Beat Of Every Echo

4: Vibrato

IV. Vibrato

With a huff, Davi watches Patrick and Gael head off together, leaving her to go home alone. She lets out a frustrated sigh, kicking a pebble on the sidewalk. "Inamo Gael," she mumbles. 

She saw her situation, a bass guitar in her back, and the paper bags she held in her arms. Davi grumbles to herself as she walks toward the bus stop. The weight of the bass case dug into her shoulder. She adjusts her grip on the paper bag containing the bedsheet, pillowcase, and the poster she brought. 

Nang makarating si Davi sa bus stop ay thankful na lamang siya dahil sakto din ang pagdating ng bus na sasakyan niya na ang ruta ay papunta sa dorm niya malapit sa Uni. Nang sumakay siya sa bus ay isa na rin yatang swerte ay hindi masyadong marami ang pasahero, nag-swipe ulit siya ng payment card  bago humanap ng upuan. 

Naupo siya sa dulong bahagi ng bus, inilipat niya sa kaniya gilid ang bass case at ipinatong niya naman sa kaniya hita ang paper bag na dala niya. Nang umandar ang bus sumandal si Davi sa bintana pinapanood ang establishment light na nadadaan ng bus, duon naramdaman niya ang pagod nang buong araw. 

Pagkatapos nang pakiramdam na napakahabang biyahe sa bus, nakarating na nangtuluyan si Davi sa bus top na malapit sa kaniyang dorm. Isinakbit niya muli ang strap ng bass guitar sa kaniyang balikat at binuhat ang paper bag saka bumaba ng bus. 

Naglakad agad si Davi papuntang dorm building niya, nang maka akyat siya sa hagdan at papalapit na siya sa bago niyang dorm mas naririnig na niya ang ingay na nagmumula ruon dahilan para mawala ang antok na nararamdaman niya. Napahinto si Davi sa paglalakad saka napapikit nang mariin at napabulong "Tangina" dahil nagsi-sink in na sa kaniya kung ano ang meron sa loob ng bago niyang dorm, malamang naduon na ang kaniyang roommate at mukhang nagheld pa talaga ng party. 

Davi stands frozen in front of the door, the bass case and shopping bag slipping from her shoulders as she realizes the full extent of her situation. The noise inside her new dorm was loud with multiple voices and laughter echoing through the thin wall and Davi remembered it was a free week for every student, making her take a deep breath. 

With her hand trembling slightly, Davi searched through her baggy jeans pocket for the keys, muttering colorful curse words under her breath. She finally found the key and jammed it into the lock, turning it with a sharp twist. 

Nang mabuksan ni Davi ang pinto automatic din na tumahimik ang mga nasa loob, iba't ibang mukha ang nasa living room na halos walang pamilyar sa kaniya, maliban kay Jaz na blockmates niya sa TechBio na hindi niya rin naman gaanong close. Ang ingay na nagmumula sa speaker ay parang naging physical force na tumama kay Davi dahil iyon lamang ang naririnig niya nang tumahimik ang mga tao sa loob ng dorm pagkatapos niyang mabuksan ang pinto. 

The awkward silence hit as she tried to close the door using her foot, Davy acted cool as she cleared her throat after the soft sound of the door closing. She could still feel everyone's gaze on her. "Hey guys " she mumbled and she fixed the strap of the bass guitar on her shoulder "Don't mind me, tuloy n'yo lang" Davi added as she avoided her gaze from everyone and walked fast toward her bedroom. 

When Davi gets into her bedroom, she puts down the paper bag she was holding on the top of her study table removes her sneakers, and settles it down on the side of the door of her room. She tosses the bass cases onto her bed and flops down beside it, burying her face in her hands with a groan "Shit, nakakahiya!" 

Davi stays lying in her bed looking at the ceiling of her room, she listens to the muffled sounds of laughter and clinking bottles from the living room, silently wishing she could retreat further away from her dorm. She decides to rise from her bed to get her wired earphones from her school bag and she plays 'Come As You Are' by Nirvana and she cranks up the volume of her phone. The sound of guitar and drums along with Kurt Cobain's vocals fills her head, drowning out the noise from the living room.