Song of the Wind

Kabanata 20

Goodbye

Naging masaya ang Christmas vacation sa Rome kaya doon ulit kami pumunta para sa aming family trip nang mag summer. Time flew fast like the wind passing by. From the cold breeze 'til the oppressive wind swoosh through with different seasons. 

Noong birthday ko last April 7, I spent the entire day practicing at Cassandra's condominium.

Mahigpit siyang magturo 'di tulad ni Ma'am Florence na kung magagalit man ay may katuturan. Kay Cassandra, naiirita siya sa walang kadahilanan. Basta kapag galit siya, maiirita siya sa mumunti kong pagkakamali. 

Now, I am already in 10th grade, preparing myself for the upcoming Piano concerto. Habang patagal nang patagal na lumilipas ang mga araw, pabilis nang pabilis ang pangamba ko. 

Mayroon kasi akong rehersal kasama ang bandang makakasama ko sa concerto. It's a piano concerto so it's natural that there's a band accompanying me. 

Hindi ako nakapili ng piyesang tutugtugin ko. Cassandra chose for me and I was actually irritated by it. Bakit, siya ba ang sasali?

She chose the piano concerto no. 20 of Mozart. 

I sighed thinking about all of the things that had happened the past few months. 

"Hello? Earth to Cybele!" Kendra waved her hand at me, capturing my attention. 

It's four in the afternoon. Nakaupo kami sa harap ng field kung saan may lilim ng puno. May dalang banig si Pia kaya naisipan naming dito kumain. 

"You looked bothered. Do tell me about it." Sumubo siya ng isang pirasong chip at mataman akong tinignan. 

"Remember the piano concerto I'm talking about?" 

"Uh-hmm..." Pia and Kendra's attention are all on me.

"Malapit na 'yon. September 4 ang naka-set na date." 

It's already mid-July and I am scared. I've never been this scared. Noong mga nakaraan kong sinalihan, hindi naman ako takot. I was confident, but now that my ego is not as high as the sun as it used to be, I felt like a stone slowly sinking to the seafloor. 

"Come on, Bele. You're good! You're considered a prodigy. If you worry too much about it, you'll certainly fear what's ahead of you. Tandaan mo, Bele, losing does not mean you're not the best."

Kahit pa-paano, nakalma ako sa sinabi ni Kendra.

"Kends is right. There is no standard when it comes to being the best. Only the mind bothers what the standard should be. It's all in your head, Bele." I pouted at what Pia said.

"Salamat sa inyong dalawa."

Ngumiwi si Kendra at palaro akong tinampal. "Ano ka ba? Kami lang 'to." Humalakhak siyang malakas.

Napailing na lang ako nang may ngiting nakasilip sa labi ko. 

Napukaw ang atensyon ko sa mga tumatakbong atleta sa field. They are the soccer team of our school. Kasama na roon si Sandro. 

Lumapad lalo ang ngiti ko nang kumaway siya sa akin. Kinawayan ko siya pabalik. 

Sandro and I kept in touch. There are times he'd invite me to his house and cook for me. From our little meetings such as that, nakikilala ko si Sandro. 

He doesn't like mayonnaise. He is an avid fan of UEFA and NFL. He loves 60s to 90s music and he is allergic to dogs. How sweet.

Tumakbo papalapit sa akin si Sandro, suot ang kanyang jersey. May tuwalyang nakasukbit sa balikat nito at ang pawis mula sa kanyang buhok ay tumitiwalsik kung saan-saan.