Summer 2012.
I was 18 and was prepping myself to go to college. Before the start of the dreaded university life, my mom decided to enroll me in a music and theatre arts school called "The Academy". I wanted to enhance my piano skills and also, spend time with Granna.
You see, I love to play the piano. Actually I can play the piano and the guitar. I can't sing though. My voice sounds like that of a cat.
It was time to go to Twinbrook, the town of arts. My grandmother lives there so I had a place to stay.
In my grandmother's house was an old piano. I loved that piano so much and I was so excited to play that old piano again. It's been a long while since my fingers touched the ivory keys.
After 2 hours in a plane, squeezed in that small economy seat, I finally arrived in Twinbrook. From the airport, I had to ride a taxi cab for 30 minutes to go to my Granna's house.
When I got there, Granna greeted me with the sweetest smile and the warmest hug.
"Welcome back, Isha." She kissed my forehead.
"It's good to be back, Granna!" I chuckled and hugged her tighter.
"It's been 5 years since you last visited." We walked towards the living room. It still was as homey as how it was ingrained in my memory.
"I was so busy, Granna. I'm sorry. I missed Twinbrook." I sat down.
"I know. My little Isha is a very busy achiever and Granna is the proudest of all the grandmothers out there." She pinched my cheek.
"Granna!" I pouted like a child. She giggled.
"Little Isha hates the pinch so much!"
"Not so little Isha anymore, Granna." I smiled.
I looked to my left and saw the old piano still there. Granna then said, "Well, the old piano is still working."
"Really?" My grin was from ear to ear. I stood up and walked towards the old piano. I ran my fingers on the ivory keys. Old it may seem but it was genuinely perfect for me. I pressed the keys, the same beautiful sound I enjoyed when I was still little, echoed in the strings. I sat down. I couldn't help myself. I played for my grandmother.
"Granna's still wondering why Isha still needs to study the piano. You are already so good with it." She suddenly blurted out.
"Granna, I..." It made me stop playing. I gulped and added "I'm not that good enough. I couldn't even enter the university I wanted to go to because I'm not good enough."
"You were able to enter Stradford University. That's an excellent university. And you're going to study archaeology. Isn't that lovely?"
"Well, actually Granna, I wanted to enter another university, a university which focuses on the arts and music." I sighed, "Thistleton University. Have you heard of that, Granna?"
"I have. It's quite near town."
"Only the best musicians, theatre performers, painters and sculptors... Artists! Only the best can enter that university. I... I wasn't good enough. I couldn't go in."
"Would you still want to give it a try, Isha?"
"I dunno, Granna. I could but I don't think I might. Then again, I like Stradford so I guess it's okay."
"Well, even if you weren't able to enter that university, you're still the best musician to Granna." She gave me that comforting hug that grandmothers love to give.
YOU ARE READING
Secretly
RomanceWe all have had those unrequited love stories. I guess there's no escape. Even I was not an exception. At this very same time of the year, summer, 2 years ago, I met someone. Well, he was once nobody to me until one day, he became somebody; somebody...
