing. The way he close his eyes, smiling while feeling the music.

I fell for his humbleness and being down to earth. Even though everyone knew that they're competing for the second place because Key's band joined. He encouraged them, and support each band.

I fell for the emotion that he sends whenever he sings. Whenever he utter those lyrics, he really connects with the people, expressing the emotion of the song.

I fell for the way he perform. He was born to be on the big stage, singing in front of the big crowd. You can really visualize him performing in a big stage, like how he visualize himself, like how he told me about his dream.

Mahinang pagpalo ng lobo ang gumising saakin sa pagkakatulala. Key sat beside me, we were sitting in the cold ground of the school's court.

“Uy, tapos na pala kayo” sabi ko sabay abot ng tubig niya.