Where Angels Fall....

Chapter 09

2 days din nilang inensayo ang piece nila, it was really a perfect couple dance. May areglo silang iba para sa isang OPM. Magaling talagang magturo si Ryan, ngayon Coleen even knows how to dance tango and hip hop, pero not that good as typical dancer.

"Rye, labas tayo, nagugutom rin ako eh."

"Startbucks? Treat mo?"

"Sure, pasasalamat ko narin para pagtitiyaga mo, and somewhat a celebration narin for tomorrow's recital."

"Call, go ako diyan. Let's go!"

Nung nasa coffee shop na sila, they get to know each other more. Si Coleen ang unang nag-open up.

"Actually, graduate na sana ako ng Conservatory ngayon, kaya lang, things get rough then. My Dad passed away when I was in my apprenticeship sa Korea during Summer of 3rd Year. Masakit sa akin kasi hindi man lang ako nakapag paalam that time he was dying. I'm a Daddy's girl, he taught me to play the piano, the violin, the guitar, taught me to sing, and even compose songs. Siya yung kasa-kasama ko when my Mom was busy on her career being a prima ballerina. Best friend ko rin siya, kaya when he passed away, nag break-down talaga ako."

"So dahil dun, kaya ka na-extend sa Conservatory?"

"OO, isa yun dun, pero because of Versatility kaya di ako pumasa for graduation. Kailangan daw, this days, total performer like Sarah G., she knows how to sing & dance as well. That time, nagsisisi rin ako kung bakit di nalang ako nag-classical, pop pa kasi ang pinili ko. And for me to graduate this coming school year, kailangan ko na talagang pagbutihan, kaya I enrolled here, and I met you."

"Ah, so what made you realize to pursue it parin kahit na nahihirapan ka?"

"You know, I'm not a quitter kasi, Dad taught me not to be one. Na-inspire din ako kay Rhian, she motivated me, she inspires me, she's so adorable, sa young age niyang iyon, she already exhibited her aptitude in dancing, gaya nga ng sabi mo, nasa dugo talaga."

"Sino si Rhian? Kapatid mo?"

"No, wala akong kapatid na babae, lalake yung mga nakatatandang kapatid ko, may mga pamilya na. Rhian was my cousin Sigrid's daughter. Sayang nga eh, minutes niya lang nakita si Rhian, at binawian na siya ng buhay. Malapit kami ni Sigrid, were like best friends and sisters as well, that time, hinabilin niya sa akin si Rhian, kaya malapit sa akin yung batang yun. Ang dami ko nang kinikwento, ikaw naman."

"Hindi ituloy mo lang, ang ganda na nga eh, ikaw taya ngayon, ako kaya kahapon."

"Ganun? So ayun nga,Sigrid was a brilliant girl, favorite pamangkin siya ni Mama, to the extent na mas malapit pa sila. Ballerina kasi si Sigrid, she was brilliant in every field. Everything changed when she got pregnant, it was summer nun ng malaman niya na buntis siya. Para di na siya pag-usapan, nag-decide ang parents niya na mag-stop na siya sa pag-aaral, at pumunta na sa U.S para dun na manganak. Sayang talaga siya, she could've been the Class Valedictorian kung hindi siya nabuntis. Pero sabi niya, hindi talaga niya makakamit ang dreams niya dahil may sakit siya sa puso. Nagkakasakit siya sa school, nahihimatay sa mga rehearsals, madaling mapagod, may mood swings, nangangayayat. I really want to help her that time, pero wala naman akong maitulong."

Panay lang sa pakikinig si Ryan, kinakabahan sa bawat sinasabi ni Coleen, na parang kilala na niya ang tinutukoy nito.

"You know what Rye, I envy her."

"Bakit naman?"

"Because she enjoyed her life, she finds a guy who gave her Rhian, who gave us Rhian. But I hate that guy, who didn't stand for her. I know my cousin is the one who pushed him away, pero dapat nanindigan siya."

"Baka naman kasi hindi alam nung guy na buntis siya nun, baka naman kasi hindi sinabi ni Sigrid yung totoo dun sa lalaki."

"Ah what ever, diba you studied in Philippine Junior Art School? Eh di kilala mo siya?"

"Ha?" – caught off guard na si Ryan, pinagpapawisan na siya, kinakabahan. He was like in an electrical chair, inuusig ng konsensya, ng katotohanan.

"Si Sigrid Anne Cabrera Elizalde, she used to study in PJAS din, anong Graduating Class ka nun?"

"Ah eh, Celerio."

"So kilala mo siya, Class Celerio rin sana siya, Jessie was the Valedictorian then, she took up Literature ata."

"No Jessie, took up Journalism."

"Ba't mo kilala si Jessie? So kilala mo rin si Sigrid, mag-best friend sila eh."

"Jessie was my ex. Yeah, I know Sigrid, pero not that close, separate quarters kasi kami, and Sigrid is in a different block, nakaseparate kasi yung mga Ballet Major nun."

"Ahy ganun ba, bat parang balisa ka Rye?"

"Wala to, medyo sumasakit lang yung tiyan ko, hindi ata sila peace with this coffee jelly."

"Haha, ewan ko sa iyo."

"Would you mind if maiwan muna kita, punta lang ako sa CR, asan ba yun?"

"Ah, straight far right, that direction, kala mo naman di niya alam."