Kabanata 3

As expected, the first step I took inside the classroom, Harlett went to me and hugged me tightly.

"I'm sorry, Pryce. I'm sorry... It's just that, nadala lang ako sa emosyon. Ayoko na makita ka ulit ng may pasa. I've done enough horrible things to you—"

"Harlett, wala kang ginagawang masama. I understand what you're trying to say or do, but please... do understand why. Why I wanted to do it still, and why I'll going to do it, anyway," I said as I hugged him back. Hindi naman awkward dahil maaga pa lang, wala pang ganoong tao sa campus. And we're friends. There's nothing wrong with friends hugging each other.

"At isa pa, hindi mo kasalanan ang nangyari sa 'kin. Kusa rin naman akong pumunta roon. If I wasn't there, baka ikaw pa 'yong masaksak, o iyong kuya na rumesponde. Ayoko naman makita kang nakahimlay sa hospital bed ngayon. It's better that way. Lampa ka pa naman, 'di ka makakalabas ng hospital ng ganoon kabilis."

Sinamaan ako ng tingin ni Harlett, pero kalauna'y tumawa rin ito . Here's the Harlett I know.

And as expected, pagkapasok namin sa glee club, sinalubong agad kami ng isang mura at pangaral. Medyo nanibago lang kami dahil isang mura lang ang sinabi niya. Madalas kasi kapag sabay kaming tatlo umabsent o mag-cutting, milyon-milyong mura at isang hagis pa ng drumstick ang natatanggap namin.

"Do you understand what I've said, Acosta, Abcede, Achacoso?"

Tamad kaming tumango tatlo. "Yes po."

Sumagot si sir ng tango bago nagsalita tungkol, na naman, sa recital namin next year. I knew it was necessary, since we have bunch of amateurs joining this year. Mahihirapan mag-adjust ang lower grades kapag Enero pa kami magsisimulang mag-practice.

Nang matapos kami sa diskusyon ay nagsimula nang umingay ang music room. I saw, in my pheripheral vision, sir and that Ezequiel guy, approaching me. Kinalabit ako ni sir at nagpanggap na nasurpresa sa pagkakalabit niya sa 'kin. Mahirap na, baka hindi na drumstick ibato sa 'kin kapag hindi ko pa aayusin ang pagtrato ko sa kan'ya. Baka bass drum na.

"Yes, sir?"

"I guess Suarez went to you yesterday, dahil wala na naman kayo kahapon," sir cleared his throat. "Alam na nila kung ano ang gagawin nila ngayon. As the president of the glee club, I expect you to lead them and treat them nicely, Achacoso." may diin nitong sabi, binibigyang importansya ang huling sinabi niya. I nodded languidly as a response. Hindi na nagsalita si sir at iniwan ako kasama 'tong si Eileer.

I grabbed the notebook where I usually jot down chords and songs, and ripped a page. Mabilis kong nilista ang itutugtog naming kanta.

"You are a classical musician, yet you're bringing an electric guitar. Aren't you playing violin, or piano perhaps?" I asked, in a nice way as possible, and handed him the list.

Hindi umiwas ng tingin si Eileer habang kinukuha ang papel sa 'kin.

"Are you saying that classical musicians can't play other instruments other than violin and piano?" he asked back, so calm that it bothered me.

I almost burst a laugh. Ha. Kagaya rin pala ng ibang nakakasalamuha ko sa glee club. Arogante.

"I'm not implying that. I was simply asking if do you play piano or violin, and that it was new to me. I've never seen a classical musician playing electric guitar, or any instruments from a band."

"Well, you're going to see one later. Now, stop asking classical musicians that question. It will bother them, or worse, they will be offended. Because in my case, I was bit offended. And you don't really wanna offend me, miss," he said with raw confidence and walked pass by me.

Nanginginig kong nilingon ang likod niya. It took all of my will power not to strangle him here in the club. How dare he say that? I am not trying to offend him! What do he mean I should not offend him? Bakit? Isusumbong niya ako sa nanay niya? Tatay? Ate? Kuya? Driver? Lawyer?

Kahit nanginginig pa rin sa galit, pinilit kong iset up ang gitara ko sa tabi niya. He's done with his, and he's just tuning it now. Tinignan ko pa ang iba kong kasama na busy din kaka-set up ng instrumento nila, nang mahagip ng mata ko si Suarez. I realize I don't really want to call his name. It makes me cringe at some way. I don't know why.

He smiled and wave at me. Oh. So he plays drums, huh. Inirapan ko siya at nagpatuloy sa pag-set up, nang umingay na naman ang nakakarinding ingay galing sa isang speaker dito sa club. I looked behind, and saw it came from Eileer's speaker.

"Ibaba mo nga echo niyan! Akala mo naman ikaw lang ang tao dito sa club."

He slightly looked at me and, I swear, I saw him roll his eyes! Humupa ang ingay nang ibaba niya ang echo, at nagpatuloy ito sa pagt-tuning. Ay, puta. Ang angas din ng isang 'to, ah. Akala ko pa naman, iba 'to. Nakangiti pa nga 'to kahapon.

Hindi ko lang talaga 'to mabanatan, marami kasing bata na nakatingin sa 'min. Mamaya ka sa classroom, babaliin ko 'yang isang ribs mo.

We decided to play three songs for today. Osher guided Eileer for the chords, and I wasn't surprise when he got it in just one show. Expected from a prodigy.

But can he, at least, release some air on his bubble head? Kasi puta, kapag ako talagang maiinis sa kan'ya, hindi lang isang ribs babaliin ko. Pati 'yang bungo niya, babasagin ko.

"Pryce, G# 'yon. Deaf kapag i-G mo. Pakinggan mo nga," utos ni Harlett na ikinasama ko pa ng loob. Sinunod ko naman siya. And I hate that he had a point.

Inulit namin ang kantang iyon, and for some reason, I kept on messing the solo part. Sa inis ko, hinubad ko ang gitara ko at marahas na nilagay sa case nito. Tangina, bakit ba ako nagkakaganito? I am distracted!

Nagdesisyon akong mas mauna nalang umalis kaysa sa kanila. Tutal, nand'yan naman ang Jollibee, bakit pa ba ako sisingit?

The lower grades went quiet. Sa lakas ba ng pagkakabagsak ko sa gitara, I doubt walang nakakarinig doon. Isinukbit ko ang guitar case ko, at saka ko lang narinig na nagsalita ang kasama ko.

"Pryce, saan ka? Hindi pa tapos ang club hours—"

"Uuwi na ako. Patuloy niyo. Ibigay niyo lahat ng solo kay Eileer," putol ko kay Harlett na ikinalaki ng mata niya.

"Huh? Pryce, polished na 'yun eh!"

"Gsutong magpabida, e ‘di gawing bida! Pag nagawa niya sa isang araw, I’ll quit," I faced them, and I saw how confused and mad they were by their contorted forehead and linked eyebrows.

"Let him compose the two songs. Hayaan niyo siyang kapahin ang solo ng mga kanta. Don't help him. I want him to prove that he's more worthy of a lead guitarist than I am," I said without thinking. I just know I am so mad at the moment.

Hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot nila dahil naguguluhan ako sa sinabi ko kanina. Why do I want him to prove that when I am the lead guitarist of my own band? What's gotten into me?

Pinilit kong lumabas ng campus ng walang sasakyan. I mean, sanay naman akong magcommute dahil sa every week na lang akong grounded, pero ngayon, ayoko talaga maglakad. Nakakatamad. At frustrated ako ngayon, lahat ng nakikita ko sa daan, gusto kong suntukin.

Dinala ako ng paa ko sa capitol. With the can beers I bought in a local store, I sat below the golden chain tree. Walang masyadong tao rito kapag ganitong oras, alas tres, kaya masaya. The only thing you could hear or talk to is the wind. And that's comforting.

Iniisip ko pa rin 'yung ginawa ko kanina. That was so uncalled for. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko iyon nasabi. Let's just say frustration and anger, but I am certain I am not like that when frustrated. I was also certain that I didn’t mess up a solo before.

I sighed loudly. Humiga ako at napahinga ng malalim ulit. Nababaliw na talaga siguro ako.

I've finished a couple of beers. After that, my eyelids got heavy. The next thing I remember, it was night, and raining.

Mabilis akong napabangon, and that made my head spin. Napahawak naman ako sa ulo ko. Shit. Hindi naman ako lasing. Sino ba malalasing sa pitong can ng beer? Mahihina lang.

Before I could stand up, a flashlight lit up after me. I squinted my eyes to see who's this stupid ass. Alam naman niyang masakit sa mata kapag tinutok diretso ang flashlight?! Nananadya ba 'to?

Before I could strangle the person, I saw him running to me with a bottle of water, and a worry face plastered on his face.

"Pryce? Okay ka lang? Nakita kitang nakahiga dito, and I'm sure you're drunk. Kaya napabili ako ng tubig sa kabilang kanto." it was Suarez. He was holding up a black umbrella, handing me the water. Hindi na ako humindi pa. Kinuha ko ito mula sa kamay niya at ininom hanggang sa maubos ko.

"Thanks. How did you find me?"

He helped me stand up and dispose the cans.

"I was curious of where you went. I accidentally saw you here lying, in the middle of the night. Hindi ka naman baliw siguro, no?" anito na ikinabalik ng inis ko.

"'Yang bibig mo Suarez, itikom mo na lang hanggang sa wala pang masyadong lumalabas. Busalan ko 'yan kapag may narinig akong di kaaya-aya sa 'yo," I warned. Tumawa lang ito at nagpatuloy sa pagkuha ng mga b****a.

Before I could grab my bag at the ground, another flashlight was directed to us. Desidido na talaga akong susuntukin kung sino na naman 'yon, but I was taken aback.

Ezequiel, holding a bottle of water, a towel, black umbrella, and a flashlight, stood up meters away from us. Bago ko pa man siya matanong anong ginagawa niya rito, tumakbo na ito palayo sa 'min.

Problema no'n?