New Sound

Epilogue

«Featured Song»
「Follow」
By: Survive Said the Prophet

1 year later

"Happy birthday, kuya Iwa." Bati ko matapos kong isuot sakanya ang regalo kong necklace.

It was a silver necklace with a rectangular pendant that has some braile writing on it.

"You said this has inscription on braile?" Kinapa n'ya ang bandang leeg n'ya para hanapin ang pendant. Na'ng mahawakan n'ya iyon ay pinakiramdaman n'ya sa darili ang braile writing doon, para basahin ito. A smile on his lips immediately appeared after that. "Smile."

"Baited."

Everyone in the room laughed upong hearing it. We were here at Eazer's residence. Us New Sound, Neuzin, Raid, Touma, Ms. Raemyen, Gassho members, and RH.

It was mid-May we were just waiting for our 12th grade graduation ceremony a month later. Today isn't really exactly kuya Iwa's birthday. It was on early June, but kuya Shin insisted that we celebrate it weeks earlier, para raw sigurado s'ya na nandito s'ya. Ito lang daw kaseng araw na ito ang bakante n'ya. Bukas ng umaga, he has to fly again.

Mga nagsibigayan naman din ng regalo nila ang iba. Nasa tabi naman ako ni kuya Iwa, dahil ako ang naatasang magsindi ng kandila ng cake.

When all have given their gifts, I light the candles. We sing happy birthday, kuya Iwa silently wish, then I guided him to carefully blow the candles.

"You want a photo, kuya Cleavo?" Touma asked who's at kuya Iwa's other side. "I got your phone with me."

"No, I'm good. I—"

"'Won't see them anyway."

"T-That's right. 'Yung sa'yo nalang ang gamitin mo."

Touma think silently for a while playing with kuya Iwa's phone in his hands. "I... wanted to continue doing what ate Rika used to do," Kuya Iwa raised his eyebrows in curiosity. "to use your phone to post photos, and ask you for a caption."

"Why?"

Touma took his time before answering. "'Just keeping the tradition," It's sounds like he's not enthusiastic to it, but wants to do it anyway. "She posted something last year."

"You know what Rika put as password?"

"Hmm, hmm, with how forgetful she is, I ended up being the one to take note of those kinds of things."

Doon natapos ang usapan nila. Lumapit naman si tito Ran kay Touma, at inaya s'ya para mag-usap sa labas. A pianist to another pianist. I heard Touma is entering a piano competition soon, and he's been asking tito Ran for some advices these days. 'Must be a competition talk.

Maya-maya ay lumapit si tita Leo kay kuya Iwa. "Cleavo, Leo here, let's take a photo together, tapos picture-an ko kayong dalawa ng kuya mo," tita Leo grabbed kuya Iwa's hand. "Please?"

Kuya Iwa nodded, then kuya Shin appeared to her side. They proceed to take photos. A few minutes later, Touma is back. Na'ng makita n'ya na nagsisi-picture na sila tita Leo ay nag-initiate na s'ya na mag-picture naming lahat. Touma took group photos of us New Sound, RH, Gassho, and him with the twins, all with kuya Iwa, then a final solo shot of kuya Iwa the gifts and his cake.

I knew the phone he's holding. Kay kuya Iwa 'yon. 'Looks like he really wanted to do what he told him.

Ang dami namin ngayon dito. Kumpleto ang Gassho, kumpleto kaming New Sound, nandito ang apat sa RH, si Touma, 'yung kambal, pati si Ms. Raemyen. Kahit ang lalayo ng age differences namin, naging kumportable na kami sa isa't-isa. Halo-halo na ang mga pares at mga grupo ng mga nagkekwentuhan. Nandyan sila Eirin, tito Sam, at tita Eliz, at kuya Iwa, si Damond, tito Agape, Mark at si kuya Shin, si tito Ran, tita Leo, at si Ms. Raemyen. Si Yuki, si tito Noah, Emi, at Touma, 'yung kambal, si daddy at si tito Luke.