Just Because You Are

Chapter 15 (Part 1) - It All Started with Music

Quino with a slightly raised brow. “Yeah, yun lang,” she simply replied.

Quino smiled a little smugly as Raffie instantly looked away from him after giving her answer. “Well, it’s an entertaining film,” he said. Then he noticed that as they passed by a flower boutique, Raffie’s eyes twinkled appreciatively at the white, pink and red Equadorian roses arranged beautifully in the display window. 

“Ang ganda ng combination ng colors!” Raffie gasped in admiration as she stopped in front of the displayed flowers.

“I agree,” Quino seconded. “Yan ba ang mga favorite colors mo, Miss Raffie?”

“Actually, pink and blue talaga yung mga gusto kong colors,” she replied. “The color combination just reminded me of Mommy’s story.” Her eyes were thoughtful now, and she looked as if she was enjoying a brief moment of recalling that story.

“Tell me about it,” Quino urged her.

Raffie smiled. “Later,” she replied. “Habang nagdi-dinner.”

Quino nodded. “What if pasok muna tayo dito, baka marami pang magagandang arrangements sa loob.”

“No, it would be better if we just go and have dinner right away,” Raffie replied, glancing at her watch. “May mga work pa tayo bukas, kailangan din nating umuwi agad.”

“Okay.”

Quino found himself rather eager to hear about Raffie’s story that as soon as the waiter had already taken their orders, he urged her again to share about it.

“Actually, true story ito nina Daddy at Mommy…nung nasa courtship stage pa sila. Ayaw kase ni Mommy noon kay Daddy. Nung nasa university kase sila, medyo may pagka-nerd daw si Dad, samantalang si Mommy naman member ng dance troupe, alam mo yun…the outgoing type. But Dad was determined to win Mom’s heart. He exerted much effort in pursuing her…but to no avail. Sabi pa ni Dad, pati sila lolo at lola niligawan nya. Tapos sinubukan pa niya na ipagluto si Mommy nung favorite nyang sinigang na bangus kaso pumalpak daw kase mommy prefers to use kamias but dad used sampalok instead. So ayun, hindi nagustuhan ni mom. Hanggang sa nalaman ni Dad yung weakness ni Mommy na nag-match naman sa talent nya – song composition. It so happened na nag-audit si Mom ng mga units sa Music kase nga gusto nyang ma-enhance pa yung skills nya sa piano. Eh yung prof ni Mom pinag-compose ng original songs yung students. Tapos ito si Dad stalker mode, napansin na medyo may struggle si Mom sa composition. So nag-volunteer sya na tumulong. One whole week daw nila yun tinrabaho, and each day they met, before they would part ways, Dad would leave three roses in between the pages of Mom’s Music book: white, pink and red palagi yung combination. At the end of the week, you know what? Dad’s efforts paid off. Ang nakakatuwa na part eh nung after their 1st anniversary Dad confessed that he had actually finished the song overnight, kaso inunti-unti lang nya yung pag-present kay Mommy para humaba yung panahon nila to spend time together…”

All throughout the time she was telling the story, Raffie sounded inspired and enthusiastic, and her eyes glinted in obvious delight. Quino could not help but admire her enthusiasm.

“Madiskarte pala si Sir Paeng,” Quino commented with a smile.

“You can say that again,” Raffie agreed. “Hanggang ngayon kilig na kilig pa rin ako pag naaalala ko yan. The hopeless romantic in me…”