Prelude
1867 Words
Prelude
Pinagmasdan ko ang paligid at pansamantalang naestatwa sa kinatatayuan ko.
My eyes glimmered for everything was so bright and vivid. But not on that particular figure at the center.
Hindi pangkaraniwan ang liwanag sa paligid ng buong lugar. Sa pag-aakalang nasa alapaap na ng kalangitan, sinubukan kong alalahanin kung naaksidente ba ako o na-admit man lang sa ospital ngunit wala namang sumagi sa isip kalaunan.
My brows drew together as I narrowed my eyes.
The place was just in a complete luster and luminance... with a familiar melody, white grand piano, and a figure of a man in white suit behind it. Everything was clear aside from the pianist. Humakbang ako para lapitan habang idinuduyan ng marahang musika.
But even after my attempt to nearing him, there was something that's holding me back. My intuition was certain. I wanted to see him. To see if I know him or some sort. But I didn't know why but for some reason, I halted from my track... as I shut my eyes... and listened to the mellow music.
"Let's get away from here,
Away to a universe that's not so close, my dear.
And in my eyes you'll stay.
Amazing how you take my breath away..."
I opened my eyes. Hindi ko pa rin maaninag ang lalaki hanggang ngayon. Ngunit alam kong nakapikit ang mga mata, ninanamnam ang musika at ang simbuyo ng damdamin sa ginagawa.
He's blurry to my eyes, yes. But it's amusing to see how he looked so passionate despite that barrier.
"I'm hoping for the real thing,
And I know I find my realness in you.
These nights are never-ending...
To have you here would be so overdue.
And somehow I'm just falling away too quickly,
The moment that you put your hand in mine...
No wasted time..."
My lips parted for a gasp when a drop of liquid suddenly trickled to my hand. Tiningala ko ang ulo para alamin kung saan nanggaling ngunit huli na nang natanto kong muli iyon sa sariling mga mata. The next thing I knew, my eyes were flooded by tears.
"Let's get away from here
Away to a universe that's not so close, my dear.
And in my eyes you'll stay
Amazing how you take my breath away..."
"Who are you?! Stop it!"
I screamed with all my might but the music reverberated even more as if it's echoing on my ears!
The piano keys intensified as the faceless man pressed each key as he sang the bridge of the song in *crescendo. Very, very loud and quick!
I yelled. I slapped my hands on my ears to cover it and squeezed my eyes shut but no matter what I did, it just couldn't stop!
"Can stars determine what will be of you and me?
'Cause I see stars when I look into your eyes..."
"I said you f*****g stop singing!" I gnashed my teeth.
But it turned otherwise. It became even faster and *ascending! f**k, stop pressing the keys angrily!
"Can we imagine what it'd be just you and me?
Endless possibilities in your eyes.
Can we..."
And suddenly, the pacing went back to its mellow pulse. My forehead creased as I mouthed the words "what the fuck." From smooth, to harsh, and back to smooth again so quickly. What...
"Get away from here?
Away to a universe that's not so close, my dear."
I tried strutting my way towards the man behind the grand piano again. He should face me for humiliating me like this. Who is he anyway?!
"And in my arms you'll stay.
Amazing how you take my breath away..."
"Leche. Sino ka sabi!" I profaned.
I stopped on my tracks in a heartbeat when he paused and tilted his head, as if studying my movements intently.
Naghuramentado bigla ang sistema ko. Don't tell me, he was able to recognize my presence just now. How is it... possible?
Halos ikabingi ko ang biglang katahimikan pagkatapos ng seryeng puno ng tunog at ingay. The place fell into silence that I could hear a pin drop. How ironic...
He's looking at me now. I don't know. I'm not sure. But... he looked confused. Just like I am. And without taking away his gazes, his hands gracefully moved. The piano began roaring again to life as he maneuvered it delicately... to end the last line of the song.
"Amazing how you take my breath..." he intentionally paused while still looking at my way.
My breathing hitched. Saka ko lang naalala ang mga luha na patuloy pa rin pala sa pagpatak nang tuluyan nang lumabo ang mga mata ko dahil sa namumuong panibagong likido.
I shook my head as I cried my heart out. I tried stepping forward to the horror I might lose him once the song ended. But for unknown reason, I was petrified on my feet... hopelessly crying, almost begging for his attention and answers.
But for the last time, he dropped his eyes on the piano and pressed the last key.
"...away..."
Who... are you?
That was my question. But surprisingly, no word came out of my mouth as I closed my eyes and felt the cold embrace of the breeze.
I clutched my chest when my heart ached. Because I'm certain that once I open my eyes, I will just be greeted by his vanished trace.
"Beautiful escape..." Tinawa ko ang kalungkutan at tinango ang ulo. "Yes. You escaped beautifully..."
I've been living my life for almost eighteen years but even until now, it felt like I've been missing a very integral part of my past and identity.
Sa mga nakaraang araw, panay ang pagbisita sa akin ng isang panaginip. Paulit-ulit. Hanggang sa nasanay na lang ako sa pakiramdam na gigising tuwing umaga, yakap-yakap ang pakiramdam ng pangungulila.
"Mich!" tawag ni Natasha.
Napakurap-kurap ako bago sila balingan ni Emman.
"W-What?" I pulled my brows into a crease.
"You're spacing out again," sagot ni Emman, pataray ngunit naninimbang ang mga tingin.
Natasha sighed. "Tungkol pa rin ba 'yan sa plano ng magulang mo?"
"Uh... sort of," sagot ko na lang kahit ang totoo, halos pigain na ang utak ko sa sobrang sakit na noon.
"Is it final though?" Natasha added.
Muli kong inangat ang mga mata sa kanilang dalawa. Tahimik na si Emman sa kanyang puwesto, pinaglalaruan na lang ang baso ng kanyang iced tea. Samantalang puno ng pag-aalala ang mga mata ni Nat.
Napakagat ako ng labi at marahang tumango na lang kalaunan.
"It's final. We're moving out."
"But why? Hindi ko pa rin gets!" anang Natasha.
I shrugged. "I don't know, too..."
"Sa pagrerebelde mo siguro?"
Natigilan ako. I know it was supposed to be her hunch only but a part of me suddenly felt so bad. Hindi iyon kailanman sumagi sa isip ko. May posibilidad kaya... baka nga?
"I'll order something. You want cinnamon, shortie?"
I was cut off from my reverie when my effeminate friend, Emman, suddenly stood up with hands inside his pocket, eyes darting at me.
Umusbong ang aking nguso at bahagyang natakam doon. "Yes, please!"
His eyes looked heavenward before turning his back to strode his way towards the counter. Muli akong bumaling kay Natasha na nasa likod pa rin ni Emman ang tingin.
"Maybe you can talk it out?" suhestiyon muli ni Nat pagkaharap.
Umiling ako. "I have... nothing to do with their decision..."
I heard that she heaved another problematic sigh. Mas lumalim ang kanyang mga mata nang muli akong tinanaw.
"Pero... ayos ka na ba?" she asked cautiously.
"I think," I said sullenly as I dropped my eyes on my plate.
Dahil sa natantong posibilidad, naging mailap ako sa pag-uwi. Napansin iyon ni Dad. Hindi pa man tuluyang nakakapagpalit ng damit ay rinig ko na ang katok nito sa pinto ng kuwarto.
"Mich, anak. Can we talk?"
Puno ng pag-aalinlangan ang sistema ko. It took me almost a minute to make a response but in the end, I slowly paved my way towards the door as I opened it for Daddy.
Nang natanaw ako ay awtomatikong sinuyod ng kanyang mga mata ang loob ng aking kuwarto. Bigla akong nahiya.
It's kind of messy. I threw a fit last week right after they confessed me the truth about my past. And now, Dad was looking tiredly at me kaya napatikhim ako.
"Michaela."
His voice sounded problematic. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay tama nga ang naging konklusyon kanina ni Natasha.
Maybe it was because of my rebellious antics the past few days. Maybe one of the reasons at least. Noon pa man kasi ay alam kong may balak na ring lumipat ng bahay ang mga ito.
He sat at the end of my bed and beckoned me to sit beside him. I did. He reached for my head and stroke my hair in a very gentle manner.
"What did you do to your stuff?" he finally asked.
Tinanaw ko ang paligid. Hindi ako nakapagsalita nang ngayon lang nalinawan sa ginawang katangahan. I balled my fists and just lowered my head guiltily.
Dad's hand rested on my shoulder and tapped it twice.
"Sayang naman ang mga iyan. Just because you heard about the story, it doesn't necessarily require you to act like this. You're not like that, Michaela."
With that, I gritted my teeth and my fists tightened. "How could you know the real me and what's not anyway?"
Ramdam kong natigilan ito sa binulalas ko. Slowly, he pulled away his hand and just rested his both hands on his thigh.
"Mich..."
I blinked repeatedly the moment I felt my eyes swamped with newly supplied tears. The way Daddy uttered my name felt very warm.
He sighed frustratedly. "I may not be your real father... but it was me who watched you grew up, Mich."
Tuluyan nang pumatak ang aking luha kaya agad ko iyong pinalis nang palihim.
"You love music-"
"No!"
Mabilis na umangat ang ulo ko upang magprotesta. Daddy shook his head. His tad wrinkled forehead puckered even more when his brows furrowed in complete worry.
"Alam mo sa sarili mo ang totoong tinitibok ng puso mo, anak. You always adored your biological musician parents. But just because of what you heard, you suddenly turned like that," aniya, puno ng pagkalito ang hitsura.
Napalunok ako at iwas ng tingin. "I just realized it wasn't really for me."
Daddy laughed without humor. "Hija, you are born for music."
I almost cringed. Kung noon ay taas-noo ko iyong inaaprubahan at pinaninindigan. Ngayon, halos duraan ko na ang sahig tuwing nararamdaman ang paninibugho ng damdamin para sa katagang iyon.
"I'd rather die than born for that-"
"Michaela Singh!" His voice thundered.
Napailing na lang ako.
"Stop this nonsense, Mich. Hindi ko na nagugustuhan ang inaasal mo!"
Tumayo ako at nilakbay na ang distansiya ng pintuan. I opened the door before turning my face to him. And with my hand clutching the doorknob, I opened the door wider.
"Sorry, Mr. Maddison. But I'd like to take a rest."
His jaw almost dropped with my remarks. Sa huli ay tumayo na rin ito mula sa aking kama at tumigil sa harapan ko. His eyes looked worn out now. Napaiwas ako ng tingin.
"You love music, Mich," mariin niyang sambit bago tuluyang lumabas sa aking kuwarto.
I stayed like that for a while, staring blankly at the broken vinyls, CDs, frames, player, instruments, and trophies. I banged the door close behind me as I kicked those poor things.
I love music, huh? Then what if I did that? I kicked them repeatedly with all my might hanggang sa malunod na lang sa sariling mga luha at pagod.
"f**k music. I hate it," I uttered angrily.
I chuckled without humor and shook my head in disbelief.
"No, Michaela Singh. You despise it," I whispered, convincing myself that I really am.
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ:
Beautiful Escape - AJ Rafael
──────|───────────
|◁ || ▷|
∞ ↺
- Writer
