A Reviving Vocal

XLVI - Attached

Saturday came and Rain texted me that we should just meet up at the park of the mall because he went somewhere else too. I was sitting on a bench under a tree when he finally showed up, running to me. We entered the building of the shopping mall after we decided that we should buy the guitar first before he could find the thing he's looking for as well.

"Ano bang gusto mong kulay ng gitara?" Tanong niya habang nag-hahanap na rin kami ng mabibilhan ng masarap na inumin. "I don't know. Anything, I guess."

"Ah, 'diba 'yung kulay nung gitara na gamit mo, brown?"

"Yeah, but I don't like it and it's quite heavy too."

Nag-patuloy lang 'yung conversation namin hanggang sa naka-bili na kami ng inumin. Gusto rin pala niya ang rock music at ngayon ko lang nalaman 'yun, akala ko heavy metal ang gusto niya dahil... mahilig siyang makipag-away pero hindi daw kasi masakit sa tenga pakinggan.

Natigilan ako sa pag-iisip dahil bigla niyang hinawakan 'yung kamay ko at hinila sa kung saan.

"Ayun! Aika, nahanap na -" he stopped in his tracks, so I did too. He probably realized that he suddenly did such a thing and even called me by my other nickname. "S-Sorry." Rain turned around immediately and removed his hand from mine after saying that. However out of nowhere, I whispered, "I-It's okay... I don't mind..."

Natulala ako sa nasabi ko. "N-No! I mean... o-okay lang na tawagin mo ulit ako nun!" I hid my apparently red face as I tried to yell softly as I can with the watermelon juice that I bought, and then he suddenly laughed for a little while.

Tinanong ko kung bakit siya tumawa bigla pero ang sinabi lang niya, "Wala, wala 'yun. Tara na, pili ka na ng gitara mo."

That time, his hand was so warm.

And my heart tightened again.

I wonder... if he's still in love with Yna?

I shook the thoughts off of my head. Bakit ko ba iniisip 'yun? Hindi ko na dapat alamin ang mga ganung bagay.

Pumasok na kami sa store at ang dami kong nakitang gitara, hindi ko tuloy alam kung saan ako titingin. Nakakita ako ng mga drumset, violin, bass guitar at piano. Naalala ko ulit 'yung mga nangyari sa'kin dati at na-miss ko tuloy mag-piano. Pero hindi naman 'yun yung pinunta ko dito.

"Eumeleia, mag-kano ba ang budget mo?" Lumingon ako at natulala ulit ako sa nasabi niya. Nakalimutan kong kumuha ng pera!

"A-Ah, hehehe. Hanap muna tayo ng ATM! Kulang pa 'yung pera ko dito eh." Nginitian ko na lang siya at umalis na kami doon sa store. Tinawanan pa niya ako pero pinabayaan ko na lang siya! Sakto naman na pag-labas namin, nasa harap lang pala namin ang isang bangko katabi ng isang atm machine. Saktong may basurahan din pala dito kaya tinapon ko na rin 'yung juice na binili ko at ganun din naman ang ginawa niya.

Pagkatapos kong kunin yung pera ko doon, pumunta na ulit kami sa loob ng store.

While we were looking around for a decent guitar, I finally found what I was looking for. I crouched down to see a white, black and gold Gretsch guitar in front of my eyes, as if it was also sparkling and shining. I already knew it was it, that I finally found it. But then, my eyes glanced at the price and was shocked to see it - P95,000 and it's currently on sale! Apparently, it was priced P130,000 before, just who would buy such a thing? But that's unfortunate, I don't think I can buy that.

"Good afternoon, Ma'am. Do you want to buy this one? It's the latest model for Gretsch and it's the last one here in the store too." The saleslady smiled at me enthusiastically but of course, I denied her offer. "N-No, it's too expensive for -"