Dead Tune

1ˢᵗ Note

1ˢᵗ Note

"He doesn't answer calls, Clay. Give up!" Felize said for the nth time.

Hindi ko siya pinansin. As if makikinig ako sa kaniya. I want to make sure I hear the voice of the operator first before I put down my phone. Or mas mabuti, sumagot na lang si Fuego para hindi na 'ko nahihirapan!

"Parents ko lang ang nakakarinig ng updates niya. How dare he avoid my calls, too!"

Kanina pa siya nagra-rant dahil tinuloy ko na naman daw ang routine ko sa pagiging hopeless romantic. Duh! Hindi ako susuko dahil lang hindi sumasagot si Fuego sa mga tawag ko. Nagri-ring. Meaning, hindi niya bina-block 'yong number ko.

Meaning din, may pag-asa pa! I won't quit until I get what I want. Siya lang naman 'yon. Pakipot lang siya.

"Hindi ka raw niya favorite sister," I teased while locking my phone. Wala, he didn't answer.

"Wow! Nawalan pa siya ng choice, eh ako lang 'yong kapatid niya!"

I sat down on my bed. Sa tabi ni Felize specifically. Hindi naman din ako bato para hindi mainis kay Fuego. Minsan talaga, he's getting on my nerves already pero kasi! Ultimate crush ko kaya siya. First love pa. Ang hirap naman alisin 'nun.

"He didn't answer again. Pang-756th day ko nang tumatawag, pero ring lang 'yong naririnig ko sa number n'ya." I sighed heavily.

"Sabi ko naman kasi sa 'yo, hayaan mo na siya. He's my brother but seeing how a fucktard he is to you, I'm the one to say na hindi talaga kayo magkakatuluyan."

"Ouch! Don't say that again, Fel. He's not blocking my number. Hindi pa 'ko rejected."

"Whatever you want to believe in, Clay. Basta ako? I won't give a damn kahit umuwi pa siya. He's completely forgotten about me? Puwes, kakalimutan ko din siya."

Umirap lang ako. I know they're nothing but words. Nami-miss lang siguro ni Fel 'yung kapatid niya. Ako din naman. Two years na simula nang mag-transfer siya sa school na hindi rin namin alam kung saan.

May moving up na 'ko as a junior high completer kaya dapat malaman ko na kung saan siya nag-aaral! I wanna be with him. His parents wouldn't reveal the school name to me dahil baka magpa-transfer daw ako. Okay na daw na si Fuego lang ang hindi consistent ang school records.

For the ceremony, I'll be singing solo. Ako kasi ang nag-top sa buong batch. Well, blame my boredom because Fuego isn't here. Kung sana sinama niya 'ko sa pag-transfer, e 'di sana hindi ako nagsipag nang todo sa pag-aaral. It's so unlike me to pass all my exams, join the majority of extracurricular activities, and do well in memorizing music sheets but because he's not here, nothing was really impossible.

"Are you ready for tomorrow, hija?" Mommy asked in the middle of our dinner.

"Yes, Mom." I smiled a bit.

"Tomorrow's your last performance in your school, Claya Venice. Give your best shot," paalala ni Daddy.

Tumango lang ako kay Daddy. I know it's enough for him. I mean, we're not really very close but his keeping a close watch in my studies. Strict, yes, but I know it's because he doesn't want me to fail. He doesn't want seeing me hurt and disappointed of myself.

"We also have a surprise for you tomorrow. Darating ang Auntie Jasmine mo."

Malakas ang pakiramdam ko na tungkol na 'to sa school ni Fuego. Geez! I've been waiting for this. Two years! My long wait wouldn't be for naught!

The next day, I woke up with a happy heart. Sa sobrang good mood ko, nakipag-video call muna 'ko saglit kay Coach Kelly, my voice coach, at nag-practice saglit ng Olympia aria. I made sure I'm all set before we finished so I can take a shower.