Tuning Hearts
Youssef opened his restaurant the next morning but closed it early in the afternoon. We were confused but he told us this:
"There's something else I want all of you to do."
Wala kaming ideya kung ano 'yon, pero pinagpatuloy lang namin ang trabaho sa pagse-serve ng customers nang umagang iyon. Pagdating ng tanghali, tinawag na kami ni Youssef at sinabi niyang sundan namin siya-so we did.
"Saan ba tayo pupunta, uncle?" tanong ni Zeira, pero wala siyang nakuha ni isang sagot. Nagpatuloy lang si Youssef sa paglalakad kaya wala kaming choice kundi sumunod.
"Don't worry, kids. Malapit lang naman 'yung pupuntahan natin," Harrison said, trying to reassure us.
And he wasn't lying. Ilang minuto lang ay huminto na kami sa harap ng isang stage.
It's in the middle of the beach. I didn't know they had something like this here. Wala naman kasi siya sa tagong lugar. In fact, the stage is very visible to anyone pero hindi ko ito nakita nang dumating kami kahapon.
I saw that there are already musical instruments as well as microphone onstage.
Humarap sa amin si Youssef at ngumiti. "Play for us," sabi niya, causing all of us to freeze.
"You want us to play for you?" Elliot asked.
"But why?" dagdag ng deskmate ko.
"We want to see how good you are. Let us judge if you have what it takes to become a pro. Hindi ba 'yun naman ang end goal niyo? Show us your determination, kiddos!" Sabi niya at itinuro ang stage.
And just like that, wala kaming nagawa kundi sundin siya. Mas okay na rin 'to-at least, mabibigyan nila kami ng real advice. Unlike before, these people are real professionals. They have real experience. Alam namin na kahit anong sabihin nila, it's not just to tear us down, but to help us improve.
Pumuwesto kami sa kanya-kanyang instrument at inadjust ang mga ito. I tuned my bass bago tumingin sa paligid. Kami lang ang tao dito at ang tanging audience lang namin ay sina Youssef at Harrison but the pressure is still there dahil kailangan namin silang mapahanga.
"Luna!" tawag ni Elliot sa deskmate ko, making me turn to them.
"Anong kakantahin mo?" Tanong niya.
Ngumiti ang deskmate ko. "Tadhana."
"Yung kanta ng Up Dharma Down?" tanong ni Rive habang nagpipindot ng keys sa keyboard.
"Yup," she answered, popping the p. "Narinig kong kinakanta ng isang customer 'yon kahapon. Na-LSS tuloy ako."
"Are you guys ready?" tanong ni Youssef mula sa ibaba.
Tinignan muna kami isa-isa ng deskmate ko at nang masigurado niyang handa na ang lahat ay sinagot niya si Youssef.
"Ready!" Sagot niya gamit ang microphone na nasa harapan niya.
Tumango si Youssef, giving us the signal.
"In one, two, three!" Elliot counted, sabay hampas ng drumsticks niya.
And just like that, we started playing.
"Sa hindi inaasahang
Pagtatagpo ng mga mundo"
Unang bigkas palang ng deskmate ko sa unang linya ng kanta ay nagtaasan na ang mga balahibo ko. At kasabay noon ay ang pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ko.
"May minsan lang na nagdugtong,
Damang dama na ang ugong nito"
Her voice sounded cold yet soft that it's making me want to close my eyes and just feel her voice. I just want to stop playing and listen to her.
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...
