Always Been You

Twenty seven (part two)

Journey

The troop were sent a notice to meet at Josef's place.  Not long enough, they showed up one by one. 

They look happy and... excited?  I can no longer tell what the mood they are having right now.  Too bad, the news I am supposed to break will surely change our paths.  Bidding goodbye to music life and facing what life is in store for us.

Wishing time didn't come this soon but what can I do?  I am turn between staying and the responsibility tasked upon me.  I was left with no choice and that saddened me the most.

Holding on the glass,  I played with how the liquid swirled inside.  Whisky is my friend for now.  I am getting all the strength from every drop of this drink.  As if the more volume I'll get from this alcohol will give me limitless courage to do so. 

Sa mga laban ko sa buhay, its normal to get foreign push from outside force.  Hindi pwede sarili lang ang gagawa nun lalo na't alam mong may masasaktan ka along the way.

We've reach this far.  Kasa-kasama ko sila sa mga panahong kailangan ko ng karamay.  Times that I lost myself.  When I was totally devastated.

Makakaya ko ba silang iwan?  I can't tell.

The whisky give me bitter taste to my liking.  O mas mapait pa sa balintanaw ko ang magiging reaksyon nila.

It's now or never.

I tried to get their attention by clearing my throat.  Hindi nga ako nabigo, lumingon sila sa akin.  Good thing background music didn't steal the sound I made.  Lakas loob kong tiningnan ang bawat isa.

"I'm leaving." ilang tonelada lakas ng loob ang kinuha ko mabigkas lang ang dalawang salitang.  halos mamilipit pa ang dila ko. 

Gulat at pagkabigo ang unang nakita ko mukha nila.  Kinakailangan kong panindigan ito.  This is the moment I've been waiting for so why delay?

"Mom wanted me to handle the hospital since she is taking into consideration of retiring. Gusto niyang mag training na ako.  Knowing my mom, she is so persistent that I just can't say no."  dalangin ko na sanay maintidihan nila ako.  Katahimikan.  Tanging background music lang ang maririnigWala pa rin akong makuha sagot mula sa kanila. 

"Well... mother knows best." Danzel laughed bitterly. 

"I'm sorry guys." mas malungkot kong sambit.  Mas mahirap pala yung ganito na parang nakipag break ka sa kasintahan not because you don't love her anymore but because your family wanted you to do something for them.  It's just so heartbreaking. 

"Well, maybe this is another path for us to take?  What do you think?" It's Josef.  "I am planning to focus on practising my profession.  Kaye is slowly giving me this option to take.  Just in time bro."  Nabuhayan ako ng loob.  At least me and Josef have the same sentiment.  Danzel is open for it too.

Nanatiling tahimik ang dalawa pa naming kaibigan.

"Then, we're good."  bigla ko na lang narinig si Justin na nagsalita.  Bibihira lang man ito magsalita kasi.  I used to see him as silent type of guy.  Kaya ang marinig siyang payag sa gusto ko ay sobrang kasiyahan para sa akin.  Laking pasasalamat ko talaga.

"Yeah, pagod na rin akong mag entertain ng mga baliw na fans eh."  malokong sabi naman ni Marco at sinabayan pa ng malutong na halakhak pa nito.

Okay.  I think I get them there.  Halos mabunyi ang puso ko.  I will gather all the saints to thank for this.

"But we still have to do our album and make it released.  We will be working on it." bumaha na ang alak na pinagsaluhan namin.

"Yeah, I think farewell concert is not that bad idea after all."  dagdag pa ni Justin.

"Huwag naman farewell concert. Hindi naman natin iiwan ang musika di ba?" nakangising sabi ni Josef.  

"Yeah! cheers to that man!" tawanan kami lahat.

True to that, we made our album released.  The farewell concert is in the making.  In as much as I don't want to call it that way, nakapagkatuwaan na rin namin yun.

My training happen few weeks after the concert.  I reviewed myself and do some research since three years gap will surely put me in blank page if I will not.

Then, I met Annalie.  She is half-brazilian and half-Filipino.  She is a model and has parents settled in Philippines but she also run their family business in the US.  We took the same flight, exchange phone numbers and all that.

She always visited me in the hospital during her free time.  We hang out a lot making her an easy prey.  Her highly involved in social life is helping in my quest for entertainment.  Thus, night life is a normal part of it.

My adjustment is not quite difficult.  I once lived here in my high school days so timezone is not an issue to me.  Not even the climate.  I think staying here is not bad after all.  I got to divert myself from an emotional timeline.