Chapter 1: The Pianist

Dina woke up from her nap, she didn’t notice that she fell asleep while thinking of what Alfredo and Belen had done to her… she is still angry about what they did to her but she also doesn’t want to keep the bitterness and hatred in her heart. In the end, it was her who doesn’t have the right. She doesn’t know what her position truly is when Alfredo had confirmed that he loves Belen. Divina’s family wanted Alfredo for her because he belonged to a well-known and rich family. Divina’s mother was mad and extremely disappointed in Divina when she found out that they broke up and she allowed the rich heiress, Belen to snatch away Alfredo from her. Her mother insisted that she should’ve fought with Belen instead of letting them be.

To avoid her mother’s wrath, Divina decided to leave her hometown and went along with her friends to a nearby province, though it’s near compared to the city, it’s still a few hundred miles away from her raging mother. She continued to switch from one job to another until she found her place as a teacher in a private school owned by an American named John Smith. She is still a newly-hired teacher, just a month old but she found peace and contentment in here already.

All this time, Divina hadn’t heard any news from her former beloved and his woman, all she knows is that after her confrontation with him at their meeting spot, he went on to live with Belen at a ranch owned by the Cruz’s near their town.

Divina no longer trusts in love. She fell in love once and she couldn’t believe that the man she had given her heart away had cheated on her. That is why her heart no longer beats for anyone despite the long line of her suitors. She doesn’t want to open her heart to anyone anymore nor even try, she immediately declines them politely. She knows the feeling of being heartbroken and she doesn’t want anyone to hurt them that way. She doesn’t want to make them hopeful about something she couldn’t give. It’s painful and she doesn’t want any of her suitors to become a fool out of it.

It is good that Alfredo is far away from me and I couldn’t see him. I think this is the best for me not to be in pain too much. Even though you’ve hurt me like this, Alfredo… I still thank you because you somehow made me feel special even though your love for me was phony. I hope you are happy now with your true love, Belen. I promise to try my best and move on, never wasting my tears again for you., Divina thought as she noticed the sunrise peeping outside her window already. She felt the warmth of the sun on her skin. It implies… another day without Alfredo in her life.

Farewell… Alfredo, my love.,Dina once again thought before getting up from her bed.

Divina had truly loved Alfredo despite the short span of their affair and she thought it was true love. She thought Alfredo had loved her dearly too but their love was wrong because Alfredo has already his Belen. Even though Divina misses Alfredo so much, it is a fact she couldn’t deny, but she is determined to let her man go and even in her memories, she wanted to avoid the bitterness every time she remembers their past.

One afternoon, Divina was on her way home, to the boarding home she is currently staying. Her usual route is home – school – home. She had finished her class and is familiarizing the shortcut towards her home. She remembers her way because before arriving home, she must pass by a coffee shop where a big piano is on display. She was about to pass by like usual. However, she heard someone playing the piano, it was a very peaceful melody. She stopped and stared through the window glass but was interrupted when few drops of rain dripped on her. She didn’t bring her umbrella and was forced to go inside the coffee shop. Just when she went in, the rain began to pour. She was in relief that going inside the coffee shop seemed to be a good decision. Divina decided to stay at the coffee shop just until the rain would stop. She looks around and thought that the place seems to be expensive.

“Good afternoon ma’am. What would you like to have?”, a waitress had welcomed her on her seat while handing her the menu. Divina looked at the menu and to her shock, even though she had been expecting this to be an expensive coffee shop, she is still surprised to see how expensive the items on the menu would be.

"S-seventy cents for one cup of coffee? Have I read it right, miss?”, Divina asked in surprise at the waitress.

"Yes, ma’am. We had imported our products from other countries to assure our customers that we use high-quality ingredients, ma’am.”, the waitress answered confidently.

Imported… I wonder why there are many people who patronage imported products instead of patronizing our own. Why? We also have high-quality products of our own too. This cup of coffee should’ve just cost around three to five cents!, Divina complained on her mind.

Even though Divina was regretful, she was forced to order a cup of expensive coffee especially since the rain is still pouring hard outside. She thought that she’s just gonna take a sip on her cup slowly until the rain stops.

While Divina was sipping her cup in a thrifty manner, she suddenly heard someone playing the piano. It was Sonata No. 8 in C Minor Op. 13 "Pathetique" 2nd movement - Adagio Cantabile. Divina felt peace in her heart. The pianist had touched her heart with his music and she felt that the payment for this cup of coffee was of enough worth.

This music eases my mind and my heart. Who might this very talented stranger be?, Divina thought curiously while looking at the one who is currently playing the piano.

It seems to be a man but she couldn’t see him clearly. Then this man suddenly stared into her eyes directly. He caught her eyes and they both stared at each other. He seems to be really familiar, so she looked at him intently as well instead of avoiding his gaze. But she couldn’t recognize the familiar man and instead of thinking about him, she just closes her eyes and feels the music as it eases the burden in her heart.

Divina didn’t notice the time had passed by already. It has been few hours since she entered the coffee shop and she hadn’t noticed that it has already stopped raining too. While relaxing herself, she looked around and the pianist is no longer playing too… he is nowhere to be found anymore. Dina felt a bit sad, she wanted to hear his music again.

Never mind, I will come here again tomorrow., Divina comforts herself.

And just like what she had promised herself, Divina went again to that coffee shop the next day but she was disappointed because the talented pianist wasn’t there and she failed to hear his music one again… his wonderful music that could give her peace and comfort. Divina went again to that coffee shop for the next few days, continually waiting for that talented pianist to play his peaceful melody again… but Divina failed every time. It seems like the pianist had just vanished into thin air, he was like a traveler, he visited her for a short moment just touch her heart with his comforting music… her heart that had been longing for peace ever since Alfredo had hurt her.

Yes, she desires to hear it once again, she desires it more than she misses Alfredo.

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