'Til Your Last, Melody.

Track 8

Chapter 8

Days have passed without seeing Melody. Not even a trace of her shadow did I see. I went to the booksale every day just to see her but I always failed as I come home. Last night I was also waiting on the road where she had taken me off when I took her, but I couldn't find any trace of Melody there. Yesterday, just to be sure I went to the bar where she is working but I didn't find Melody there either.

"Nako ijo! Bukas pa ng gabi ang performance ni Melody dito. Masyado ka naman atang napaaga sa pagpunta?" Bungad ng bartender nang makita niya ko sa isang sulok.

"Ahhhh ganon po ba. Pero noong mga nakaraang araw po ba ay nagpupunta siya dito?"

Hindi ko na matiis ang kyuryusudad ko na magtanong kaya ako nakapag salita.

"Hmmm never nagpupunta si Melody dito kapag hindi friday. Ewan ko ba sa batang iyon! Napaka misteryoso ng buhay."

I was startled by his words. I need an answer right now. "What do you mean po?"

"Ahh ehh alam mo bang niisa sa aming mga katrabaho niya ay hindi alam ang totoo niyang pangalan. Well sabi niya eh Melody daw talaga ang real name niya pero kapag nakikita namin siya sa labas at tinatawag sa pangalan na iyon ay hindi naman siya nalingon. Hindi nga rin kami kinakausap sa labas ng trabaho non."

And I was immediately swallowed up by the questions that had arisen in my mind. If Melody doesn't talk to them outside of their job then why is she talking to me? why did she invite me to go in the booksale from the last normal day that we had? why does she treat me differently when it comes to her co-workers?

"Alam niyo po ba kung saan siya nakatira?" Pagtatanong ko kay kuyang bartender.

"Nako hindi ko din alam. Walang nakakaalam sa aming mga katrabaho niya, miski ang mga kasama niya sa banda ay hindi alam kung saan ba siya nakatira."

I know I shouldn't be spending effort this much because I'm just a stranger to her. I just can't help myself but to worry, especially on our last meeting she seems to be avoiding me. Yes! She had agreed to join me on my school project but I was crazy about wondering what exactly was going on and why she was suddenly acting up like this.

Gustuhin ko man siyang makausap ngayon eh hindi ko magawa dahil ngayong gabi din mangyayare ang dinner na tinutukoy ni mama last time. Kasabay pa ng performance ni Melody sa bar.

Minuminuto akong tinatawagan ni Mama para lang ipaalala sa akin na huwag ma-late sa dinner na iyon. Alam ko namang hindi ako importante doon pero kailangan ko pa ring magpakita ng galang lalo na't about sa business ni Daddy ang nakasalalay dito.

"Yeah ma! I'm on my way na! Yes po! Ayos na po yung car ko so don't worry."

"Okay okay sweetheart! Don't forget to call me if you're already on the restaurant okay?"

"Yeahhhh!" Walang kagana gana kong tugon.

Patungo ako sa restaurant na tinutukoy ni Mama kanina sa tawag pero ang aking isipan ay nakatuon pa rin sa ibang bagay, at alam kong masamang ideya iyon. I needed to look like or sounded like I am interested on what are they going to talk about but I guess I'm not in the right shape for that. I wanna see Melody right now. I want to spend this friday night on her. I want to know why she is avoiding me. I wanna have a damn answer from her. But I can't, I have to prioritize this first.

When I arrived I immediately called my mom. I don't even know why I should call her if I can go to our place right away but maybe she's just as eager to see me. In less than a few minutes I saw my Mom again as she walked to where I was. She is also holding a boquet of flowers on her.