Waiting For Summer [Catturare Series #1]

Chapter one: a talk by the sea wall

Gabriel Mozart's Point of view

Dahan-dahan akong naglakad patungo sa grand piano na nakapwesto sa gilid ng restaurant. Umupo ako sa edge ng piano bench, sat straight at ipinwesto ang aking mga kamay sa piano keys para tumugtog. I decided to play one of my mom's favorites, Chopin's Nocturnes, Op. 9: No. 2 in E-flat major.

My mom's friends were stunned to see me play the piano. Mom enrolled us in piano classes during our childhood, I think it's a thing with Asian parents. I was the only one who continued with the lessons dahil ayaw ni Owen at Clara.

"Mare ang galing naman pala ng son mo!"

"Oo nga musically inclined, gwapo, tapos top student pa sa school!" puri ni Tita Matilda.

"I know right! He is the best investment that I've made" proud at natatawa na saad ni mom. She took a sip of the wine she had on her hand.

"Ano nga palang kinuhang course ni Gabriel mare? Or did he graduate college na?"

"Hmm..Graduation niya this summer mare, I think it will be on April next year. His course naman...it's BS Business Management." Sagot ni mom sa tanong ni Mrs. Corpez.

"Oh? So, he'll be taking over the company pala as soon as he graduates."

"That's my plan mare, but before letting him take over maybe he needs to work for a month to adapt. I know he can easily do that he's my son after all." My mom explained.

I played for 30 minutes straight while my mom and her friends chatted. Napabuntong hininga ako sa pinag-uusapan nila. I wanted to be a pilot, but my parents wouldn't let me. To think na ako yung eldest saming tatlo, I needed to be a sacrificial lamb and take over the company. Dad is not as young and stable as he was before, so he expects me to run the company after him.

That's a cliché thing in an Asian family, right?

Nang matapos ako ay agad kong hinanap si Owen, saan nanaman nagsusuot yun? Malamang naglalaro nanaman yun ng Genshin Impact. You get what I mean? Ang babata pa ng mga kapatid ko para magtake-over sa company. Owen is 19 while Clarah is 17, they haven't even finished college yet.

"Huli ka!"

Nagulantang naman si Owen sa ginawa ko muntikan pa mahulog ang kakabili niyang cellphone. Palihim niyang binili yun, paano? Lahat ba naman ng baon di gingastos tapos nangbuburaot lang sa school. Bakit nagkaganito kapatid ko may pera naman kami, baka sabihin nilang namumulubi na kami?

"Bro!? What the fuck!? I swear if this phone breaks you'll be held responsible to buy me a NEW and BETTER one." He growled at me and furiously looked at me like a predator wanting to kill his food.

"Gago? Ikaw nakahulog ako sisisihin? Wala akong pera." binatukan ko siya na mas ikinainis niya. Umupo ako sa tabi niya, sa may bench ng seawall ko siya Nakita.

"Anong wala!? May instant work kana after graduation aren't you happy? Kaya buy me a phone." He stated while setting up his phone to play again.

I was speechless. I didn't know what to say. Ang taas kasi ng expectations ng mga tao sa paligid ko including Owen. It's like I'm a puppet at sina mom at dad ang kumokontrol sa akin. I'm supposed to be glad right? Hindi na ako mamromroblema about applying and finding money. Pero bakit....bakit ganito? I feel lost. I feel trapped.

I was about to say something when Owen cut me off.

"Of co-"

"You don't want to take over the company, right?" he said in a monotone without looking at me.

"How'd-" nagulat ako sa sinabi niya.

Halata ba? I'm trying to conceal everything from everyone pero papaano niya nalaman?