New Sound

Prologue

| 𝄞 𝄵 "A wild fan fiction in the past, that turns to be a murder narrative, in the present."

Tama si Mr. Hikumi. 'Yon na marahil ang pinaka tamang tawag sa file na 'yon.

Habang naglalakad ako sa band room, hindi parin nawawala sa isip ko lahat ng mga nadiskubre ko sa buong linggo ng masterclass. Nasa band room na silang lima na kabanda ko. Ngayong tinitignan ko sila na busy sa pagse-set up ng kani-kanilang instruments, hindi ko maiwasang maisip ang isang bagay,

Three of them knows about the file all along. I wonder if we intend to do the same with it.

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"Kasalanan ko."

My eyes were watery, my heart feels heavy, and my hands are shaking when I told that to my friend—a former band mate—Leo, over the phone.

I leaned my head on the table, face down, in front of a large window that shows me a nice cityscape of this foreign land. I guess it's okay now to let my emotion consume me for a while. After all, at this point of my life, I could consider my self an expert on separating my problems on ground and on skies. 'Just as I was told before.

Leo sighed. "So it has bothered you this much already. I did research the man. You're right, he might be kuya Iro, after all."

Kuya Iro, ang dami ko nang kasalanan sa'yo.

I have robbed you 17 years, failed you as a band mate, as a friend, and as a captain, yet I act like I still have the right to feel afraid when I saw you that day.

Tears started to stream down my face, and I just let it be.

I closed my eyes and let go of the heaviness I hold in my heart. I can never allow myself to forget that the familiar skies that I refuse to traverse that day, had once taken away the dreams of others.

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"Nasa'n ka? May interview daw, 8 pm."

Bungad ni Samael sa kabilang linya.

'Nililigaw 'yung mga retiradong pulis.' Syempre 'hindi ko masasabi 'yan. Lintik na buhay 'to oh, wala ngang media, may bantay naman.

"Kayo, sa'n kayo?" balik tanong ko nalang.

"Kakabalik lang sa hotel, galing kila Leo. Isasama ka nga dapat namin eh, kaso nawala ka na."

Okay, good. Then they're done talking with Leo—nang wala 'tong mga bantay— kagaya ng gusto kong mangyari. "Sige, babalik na 'ko. 'Yung tickets na pinapabili ko nga pala."

"Wala na, pinamigay ko na."

"Ha?! Ba't mo binigay, eh akin 'yon?"

"Tsk, ano ka ba, magko-concert ka ba o manonood?"

Oh, hala, nagalit.

"Magko-concert."

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