Chapter 3: The Prayer and Answer

"OH my... look at you!" bulalas ng isang may edad na babae nang bumukas ang pintuan. Agad naman silang tumayo ng kanyang mama.

Nanatili siyang nakatayo habang ang mama niya ay sabik na sinalubong ang isang matalik na kaibigan.

"It's so nice to see you again Julia!" buong kagalakang anas ng kanyang mama nang magyakap ang mga ito.

"You too Linda."

So, this is the woman behind all this. She looks beautiful and young despite of her age. She looks like an Asian version of Monaliza wearing modern branded clothes. Simple, classic but timeless. Her gestures are finess and delicate like it's a part of her art. Well, she is a well-known ballet dancer and a theater actress during her young age.

She is the famous Julia Soller "The Art Molder" She owns the Julia Arts Academy na sikat dahil sa mga talentong talaga naman produkto nito.

Karamihan sa mga estudyante na nanggaling sa academy ay talaga namang naging successful sa kanya-kanyang larangang napili. Although the school is still young and known for elite students, Julia was also known for her good heart, who gives opportunities for others who have talents but can't afford to go in her school.

J.A.A is a different school before. Isa lamang itong private school para sa mayayamang estudyante pero makalipas ang sampung taon nang grumaduate si Julia sa kolehiyo at nabalitaan niya na magsasara na ito, ay agad niyang naisipan bilihin ang buong eskwelahan gamit ang minanang kayamanan. Sa tulong narin ng kapatid nitong si Nathaniel Soller na isang kilalang pintor sa bansa ay matagumpay nilang naitatag ito bilang isang bagong eskwelahan.

Noon pa man ay pangarap na nitong magtayo ng isang art school dahil dumadaloy ito sa dugo ng buong pamilya dahil kilalang kilala ang mga Soller sa iba't ibang larangan ng sining.

Napangiti na lang siya sa tagpong nakita. Halatang nasabik ang mga ito sa isa't isa.

At matapos ng malugod na kamustahan ay sa kanya naman nito ininaling ang atensyon at hinawakan siya sa magkabilang braso na para bang manghang-mangha na napatitig sa kanya.

"So, this is the little boy?! Oh my Gosh look at you now... he's very handsome!" buong paghangang bulalas nito sa kanya.

"I'm very sure that girls in my academy will go crazy!" natatawang biro nito. Her energy and enthusiasm are still like a teenager.

'No wonder she still looks young.' Napangiti siya sa naisip.

"Nice to meet you po... Auntie Julia."

Nakipagbeso-beso naman ito sa kanya, "Nice to meet you again! You were still a toddler when I first saw you. No doubt you have grown into a fine young man. Kamukhang-kamukha mo ang papa mo!" Napahagikgik ito, "Naaalala ko, super in love ang mama mo sa papa mo noon, kaya lagi nalang siya nito nahuhuling nakatulala sa kanya... eh kita mo na ayan, kamukhang-kamukha mo tuloy," natatawang kwento nito.

"Julia baka maniwala yan si Dave sayo," pasimpleng depensa ng kanyang mama.

Inimbitahan sila nitong umupo.

"Bakit totoo naman... si Dave ang ebidensya," the room filled with laughter, "I'm so glad that both of you are staying for good," bakas sa tinig nito ang lubos na katuwaan.

"I guess it's the perfect time to be back home," tugon ng kanyang mama.

"You're right this is your home. Having you as one of the Academy directors is such an honor," sinserong sabi nito sa kanyang mama, "Hindi na ko nag-iisa, makakasama nakitang huhubog ng mga bagong talento dahil alam mo naman si Nathaniel hindi mapirmi sa isang lugar kaya ayun parang mag-isa lang din ako," bahagya itong napanguso nang mabanggit ang kapatid nitong pintor.

Isa iyon sa dahilan ng paguwi nila ng bansa. Gusto na din kasi maglaylow ng mama niya sa career nito marahil dahil umi-edad na rin kaya pumayag ito sa offer ng kaibigan na maging isa sa mga director and investor ng academy. Halos 10 years na din kasi itong nagluluksa sa pagkamatay ng papa niya kaya naman nagpasya na itong tanggapin ang alok ng matalik na kaibigan.

"How about you hijo? How do you find the Academy?" nakangiting tanong nito sa kanya.

"Nagikot-ikot na nga po ako and I've seen how interesting is the culture inside here. Napakaganda po ng Academy. Sedrick gave me a tour this afternoon," nakangiti ring sagot niya.

"Ahh Sedrick!" excitement filled her voice, "He is one of my gems in this Academy. The heir of Cafè Mi Amore. Oh, I love their pastries! I'm glad they put up a branch near the academy," she said happily.

Ngunit sa kabilang banda hindi niya maintindihan ang sarili kung bakit  biglang sumingit sa isip niya ang isang taong sa tingin niya ay hindi naman dapat niya iniisip.

'That merciless beautiful girl.'

Pasimple na lang siyang napabuntong-hininga at pasimpleng napakamot sa ulo.

"Naku siguradong magugustuhan mo dito son! This place has a lot of good memories. I'm sure marami kang makikilalang mga kaibigan dito. Some of our favorite places are still here," napapangiti nalang ang kanyang mama habang sinasabi yoon. Marahil naaalala ang kabataan nila.

"You're right so many memories linger here kaya naman sinikap kong ma-preserve," She sounded so sentimental habang nakatingin sa kanyang mama.

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HE's about to go home nang maalala niyang may pinapakisuyo nga pala ang bestfriend niyang si Sedrick na naiwang gamit nito sa Art room, kaya naman napilitan siyang daanan muna ito bago umuwi.

Kakatapos lang niya kasing manghiram ng libro sa library dahil marami narin siyang na missed na topics dahil late na din siyang nakapagtransfer. Tinawagan lang siya ng mama niya para ipaalam sa kanya na ready na sila para umuwi. Napakwento pa kasi ito kaya nagpaalam na muna siya na pupunta sa library.

Habang naglalakad siya papalapit sa Art room ay nakarinig siya ng tunog ng isang piano sa katabing kwarto nito, na sa pagkakaalam niya ay dating music room pero nilipat na sa kabilang building kaya bodega na ito. Amusement filled his chest.

Na-curious siya kaya naisipan niyang silipin ito.

Habang papalapit siya ng papalapit sa kwarto ay kasabay din noon ang kakaibang pakiramdam na lumulukob sa dibdib niya, marahil bunga iyon ng musikang naririnig. Walang dudang napakaganda noon pero tila bakas ng kalungkutan ang nakapaloob dito.

It won't just passed by your ears but it will strike you straight to the chest and then next to your soul.

He can really feel the emotion of the song in every touch in those piano keys by that pianist.

'Sino kaya siya?'

His chest filled with curiosity to know who's creating that beautiful music.

Nang sumilip siya sa munting salamin ng pintuan ay ganoon na lamang ang pagkagulat niya nang makita kung sino ito.

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"MOM did you like the song?" wika niya sa hangin at sa larawan nito na nakapatong sa lalagyan ng music book holder matapos niyang tugtugin ang kantang ginawa niya para dito na ang pamagat ay "Blue Lullaby" na tungkol sa kanyang pananabik dito.

Nandoon siya ngayon sa lumang music room ng academy kung saan lihim siyang tumatambay para tumugtog ng piano.

Ang totoo wala naman talaga siyang lakad ayaw lang niyang sumama sa party ng lola niya.

At sa tuwing tumutugtog siya doon ay lagi din niyang dala-dala ang larawan ng kanyang mama, in that way pakiramdam niya nakakasama niya ito kahit sa ganoong paraan man lang.

She would rather be there alone than going to that party na alam niyang hindi naman siya welcome. How she really wishes na sana kasama nalang niya ito talaga, kahit walang kayamanan, kahit simpleng buhay lang ay magiging sapat sa kanya. Ngunit tila imposibleng hilingin pa ito. She is willing to give up everything she has just to spend a day with her.

"I hope you can hear the song I made for you." Bumuntong-hininga siya at kasabay noon ay ang mumunting luha na kumawala sa kanyang mga mata. God knows how lonely she is and sometimes it's really hard to hide especially in this kind of situation when the feeling that there's really no one beside her can fill those empty spaces inside her heart and makes her feel homeless.

Natuto siyang tumugtog ng piano noong sampung taong gulang pa lamang siya nang malaman niya kasing mahilig ang kanyang mama na tumugtog nito noong nabubuhay pa, ay naging interesado na siyang matutunan iyon at nalaman din niyang marami itong nilikhang awit para sa kanya habang ipinagbubuntis pa lamang siya nito.

She also found out that her mom dreamed to become a famous pianist and songwriter, that's why she practices night and day just to do great in that craft in order to continue that dream of hers.

Kaya naman inaral niyang lahat ang mga komposisyon nito at buong pusong inaalay din ang bawat awit na nalilikha niya dito.

Pakiramdam niya sa ganoong paraan she can create a connection to her at sa paglipas ng panahon she finds playing piano as her self-expression and her best escape whenever she feels lonely.

'Mama kung nasaan ka man I really hope I can be with you. I just wonder if you could grant me a wish?' Napangiwi siya sa naisip.

'I know it's impossible for me to be with you and I don't know kung hanggang kailan ko makakaya ang mag-isa...'

"... well, you could at least send me an angel," nakangusong wika niya sa kawalan habang nakatingin sa nakangiting larawan ng kanyang ina.

Nasa ganoong siyang tagpo nang may biglang kumatok.

'Who could possibly that be?'

Alam niyang wala ng mga estudyante sa floor na yun kapag ganitong oras at nasabihan narin naman niya ang lady guard about sa habit niyang yun kaya imposibleng istorbuhin siya nito.

Dahan-dahan niya itong nilingon...

...and suddenly the world stops when their eyes met and that one dead thing inside her suddenly lives.

'What a quick reply mom.'

She thought he looks like an angel with those pair of innocent eyes and the way he stares at her, gives her so much warmth. He looks so perfectly beautiful for a male figure that she couldn't take her eyes off of him.

'Is he for real? Tanong niya sa sarili.

Really an angel without wings?'

"Ah I'm sorry... I didn't mean to disturb you," his voice is so gentle, perfect for his angelic face that makes her even more mesmerize, "I just heard someone's playing piano and..."

"It's... ok," she said trying to hide her amusement and still can't find any flaws in him, as usually every time she will meet a guy, she will start to look for flaws so she wouldn't get hook easily but now... she just couldn't find any or maybe it really doesn't matter at the moment. Weird but she doesn't care for the first time, like she just wants to indulge herself with his beautiful presence.

She presses her lips firmly to keep herself calm because she feels like she just stops breathing.

He smiles at her, "That was beautiful by the way," he sounded so sincere and a little shy too, "Did you write that song?" napataas ang dalawa nitong kilay.

"Ah yeah," matipid siyang ngumiti, trying to control her deafening heartbeat.

"Wow... you are amazing!" manghang komento nito.

'You too...'

'Your smile...'

'Your eyes...'

'Your voice...'

'The way God made you...'

'Everything is just so perfect.'

She can't help praising him silently in her mind.

Alam niyang marami ng nagsabi noon sa kanya on how good she plays piano but it never really sounds so flattering than before.

Muli niya itong tinignan at nagtama muli ang mga mata nila.

"I've never seen you before," bigla niyang naisip tanungin ito. Not only because it's her first time she saw him but she badly wants to know if he is from their school or not, so she can set her plans of how can she see him again after today.

"It's my first day." He smiled again.

Something inside her chest jumps in so much joy knowing that he is a student in JAA.

'No need to plan.' She smirks inside her head, "I see," patangu-tangong sabi niya.

"By the way I'm Dave Salazar. I'm from the Architecture department." He walks towards her and offers a hand while still looking straight into her eyes that are already locked to his.

Something about him makes her feel really weird and she have never felt that tickling electricity in her body before.

She had never seen such a pair of kind and so captivatingly beautiful eyes, provably different from those eyes she used to meet every day. He seems very pure and she feels something in her starting to melt.

"I'm..."

"Honey?" that almost sounds like an endearment as if he has known her for so long and gently let go of her hand that left her a little disappointed.

"You know me??" gulat na tanong niya dito. Well, it's not really impossible na makilala siya nito dahil she's popular in the school and her family is well known in the country, plus the fact that she sometimes appears on magazines, pero first day pa lang nito.

"No... I mean not really. I just saw you early this morning... in the hallway."

Napangiwe siya nang maalala niya kung ano nga bang nangyari sa hallway kanina.

'It was with Jake.'

Bigla tuloy siyang na-conscious marahil iniisip nito na ang sama-sama niya.

How surprisingly that for the first time ay nag-alala siya sa iisipin ng ibang tao tungkol sa kanya.

"Ah... that awkward scene," did she just sounded so shy?

Bahagya naman itong nangiti, "I think you have your own reason," is he trying not to make her feel bad about herself? "For sure you will give a chance if someone deserves it."

'Wrong... I never give a chance.'

Napataas naman ang dalawa niyang kilay... pero bakit naman niya aaminin dito? Sa totoo lang nahihiya siya sa nangyari pero her focus is in his expression and impression. She can't help feeling conscious about it.

"Ah siya nga pala... aren't you going home? Medyo late na din kasi."

Umiling lang siya at malungkot na napangiti. Bigla kasi niyang naalala kung bakit siya nandoon.

"Hmm... hindi kaba hahanapin ng parents mo? It's kind a late."

"That's impossible. I'm already with her," mahinang turan niya at bahagyang nilingon ang litrato ng kanyang mama. Ngumiti siya ngunit hindi umabot sa kanyang mga mata.

"Oh... sorry I didn't see her there." Ngumiti ito habang nakatingin sa litrato,"Good evening, Mrs. Honey's mom," bahagya pa itong yumuko bilang paggalang. Sabay baling sa kanya at matamis na ngumiti.

Bahagya siyang napahagikgik. 'He is really cute.' Suddenly she forgot about her sadness.

"Sigurado ka ok ka lang dito?"

'Kung gusto mo ko samahan? Ok lang naman.' lihim na nakakalokong sagot ng isip niya, "Yup."

"Ok... so I guess I'll just see you around and to your mom as well. As much as I wanted to stay and listen to your music... my mom is also waiting for me in the car," napipilitang paalam nito sa kanya at sa litrato ng kanyang mama.

Tanging ngiti lang ang isinagot niya dito at pinanuod ang paglabas nito. Napapikit na lamang siya nang mawala ang prisensya nito. Ngayon lang bumalik sa dati ang pagtibok ng puso niya mula nang kaninang makita niya ito.

Her heart is beating really strong that she can feel her ribcage being shaken. and no one have ever made her feel that before.

'Mom is he the one?'

Wala sa sariling napalingon siya sa larawan ng kanyang mama. Did you seriously send me an angel? How she hopes she could answer and say yes... that he is the one.

Napapailing-iling na lamang siya sa naiisip.

Well somewhere inside her heart really hope so. She can't help smiling though.