Keep The Music Playing (Completed)

Chapter Twelve

Matamang pinagmamasdan ni Vlad ang piano niya sa silid. Hindi pa rin niya matanggap sa sarili na sa isang iglap hindi na niya magawa ang bagay na ilang taon niyang pinagbuhusan ng puso at panahon. Vlad was not getting better. Kung noon ay nahihirapan lang siyang igalaw ang binti at braso, ngayon ay tanging braso na lang niya ang naigagalaw with so much effort. And those sclerosis symptoms immediately took him away from his usual life...music...piano...musical arrangements, serenades for his wife.

He hated himself more now that Amhiela was back working. Alam niyang masaya ito sa pagbabalik-photographer bilang career improvement at ginagawa nito iyon para na rin sa kanilang pamilya. But he just couldn't accept it. Lalo na ngayon. Amhiela was having a good time working while he and Mirasol was left at home with nurse and baby sitter. Nawawalan na ito ng oras sa kanila. Aalis ito nang maaga, madalas ay tulog pa siya. At pagdating nito sa hapon, madalas ay pagod ito at magpapahinga. At pag nagising ito, oras na ng pagtulog niya. Kahit noon pa man ay walang araw o oras na pinipili ang profession nito kaya kahit weekends, madalas may trabaho ito.

Nevertheless, he didn't say anything. Ayaw niyang mauwi na naman sila sa misunderstanding. Kung may hinanakit man siya, sasarilinin na lang niya.

He moved his wheelchair closer to the piano. Kahit nahihirapan ay pinilit niya igalaw ang mga kamay para maabot ang tiklado ng piano. After few seconds, he was able to reach the piano keys. He tried to play the piano thinking that he could still do it the way he usually did before. Ngunit kahit ang mga daliri niya ay hirap na siyang igalaw. He was able to play few notes but it wasn't perfect. Sa inis, ay hinampas na lang niya ang tiklado ng piano na nagdulot ng ingay at ikinagising ng baby niyang natutulog.

"I know I don't have the right to complain but why did You give me this kind of burden?" For the very first time, he felt alone. Dati hindi siya nahihirapan dahil alam niyang nasa tabi niya palagi ang asawa pero ngayon, wala ito para sabihing magiging okay lang ang lahat.

He heard Mirasol's cry. He moved his wheelchair towards her crib. He took his effort to hold her aiming to stop her from crying.

"Can I?"

Napalingon siya. There standing near the door was Sophia Chii. Napangiti siya sabay tango.

Lumapit ito, binuhat si Mirasol at inihele ang bata. "Ah, such a cute baby. Tahan na." She kissed on Mirasol's forehead.

"So what brings you here, Miss Busy In Business?"

"Apparently, I'm not busy in business anymore. I quit." Dinampot nito ang isang stuff toy na ginamit nitong pang-aliw kay Mirasol at umupo ito ito sa kama.

"You quit?" curious na tanong niya. Vlad had been working with Sophia for years. Kilala niya ito, she's not a quitter type of person.

"Yes, I quit. Pinalayas ako ng aking ama after I told him that I'll marry Mathew Kaviero. I'm sick of that drama. Gusto ko namang sumaya kaya I quit," balewalang kwento nito sabay tingin sa baby. "Ah, madali palang maki-kidnap itong baby mo, Vlad. Napatahan ko siya."

"Well that means, pwede ka ng mag-asawa."

"Para na rin akong nag-asawa, Vlad. Nagsasama na kami. Where's your wife? Di ba dapat andito siya to take good care of you?"

Alanganing ngumiti siya. "Ah, she's at work. I'm just left here with the baby and nurse."

Napansin ata nito na awkward siya sa tanong nito kaya nag-redirect na rin ito ng topic. "I see. By the way, binisita kita dito for two purposes. One is to make sure that my best business partner is just fine and two is to propose business to you." Inihiga nito sa crib si Mirasol at ibinigay nito sa kanya ang isang folder. "I'm building my own shoe lines outside the family business. And alam kong ikaw ang pinaka-best na makakatulong sa akin."