The Rebel Guitarist

CHAPTER 2: JAZMINE…?

“KYLE, I need you in this company. Kailangan mong matutunan ang pasikut-sikot ng kumpanya. I know you love making music, but you have responsibilities as my only heir, too. Paano na ang kumpanyang pinaghirapang itaguyod ng lolo at lola mo kung walang magpapatuloy sa pamamalakad nito?”

Gustong kalikutin ni Kyle ang tainga niya habang pinapakinggan ang sermon ng kanyang ina. They were having lunch with Jason, his stepfather, but it felt like they were back in Karen’s office. Talking about business and all. Alam na naman niya kung saan hahantong ang sermon na iyon.

“You’re not getting any younger. Dapat sa edad mong iyan ay ikaw na ang nagpapatakbo ng kompanya.”

“I’ll run the company when you retire, mom. At malabo pang mangyari iyon sa ngayon. I still have lots of time for my music.”

“Kung sa sinasabi mong spare time na iyan ay inaasikaso mo na ang pag-aasawa, hindi na ako mag-aalala ng ganito kung kanino ko iiwan ang negosyo natin. Have a wife and children already!”

Lihim na napabuntong hininga siya. Sinasabi na nga ba niya at doon din ang punta niyon.

“Mom, you know my answer to that. If that is ever going to happen, it will happen.”

“But sometimes, you have to make it happen.” Karen shot him with a measuring gaze. She knew he vowed to love one girl for the rest of his life.

“Mom...”

“It’s fine if you can’t love her. You just need an heir.” Ang tinutukoy nitong her ay ang bago nitong inirereto sa kanya na anak ng negosyateng kaibigan nito.

He ridiculously looked at her mother. Kahit na ano’ng bawal niya rito sa pagrereto sa kanya sa kung sino-sino ay hindi ito tumitigil. Ilang beses na nga ba siya nitong napapunta sa blind date na hindi niya alam na blind date iyon?

Jason laughed.

“Karen, you know marriage is not that simple. Give our son a break.”

“Jason, there’s a thing called marriage of convenience. Kyle can marry for reasons and not for love. You know how cold and stone-hearted he is!”

Napangiwi siya sa sinabi nito. Well, totoo naman iyon pero hindi pala maganda sa pandinig kapag sarili niyang ina ang nagsasabi.

“But it’s not right. His future family will only suffer. You don’t want to repeat the past— I know it’s a different circumstance from your past,” putol ni Jason sa akmang pagsagot ni Karen dito. “... but it will be the same outcome. His child will be the one who will suffer the most.”

Naiikom ng ginang ang bibig nito. Tila na-realize nito ang ipinupunto ng asawa.

Ngumiti si Jason sa kanya at tinapik ang balikat niya. “If you will marry, make sure you’ll be happy. Take your time.”

Tinanguan niya ito to give his thanks. At least his stepfather wasn’t as persistent as his mother.

“But, you know, it wouldn’t hurt if you think about having someone...”

“I’m fine on my own,” he snapped at Jason. Karen looked sharply at him over her food. Bigla siyang bumawi at nagkibit-balikat. “At least for now.”

Itinaas ni Jason ang mga kamay nito bilang pagsuko. “I’m just saying... By the way, there’s other reason kung bakit ka namin pinapunta ngayon… Karen?”

She sighed. Tila napipilitang bitawan ang topic tungkol sa pag-aasawa niya.

“Yes. We learned that you’ll be having a show in Balud, Masbate. Your brother, Jedrick is there now with his wife and children.” Tila mas lalo itong na-depress sa huling sinabi nito. Ipinapahiwatig ng titig nito sa kanya na dapat ay mag-asawa na rin siya at bumuo ng pamilya. Swerte niya lang at hindi na nito isinaboses pa iyon.

“Jedrick is here?”

Dinampot niya ang iced tea at uminom. Jedrick was his stepbrother. Though, hindi sila gaanong malapit sa isa’t-isa. Huling kita niya rito ay noong umalis ito papuntang Canada—that was when he was still in first year college. They parted in good terms, kahit na ba nagkaroon ng maliit na gusot sa pagitan nila. Their parents were visiting Jedrick every year, pero hindi siya nakakasama sa mga ito dahil sa tours and gigs ng banda nila.

“Yes. Palagi mo akong iniiwasan these past few days kaya hindi ko nasabi sa `yo,” may halong pagdaramdam na sabi ni Karen.

“He and his family are here for a vacation,” salo ni Jason sa sitwasyon. “Pupunta sila sa Palani Beach Resort tomorrow and will stay there for three days. Maybe, you can visit them after your gig. At para na rin makapag-unwind ka kahit papaano.”

“Yeah, sure. Why not.” He sipped on his drinks again. Ang totoo ay tinatamad siyang makipag-socialize sa mga tao. He just agreed to his parents, para makawala na siya sa mga ito. Kanina pa siya tapos kumain at pinaglalaruan na lamang ang deserts niya. Hindi lang siya makaalis dahil sa sermon ng mommy niya. Siguro ay alam na rin ng mga ito na after ng Masbate gig nila ay one week silang walang schedule para makagawa ng kanta para sa next album nila.

After thinking about it, seeing his stepbrother wasn’t a bad idea after all. It had been a while. Ni hindi siya nakapunta nang ikasal ito noon. Gusto rin naman niya itong kamustahin ng personal.

So, he decided to visit his stepbrother after their gig.

But unwinding is definitely not what I’m going to do there. Mas masarap matulog kesa mag-unwind.

THE crowd was singing with their vocalist. Lahat yata ng kanta nila ay alam ng mga ito. And they were very pleased and proud of it.

Iginala ni Kyle ang mga mata sa paligid. All he could see were people headbanging, jumping and screaming. Also, the lights were blinding, as usual.

“I love you, Grendle!” a group of teenagers shouted. Grendle winked at them. He was in his charming rocker mode.

Habang siya, hindi yata niya kayang maging ganoon. Isang babae lang ang kaya niyang kindatan—mali, ang gusto niya palang kindatan, ngitian, titigan and all the cheesy stuffs for the rest of his life. Kaso lang ay wala na nga pala ito ngayon sa tabi niya…

Tsk, ito ang masama sa kanya. Kahit habang tumutugtog ay naaalala niya ito. Pumikit siya. Tila sa alaala na iyon siya kumukuha ng chords na tutugtugin ng mga kamay niya kahit hindi niya nakikita ang gitara niya.

They said he was masochistic. He was proud of it.

Nang matapos ang kanta ay saka lang siya dumilat. Different intensity of lights met his eyes. Iniiwas niya paningin doon bago pa sumakit ang mga mata niya. His eyes landed in the corner side of the stage.

Marami ring mga nanonood doon.

But with all those faces looking at them, screaming and jumping, a petite girl with a familiar chinky eyes and angelic face got his attention.

Natigilan siya at napatitig dito ng matagal na tila sinisiguro na hindi siya namamalikmata lang.

Her hair was so short and she was wearing a loose gray shirt. But that angelic face was so familiar. Paano ba, eh, nakaukit na ang mukhang iyon hindi lang sa isip niya kundi maging sa puso.

Napaawang mga labi niya. Tila pansamantalang tumigil ang pag-inog ng mundo niya.

He couldn’t hear the fans or the music blaring in the speakers anymore.

All he could hear was the loud beating of his stone heart.

Isang salita ang namutawi sa mga labi niya.

“Jazmine...?”