Epigraph and Quintessence (STATION Series #4)

Kabanata 38

Kabanata 38

Beach

A few days after his birthday, Seville and I tried our best to spend time with each other.

The relationship between the two of us was real but we didn't do anything to confirm it. All we know that there's something in between us, but we're busy to know ourselves first before we completely know each other.

Wala naman problema sa 'kin 'yon dahil isang daan para unti-unting makilala ang isa't isa.

But there are times that I'm really worried about him—it's about the cruelty of his kindness. I'm not sure if he did anything after I pointed it out a few years ago. It's the reason why I'm trying my best to remind him that the same way how he did to me.

I usually do it when we're together which became very usual. Tuwing may oras ay sumasama ako tuwing may band practice at malalaking gigs.

They recently got invited to play at a birthday party from a new client. It will be held at a beach resort at Laiya, Batangas that's why they were busy practicing in the past weeks.

When Seville mentioned it to me, I was excited for them.

Though it's not the first time that they'll be playing, it will be the first time for me to listen after their band became big. What greatly helped the rise of their fame and recognition are the singles that they released every month.

Now that they're preparing for a full-length album release, the company estimated that their recognition will be known even more.

When I asked him how many years it took them to release a full-length, he told me that it's around three to four years. Ever since they signed a contract, the band and the company decided to take it slow. They really took their time in honing their craft that's why their skills were as good as this. Planadong-planado rin daw ang timeline para sa banda mula nang pumirma ng kontrata. Maayos din daw ang trato ng kumpanya dahil alagang-alaga sila.

"Was it tiring?" I asked when he was sitting at his mixing booth. May pinapa-compose raw sa kan'ya na isang minutong kanta na beat lang.

"S'yempre, Diem. Pero gusto ko naman ginagawa ko kaya alam kong worth it ang pagod," was his answer.

I realized that I didn't only loved a kind, honest, and patient man, but also a very dedicated one.

Halata sa mukha ni Seville ang pagod pero ramdam ko naman ang tuwa niya tuwing sumasakto ang beat sa gusto niya. Nakapagbibigay rin ako ng payo bilang tagapakinig kaya kalimitan sa mga nire-release niya sa SoundCloud ay ako ang unang nakaririnig.

"Hello, Batangas!" sigaw ni Cloud pagkalabas na pagkalabas pa lang ng sinasakyan.

Seville helped me get out of their van. Nasa pinakadulo kami dahil gusto niya raw akong katabi. Isa pa, maliligalig daw ang mga kabanda niya lalong-lalo na si Cloud. Nagkasya naman kami sa van dahil si Tita Greta lang ang kasama. Ang ilang mga gamit ay nasa isang van kasama ang ibang staffs.

"'Yan ba talaga ganap mo sa buhay mo?" tanong ni Zake nang tumabi kay Cloud.

"Ang alin? Ang maging bida? S'yempre! I am the protagonist—"

"Ang maging bida-bida." Natawa na lang si Zake bago maglakad paalis.

"Napaka-harsh mo talaga! Mas harsh ka pa sa pagkiskis ng carrots sa cheese grater!"

"Ang pangit ng analogy mo, ulol!" sigaw ni Zake nang makalayo.

Kunot ang noo ay hinawakan ni Elgene ang isang balikat ni Cloud. "Bakit ka gagamit ng cheese grater sa carrots?"