New Sound

Chapter 56: Can Sweets Cheer Them Up?

After Ran's masterclasses, there are still quite plenty of time to spare before he has to go to the orchestra's rehearsal for their concert tonight.

Nasa isang practice room sina Ran lang at Agape ng Gassho High, nagpapahinga matapos ang huling talk nila sa mga estudyate. Pansamantala namang nasa labas si Thyrone, dahil nagpresinta itong ibibili ang dalawa ng maiinom.

"Agape." Ran called Agape who is in deep thought in one corner.

'Ni hindi lumingon si Agape, kaya't nilapitan na ito ni Ran at tinapik ang balikat. "Hey, I'm calling you."

Doon lang nabalik sa realidad si Agape. "A-Ah haha, sorry. Bakit Ran?"

"About what you announced two days ago. The first day of the masterclass talks." Seryoso lang ang tingin ni Ran. Alam kase nitong maloko si Agape, kaya't pinaramdam n'ya na wala s'ya sa mood para makipag-biruan.

Aside from the upcoming concert, Ran is bothered about many other things. About why Luke is in prison, about Rika's sudden passing, and about why Agape is leaving Horizon Ent. He at least like to have one of them answered.

"Alin ba do'n, 'yung sabi ko na "technically single, but married to my job?""

Ran saw it coming, so he raised his eyebrow and replied "You've said so many useful things during your talk, yet you chose the most useless one." And then he clicked his tongue.

"Haha, 'di ka talaga mabiro." Tinawanan lang naman ito ni Agape, tsaka sumeryoso. "'Wag nalang natin pag-usapan dito 'yun. Let's go to some other place... You have time?" Nakangiting aya nito kay Ran at tumayo sa kinauupuan n'ya.

"I have to meet up with Samael, so I don't"

"Ah, is that the reason why you request for his contact number yesterday? Ano ba pag-uusapan n'yo, sama nalang ako oh." He was partially correct, but Ran just thought that Agape isn't the best person to ask, since he knew Agape likes to fool around, and that its better to ask the most reliable among the five, which is Samael.

Saglit na napa-isip si Ran. "It's about Luke." Napansin ni Ran ang bahagyang buka ng bibig nito kasunod ng malikot na galaw ng mga mata matapos n'yang sabihin iyon, kaya nagduda ito at napatanong "What, you knew something?"

Hindi sinagot ito ni Agape. "Basta, sasama nalang ako." S'ya na rin mismo ang umakbay kay Ran at nagtulak palabas ng silid. Hindi naman na tumanggi si Ran dito. Nakasalubong pa nila si Thyrone na s'ya namang pabalik na, sa daan palabas ng campus, pero hindi na sila nag-abalang huminto pa para rito. Nang magkaharap sila ay hinablot nalang ni Agape ang mga inumin sa kamay ni Thyrone at pinasalamatan ito habang patuloy lang sa paglalakad. "Thanks."

"Huh? Oy, Agape, saan ka pupunta?"

"Kay Samael."

May mga sinabi pa si Thyrone bago sila tuluyang nakalayo, pero hindi na pinansin ni Agape ito.

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Maaga pang nakarating sila Ran at Agape sa pastry shop kung saan napagkasundoan nina Samael at Ran na magkita. Pareho kase silang mahilig sa mga matatamis na pagkain, kaya ito ang napagkasundoan nilang lugar. Habang naghihintay ay um-order si Agape ng macarons, para sakanilang dalawa ni Ran. S'ya na nga raw ang magbabayad, bilang kabayaran sa biglaang pagsama nito.

Ran was silent as he let Agape does that. While waiting, he suddenly remembered about his talk with Iwata a few days ago, when he first came back in the country. This is yet another thing that bothers me. Not long after, he easily got lost in his thoughts. It's as if his conversation with Iwata replayed in his mind.