If Only You Knew (ONGOING)

Chapter 8: Past and Revelations

TRANCE

Parang ngayon na lang ulit nangyari sa akin na I find a day crazy and interesting.

First, the principal decided to cancel the classes starting this afternoon (he announced it VIA the school intercom a few minutes ago) para mag-focus daw kami sa preparation for the Foundation Week sa Friday. Eh kilalang KJ si Sir Agupitan at maninindigan na hindi dapat magambala ang Acads ng dahil lang sa isang annual event. We have 2 days. 2 days of no classes. 

Tapos yung Statistics teacher namin, si Maam Serdena, manganganak na. So pa-konsuwelo niya na daw yung final project. Kahit wag na daw namin gawin. Passed na daw kaming lahat. The chosen class 4-C. Kami lang kasi yung handle niyang Stat class dahil nga kailangang bawasan yung load niya ng work dahil magle-leave siya. 

How about that.

And of course. Things starts getting complicated with Fein and Ace. Not that I want them to suffer, but finally, may inuusad na rin yung kinalalagyan nilang dalawa. Ang tagal-tagal na, ngayon lang natapos ang intro. At dahil pa kay Aris.

What a great time to be alive, really.

"Hindi ko pa rin ma-comprehend yung nakita natin nung lunch." Kanina pa kating-kati si Ken na pag-usapan yung nangyari sa 4-A. I bet he waited na makarating kami dito sa band room para walang makakita kung gaano siya kadaldal.

It's legit. Guys gossip harder than girls.

"I mean, how ironic it is?" Kumakapa si Ken ng nonsense rhythm sa gitara niya habang nagsasalita. "Fein and Aris know each other?"

"Dude, he studies in the same school as ours, what do you expect?" Sagot ni Vander habang inaayos yung height ng mic stands. "Ang nakakapagtaka lang, walang na-kwento si Fein sa atin about sa kanya."

"I bet she will if she really knew him beforehand," sumabat na ko sa usapan. "I guess they just met recently."

"How recent naman yung quote-unquote recent?" Di na rin nakatiis si Eleazar. "Sasama ka ba mag-lunch sa acquaintance mo lang?"

Tumingin sa kanya si Ken with a confused look. Vander just shrugged.

"Well actually, it's not an issue kung hindi siya si Aris." Eleazar looked at the ceiling na parang nagre-reminisce. "Malamang ngayon sobrang furious na ni Ace."

Walang nag-rebut kay Eleazar. It's true. It's an issue kasi he's Aris.

Flashback when we we're in 6th grade, wala pang EROS. It's just me, Ace, Vander, Ken, Eleazar, and Aris. Wala pang sikat na school band; mga magto-tropa lang na pinag-isa ng music. 

Si Aris yung original na second voice namin while playing the keyboard. Sa mga band studios kami nagpapractice noon after school. Sasaglit lang ng one hour kasi may curfew pa kami sa mga respective homes namin tsaka hindi pa rin ganoon kalaki yung baon namin para mag-rent hanggang gabi. Wala lang. Tutugtog kami ng maiisip naming kanta. Kakapain yung chords, tabs, keys, beats tapos ako impromptu na kakanta. Masaya na kami sa ganun.

Then one time, one of our music teachers, si Sir Tanael, approached us and asked if we wanted to form a formal band na tutugtog sa mga programs, commencement exercises, at sa kung ano pang pakulo ng school. Syempre kami naman okay na okay dun. Free use of quality instruments yun, plus, pangarap din talaga naming tumugtog sa harap ng maraming tao. It's a good stepping stone for us para sa music career na gusto namin. Si Aris, game na game at 100-percent na naka-oo na. 

Yun ang akala namin.

From Marion Integrated School, lahat kami lumipat ng Marion High nung first year high school na kami. We thought everything's okay hanggang sa nakatanggap na lang kami ng text galing sa kanya.