Fide et Amor [TimeTravel Romance] hiatus

CAPITULO XV

It has been a thousand years since he played the piano.  Making money and mending his emotional scars kept him from getting in touch with his musicality.  Like sculpting, playing the piano was the source of his ultimate happiness.  He used to play it excellently--even his piano teacher commended him.  But then he was told he lacked emotions to give life to the music.  It was only heard by ears - not by heart.

Everything he did was not enough.  There was always something missing or it was empty.  His music, sculpting, job and even his love lacked.  He knew he was cold and had no emotions, but he was trying his best to get in touch with it.  But it was oceans away from him.

That moment is different.  He is playing the piano like he has never played it before.  His heart pounds as his fingers brush the keys.  He had never felt more alive that he feels his blood running through his veins.

He ran his fingers on the keys as he played Claire de Lune--one of his favorite classical pieces.  But he played  it from the heart this time.  Before, he used to play it by hand--only his fingers touch the keys.  But now, his heart dictated which keys his fingers should touch.  It was all because of her--the one who breathes life back to him.

She is like the moonlight and the music he is playing.  She illuminates the inaccessible part of his emotions.  He wants to declare his feelings through music--makes her feel and hear the echoes of his heart.  He cannot utter the words because it is too soon and fear gets in the way.

…

Pamamanglaw at pangungulila ang naramdaman nang tignan niya muli ang ginuhit na larawan ng pamilya.  Ang tanging pamanang naiwan sa kanya ay ang kwintas ng Fide et Amor.  Kinuha niya ito mula sa bulsa at tinangan.  Binigo niya ang pamilya at walang inisip kundi ang sarili--isang kaisipang tumimo sa karamihan.  Ngunit walang katotohanan ang kanilang panghuhusga sa kanya.  Hindi niya nanaisin ang tumakas habang nakapiit ang ama.  Ayaw lamang niyang makasal sa taong hindi niya mahal.  Unti-unting tumulo ang luha niya.  Ngunit nagawa ng musikang ilihis ang atensyon ni Anthea sa mapapait na alaala ng nakaraan.  May ibinubulong sa puso niya ang himig galing sa piyano.

Lumapit siya sa kinaroroonan ni Jordan matapos ibalik ang kwintas sa bulsa niya at tumayo sa likuran nito.

Tama siya sa kanyang higing, siya ang pinanggagalingan ng nakakahalinang himig.

Mauulinigan ang musika sa buong silid at siya ring bumalong sa lihim na damdamin niya para sa binata.  Tulad ng unti-unting pagdaloy ng tubig sa tuyong lupa, ramdam niya ang pagusbong ng pag-ibig sa pagitan nila.  Ngunit di niya mawari kung papaano mangyayari kung nabibilang sila sa magkaibang panahon?  Ipinikit niya ang mga mata at bumuntong-hininga habang dinama ang ganda ng himig.

Pinasaya ng musika ang tainga at puso niya.  Kung nasa tabi lamang niya ang kanyang caballete at sinintang pinsel ay naiguhit niya ang nararamdaman ng mga panahong yoon.  Ibig niyang ipinta ang kanyang Caballero habang tumutugtog ito ng piyano sa gitna ng isang batis.  Luntian, rosas, bughaw at puti ang mga kulay na bubuhay sa kanyang larawan.

Walang pag-aatubili, kanyang napagtanto na ang binata’y kanya nang iniirog.  Hinawakan niya sa balikat si Jordan at hinintay itong lumingon.

He closed his eyes and felt the warmth of her hand on his shoulders.  Fear has taken over again.  He couldn’t confess his feelings to her.  “P-Paborito ko ito.  Tinugtog ko ito para…”  He wanted to say it is for her, pero hindi niya maamin ang totoong nararamdaman niya.  She filled his thoughts when he played the piano--not anyone else.  It was hard to believe that he found himself in love with a woman who was almost two hundred years older than he is and could fade away any moment like the wind.