The Bridge

Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

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Staring at him. Feeling like the time is frozen as I was able to remember what I should have. Ilang beses akong lumunok at naubos ko ang iced tea ko but still not enough.

I was in high school, and I am taking summer camps for music where we can learn things that we wanted to learn. And I specifically chose piano class because I wanted to furnish the way I play because I want to see papa being so proud of me.

There's this guy who is always alone, he is too focused learning the hard way. He's not relaxing, the coach said that the guy is competing in every music events at the very young age and now he's focusing in piano because he got defeated. He was frustrated about it and wouldn't let it go. He came in early and come home late because he's been practicing.

Sinabi ko sa papa ko na may ganon akong ka-klase. He said being seriously focus out of frustration is bad kaya kung may chance akong i-comfort sya, I should do my part as fellow musician. I also compete but not very competitive, just to earn experience because papa told me, growing is not just learning what's written, you need to experience it.

He doesn't talk unless it's about the class or it's in the class, but after that, nothing. Hindi na sya namamansin sa kahit sino, he will distance himself from everybody and locked himself inside the music room.

He was a music genius.

Until one day I approached him, it was when our days of classes are about to end and our recital is coming since school year is going to start.

"Magaling ka talaga tumugtog." Sabi ko sa kanya kase this time meron na akong susi para mabuksan yung room. Nagulat sya sa pagpasok ko, di niya alam na kanina pa ako nakatayo sa pinto, hinintay ko lang sya matapos.

"Paano ka nakapasok dito?" blangkong sabi niya.

"Keys."

"Tss... gagamit ka ba ng music room na'to? Aalis na ako kung gagamit ka, kung hindi, pwede ka nang umalis." Napanganga ako sa kagarapalan ng ugali niya pero sabi ni papa, patient and be kind to understand because you know nothing.

"Alam mo, ang sungit mo."

"Alam ko." He looked at me so badly, mad but not for me. Then he walked-out the room.

Great. Pa, I messed up.

Kinabukasan, mas naging open yung tenga ko sa mga bagay-bagay lalo na pag naririnig kong tungkol sa kanya ang topic. Nalaman kong kaya sya ganon kase wala na ang mom niya kaya sya natalo sa competition, he wasn't able to focus. Tapos wala pang isang taon may ipinalit na ang dad nya kaya may step-mother na sya at magkakaroon na sya ng pangatlong kapatid but then... nakunan yung step-mother nya and she is blaming him and her little sister because they don't like her.

The story goes like that. Now I understand where he is coming from. Losing someone they love and blamed by someone they don't even know. I understand. But I don't know how to relate on it. But I still took a shot.

Same hour of that afternoon, I tried to approach him again. And again, after his song. He is on his way creating music of his own.

"Hi." Di sya tumingin sakin. "I'm sorry sa kahapon." Nanaig ang katahimikan samin. Just the fresh air kase bukas ang bintana. He prefers nature when playing I guess.

"Hmm." Sabi niya. Lumapit ako sa kanya at tinabihan sya sa piano, umiwas sya pero hinila ko sya pabalik ng upuan then we play a classic song that we are going to play on the day of the recital.

"Binigay satin tong piece na'to kase tayo yung nag excel sa class." Hindi naman sya sumagot. Masungit talaga, tahimik pa. "Gusto kong magawa natin to ng tama, pero paano kung hindi ka nakikipag-cooperate—"