Chasing the Wild Waves (Student Series #1)

Kabanata 10

"Why are you strumming that way, Yuna? Let me teach you with that," si Yuki na inayos ang daliri ko sa pagstra-strum ng gitara. "Huwag mong diinan ang mga daliri mo dahil umiiba ang tunog na lumalabas."

"Okay, okay, relax! I am still learning, Yuki!" Umirap ako sa aking pinsan.

Back when we were young, music was part of our lives. Music is art for us because it gives us enjoyment and brings us to peace. Bata pa lang kami, si Yuki na talaga ang mahilig at magaling sa gitara. Until now, I am still struggling with the cort guitars and basses, or even with the ukuleles. My only purpose in our band is to be the composer of the lyrics of the songs. I composed and created song lyrics, and my cousins are the ones who are criticizing my works.

Sila naman ang nagco-compose ng tono gamit ang kahit anong instrumento. Marami na kaming nagawang kanta at minsan ay pinapalabas namin iyon sa school kapag may activity kasi kinukuha talaga kami sa intermission numbers or maging banda ng school.

That is also one of the reasons why we became popular in school. People admire our works and our talents even though we haven't created a group name for the band yet. Euan and Eyo are the vocals, while me and my other cousins are under the instruments. Euro is the pianist, Jin is the drummer, and Yuki is the guitarist. Ako naman ang nagco-compose ng kanta at paminsan-minsan ay sa akin pinapasa ang gitara o 'di kaya ang bass kapag wala si Yuki. We have some gigs sometimes, but not all the time because some of us are busy with school. But among us, Euan is really fond of music. He created music on his own and performed it in a contest.

Yuki was busy teaching me with the cort guitar when I heard Euan and Eyo singing in chorus. Parehong maganda ang boses nila, I can say that. Pero kung ikumpara ang kanilang boses, mas malalim ang boses ni Eyo kaysa kay Euan. Medyo malakas at mataas naman ang boses ni Euan, kaya kapag mayroong higher notes ay siya na lang ang bahala roon. We only have two singers, tanging sila lang kasing dalawa ang mayroong magandang boses dito sa grupo. I can sing, too, but I am not that good like them. Tiningnan ko ang mga pinsan na abala sa pagkanta.

"I've been out of my mind these days,

I couldn't stop thinking about you, baby.

'Cause you're the only one who makes me this crazy...

Baby, I need you.

Baby, I love you."

Naputol ang pagkanta nila nang naunang tumigil si Euan kaya napatigil din si Eyo. Umiling si Euan kay Eyo. Ako naman ay kumunot ang noo dahil maayos naman sa akin iyong practice nila at bagay sa boses nila ang tono ng kanta. I was the one who made the lyrics. They're requesting a romantic or in-love song, so I made them one. Our genres are random; we are just depending on the suggestions of other people or the suggestions of each of us.

"Nawala ka na sa tono, Eyo," said Euan. "You should lower your voice on the fourth line."

Tumango si Eyo. "That's what I have noticed. Sige, uulitin na lang natin."

They repeated their practice on the chorus. I was busy with them the whole day, so I wasn't able to go to my class. For sure, my subject teachers and my adviser marked me as absent. Pero wala naman akong pakialam, at least I enjoyed my day with my cousins. Minsan lang kasi kami nagkakaganito kaya nilubos-lubos na namin. Ginabihan na nga kami sa kaka-practice. Mabuti nga rin ay si Euro mismo ang tumawag sa kila daddy para ipaalam na kasama nila ako.

"Ako na pong bahalang mag-uwi riyan kay Yuna, tito," he said on the call. "She's with us, and she's fine though. Ihahatid ko po riyan si Yuna mamaya, tito. Sa ngayon po ay nagpra-practice pa po kami."

"Bakit? May gig ba kayo?" si dad sa kabilang linya. Ni-loudspeak kasi ni Euro ang tawag.

Umiling si Euro kahit hindi naman iyon kita ni dad. "No, tito. We're just practicing lang naman po para kahit papaano ay mahasa rin si Yuna sa skills niya at pati na rin po kami. She's already improving. Maganda nga po sana kung araw-arawin na lang po namin kaso masyado kaming abala lahat sa pag-aaral."