4 WHEN I LOSE HOPE
THIRD'S PERSON
The hallways were empty as students are now on their own clubs, home or hangout places while Crest walked in the silent place, footsteps echoing through the hallways. Her silky light brown curly hair bounces as she walks. Her uniform is now neatly and completely arranged since the last time.
She's currently listening to sad orchestral music while the orange sunlight from the setting sun penetrated the windows she passes by. It has been 4 years. 4 years since she left. 4 years of solitude. She stopped for a second to take a look at the sunset, gripping tightly at her phone while the orchestral music is still blasting on her headphones.
What am I even hoping for?
She sighed then opened the club room's door. She noticed that each one of the members are doing their own stuffs, James tuning his guitar, Cliff arranging his drum set, Bench writing something while humming and Zander checking the club's keyboard. Crest noticed Roux at the corner and decided to interact for a bit, but when she's about to take a step, James already saw her.
"Hey Crust-"
"It's Crest"
"...."
"Crust....anyways, I'm glad you're here! We're just checking out the instruments. May isa pang gitara doon gusto mo bang gamitin?" He delightfully said
"No thank you, I brought my own" The girl answered, feeling slightly comfortable now around them. Crest raised her guitar to show him. James gave her a thumbs up with a wide grin. This guy is undeniably good looking especially with his blonde hair and silver piercing on his left ear. Actually no. All of them are good looking, their facial structures are unique.
"Oh It's Crest! Good Afternoon almost evening!" Zander noticed the girl and greeted her with his usual enthusiastic tone.
"Good Afternoon Zander"
"Crest, Zander. Can you come here for a sec?" She looked at the President and nodded slightly. She placed down her guitar and school bag then walked to Bench. Zander also stopped checking the keyboard to talk to their leader.
"Hmm?"
"Yes Pres?" They both greeted
"Nothing, I just wanted to say that I really love this club, the music, and I am expecting something amazing this year I hope we can count on you" Bench said with a genuine and polite smile. The two freshmen can't help but smile as well....yes, including Crest.
"You can count on us, President Bench" Zander saluted while Crest nodded, agreeing with the messy haired boy.
Bench chuckled on Zander's enthusiasm and asked them to go back. Their club room is actually a spare faculty room with second floor so it's quite big for the six of them, The first floor for their instruments, practice and work room while the second floor became their leisure room with 2 red bean bags, one long couch and one single couch, it also has gray square carpet and big window at the corner. This is where they usually spend their lunchtime.
Crest told Roux that she's going up to the leisure room to relax for a bit. She took a sit next to the long window and starts strumming. Closing her eyes and letting the melody occupy her ears, mind and heart.
FIRST PERSON
"Remember me
Though I have to say goodbye
Remember me
Don't let it make you cry
For even if I'm far away I hold you in my heart
I sing a secret song to you each night we are apart"
I want him to remember me even though I'm at the other side of the universe. I want him to think of me even at least once a day. I want him to listen to a song that he reminds me of him. I want him to miss me just like how I miss him
"Remember me
Though I have to travel far
Remember me
Each time you hear a sad guitar
Know that I'm with you the only way that I can be
Until you're in my arms again
Remember me"
I don't want to shed a tear while singing. Why would I cry while doing something I really love? Why would I shed a tear while thinking of someone who I truly care about?
"Remember me
Though I have to travel far
Remember me
Each time you hear a sad guitar
Know that I'm with you the only way that I can be
Until you're in my arms again
Remember me"
If only I could-
"Crest! Kumakanta ka!?" I flinched at the sudden noise created by Zander. Nice.
"Uh..."
"Stupid! Do you think she'll join this club if she can't?" Sabat naman ni James na sa hula ko ay kanina pa din nakikinig. Actually they're all complete. I took a deep sigh and placed down my guitar, facing them. Tinaasan ko sila ng kilay.
"I-I'm sorry! Di namin sinasadyang pakinggan ka, we were just amazed by your voice, it's so soft, relaxing and worth to listen. I know that you can sing but I didn't expect that you have this sweet honey voice! Thank you for joining us!" Cliff Frantically said while doing hand motions and bowed at the end
"Why are you bowing to me? It's my choice to join because music is my life and also...I.." I stopped for a second and looked away shyly
"You?"
"I-I...Love being here" I mumbled softly.
∳
"The first part of our performance is going to be a duet. It'll be Bencher and Crest since they are our main vocalist. The second part is the whole band and the last is our own composed song that will performed by Crest and Zander. The estimated time of our performance is 12 minutes" Roux discussed while we are formed a circle, sitting on the fuzzy carpet.
"Apparently, This is not just a school's fest that every club showcases their talents. Sponsors and high ranked people usually visit our school in this kind of event and it will be a great opportunity for our club to grow once it is discovered. Who knows kung saan aabot ang club natin right?" Dagdag pa ni Bench
"We have three songs to rehearse, paulit-ulit lang hanggang sa ma-master natin, but we also need to prepare one song. Just in case" - Bench
"Bukas panaman ang start ng totoong rehearsal natin diba? Kain tayong lahat sa labas! My treat" Pag-aya ni Cliff
"Ang galante natin ngayon ah"Pangaasar pa ng kambal niya
"Shush, napulot ko 'to sa harapan ng lost and found"
Inilingan ko nalamang ang asta ng mga ito ng may maliit na ngiti saaking labi. This is not right but I can't help it....
"Crest, you good? Kakain tayo sa labas!" Masiglang sambit ni Zander at marahang inaalog ako
"I'm....I'm feeling great"
∳
Lahat kami ngayon ay nakaupo sa unang hakbang ng hagdan sa harapan ng tindahan na malapit sa school. Masaya kaming nagkukuwentuhan habang nasa loob pa si Cliff upang umorder ng kakainin namin.
Natahimik ako ng saglit upang tingnan ang kalangitan. Naging habit ko na siguro ang pagmasdan ang langit, lalo na kapag nagkukulay kahel na ito.
Meaning it's almost my turn. My turn to spread darkness.
Maya-maya lamang ay kakalat ng muli sa kalangitan ang mga bituin ng buhay. It's job is to hold each one of our's story. The stars witnessed our sadness and how we shed tears, and they comforted us just by existing.
"Here it is!!" Agad na ibinigay saamin ni Cliff ang binili niyang mochi ice cream and 2 strawberry donuts for us. I love sweets.
"Ang tatamis naman nito!" Reklamo ni James habang nandidiring nakatingin sa mga pagkain, I furrowed my eyebrows. How dare he...
"Aba, Be grateful! Nanlibre na nga ako" Cliff said while pouting
"If you don't want it then give it to me" I casually said while munching on my donut
"I didn't expect that Crest is a sweet lover" Bench teased and I playfully rolled my eyes at him
"So I've been wondering, why did you choose music club? Not that I don't like you here! I'm just curious" James asked me and Zander
"Well...." I started, they turned their attention on me sign that they are on ears
"Before coming here, I was very passionate in music, I'd always wanted to go to several competitions, I'd wanted to sing in front of many people, I wanted to shine and be one of the best performer in the world, of course with a band beside me." I sighed dreamily while looking up the sky, I noticed their stares as I tell them my story.....am I opening up?
"I joined the music club in my old school in New York. That school is very popular so expect the club to be as popular as some famous bands. I was very excited to be part of the club....But I didn't expect the members to be....I don't know how to describe it but they seem to dislike me so much. To the point that I'm always the "Side-character" or "extra" meaning that I can only perform when one member is sick or absent, and when they let me perform, they're gonna put me as their second voice
They keep on quoting "You're not good enough to be placed in the center stage to perform" and when I had enough of them....that's when I quit"
"It was supposed to be me, playing in front of them..."
∳
"Crest, Ms. Clarks asked you to rehearse at the dressing room"
Hannah, our club's President coldly said. I nodded and did what they asked me to, and I also want to rehearse for the last time. This is the best opportunity in my life! For me and our band! If we win here we have the chance to train in London, where the famous disbanded band "The swan" came from, they are all instructors now.
Pagkadating na pagkadating ko sa dressing room ay hinarap ko kaagad ang salamin.
"We will win this!" I confidently said while grinning widely. I'm wearing a white cocktail dress and my silky black hair is neatly ironed with 2 hair pins in each side on my head.
I practiced and practiced, singing every lyrics from the top.
That's when I heard some cheering outside. My heart pounded fast.
"H-Hindi panaman kami yan diba? 3:30 palang mamaya pang 4:00 ang performance namin." Mahinang bulong ko sa sarili.
I shrugged it off dahil malamng ay ibang banda ang nagpeperform ngayon dahil may isa pa kaming oras.
The clock strike at 3:50
Ngumiti ako at huminga ng malalim. This is it!
Akmang bubuksan ko na ang pinto ng dressing room upang lumabas ngunit naunahan ako ng mga kabanda ko na pumasok. Lahat sila nakangiti, at nagpapalitan ng pag sabi ng "good job"
Nang tumikhim ako ay napunta saakin ang atensyon nilang lahat...including our club adviser
"Crest? You're just here the whole time?! Why didn't you perform with them? I was searching for you but you're nowhere to be found! I have no choice but to let Hannah perform the center instead" Gulat na gulat na tanong ni MS. Clarks....habang ako ay naguguluhan din. I'm so shocked
"M-Ms Clarks, Hannah said you asked me to rehearse here in the dressing room so I did, and also..." I pointed the clock that was hanging on the wall
"It's 3:50, I...I-I thought " Hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin nang maiyak na ako ng tuluyan. I can see in my peripheral view that Hannah is smirking at me. I glared at her
"M-Ms! It's Hannah! She sabotaged me! It was supposed to be me! How about me Ms! I worked hard for that!" I said while crying
"I-I...I guess we can't do anything about that anymore, we're already done performing and we just need to wait for the results. Let's all go outside yeah?"
At the end of the day.....The band failed to win
∳
"And that's when I quit the club.....That's when I lose the will to win. So at this moment, all I care about is that I'm having fun singing and using instrument in a club, I don't care about competing anymore" I finally said
I looked at them and smiled....genuinely
Bench stood up and offered me his hand as if he's asking for a handsake
"That was before right? Right now, this year, with us, we will let you sing and perform in every competition, event that we have. You, Crest Lumina, is the Weston High's Music Club's Main Vocalist.....together with me of course" He said with a smile
I....can sing whenever I want. I can play instruments as much as I can....No one can stop me from hearing melodies all the time
I gave them a wide smile and hugged Bench. They all chuckled but joined the hug afterwards
Thank you...
Love, I'm doing good here. How about you?
