Just the Ticket

Epilogue (1/2)

Epilogue (1/2) #jttwbs

I was a kid when I knew in myself that I was enamored of music.

Dahil kay Papa, walang pahinga ang stereo o casette player lalo na tuwing umaga dati. Bumabangon ako sa tinig ni Elvis Presley o Kurt Cobain. Kung sa auto naman, si Freddie Aguilar o Ely Buendia. And a lot more music genius in different genre in his time, even the females such as Celine Dion.

Kaya nakahiligan ko ang musika at lalo na ang kumanta.

But I'm not the one for contests. I don't mean to impress any judge or audience. I'm not after any recognition or prizes, music awards or wiped out ticket stocks. Hindi ko hangad ang Araneta Coliseum kasi kahit sa tabi-tabi lang sa school, ayos na ako.

Because it is solely to express. Myself or anything, so long as it is just to express.

Para lang ako sa paglalahad ng tunay na damdamin at emosyon gamit ang musika. Hindi inensayo, hindi naghahabol ng criteria, at hindi ipinipilit maging perpekto. Basta ang importante, totoo, at sapat na sa akin iyon.

Kaya nang narinig ko ang sinabi ni Rejan, napailing agad ako ng ulo.

"Come on, Velicaria! Magbabayad naman kami nina Bruno, ah?"

"Tarantado! Magbabayad din ako? 'Kala ko sagot mo!" si Bruno na hindi gaanong napansin.

Nakatabingi ang ulo ni Laurd nang umiling sa tabi habang nakahalukipkip. He stood tall there like a mirror because he reeked of disappointment and disapproval as me.

"And hold on! P'wede ba 'to na you're rejecting a client? E, duty n'yo 'tong kumanta sa Valentine's!"

"Ayoko nga, Rejan," desidido na sagot ko. Hindi na magbabago.

These lads are two years ahead of me as they're freshmen in college but it's already normal to cut off 'Kuya' sometimes because we're sort of friends. Madalas kapag 'di ko trip gumalang sa nakatatanda.

Tropa naman, e.

But after this, I don't know if I'll still consider to title them that. Pinahaharana kasi nila sa amin si Erisette Veraño ng kabilang section. Dahil trip daw nilang pakiligin sa wala pagsapit ng Valentine's day.

And as I've said, I don't sing for a total bullshit such as this scheme discussed to me.

"Also," habol ko. "Balak mo ba'ng magpagulpi kay Kuya Drith na tropa mo? Kasama sa mga kargo niya 'yon, ah. His sister's best friend."

Rejan grimaced with his jawline twitching hard. "Ano naman? Pakialam ko sa kupal na 'yon? Manunulot naman 'yon. Tinalo babae ni Revi."

Napaigik si Laurd at hinila sa manggas ang nanggigigil nang kaibigan. "Tara na, Rejan. Para kang gago, e."

Itinabig ni Rejan ang kamay nito nang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa akin. He looked red in annoyance but I knew that wasn't for me.

Or... sort of? Dahil 'di ako pumapayag sa napakagago niyang gusto.

I heard a little, and their circle is such a messy shit. Buti hindi ganiyan mga tropa ko. May mga saltik kami minsan. Pero minsan lang 'yon!

"Basta, Velicaria, ipahaharana ko 'yon! Kahit 'di na ikaw kumanta!"

Kumibit balikat ako at minasdan silang talikuran ako.

Just right in time when I also turned, the girl they were planning to fool walked right across me. Napaatras ako sa gulat dahil halos dumaplis na siya sa dibdib ko. Halos nakatingkayad pa ako sa pagkaiwas.

That was an almost collision. Napabuga ako ng hininga na... hindi ko namalayang saglit kong nahigit.

But my eyebrow cocked when she just trudged away. Her head was bent as if she had a stern mission to deprive the world of her face.