Keep The Music Playing (Completed)

Epilogue

            "Love and music has lots of things in common. When you feel love, you hear music of the heart. When you hear music, you fell in love. Embracing music is like handling a relationship. You have to be patient, you have to be careful, you have to be attached, you have to be passionate and sometimes you have to be bold and wild." Vlad winked. And it was followed by bunch of laughs from his college student audience.

It's been twenty years since the accident happened. Ang aksidenteng bumago sa takbo ng buhay nilang mag-asawa. Ang aksidenteng nagdulot ng matinding pagsubok na inakala rin niyang hindi niya kayang lagpasan. Heto na siya ngayon matapos ang dalawang dekada. Wala na siyang kaliwang binti. He was amputated after the accident. Ngayon ay may artificial leg siya na tumutulong para makalakad siya kahit pilay na. Isa na rin siyang professor sa isang university na kilala sa larangan ng music. He was recently held one of the finest music professors in the school.

Kasalukuyang nasa kalagitnaan siya ng pagto-talk bilang speaker sa isang out of town seminar and workshops ng mga college music students na ginanap sa Batanes—sa parehong resort kung saan sila nagka-develop-an ng kanyang asawa.

"When you play music or sing a song, you are like courting someone you are hopelessly in love with. Iyong patay na patay ka o kaya ikamamatay mo kung di mo nakuha. Susuyuin mo ang musika na yakapin ka, damhin ka, rape-in ka kung kina-kailangan. Sabihin mo kay Music, 'Sige, come to me baby! Love me!'" ekseheradong sambit niya. Another round of laughs. "Alam n'yo kung bakit? Kasi ang music ay may magic na hindi kayang ipaliwanag ng science nor ng kahit sinong music experts. Kahit pa gaano kagaling ang kamay mong dumutdot sa tiklado ng piano..," he gave sample by keying some difficult notes on his piano, "it will still mean nothing if you don't put your heart in it." He played the same sample with emotions involved this time.

A student raised her hand and asked a question. "Sir, if love and music connives, how music played part on your love life?" The other students cheered.

Napangiti siya sa tanong. Gano'n talaga siguro ang mga estudyante—curious sa love life ng professor. "Simple. I keep on playing piano, composing piece and performing because once in my life, I promised my wife, I will keep the music...our music, playing. Bawat kanta original man o re-arranged, bawat oras na nilalaan ko sa harap ng piano para mag-rehearse, mag-arrange at mag-perform... lahat si Ayen ang dahilan. I played music for her. Tuwing lalapat ang kamay ko sa piano, siya ang nasa isip ko. Her beautiful face, her sweet smile, her loving embrace, her sweet kisses. Sabihin nating ang asawa ko ang dahilan kung bakit andito ako sa harap n'yo ngayon, trying my best to share my experience in music and in life. Wala ako, kung wala siya."

Naalala niya ang asawa. Alam niyang hindi na niya maibabalik ang panahon kaya hindi niya hinayaang baguhin ng panahon ang pagmamahalan nila. Kung anuman ang nangyari, sa isang bagay lang siya sigurado. Their love for each other would be eternal.

For the next few minutes ay binigyan niya ng activity ang mga students bago sila mag-break time. Pagkatapos ng seminar session ay bumalik siya sa room na nirentahan niya sa resort na iyon. It was the same villa where they took accommodations decades ago. Nakakatuwang makitang halos walang nagbago sa resort na iyon sa kabila ng napakaraming taon na nagdaan.

Naabutan niya ang nag-iisang anak sa hallway sa labas ng inuupahang silid. May bitbit itong bulaklak. His baby was now a grown up girl, a professional fashion designer and a concert princess. Pinasok nito ang showbiz after magtapos ng college. As expected, nakuha nito— at higit pa nga— ang talent niya sa music. She was now a famous versatile singer that invaded concert stages with a bang. He was just so proud of her.

"Kanino galing iyan, anak?" tanong niya. He was not that strict to her when it comes to relationship but he couldn't help it sometimes.