Later Than Never

01

Dirty

"You did improve so much! Bakit ayaw mong sumali sa mga music competition natin sa school?! This is so emotional, Dov." I said in the video call with Dovan, my best friend.

I'm watching the video he uploaded on his youtube channel earlier today. It was so near to hit 1k views—He's famous! I look at my laptop to see Dovan only staring at me. I turned my gaze back to my cellphone and start to read people's comments.

"Look! Someone commented that you're so talented!" Pakita ko pa ng aking cellphone sa camera.

"Tama na, Udi. It's just a piano cover of your favorite song!" Nakapalumbaba na niyang sabi sa aking harapan. His eyebrows furrowed, halatang naiirita na sa akin.

I just grinned, completely unconcerned about his reaction. He loves me! It's just funny because I was the one who suggested to him that he should cover "All Too Well" by Taylor, my all-time favorite song.

"Aren't you going to teach me how to play this, Dov?"

"Paano? Ikaw ang laging wala!" Maktol niya. Huminga siya ng malalim bago nagsalita ulit. "By the way, your cousin asked me about our plans later. Sabi ko biglaan kayong umuwi ng family mo today sa probinsya para bisitahin kamag-anak niyo. Bakit hindi niya raw alam! How dare you raw at sa iba niya pa nalaman." 

Ang nakakunot niyang kilay ay lalo pang kumunot. Apparently, our friendship is composed of three people—Dovan, Chessie, and me.

I laughed. "I'm so sorry!"

But seriously, magtatampo sa akin 'yon. Our plans might be canceled because I didn't get to say that I'm leaving. Hindi ko rin naman kasi alam! What happened earlier in the morning may have been the most confusing event in my life. Mom woke me up early, knowing that it's the weekend! She suddenly just barged into my room and told me to take a shower. The next thing I knew, I'm inside our car, feeling lost.

Ngayon pa lang din pumapasok sa aking isipan ang lahat—We're going to visit Papa's family in Bulacan.

Inunat ko ang aking mga paa hanggang sa tumama ito sa kabilang pintuan ng kotse. I was almost lying in the backseat. Nakapatong sa aking kandungan ang aking laptop while I'm holding my phone with my left hand. I saw mom looked at me in the rear-view mirror while dad, Ramando, just keeps on driving.

I probably look crazy to her. Kanina pa kasi ako tumatawa mag isa sa biyahe. All they could even hear was the sound of the piano which is from my phone. May nakakabit kasi na earphones sa aking laptop. However, I only wore one of them to still understand Dovan and his beautiful piano cover.

Multitasking? Yes, I am!

"Sit like a lady, Katarina Udele. Huwag kang sumandal sa pintuan ng sasakyan." Striktong saad sa akin ni Papa gamit ang malalim niyang boses. He even lowered his sunglass to the bridge of his nose, saglit na itinuon ang pansin sa akin.