Fight or Flight

Chapter 12: Music to my ears

"Kuya Jas, para ka namang patay gutom. Umayos ka nga."

Tinignan naman ako ni kuya nang masama. "Nagutom ako, bakit ba? Tatlong oras akong nag swimming eh." He defended.

It's currently 7pm and we're in the resort's restaurant. "Anak, just try to chew with your mouth closed ha." Mom said.

"Okay, mom." He obediently said.

"Joey, anong song yung pina-play ng pianist?" Kuya asked me.

Napatingin naman ako sa pianist who is gracefully playing Comptine d'un autre été by Yann Tiersen. It's a female pianist turned her back on us. The size of the grand piano thrice the size of her but that doesn't make her small any less.

I'm really amazed with musicians. It is so impressive how they can read, speak, and understand a totally different language but allow their audience to understand it. I love music to begin with, growing in a musical loving family.

"It's Comptine d'un autre été." I answered and took a sip of my wine. "Galing no?" I expressed.

"Isn't that from a movie, anak?" Dad asked me.

"Opo, it's from a French movie po." I answered.

"Excuse me po." Kuya Jas suddenly called for a waiter. "Kuya, what's the name of the pianist?"

"Ah, her name is Liv." The waiter answered. "She's a guest lang rin po, she doesn't work here talaga." Napatingin na rin yung waiter to the pianist. "She's a regular to this resort so kilala na po talaga siya dito ng mga staff and halos lagi po siya nagpa-play ng piano kapag nagccheck-in po siya dito. Every dinner, whenever she wants."

"Ay talaga? Guest lang rin pala siya? So puwede rin kami mag-play ng piano niyo?" I asked the waiter.

"Yes, po ma'am. Any guests can use the piano po but you will have to go to the office po to ask for permission." He answered.

"Sige, kuya. Salamat po." My brother and I dismissed.

The pianist, Liv, finished the song and took a pause before starting the next piece. She's now playing a different song that I am unfamiliar with. It's slow and serene, the opposite of what she first played.

Napatingin ako sa labas where the beach was. It's so peaceful here. There's a lot of families pero it's not the usual chaotic families that are loud and very rowdy.

Adie still has not replied to me.

I realized, whenever my mind goes blank and quiet, Adie softly fills it sweetly. Her smile and her gentle touch replays in my head. Her soft and assuring words fill my head, and so i wonder, what she might be doing right at this moment.

Is she with her family? Is she busy? Is she unwell, that's why she hasn't been replying?

Where is she? Is she just in her room, resting?

Is she partying? Is she with her friends? Does that mean she's with other girls? Girls who are so pretty and sophisticated.

Adie's friends are in a different level. They're all so beautiful and rich and smart. I get so jealous thinking about it, i can't help it.

"Anak, maybe slow down with the wine?" Dad worriedly asked.

Hindi ko rin napansin na halos maubos ko na pala yung isang bottle in a span of 10 minutes. I put my wine glass down on the table and continued listening to the piano and stare outside watching the sea.

Suddenly, the whole room filled with applause and the piano went silent.

When I turned to look at the pianist, she was already walking past the front doors, her hair being swiftly blown away by the soft breeze from outside.

"Are you going somewhere?" Kuya Jas asked.

"What?" I asked confused.

"Why are you standing up? Aalis ka?" He asked.

"No." I answered strangely. "Nags-stretch lang ng legs, kuya." I excused. Umupo naman ako agad and continued to eat.

"Alright, we'll leave in 15minutes, okay?" Dad informed us. "The weather's perfect for the mini fair we're going to." He happily said.

"Oo nga po, dad. It's so nice. And i heard na meron additional 4 booths to the fair this year, it's exciting." I added.

"Sana may food pa rin." Kuya commented.

"Ano ba 'yan Jas, kain nanaman iniisip mo, kakakain mo lang." Mom laughed.

We all made our way to the fair. It's a small carnival fair that has a carousel, bumper cars, a go-kart, and a ferries wheel. There are some game booth, food booth, merchandise, and face painting booth.

This place is alive and loud. There are so many laughing faces, and it lightens up my mood.

My parents made it a tradition to ride the ferris wheel whenever we go here. Just a little romantic moment for them. My kuya and I separate ways. Him going straight to get food, and me going straight to the benches to have a seat.

After an hour, i decided to walk around to try and shake the sleepiness off of me. After another hour, i decided to go back to the resort.

Seeing how some families are still awake and having a swim, i took a stroll.

I stopped when I realized that I am once again in front of the restaurant doors. All lights are turned off, the tables are empty and covered in clean cloth. I turned to walk away but I could've sworn a piano key just made a sound.

I turned to look inside where the piano was and I saw the pianist Liv, still in the same black cocktail dress she was in hours ago, was sitting in front of it. Her hair covering most of her face and the darkness of the room, emphasizing her silhouette. With only the light of the moon and a lamp at the corner of the room serving as her only light.

I slowly made my way inside only to realize that the restaurant was actually sound proof. She was playing a popular musical piece, which made me smile.

"Claire de Lune, that's one of my favorite." I commented.

I was almost at the piano when Liv heard me speak and stopped to lifted her head and look at me.

"Adie?"

"Joey? What are you doing here?"