The Unexpected You (COMPLETE)

Part 9

NAPUNO NG MALALAKAS na palakpakan ang buong Hanoel Coffeeshop matapos ang performance nina Avex at Trax. Hindi na nagtaka pa si Tara nang makita ang ilan sa mga nakapanuod ay napatayo pa habang pinapalakpakan ang magkapatid.

Liban na lang sa matandang nag-request kanina na nanatiling nakamasid lang sa mga ito. Mayamaya ay tumayo na ito at lumapit sa magkapatid.

"You did great," bati nito kay Trax. "You live up to your reputation as the best pianist in the world today. But you..." baling naman nito kay Avex. "You're amazing. But...for how long?"

Natahimik ang paligid. Kahit sina Trax at Avex ay napatutok ang atensyon sa matanda. Ano ang ibig nitong sabihin?

"There was no doubt about your talent, young man. There was so much emotion in your music. So much passion on the way you play that instrument. I have never seen anyone play the way you did. But it was unstable. I could feel this was the first time you ever played with your heart on your sleeve."

Tatayo na sana si Tara para ipagtanggol si Avex nang maramdaman niyang pinigilan siya ni Mirajane sa kanyang braso. Marahan itong umiling, tila ba sinasabi nitong hayaan ang mga nag-uusap dahil may mahalagang mangyayari sa mga susunod na sandali. At mukhang tama ito.

"This won't be the last time I'll play this way," wika ni Avex.

"Yes. But the question now is when will be the next time? Obviously, young man, you could only play this great when you're on the heights of your emotions. And there is no place for someone like you in my orchestra."

Nakita ni Tara ang pagkuyom ng mga kamay ni Avex, halatang hindi nito nagustuhan ang sinabi ng matanda.

"Are you inlove, young man?" Nagulat siya sa tanong na iyon ng matanda. Hindi sumagot si Avex. "You're inlove, aren't you? Oh, well. That has always been the cause of a musician's rise and fall. Most of the time, it's their downfall. And I hate to see you fall. So unless you are ready to discard your heart with feelings of love, you are not going to make it to the top. I could see you are an ambitious lad, always aiming the highest place in the music world. But as I said, if you want to make it, then forget about those feelings. Empty your heart and let your music take over you, all of you. Or..." saglit na sinulyapan ng matanda ang tahimik lang na si Trax. "Or you could ask your brother how he did it. To never let his personal feelings and emotions mixed with his great talent. I'm giving your three days to decide. After that, come and see me. Your manager have my number so she knows how to contact me." Tinapik-tapik pa nito sa balikat si Avex. "I hope you would choose your talent over your heart. It will be a great loss if such talent gets wasted."

Sinundan lang ni Tara ng tingin ang matanda nang magpaalam na ito at nauna ng umalis ng Hanoel. Nang mga sandaling iyon, pakiramdam niya ay may nakadagang napakabigat na bagay sa kanyang dibdib. Kailangan niya ng tubig.

"Ikaw ba si Tara?" Humarang si Trax sa daanan niya. "'Yung kinukuwento sa akin ng mga kaibigan namin na pinagtutuunan na ng oras ni Avex nitong mga nakaraang linggo?"

"At ang babaeng dahilan kapag biglang bumagsak si Avex sa pedestal na kinatutuntungan niya ngayon? Oo. Ako nga iyon."

"Hindi ko sinabing ikaw ang magiging dahilan ng downfall  ng kapatid ko."

"Hindi nga. 'Yung matandang iyon ang nagsabi. Kino-confirm ko lang para kung sakaling magtanong ka pa—"

"You're not going to be my downfall," narinig niyang wika ni Avex. "I'm too great to fall. Sira ulo lang talaga ang matandang iyon."

"Mabuti kung ganon," wika niya. "Keep that up."

"I will. And I will show everyone I'm not some ordinary musical genius who depends his music on his emotions and feelings."