WRU?

Chapter 1

I landed my feet on the soil of the country, I escaped 4 years ago. Pag-apak ko palang. Lahat ng tinakasan ko, bumalik na para bang wala lang. Lahat ng sakit, lahat ng paghihirap.

I'm back, I guess...

Kinuha ko agad ang cell phone ko, para tawagan ang banda. I've been gone for 4 years, I'm sure magwawala 'yun kung hindi sila agad ang sasabihan kong nandito nako. When I saw our group chat I clicked the phone icon.

Ringing...

I was walking to the exit of the airport habang tinatawagan ko sila. It was a hard decision to leave the country and the band. But everything was in chaos back then, I was tired from everything, I was discourage to do anything, up to the point where I was not doing anything. I got tired... Maybe, because I was hoping he'll come to my door and would push me to do things more, to be more active. But, no one came... Umasa ako...

It was the band who forced me to leave the country, and be on hiatus until I'm back on track... And now here I am, trying to be okay. Fighting.

"Hello----" someone answered, but it was cut off since my phone fled away. Dahil masyado akong busy sa pag-iisip at sa tawag, hindi ko napansin na may tao pala akong nabunggo.

"Oh my-- I'm sorry" agad akong humingi ng tawad, at tumulong sa pagpulot ng mga gamit niya.

"It's okay, I'm sorry too" he was behind me when he spoke, since I was picking up his things - papers to be exact. Ng napulot kona lahat ng gamit niyang nahulog, I caught myself looking at these papers.

It was a sheet music, there was a lot of them. I quickly get up and look at the man. "Here, I'm really sorry" inabot ko sakanya yung mga napulot kong gamit niya. He was wearing a simple jeans and a hoodie, while carrying his bag pack and his violin case if I'm not mistaken. His hair was long, I can't see his eyes.

"It's okay, it was also my fault" tinanggap niya yung mga napulot ko, at inabot naman niya yung cell phone ko "I think, this is yours" tinanggap ko yun at agad nag thank you. After that incident the guy left.

I don't know if I see it wrong, but that guy... We're the same, we're both broken. Our only difference was that guy didn't pretend his fine, he was not smiling when we were talking. Unlike me... Trying...

Natandaan ko yung tawag, agad kung tiningnan yung cell phone ko at nakita kong naka on-going pa yung call. Agad kong nilagay sa tenga ko.

"----OOY! AMAYA AKIRA PARKER!" because of Yan's shouting, nalayo ko sa tenga ko yung telepono ko.

"Hey, guys!" I greeted them.

"Yara!" it was Vin

"Kumusta ka na?" Vince asked.

"I miss youuuuuuuuuu!" that was Yan, as always.

"Hi! I'm fine, and I miss you all too!" I heard them laughed. "By the way, nasan kayo?" I asked.

"Nasa school kami" ani Vin.

School? Nino?

"I need it specific people!" saad ko.

"Kami ni Vin nasa school namin" Vince answered.

"Ako, nasa univ!" Yan answered. "Ikaw, nasan ka?" dagdag niya.

"Guess what! I'm back!" I said that with my cheerful voice.

"ANO?!"

"NASAN KA?! NASA AIRPORT?!"

"HINTAYIN MO KAMI! SUNDUIN KA NAMIN!"

There were all panicking, and that made me laugh. These guys... "Kalma! It's okay, wala 'din naman akong masyadong dala. I'll just see you sa studio!"

"No! No! No!"

"Kakadating mo palang studio agad! Kailangan nating mag celebrate muna!"

"Oo nga!"

I laughed at them "Oh, edi san niyo ko balak papuntahin?"

"Kain tayo?"

"Saan?"

"Alam kona! 'dun nalang tayo sa Neo Kit!" Yan suggested.

Neo Kit? San 'yun?

"Ha? San 'yun?" I asked.

"'dun nag part-time si Yan!" Vin said.

"Nice! May discount tayo, G! 'dun nalang!" Vince said.

"Oh, okay na ah! Settle na, send ko nalang yung loc!" Yan said.

"Okay, punta muna ako sa condo. I'll see you there!"

"Okay! See you!"

"Bye! Ingat ka"

"See youuuuu!"

After that I ended the call. Nag lakad nako palabas ng airport, dala-dala yung maleta ko, at isang hand bag. Agad akong pumara ng taxi, at sinabi kung saan ako pupunta. I'll go to my condo. It's been 4 years, kung hindi sinabi sakin nila Yan na nililinis nila yun every weekend. Baka, hindi muna ako tumuloy 'dun.

Pagkadating ko sa condo ko, I spaced out. It's been a long time. This is the place where I wanted to be all the time, dito ako nag gi-gitara, this was my comfort place back then. Hindi naman kasi ako pala daldal na bata dati, I was a quiet kid. The kid that always wanted to be alone. I don't have friends. Maybe because that was how I grew up. My mom and my dad was always fighting that's why I never really had a conversation with them, I'm also an only child, kaya sinong kakausap sakin? It became hard for me to start a conversation with people.

But then, there was one kid at my age. He came into the picture. The first time he appeared in my life was still clear as a crystal. I was on 6th grade in elementary back then.

Naglalakad ako ngayon papunta sa garden ng school, wala namang natambay 'dun. Mom and Dad fought again, para namang bago sakin 'yun. Pagkagising ko sa umaga, bago ako pumasok sa school, pagkauwi ko, at bago ako matulog. Walang oras na hindi sila nagaway. Sa harapan ko 'man o hindi. They didn't care about me. All they do is fight. Ba't di nalang sila mag hiwalay...

Umupo ako sa bench, binaba ko 'dun yung gitarang dala-dala ko. Tinggal ko 'yun sa case, bago ko nag strum.

Hmmm...

I started playing the guitar, it was a quiet place. That's why dito lang ako nagkakaron ng lakas ng loob para tumugtog. I never knew na nagiging comfort ko ang pagtutugtog ng gitara. At first, I just love music, but ended up playing the guitar. Nakita ko 'tong gitara sa rooftop ng school. I thought may kukuha but then no one came. Hanggang umabot ng 3 linggo, kaya kinuha ko na. Hindi naman ganun kaluma, kailangan ko lang palitan ng string. Hanggang sa inaral ko na kung pano 'yun gamitin.

"Someday....."

I started singing

"Someone's gonna love me"

I was careful on strumming the guitar

"The way"

I smiled

"... I wanted you to need me"

I was singing until my heart's content

"Someda-----" I wasn't able to finish the word, when I saw someone watching me. Nanlaki yung mata ko, I was panicking kaya agad akong tumayo bitbit yung gitara tsaka yung iba ko pang gamit.

I was avoiding the guy's gaze.

"Hey!" he blocked my way and he was waving his hands to me, naka yuko lang ako. I was moving trying to pass him. But he was also blocking my way.

"E-excuse m-me" I was stuttering.

"Hey, don't be scared. Hindi kita sasaktan!" we were moving left and right because I was finding a way to walk passed him. I stopped and slowly lift my gaze "Promise!" tinaas pa niya yung kamay niya.

"P-please let me p-pass through" I was shaking already, naiiyak na 'din ako.

"Hala, gagi! Huy, wag kang umiyak." pumunta na siya sa gilid "Sige, go. Wag kalang umiayk, hala, mapapagalitan ako ni Mommy nito eh, sabi niya wag akong magpapaiyak ng babae. Hala, sorry" he wanted to comfort me, but he was resisting himself from touching me. His hands were also panicking.

With teary eyes, I looked at the guy infront of me. He has a messy hair, like he just woke up. He's taller than me. And he was smiling while panicking. "T-thank you" lumagpas ako sakanya.

"Hey" napatigil ako sa paglalakad, when he spoke again. Dahan-dahan akong tumingin sakanya "You left your phone!" tinaas niya yung cell phone kong nahulog, sa kakamadali ko siguro.

Agad akong lumapit para kunin iyon, binigay naman niya agad. I was still shaking "Don't be scared at me, please. I swear I won't do anything to you." I looked at him. "My name is Aidan Yu" he offered his hand. When he saw me shaking, agad niyang binawi yung kamay niya.

Should I say my name too? But... I don't know where to start... H-how?

I was looking down "Y-yara" after that, agad akong tumalikod sakanya. I was walking faster. Did I do it right? Ganun ba magpakilala? Was it wrong? Am i suppose to tell him my whole name? But I don't know him!

But he just introduced his self to me... Oh my. I messed up! That was so embarrassing! Yara! What did you do?!

My face was already heating up! I need to get out of here!

"Yara!" that made me stopped. "Your voice sounds nice! Keep singing!" because of what he said, mas lalo kong naramdaman yung pagiinit ng mukha ko. Dahil 'dun tumakbo na ko.

That was our first encounter. Aidan Yu, I met him at the school garden when I was on 6th grade in elementary. After that, palagi na niya kong pinupuntahan. He was my first friend. He was also my first supporter. He was the person who encourage me to do things. With his help, I started getting out from my shell, he helped me climbed the wall I made. Without him, I wouldn't be who I am now.

= END =