The Missing Note
"I'm sorry if I was rude to you during our first meeting. Gusto ko lang talaga malaman kung may plano ba kayong maging professional musicians. I don't really want to be in a band that doesn't have any intention of doing that," sabi ni Zeira habang umuupo sa upuan.
We're still in the same room where we found her yesterday, and they're having their meeting. Meanwhile, I'm questioning myself why I'm here again. Ugh.
"It's okay. Because of you, we managed to talk about it," sagot ng deskmate ko. Nakita ko namang tumango ang dalawa.
"If you don't mind me asking, is he part of the band?" tanong ni Zeira sabay turo sa akin.
I might have been sticking out like a sore thumb in this group of people. Well, it's not my fault I'm here. They keep dragging me everywhere, so I don't really have a choice.
"Yes!" masayang sagot ng deskmate ko, kaya naman sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.
Napansin naman iyon ni Zeira. "I don't... think so," nag-aalangan niyang sabi, pero nginitian lang siya ng deskmate ko.
"Huwag mo nang pansinin si Wynther. He's an honorary member of our band. Without him, this wouldn't be possible," sabi niya sabay tingin sa akin.
Then she smiled at me. A smile so beautiful that it made me freeze.
Fuck. My heart is pounding loudly again.
"How?" tanong ni Elliot, his curiosity evident in his voice. Nang bumaling ang deskmate ko sa kanya, kinuha ko ang pagkakataong iyon para pakalmahin ang puso ko.
"He's the one who gave me a push to pursue my dream," sabi niya. Nakita ko namang tumango si Elliot, habang si Rive ay nakatingin sa akin ng may ngiti sa labi.
Fuck. Did he see me? Napaayos ako ng upo at umiwas ng tingin. I just looked at my shoes and listened to their conversation.
"So, the only one missing is a bassist," sabi ni Zeira.
"Yes," sagot ng deskmate ko sabay buntong hininga.
"I'll try to ask around. For now, you should get the application form from Ma'am Esquivel," sagot ni Zeira, na tinanguan naman ng deskmate ko.
And that's what they did for the following days. Once my deskmate submitted the application form to Tori, they had a small celebration in the clubroom. Of course, I was still with them—because, apparently, I'm an honorary member of their band. I swear, I don't know why she said something like that when I don't even want to be part of this.
Being this close to my dead dream is painful. That's why I want to avoid them. But they wouldn't even allow me to do that. They keep barging into my life, dragging me back into something I've already buried.
Zeira asked around her class and in other sections if they knew anyone who played the bass. My deskmate, Elliot, and Rive did the same. But they were all unsuccessful. They couldn't find anyone, and now, my deskmate's mood is down again.
"Do you want to be the bassist?"
Her sudden question made my heart skip a beat. Tinitigan ko siya. She's just looking at me with a hopeful expression.
"You can learn how to play it. You're smart and a fast learner," she added.
And just like that, I was suddenly reminded of my dad. Memories of the time he taught me how to play the bass flashed in my mind, and my chest tightened.
Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga, pilit pinipigilan ang emosyon bago siya muling tinitigan sa mata. "I don't want to," seryoso kong sagot.
She seemed taken aback by my response. A brief silence passed before she nodded slowly. "O-okay," nauutal niyang sagot bago ibinaling ang tingin sa board sa harap.
YOU ARE READING
Strings of Memory
Teen Fiction"Hating the one thing you love is a pain worse than losing it." - Wynther Fynne Clemenceau Wynther never had a dream-until he heard his father play the bass. In that moment, music became his purpose, his passion, his future. He dreamed of standing o...
