South's Fear of Heart Breaks: Back Together

[2] Prologue

South POV

Four months later...

"Have you practiced for the recital? Remember, you have to keep up with your partner. Baguhan palang siya." Shena, my best friend, reminded me. I nodded and took my music sheets and went to the piano room.

May recital kami ngayon about the Legend of the Piano and the Flute. Shena will be the narrator, I will play the piano and another classmate will play the flute.

Ludovico Einaudi's, Nuvole Bianche. I started hitting the keys as I feel the rhythm. It was heart-rending. My fingers were doing what I rehersed, but as I open my eyes, I saw someone out the window, on the other room...

It was him.

My heart beat was falling. I was slowly losing the rhythm. My eyes were feeling weary and heavy...

That feeling when he said he doesn't love me, and he's leaving...

"South, let me go."

"No! I won't let you leave!"

"Shut up! You're being selfish!"

"You love me--- you love me right?! If you love me, you'd stay! You won't leave!"

"But I don't love you anymore! So let me go, because I'm leaving."

Tears were rolling down my cheeks, nang magsimula na akong maglakad patungo sa pintuan.

Should I approach him?

Handa na ba akong masaktan uli? Kaya ko na ba uli? Buo na ba ako?

These questions running in my mind, all the whys and hows that forms from my sadness.

I reached for the doorknob to the art room where I saw him painting something... he was still the same as before.

Pagkapihit ko ay bigla nalang dumating si Shena na may dalang papel. "Ano? Tapos ka na magpractice? Bilisan mo na, baka malate tayo sa performance natin." Hindi ko man napihit ang doorknob ay napadaan naman kami sa may binatana ng art room...

He was painting someone na nakaupo naman sa harapan niya kung saan nagpipinta rin yung babae. Isn't that...

"Settle down, class!" Sigaw ng aming teacher sa harapan. Di naman kami mahina sa pandinig para sumigaw siya sa microphone. Kinakabahan ako para sa performance namin, dito pa naman kami sa auditorium at marami kaming makakasabay na taga-ibang section.

"The criteria for judging are..." and the program began.

Ilang sandali pa ay kami na ang tinawag, mas lalo tuloy akong kinabahan dahil nandito siya... nandito na siya muli. Gusto kong tanggalin sa isip ko na baka mapanood niya ako mamaya kaya sinubukan ko nalang ituon ang pansin ko sa hawak kong music sheet.

"Hey," may pumatong na kamay sa aking braso kaya napalingon ako sa likuran. "Ginulat mo 'ko. Ikaw ba ang partner ko na magflute?" Ghost was smiling down at me dahil sa tangkad niya.

"Yeah. Alam mo na ba yung Alamat na 'to?" Umiling lang ako at tumingin sa stage. They were preparing a piano and Ghost was holding his flute.

"The story is about---"

"Shh. I'll listen to Shena later."

"Haha! Okay," he kissed my head and I smiled. "Goodluck, Love."

"Goodluck din sa 'yo, Ghost." tinitigan niya ako at ngumiti, "I love you." It was sincere and honest. I hugged him tight and smiled secretly. "I'm sorry, but I can't love you, yet." Ramdam ko ang pagtango niya at hinalikan muli ang ulo ko.

The crowd went silent kaya naglakad na kami sa pwesto namin.

Ghost stayed behind the stage dahil mamaya pa siya tutugtog.

"The Legend of the Piano and the Flute." Panimula ni Shena.

It was the time to play the piano. Iba't ibang classic ang pinatugtog ko habang nakapikit at dinadamdam ang bawat paghit ko ng key.

I didn't bother to open my eyes and let my eyes find him. I knew it was a waste of time and effort kung magpapadala nalang ako bigla sa damdamin ko at magfade nalang bigla-bigla.

"Once upon a time, there lived a musician, and his name was Movid Alconte. He was above all musicians and played all types of classics there was. Of course, he made his own music. But one day..." narinig ko ang pagtugtog ni Ghost ng kanyang flute kaya binuksan ko ang aking mga mata at nang magtagpo ang aming mga tingin...

"It was magical!" Pagsabi non ni Shena ay nakaramdam ako ng kung anong nakakakiliti sa aking tiyan. Something I never thought I'd feel. Agad ko itong tinanggal sa aking damdamin at pinagpatuloy ang pagtugtog.

Madiin ang aking pagkakapikit dahil sa isang piano piece na kapag aking naririnig ay napapaluha nalang ako sa hindi maintindihan na dahilan.

Someone held my hand, so I slowly faded. I suddenly stopped to the feeling of Ghost, holding my hand. His warm touch kept me holding back the tears and he knew.

So he pulled me in for a tight hug and we heard everyone gasped. Everyone was silent. I felt that feeling na may nagmamahal pa talaga sa akin, na may nakakaappreciate pa sa akin. Na kaya nilang iparamdam ito sa akin.

Maraming nagbubulungan, humihiyaw at nagsipalakpakan.

"Tahan na, South. Araw-araw ka nalang ba iiyak? Didn't I told you I'm here? It's been two years, Love. Two years... please let go of those feelings that kept you doubting to love me? Ako naman, South..." hindi ko napigilan ang aking mga luha dahil malaking bahagi sa akin ay nagsasabing wag ko nang bitawan pa ang pagkakataon na pagbigyan ko siya ng kasiyahan na karapatan din niya.

"I'm trying, so please..." hinigpitan ko ang pagyakap sakanya at ibinaon ang aking mukha sa kanyang bisig.

"Can you wait a little more?"