Morning. The raining had already stopped and sunshine peeked through our windows. Lumabas na ako para uminom ng gatas. Napangiti ako nang makita ko ang mug na pinagtimplahan ni mama kahapon ng hot chocolate sa sink. Hindi ko alam. Pwede namang tinapon niya ang laman ng hot chocolate na iyon sa lababo namin pero sigurado akong ininom talaga ni Alec ang laman niyon.
We're having progress.
"Cynder, what happened yesterday? Halos ala una pasado ka nang nakauwi," at least with Alec. We're having progress. I assured myself when I feel my blood pressure rise up again. Kaya pala hindi makatulog si mama kahapon.
Lumabas ako sa living room para makita sila at ang Cynder na ito, walang pakundangang nanonood lang ng tv sa harap ni mama!
Tinapik ko si mama, "ma, ako nang bahala rito. Magluluto pa ho kayo diba?" tumango siya at dumiretsyo sa kusina. Ako naman ay nakapameywang na humarap dito.
"Pwede ba, kung mambababae ka naman, 'wag mong paabutin hanggang gabi! May nag-aalala sa'yo rito," I expected him to turn on his playboy-ness but he thankfully he didn't.
"Pati ikaw naman ba pagsasabihan ako? Don't act so concerned about me. Ni hindi ko naman kayo kaano-ano," sobrang napataas ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya.
"Me? Concerned?" kulang na lang magsuka ako sa kabaliwan ng pag-iisip niya, "kung concerned man ako, kay mama ako concerned. Hindi sayo. Actually, wala akong pakielam kahit na anong mangyari man sa'yo pero si mama concerned na concerned sa inyong dalawa kaya pati ako napeperwisyo n'yo," hindi na siya nagsalita pa. I gave up communicating with this guy. He's one of those type who you think is nice at first, but as you get to know them, you realize they're cunning. They don't show their true feelings so you never know how to deal with this type of people.
Lumabas si Alec sa kwarto nila at nakaisip ako bigla ng pang-asar sa kaniya. "Alec!" Inakbayan ko siya. Kahit na maliit ako at pinayuko ko siya para makaakbay ako.
"What the hell! Get off me!" napangiti ako dahil kahit na siya pa rin ang usual Alec, feeling ko may lumambot sa puso niya. Nakanuks.
I leaned closer to his ear and whispered, "Alec Cynder Diaz" Inilayo niya ako sa tenga niya. Puno ng pagtataka at pang-aakusa ang nasa mga mata niya ngayon.
"How did you know my full name?" natawa ako sa pagkalito niya. For some reason, I want him to agonize over it so I didn't answer his question.
"Alec Cynder? Seriously? Parang Alexander lang! Ang tindi pala ng humor ni tito London!"
"Actually, it was my mom who named both of us," nawala ang ngiti ko sa labi at napatingin sa kaniya.
"Sorry..." then it was silent.
"Since when did you two act all chummy with each other?" hindi ko alam kung tinutulungan niya ba kaming sagipin ang katahimikan na namamayani samin o talagang nainis lang siya sa pagiging 'close' namin? By the tone of his voice I would guess the latter.
Alec removed my arm from his shoulder, "who's all chummy with this nosy woman?" nandidiri niya pang sambit. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.
"If I were you, I will be nice to me because I have all the information to blackmail you," nalala ko tuloy 'yung mga nakita ko kahapong sinulat niyang music. Just when I was about to leave his room, I bumped into one of the drawers and a bunch of papers fell down. I saw Alec's full name typed in it so I knew it was his. Hindi ko nga dapat babasain ang kinompose niyang tunog pero nung may masulyapan akong isang series ng melodiya, agad na nagplay ito sa utak ko at naakit ako sa tunog nito. Then I just found myself absorbed reading all his work. Him playing piano wasn't bogus. In fact he might be a lot skillful at playing it than I thought.
It was midnight when I realized I still have school the next day so I returned the papers on his drawers and left the room.
*
Today, it was time for practicing with our own instruments in our music subject. We haven't done this in ages, which means it will be the first time for the twins to have this type of lesson.
Nilabas na ng lahat ang mga instrumento nila. Si Alec naman ay tumayo sa upuan niya at umupo sa pianong matagal nang hindi nagagamit. Wala kasing kahit sino ang nagpe-play ng piano bago pa man magtransfer dito ang kambal. Ako naman, pinakiusapan ni sir Alvarez na i-check ang piano o kung may hindi man tama sa tono, i-tuning ito every three months or so. Ngayon naman siguro, trabaho na ni Alec ang mag-check sa piano dahil siya naman ang gumagamit nito. Si Cynder naman, nilabas na ang violin niya.
The lesson was halfway through when Alec raised his hand and pointed at me, "Sir Alvarez bakit si Ella walang ginagawa pero hindi mo pinapagalitan?" wooow. Nakatingin siya sakin at nagtaas lang ako ng kilay.
"Ms. Makahiya is an exception to this subject due to her personal reasons. If you want to know about it, you can ask her yourself," I wanted to shout HAH! Right at his face but refrained to do so.
Then, Mr. Alvarez ask the students to perform a one minute piece of music, any type of music in front of the class. A lot of people chose classical music such as Chopin's or Beethoven's songs. Even Cynder chose Nocturne by Chopin. What surprised me was when Alec played his own music instead of something of a pro's. I knew it was his music because I've read about it.
Also, I have to admit, he is by far the person who played a piece the most beautiful. His music had a somber feeling to it. It is one to touch your soul and gently pat your back to lift you up from all the problems of this world. If I remember correctly, the name of this piece is 'Farewell'. Unti-unting umapaw ang sakit na naramdaman ko sa puso ko. Please no. Pinilit kong pigilan ang luha ko sa pag-agos at pilit na binlock out ang musika mula sa aking pandinig.
Pero hindi ko 'yon magawa. Patuloy pa rin ito sa pagkatok ng puso ko. I kept on getting flashbacks involving my father. Times when he was teaching me about music. When my mother's smile can still be compared to that of a sunshine, pure and bright.
This is one of the things I hate about music. It touches you to the places that can never be touched using words. You're not able to reject it's message as it goes past your brain and into your soul.
I just sat there, frozen like an idiot biting back my tears as Alec continued to play. He had no idea what his music was doing to me.