Chords of Tadhana

Chapter 1: The Sound of a Dream

The evening air in Manila was thick with the hum of city life. The streets were alive with the pulse of the crowd, the chatter of vendors, and the distant buzz of motorcycles speeding by. Emily Walker leaned against the cool, worn-out wall of a small bar tucked in the corner of a busy street, waiting for the night's performance to start. She clutched her phone, scrolling through her social media feed, but her mind was elsewhere, lost in the excitement that had been building up for days. Tonight was special. Tonight, Aaron Matthews and his band were playing at Kanto Sounds, the spot where so many of her favorite songs had come to life.

The last few months had been a whirlwind for her. She had followed Aaron's band as they played from one dive bar to another, small venues where the crowd was intimate, but the energy was undeniable. It wasn't about the size of the crowd or the lights; it was the raw emotion that poured out of Aaron's guitar and his voice, the way the music seemed to speak a language she understood completely. And tonight was no different. The thrill of seeing Aaron play live always gave her the same butterflies, the same rush.

But this time, she wasn't just a face in the crowd. This time, she was determined to do something more. She had written about Aaron's music so many times in her blog, always praising his talent, the way his guitar seemed to capture a feeling she could never quite put into words. Tonight, she planned to finally talk to him. To tell him what his music had meant to her. To finally introduce herself as more than just a fan.

The bar door swung open, and the familiar sounds of a guitar sound-checked filled the air, drawing her attention. Emily's heart skipped a beat. Aaron was there, backstage, tuning his guitar. She could see him now, his back to the crowd, lost in the rhythm as he strummed a few chords. He was always in his own world when he played, as though the rest of the world faded away. She couldn't help but smile.

But her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a familiar voice, the low rumble of the DJ who was setting the mood for the night. He was talking about one of the latest songs that had been making waves recently called "Kahit Kunwari". The song was everywhere these days, and for good reason. Its gentle rhythm and lyrics about love, longing, and the hope that things could work out, even when the heart says otherwise, felt like it belonged to the same world as Aaron's music.

Emily couldn't help but hum along as the opening chords of "Kahit Kunwari" played over the speakers. There was something about it that reminded her of the bittersweetness of unspoken feelings, something she'd always felt when listening to Aaron's songs.

The DJ finished his introduction, and as the lights dimmed, Emily felt a flutter of nerves rise in her chest. This was it. Aaron was about to take the stage. She pushed the thoughts of the song and the crowd aside and focused on the moment ahead. The sound of the guitar echoed softly from behind the curtain. The band was about to play.

Aaron stepped onto the stage, his guitar in hand, and the crowd instantly quieted. His bandmates followed him, their instruments ready. Emily's breath caught in her throat as the first chords of a familiar song filled the air—Aaron's latest track, "Pag-ibig na Walang Hanggan". The song had been buzzing around town, and she had been waiting for him to release it. It was a beautiful mix of acoustic strums and soaring lyrics, all about the enduring strength of love, no matter the distance or time.

Aaron's voice, low and steady, filled the room as he sang the opening lines. Emily felt the familiar pull in her heart, the same feeling that had drawn her to his music from the start. There was something about the way he sang, the way the words seemed to hang in the air, that made it all feel so personal.

As the song played on, Emily closed her eyes for a moment, letting the music wrap around her like a warm embrace. The guitar solo came next, Aaron's fingers moving with ease, every note drawing out the emotion of the song. And for a moment, just a brief moment, it felt like everything was in perfect harmony—the music, the crowd, and the unspoken connection she felt with the man playing on stage.

When the song ended, the crowd erupted in applause, and Emily was brought back to reality. She blinked, realizing she had been standing there, mesmerized, for longer than she'd intended. She glanced around and noticed the other fans were equally entranced, caught in the same spell Aaron's music always seemed to cast. The familiar nervousness returned, but she pushed it down.

Tonight was the night. She was going to finally tell him.