THE RAINS OF TAMARIND AND OTHER STORIES

LA VIEN ROSE

There are some moments you just can't forget.

Like the moment you rode your first bicycle and your mother came running when you fell hard on that asphalt. Or the time your tooth got knocked out. Or the moment your father walk out the door and never came back. Your mother, holding back the tears as she prepares your lunchbox to school.
The first most beautiful thing you've ever heard, from the instrument of brass, your senile, old grandfather played that just... took you away from this world.
Or the time your friends stood up for you.
Or high school... Oh, highschool. Where there's...

The girl.

"Armstrong! Dude, I haven't seen you for God knows when. How've you been, man?" Clark greeted, giving me that customary punch on the shoulder. My beer almost spilled on my shirt. Same old Clark, I told myself. Clark is my bestfriend for as long as I can remember. And he has come back, after two years at sea for the sake of our first highschool reunion.
Here we are, in our class reunion batch of 2013 at the school's covered court.
"I'm great. What's up with you, Superman?" Gave him that manly handshake and bear hug.
"I'm good, man. I'm good. After this soirée, I'll be heading out to Europe. How about you, what's going on?"
"Well, after this soirée, I'll be cleaning this joint tomorrow with my students." I joked. I'll let the janitor with it tomorrow. Then a group of women came in to the bar with us. A woman exclaimed,
"Wow! Louie. Is that you?" Stephanie, one of the Coconut girls back in high school. Snob majorettes who wouldn't even take a second look at band geeks like us back then. Well, they're looking at us now.
"Armstrong! Oh my. Adulting did you real good. You're not all fat and weird anymore. No offense, though." Trish uttered.
"None taken. Can I get you a drink, ladies?" I offered as they flirtatiously giggled. Tough luck for them, for my heart belongs to another.

Armstrong. That's what they called me after the blunder I did.
All because of that girl.
Rosie.

"Alright, listen up trainees. First, I would like to congratulate you for passing the final screening of The Coconut Band auditions. I am Brian Apostol. You may call me Kuya Brian. I am the brass section leader who's in charge of the brass section core members and you peanuts. Peanuts are what you are from now on, until you work your ass off for the uniforms you would hopefully and deservingly wear if ever..."
As much as I wanted to listen to Kuya Brian's monologue about the band I joined in, my juvenile thoughts went adrift into the vast oval track lain before us.
And from a far, was a girl.
She was in a loose white shirt and leggings. But despite her rugged threads and messy bun, she looks absolutely breathtaking. And the way she moves, the way she twirls that baton is just so...
"Are you even listening, porkchop?!" Kuya Brian yelled, hitting the back of my head. I didn't noticed that my mouth was open. I accidentally bit my tongue.
"Yes, Kuya Brian, s-sir!"
The peanuts chuckled then stopped when our section leader glared.
"Then tell me what's rule number one, fat peanut."
"Uhh... T-the, uhh..." I fumbled for words. I glanced at Clark, pointing to his trombone then raising a finger. I got it.
"Play as one, Kuya Brian." I said.
"You heard fatty over here. Play as one. We are different instruments playing together to make one!... One kickass music. So I won't be expecting cocky ones right here, blowing his horn like some dumb retard. Or else, you're off the band." He threatened. And oh, how the freshmen peanuts shook.

"Hey. Mind if I join you?" A girl asked, with a snare strapped at her side and a lunch pack at hand. It was lunch break. Band members and peanuts are all slumped onto the bleachers of the grand stand. I simply nodded at her and she took a seat beside me.
"I'm Allyson. I'm on the snare drum and a peanut just like you."
"Louie. I'm on trumpet." I simply said.
"And I am Clark. You know, Superman?" He came from behind and sat between us. My obnoxious bestfriend, Clark.
"Are you a lesbian playing drums or you just like to be with handsome musicians like us?" He jokes. She came on to him and choked him with her drumsticks. He tapped hard on the floor and she lets go.
"Damn, girl. I'm just messing with you. Chill. You almost killed me there."
"Nice to meet you too, Clark." She smiled, her braced teeth flashing at us.