Embracing the Troublemaker

Chapter Eighteen

Jael's Point of View

Nag paalam muna ako kina Elkayne na mag papahinga dahil ubos na ubos yung social battery ko, pakiramdam ko kailangan ko muna mag recharge kaya naman nag hanap ako ng lugar kung saan ako pwede makapag pahinga kaso lahat ng gusto kong puntahan, may tao. Kahit yung garden at library sobrang dami nang tao hanggang sa napadpad ako sa music room. Sinilip ko muna kung may tao sa loob at napa ngiti ako nang wala akong makita. May kalayuan ang Music Room sa mga school building kaya siguro walang pumupunta rito at mukhang matagal na rin hindi napupuntahan at nalilinisan dahil medyo maalikabok.

Humanap ako nang pwesto kung saan pwede ako maka idlip kahit sandali. May sitting couch malapit sa may piano kaya doon na ako punwesto, pinag tabi-tabi ko lang para maka higa ako ng maayos. Buti nalang may aircon kaya medyo malamig. Kinuha ko lang sa bulsa ko ang panyong hawak at ginamit pang takip sa mukha. Sinigurado ko munang walang tao bago ako pumikit.

Bumibigat na ang talukap nang mata ko at handa nang mag pakain sa antok nang may narinig akong strum ng gitara na pumutol sa katahimikan. Nagising ang diwa ko pero hindi ko pinansin dahil baka guni-guni lang at baka dahil sa antok. But then, the melody echoed again. This time, curiosity stirred within me, and I sat up, glancing around the music room.

Wala namang tao kaya nabalot ako ng takot, iniisip ko na baka may kung ano dito dahil mukhang matagal na nang may pumasok. The unsettling thought of a ghostly presence crossed my mind, but I dismissed it as an overactive imagination. The strumming persisted, naramdaman ko nalang sa sarili ko na hinahanap ang tunog and a door caught my attention, nag taka ako dahil hindi ito kapansin-pansin dahil nasa may bandang sulok ito.

Bubuksan ko na sana ang pinto nang mapansin kong bahagyang naka bukas na ito. Sinilip ko ng kaunti kung may tao sa loob and a mesmerizing voice accompanied by the gentle hum of a guitar filled the room. I stood in awe as I witnessed Ross.

His eyes were closed, pouring his soul into the lyrics. It was the first time I heard him sing, and the revelation left me speechless. His voice was a cascade of emotions, soothing and captivating. Closing my eyes, I surrendered to the beauty of the moment, trying to identify the song that resonated through the room.

Cause this angel has flown away from me
Leaving me with drunken misery
I should have clipped his wings
And made him mine for all eternity

Now, this angel has flown away from me
Thought I had the strength to set him free
Did what I did because I love him so
Will he ever find his way back home to me?

He was singing heaven knows by Orange & Lemons. The raw emotion in his voice, the sincerity in every word, painted a poignant picture. I was captivated, unable to look away. Doon ko lang din napansin na instead of she and her, Ross used he and him. However, the enchantment shattered as his voice cracked, and he dropped the guitar.

Napa hawak ako sa dibdib sa gulat dahil hindi ko inaasahan iyon. The sound of a sob reached my ears, and my heart sank. Ross was in tears, and I felt an inexplicable heaviness in the air. His whispered words revealed the depth of his pain.

"Kuya, i miss you. Kuya. I... i really miss you..."

Parang may nabasag na kung ano sa dibdib ko habang nakikitang umiiyak si Ross. The intensity of his grief resonated, and I found myself a silent observer to the raw vulnerability of a soul baring its deepest sorrows. I can see that he really miss his brother. The pain hits different when you're missing someone in heaven but they will never comeback and can't do anything about it but miss them. You can't call them, you just have to cry out and hope they hear you. Iyon ang nakikita ko ngayon kay Ross.