Barcelona Escapade

Chapter Five: Quits

Chapter Five
Quits

I have a lot to say when tipsy.

That's what came out my mind when I woke up first thing in the morning. Sumagi sa utak ko ang nangyari at mga nasabi ko kagabi. I can remember Eros leaving me in the garden and didn't dare to come back again. I didn't follow because when I tried to stand up last night, I almost stumbled in the soft grasses. Swerte na lang atang nakabalik ako ng kwarto kagabi ng buhay.

I woke up with a hangover when I clearly is a guest in this house. I groaned when I sat up my mind, caressing my temples gently. The bright light from the window made me close my eyes wearily. Narinig ko namang bumukas ang pinto kaya dumilat din kaagad ako. There was my nanny barging in, holding a tray with of glass milk on it.

"Nana," bati ko.

Hindi niya pinansin ang bati ko. "Ikaw siguro ang nag-iwan ng bote ng alak sa may hardin, Clementine." Ipinatong niya ang tray sa gilid na table. "Mukhang marami ang nainom mo."

Inabot ko ang gatas na inilapag niya. Napansin niya siguro ang mabigat na pakiramdam ko.

"Tandaan mong wala ka pa rin sa sarili mong bahay, Clementine."

"I'm sorry," I said and took a sip.

"May problema ba?"

Umiling ako. "Nothing."

Tiningnan niya ako ng matagal bago kumbinsidong tumango. Nana's expression tells me she knew something bothered me but she chose to leave it to me. She might have felt I can bear it. Kasi kapag hindi, hindi sasapat ang sagot ko.

"Bilisin mo na at mag-almusal," dagdag niya pa. "Simula na ng ensayo niyo ni Hugo."

I got up my feet to bathe after. I bossed out to have breakfast downstairs before I went inside the guest room where Kuya Hugo used to practice while he stayed here. I didn't see Eros. Wala rin ako sa kahandaan para makita siya dahil sa nangyari kagabi. If he's that rude to me before, he could be ruder. Mukhang na-offend ko nga talaga.

Walang laman ang kwartong pinasukan ko maliban sa piano na nasa gilid at isang cello. I put my violion down beside an black old grand piano. I didn't try placing it on top of it, Kuya Hugo will whine at me for sure. He's that wary of his things.

Naupo ako sa harap ng piano habang naghihintay. I slide my finger through the keyboard, creating low to pitch-high sounds.

My mom enrolled me and my siblings to piano lessons when we're around our early 10s. It was only Kuya Hugo who really took a degree in music because Mom acknowledged how he shone in the field. Today, he's earning his name in the same industry worldwide.

I was about to position my hands and play something when I heard the door creaking open. I put my hands off and stood up, expecting it'll be Kuya Hugo. However, it was my Abuela who went inside the room.

"Abuela."

Nasa likod ang mga kamay ni Abuela nang maglakad-lakad siya sa loob ng bakanteng guest room. Nalaman niya siguro kay Nana na nandito ako. Kuya Hugo, I think, would also follow at any moment now.

"Handa ka na ba sa ensayo mo, Clementine?" she asked me.

I went back in the chair I sat on just earlier. My fingers fiddle with the keyboard in front of me, starting to play some familiar piece in a low tone.