My Dear Pianist

Chapter One

            ‘I’m excited! This is my first day in school. Lucky me, I was able to enroll in the most prestigious school, The Gifted Academy. They accepted my certificate and masterpiece, the painting with the title “ The nursing mommy”,as an evidence that I am also a gifted learner. I can’t afford to enter in this school because this is a private school, they have a very expensive tuition fee, so I entered as a scholar and I will really do everything to retain my grades and  improve my gift. Thanks to my very supportive best friend, Erick, who encourage me to pursue my talent, and join in a competition .He bought my painting materials, to put my entry in a well-known competition before, “The Great Young Painters Immersion”,  held in my former school, where  all gifted painters tried their luck to win, but I was the blessed one to got the years title, because of my eye catching, heart clenching masterpiece, for showing the exact aura of a loving mother who looks very tired, wearing an old and worn out dress while trying to give both of her breast to her twin babies, who’s crying at the same time, one of the greatest portrait that I secretly made before. My mother doesn’t approve of my talent to be nurtured, she said it’s not going to give me a lot of money so better not to give my full attention with it, she said just focus on my study to reach my dream. I can also sing but I’m a shy type to perform, I have a husky sexy voice, but that is not enough to make the jury on a talent search to stand in ovation, unlike the real talent that I possess, where I know that the kind that I cannot be ashamed of. Until now, she’s not aware of what I’m doing. ‘ Pink building, where there is a beautiful sculpture of an angel made by marble, beside the sky blue building, oh! ‘ “There it is!”, still excited to enter my classroom where there are few students like me. I checked the classroom number and the section, ‘room 206, Section: MICHAEL ANGELO BUONOROTI. ‘Wow! this is really is it!’ I smiled then entered the room, as I looked around and see that most of my classmates have their companions, seems like they were friends before, up until today. I sat in front. As I was sitting, there is this group of girls that is entering our classroom. “I know right? Jillian Makinov is a repeater, a not so smart brat, beautiful and rich but cannot beat my pretty face.” As they walk pass by, she keeps on bragging more about herself and comparing with that particular girl that she is saying. “Hi!’ I’m Jillian, can I sit beside you?” I was surprised and got excited again, because at last, there is one person who have an interest to be with me. My jaw dropped when I saw how beautiful this girl is, she looked older, two or three years from me, but she seems nice and- “Hey! Are you done checking how beautiful I am?” she cracked it, “O-of course.” I’m still struck with the beauty that exist beside me, she looks like a goddess, Oh my! “You? What is your name?” She’s smiling at me, though I’m a bit intimidated because aside from beauty and flawless skin, it’s obvious that she’s a rich kid too. I smiled back “I’m Nisa.” we didn’t shake our hands anymore, she sit beside me and started a conversation. “I’m a repeater. I was once a rebel daughter, had different kinds of friends before, the so-called bad influencer, so the rest is history. But don’t worry, I’m a good girl now. I can have my studies thru home schooling, but I preferred to experience school, to have good friends around and help a lot of younger teenager like me. How ‘bout you? Were where you from? What is your former university? What is your talent?” “One by one please?”  I can’t help but to smile, I admired her straightforwardness, “I came from a public school. Gen. Licerio Geronimo Elementary School. I am a painter. “ “Oh, My, how I wish you could join the Music Club. I passed the audition, and I was chosen to become the lead Vocalist in the school years band.” “Wow, that’s good for you! Well, I’m a painter, I’ll be assigned to design murals, or any background designs for any event that will be held in the school, and I must make one masterpiece each year and let the school sell it on an auction as my part. “ she happily stated. The bell rang and each student went inside their classrooms. The teacher was the last one who entered their room, she looked at him, and noticed the way he looks. He looks a very respectable person, very neat and professional, serious and Oh! Not only very handsome, if Handsomest is the superlative to describe him, it will surely be fit! He’s tall, with an obviously lean muscles, brown complexion with eye glasses, he doesn’t look nerd, but might look as hot “Oooppss! Wake up young lady!” As the teacher snapped her, tongue tied, but she immediately get her composure back, look straightly to her teacher’s eyes, who is now looking at her classmate, Jillian that is looking into him now, as she saw some emotion that she couldn’t be able to name, in a split second, then she studied Jillian’s face and back inspecting her teacher again. She sat properly and tried to ignore what she notice ‘Love at first sight?’ The teacher turned as if nothing’s happened and their classes starts. They instructed to introduced themselves one by one and she got tired with the whole day’s activity. She also met Aimee and Moniel, the fraternal twins, Dolly, Liera, Joaquin, Bonjo and Isaac. Dolly and Liera was Aimee’s friends, while Joaquin, Bojo and Isaac was friend of Moniel. It happens that Jillian and Aimee was an acquaintance because their eldest sister was her former best friend. She can’t name what kind of group they have but she felt welcome, because this newly found friends she has looks like doesn’t care so much about their life status, she’s very thankful that she has found friends with her classmates. “Riiiiinnnggg!” “Yes, time to go home “, “ Don’t forget your assignment, I will be checking it tomorrow first before our class start,” their teacher remind them about their Social studies assignment. Everyone was exhausted and she waved goodbye with her friends. “Nisa, you want to take a ride?” asked Jillian, “ no thanks, You might be out of your way,” she resist, “Why, where do you live?” “ I lived in Manggahan, Commonwealth Quezon City.” “Oh, our house is just nearby. We live in Fairview subdividsion, I can take you for a ride, don’t be shy, I don’t mind it .” Jillian is smiling genuinely, She can’t help but to say yes and they went home together. They keep on chatting inside the van, and sharing basic information like family members, siblings etc.

…………………….-.-.-.-.-.-The next morning….-..-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

She saw her mother on their center table, looks like listing the whole expenses For the whole two weeks before their father’s salary arrive again, “Nisa, get your allowance, and please, be thrifty! Your Papa’s absences were deducted and we need to make our budget tighter because of it. “, Oh mama, don’t worry. I have already checked my atm account online last night, my allowance has arrived from my scholarship, and I think it will suffice the whole month,-”, “Wait, how come that it will be enough for the whole month? you need your lunch and snacks everyday, and you have to pay for your fare, aside from other expenses if ever you’ll have assignments, activities, or projects-“ “ Mama, you forgot again. I entered that school and if I passed their entrance exam as a scholar, we will be enjoying the perks of being a scholar. There are free books, school materials, and even food . Mostly what is not free is my fare everyday and my uniform. That is my benefits that I have to enjoy, but I have to study very well and be active if ever we will have extra curricular activities,” She’s smiling as she is stating again the facts that once have been told by her elder sister. Her sister tried to enter the same school but failed the entrance exam, and she didn’t have a talent like hers that will become a school asset. Though she admired her sister because she’s very organized, loves to do all the household chores and is very talented in cooking, but she’s not really have a striking school performance. As she’s thinking about her sister, she appeared from the kitchen, wearing an apron, looks like she’s preparing something. She handed a lunch box to her, “I prepared menudo for you. You have to eat well to become smarter.” She’s smiling, showing how thoughtful she is. “Thank you, ate. What is your schedule?” “I have classes at twelve in the afternoon. I changed it because I don’t want to cram when going to school. Take care, ok?” she patted my head and turn back to what she’s doing in the kitchen. “Goodbye, mama,” she kissed her mother on the cheek, and tell her, “ Don’t forget-, ” “That avoid painting or do anything that is related to artwork”, they said in unison then she went off. She breathes deep, ‘only if you knew’.

As she entered the gate, she felt odd. She looked around and felt uneasy. Her eyes caught something! It’s not something but someone! She smiled sweetly; happiness overflowed in her heart. ‘Thought I’ll never see him again.’ She saw Gilchrist, walking with his body guards along the pathway. His walking straight, full of confidence, ‘he must be sixteen yours old by now, that’s why he became taller than before.’ His looks became more attractive, his height was added to his asset. “Ooops! Hey! Watch out!” “I-I’m sorry”, as she’s giving a way and were ashamed because she keeps on looking at Gilchrist and didn’t notice that she will be bumped into others shoulder. She lowered her eyes and tried to get away as much as possible because he might see her, because they drew attention after that student almost shout at her. Though still wondering what the pianist could be doing here, ‘I thought he was studying in Paris.’ She took a deep breath and tried to focus when she entered their classroom.

The whole day goes that I felt I’m on a limbo, but lucky me, because I can still manage to participate in my class very well, ‘maybe because I’m inspired’. When the bell rings, I immediately pack my things and say goodbye to my newly found friends, because I have to go to the painting room to see my schedule and who is the speaker. As she is scanning the bulletin board outside the paint room, “Oh! Mr. Boleign will also be here! I’m so fortunate that I will Finally-” “Looks like I have a very young fan here,” She was startled as she heard someone talk behind her. “Oh my Gosh! Mr. Boleign? Is that really you, sir?” she almost pinched herself for having this man in front of her, one of the judges on their competition where she won before. This man is a famous painter, he is widely known for doing photorealism, painting that looks mostly was like a real replica of a picture. Those were mistaken that his artworks as picture, but they were all surprised that those are only paintings. She have stumbled upon this man’s information, even how he made billions of money selling his magnum opus. “Yes, I am, little darling. Are you one of the gifted painters?” She can’t remove the smile on her face, and just nod a lot of times “Yes, sir!”. “Hmmm….seems like you admired me a lot, huh? Don’t worry, if you have done a lot of practice, and undergo different studies on how to improve your skills, you will also be able to sit beside me as one of the well-known painter. See you on Saturday.” He patted her head then off. She can’t still believe Mr. Boleign have talked to her! Until she gets home, she cannot erase the smile on her face. She didn’t notice her mother’s stare. “Why are you smiling?” She quickly tries to suppress the happiness that is overflowing in her heart. “I was just happy because I got perfect scores in our quizzes, mama.” As she is passing, explaining to her mother. She got on the stairs as soon as she is inside their home, heading to their room. She will be notified thru her sss account regarding the screening of the best masterpiece that they used when entering their school, so she opened her account. Mr. Boleign was one of the judges again, and she’s praying that her work will be picked as it will add points to her scholarship. Her eyes went wide when she read the notice that they have already chosen her artwork and she will also be considered as the greatest young painter in school. She will be able to claim her price, together with cash incentive and a chance to have a one hour simple lecture with the five judges that screened their artworks. She almost wanted to scream on excitement, but she controlled herself because had her mother know about this, she will be punished and will never be able to go back to that school again. She will go back to study in a public school, where mostly studying academically, not having a sole focus on the skills that they needed to be developed and train.  She became sad thinking how would this one could be hard to hide, specially she have to add her friends in her f*******: account, her mother will be able to see what’s inside the newsfeed and there is really a possibility that she can see her posts, then, an idea come into her mind. ‘I’m going to make my new account, where it will only be used in my friends in school, even the latest event will not be visible to my mothers’. A smile crept to her face again. “Cloak!Cloak!cloak!” Her cellphone rings. Erick’s calling. “Hello? How are You?” “I’m fine. I was just informed about the result of the screening. I got it! Oh, how I wish I could scream out loud to release my happiness.” “Congratulations! It’s not a new thing for Pete’s sake! You know you will get it because that’s how talented you are! So, do I need to accompany you on Saturday?” “Would you mind? I might need tita Concepcion, too. They will ask for guardian, you know. My mom won’t approve of this, so I needed tita’s help.” “Don’t worry, we’ll be there. We are your number one fan.” “Thank you very much tolerant bestfriend!  Hi! Hi! See you on Saturday.”