It's Always Been Us

8: Encounters

Before the next leg of his concert tour, he decided to visit Eddie, one of his good friends whom he met in middle school who owns one of the famous wineries in San Francisco. He brought along with him his team as a celebration of the successful first leg of his concert tour.

"Hello Francisco! It's been a long time my friend," Eddie was surprised at his sudden visit.

"Hey man! Stop calling me that, it's Bamboo man! How've you've been?" Both men exchanged a hug and a high five.

"I've brought with me my Kamp Kawayan team," and he introduced his team one by one.

"Finally, you've had the time to visit me huh. You're such a busy musician."

"Haha, don't worry man, I'll be hanging out here more often. I'll be staying here for good."

"For real?"

"Yeah, after my series of concert tours."

"Hmnnn, then can I invite you to come sing here one time?"

"Yeah sure, I like that."

It had been years since their last meeting. And this is the only time that the two of them got to catch up on each other's lives.

"Pick any drink guys, everything's on me." Eddie announced to him and his team.

"That's too much Eddie, Pancho, my manager over there will pay, right Panch?" He was pointing at his manager trying to get a nod from him.

But Eddie was insisting. "No need man, take it as a treat for all of you for making beautiful music. Besides you owe me a night of singing here at the winery."

"Ok, ok, if you insist."

They enjoyed a few bottles of wine and beer at the winery. No hard drinks as they cannot afford to get wasted while on tour. Eddie has also served them a selection of cheese, cold meat, tortillas and dark chocolate to pair with their drinks.

He was looking around the winery. How he missed this place. It has been a long time since he last visited. He missed the ambiance, he missed the view at the veranda that shows a picture perfect setting of the San Francisco skylines and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. He was also observing the changes in the winery's interior when he noticed the piano situated near the makeshift stage.

"You already have music nights? How often?" He asked Eddie.

"Oh yeah! Since it started, the winery's got an increase of customers coming in. It's been a year since it started."

"Cool man, that's very good for the business!"

"Indeed, but I also attribute it to my pianist. She is still studying but she's good. She plays the piano very well."

"Is that so? Maybe let's hear a little bit from my keyboardist and musical director here." He cannot help but take pride in his team.

"Oh c'mon Francisco, of course all of you are already experienced, while my pianist though she is really good still has to learn from a lot of experience." Eddie was defending her pianist. "You have to meet her. She plays here regularly. Too bad we don't have a session tonight. We only do it on Fridays and weekends."

"Certainly man. I'll be coming here often so I'll be able to meet her and gauge how good she is!"

"You'll be amazed at her, I'm telling you," Eddie was so sure.

"Let's see man. You know me, I'm hard to please, especially when it comes to music."

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It was a Monday and she doesn't have classes on this day. Still feeling sleepy and lazy, she woke up, took a quick shower and walked to the coffee shop near her apartment so she could get some breakfast.