Behind That Mellifluous Melody

Prologue

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locale, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or use in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

I just got out from the airport. My heart starts to pound. Oh gods, I'm freaking nervous. It's been years since I've stepped a foot in the Philippines.

I wondered around, it changed a lot. My phone rang, it was my tita who's calling so I answered it.

"Hello, tita. I've landed safely, po." I informed her. She was the one who's taking care of me since I was sixteen and until now.

"Okay, be careful. The owner of the house told me that you are welcomed to stay there. They let your things stay where they were when you left, hoping you'll return. You should thank them when you get there. Madaling araw pa lang dito, matutulog pa ako. Ingat ka diyan." She then ended the call, hindi man lang ako pinagsalita.

They didn't throw my things away? That means my bookshelves and my piano are still there? Ang bait naman nila, I just hope they really are.

I'm planning to stay here at Manila until it's evening. I called a taxi and told the driver to take me to a bus station. I opened my camera and snapped a photo of the sky.

ca_valentin:
home.

My phone vibrated, a friend of mine messaged me in Instagram.

astraeadavis:
hoy umuwi ka man lang nang walang pasabi!

She sent me another message.

astraeadavis:
where na you?

ca_valentin:
Manila. See you soon.

I turned off my phone and close my eyes. Then manong suddenly spoke, "Andito na po, ma'am." He stopped the taxi and helped me carry my luggages. I gave him five hundred pesos and let him keep the change.

I changed my mind about staying until it's evening, I'm exhausted. I get inside of the bus and good thing some seats were not occupied so it was easy for me to find a seat. I told the condoctor my destination and paid him the fee.

I'm seated near the window and the girl beside me was sleeping peacefully, sana all. She has a long black hair and fair skin, she looks like a foreigner. If I were to guess her age, I think she's nineteen or twenty. Oh gods, am I gay? I should sleep na.

-

I woke up from the voice I'm hearing. It was from the girl beside me.

"Malapit na, ma."

"Opo."

"Ingat din kayo, ma."

And then it was quiet again. I tried to sleep again but I can't. I also heard we're near na sa pagbababaan ko. I suddenly feel my heart race. I don't know what to say nor do when I'm gonna meet the owner of the house. It was weird for me to say 'owner' it was once ours, my parents'. I felt all my past wrapped around me again. It's been years, Valentin. Move on already.

"Hi, okay ka lang?" The girl beside me asked.

"I'm fine, thank you for your concern." I smiled at her.

"Sorry, nagising kita." She then opened her foods.

"Gusto mo? Luh, asa ka. Charot. Kumain ka na ba?" She asked me. I can tell that this girl is talkative.

"Uhm, I'm still full but thank you again." No, hindi ako busog. I forgot to eat when I was at the airport but my social anxiety is taking over me.

"Try mo lang, promise masarap. Kapag hindi mo nagustuhan pwede mo akong sapakin." I laughed, thank gods she asked me twice.

"Okay." It was good. Sayang hindi ko siya masasapak. The condoctor announced the next stop, which was my hometown.

"Sa susunod na stop na pala ako. Malapit na." I was kinda surprised, we live in the same hometown?

"Same." I said, her eyes widened.

"Saan ka? Sa may bukid kami, e." She muttered.

"Uhm, just a street away sa stop." I answered. Then the condoctor announced that we're already at my hometown. I fixed my things before leaving and said goodbye to the girl. Gods I didn't even got the chance to ask her name.

-

I'm in front of the house, our house. I can feel my knees trembling. It didn't change a lot, it was renovated but they didn't change the design. I checked my phone and it was five thirty in the afternoon.

"Oh, iha. Pasok ka na, welcome ka rito." I was surprised when I heard a voice at my back. She was a middle aged woman with brown hair and black eyes. She was smiling at me while carrying her groceries.

"Thank you po, for letting me stay here." I bowed a little to express my gratitude.

"No problem, iha." She opened the door and gestured me to come inside.

"Ah tsaka pala, yung kwarto mo may kahati ka, yung dalaga ko kasi gustong gusto roon sa kwarto ayaw lumipat." She apologized, she looked stressed.

"It's okay lang, po. I'm fine with that, ma'am". Of course, I need to be contented of what they can offer and besides it's them being hospitable enough to let me stay here.

"Tawagin mo na lang din akong tita, masyado naman nang pormal iyang ma'am. Punta ka na sa kwarto at magpahinga, magluluto pa ko ng hapunan ninyo." She smiled again and headed towards the kitchen.

I pulled my luggages and walked to the room. The door was open so I just continued walking and settled my things. I looked around and the wallpaper has changed, from a colorful one to black. It looks dull here. I saw my piano at the corner, the one I used to play for my parents. My heart starts to throbbed again. My books are still here, I checked them and a bundle caught my attention. It was the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series, these were my parents gift when I was thirteen.

I left Philippines because my mother's sister brought me to London after my parents died. She wants me to move on and continue the life my parents gave me. Their deaths would just be in vain if I did nothing for myself. That's why I studied hard and graduated with honors.

A year ago, I was a professor in literature in a known university in London. All things went smoothly, but--- something didn't felt right.

Then, I realised, I was just escaping my past. I distracted myself with my studies and other stuffs. I wasn't doing those things for myself nor my family, it was to cope from the pain I went through.

That's why I decided to return here, to embrace my old self and make anew. In order to live my life, I must not be haunted by the past. I can't just let these scars of mine to bleed whenever they want.

This may take a long time, but it is part of the progress. This might hurt me, but it will heal. It's a path for me to rewrite my story and discover myself, this time without escaping.

"Sino ka?" A voice came out of nowhere. I was preoccupied by my thoughts that's why I didn't notice Tita's daughter, who just got out from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her and looking at me with a curious look.

"I'm Carmen Aeqourea Valentin Lopez, your roommate." I introduced myself with a smile.

Forgive me, this is my first story so....it might be lame.