The Story of Music (One-Shot Stories)

Everything I Do, I Do It For You

"Congrats, Cal."

The competition just ended and i was announced as the champion of this car racing tournament. So, everyone congratulated me. This is my 4th time winning the grand prize among all the 7 competitions i joined. Nakakataba ng puso.

Nginingitian ko lang sila at binabati rin. For me, finishing the lane safe while doing one's best is what's important afterall. Bonus nalang ang manalo. Lalo na kapag gustong-gusto mo talaga ang pagmamaneho at nagi-enjoy kang makipag-unahan sa ibang kotse, ayos na ayos na 'yun.

"Woah! That was a cool finale, Cal. Congrats!" puri sa'kin ni Dilaw nang makalapit na ako sa kanya. Nakipag-apir pa tsaka binabangga niya 'yung kanang balikat niya sa akin. And i did the same to him. "'Yung malupitang drifting talaga ang nagdala, eh." sabi pa niya. Napailing nalang ako at napangisi.

"Tsk. You just said that because you want me to give you a credit." i learned that technique from him. Car racer din kasi 'tong si Yellow, eh. Hindi siya sumali ngayong season. Take turns kasi kami. Next time, siya naman.

Napatawa nalang siya tsaka inakbayan ako. Hinawi ko naman 'yun. Bigat, eh.

"May sinabi ba si Dad sayo?" i asked him while we're still walking towards his car.

"Wala naman." maikling sagot niya. Napatango nalang ako and sighed heavily.

My father never really supported me in joining car racings. He said it's too dangerous for me and it might cost my life. Naiintindihan ko naman siya. But, this is the thing i most enjoyed doing. Wala nang iba.

My Dad and i is in good terms tho. Okay kami sa bahay. It's just that he never really talks about what i passionately do, car racing. Hindi niya ako kinakamusta tungkol doon. Kahit nakailang panalo pa ako, he won't recognized me for it.

It's hard to be totally happy doing something you really want when there is someone dear to you disapproves it.

"Uy, hindi ganyan ang mukha ng champion." paninita sa'kin ni Yellow habang nagmamaneho. We were driving off somewhere to get a food. Magdi-dinner time na rin, eh.

We never really celebrated my wins at home. Pakiramdam ko kasi baka mauwi lang sa sagutan at tampuhan. Kahit mga panalo din ni Dilaw, hindi. Sabi niya hindi niya daw isi-celebrate kung hindi ko din isi-celebrate sa bahay. Kahit pa sobrang close ni Dilaw kay Dad, ayaw niya. Ewan ko sa kanya. Baka nga matuwa pa si Dad, eh. Pakiramdam ko sobrang proud ni Daddy kay Yellow sa pagri-racing. May one time nga nang malaman ni Dad na nag-champion si Dilaw, he was so happy for him. He even hugged Yellow and tapped his shoulder, expressing his way of being so proud of Yellow. Right there and then, even this very hour, i hope that Dad would be so proud of me, too. Just like how he was to Yellow. Sana.

"Pagod lang ako." i reasoned out. I have to lie. If not, i'd end up tearing up.

"Sinungaling." he just said and then smirked. Alam na alam, ah. Tsk.

Hindi ko nalang siya kinausap pa. Sinandal ko nalang ang ulo ko sa bintana at ipinikit ang mga mata. I didn't plan to sleep, but i ended up sleeping.

"Kailan ka pa napagod matapos gawin ang pinakagusto mong gawin, ha?" tanong sakin ni Yellow nang mailapag na ang inorder niyang pagkain sa'min. We were just dining in a fastfood chain.

I just shrugged to what he asked. I don't want to mention Dad and racing stuff to him. It's clashing in my head right now, and this is not the right time to talk about it.

I started eating without talking to him. When i looked at him, i just scoffed. What's with the face, bro? He looked so confused and worried. So, i raised my brows and asked him, what?

"Naglilihim ka na naman sa'kin. Sabihin mo nga, Calathea. Mababaliw ako kakaisip, eh." sabi niya nang nakakunot-noo. Should i tell him? I heavily sighed.

"Wala." i just said and feed myself. Hindi na siya nagsalita at kumakain nalang.

I almost finished my food when i noticed him staring at me. Nauna na pala siyang natapos kumain.

"Don't look at me like that, Dilaw. Baka matunaw ako." i joked at him and chuckled. He just scoffed.

"Kung inaalala mo si Papa Dom, sinasabi ko sayo, huwag." sabi niya tsaka uminom ng tubig. Napataas naman ang mga kilay ko sa sinabi niya. Then, i bit my lower lip and avoided his gaze. "Mas nag-aalala 'yun sayo, Cal." dagdag pa niya.

"I know. Kaya nga ayaw niya akong sumasali sa race diba? Kasi ayaw niyang napapahamak ako. Eh, paano? Gusto ko 'to, eh. Gustong-gusto kong gawin 'yung ayaw niyang gawin ko. Mahirap ba sa kanya na maging masaya nalang para sa'kin?" i said and looked up to cease my tears to fall. Ayan na, bumigay na nga ako.

Yellow just smiled. He held my chin up and wiped my tears when it flowed down my cheeks.

"You never know how much he is proud of you, Cal." he said smiling, brushing his thumb on my cheek. Napalunok ako at hinawi ang kamay niya sa pisngi ko.

"It's a lie." i said, rolling my eyes. Ha! Sinasabi niya lang 'yan para gumaan pakiramdam ko. Tsk.

"Hey. I'm serious, Cal." he said, placing his both elbows on the table.

"If he is proud of me, he should've told me. He should've congratulated me everytime i successfully passed the finish line. He should've been there watching me, supporting me." sunod-sunod na sabi ko habang tumutulo pa rin ang luha ko. I wiped it with my own hand. Nakakahiya.

"Let's go." aya niya tsaka tumayo. He gave me his hand. So, i held onto it. I didn't asked where we're going. I just trusted Yellow. Because when at times like this, when i feel like being swallowed by sadness, he knows what to do to make me feel alright.

"Congratulations, anak. I am so proud of you." i almost burst into tears when Dad hugged me and told me he is proud of me.

I never expected that Yellow brought me home. I thought he would just bring me to the ocean, since he knows that i love listening to the sound of the waves. Or, went to Ate Beatricia's comedy bar, drinking and laughing.

"Dad, thank you." i whispered to my father while hugging him back. This is what i've been waiting for, to finally hear from him that he is proud of me.

My father was so sorry for letting me feel that he never supported me. He said he was, when i told him from the very beginning that i wanted to join racing. Ayaw niya, pero kalaunan natanggap na rin niya. Na wala na siyang magagawa pa, but to let me do what i really want. Because that's how a parent should be, supporting what his child wants to do. And knowing that really made me so happy.  Ang hindi ko rin pala alam, he was always present to every tournament i competed. Yellow even knew about it. Dad told him not to tell me and just take good care of me. He thought that i might get distracted kapag nalaman ko. And i was like, why? For heaven's sake, I would definitely be the happiest if i happened to know. He even promised that next time, right after our tournament, win or lose, we will celebrate it together with the whole family. My father is really something. I love him even more now.

"How are you feeling right now?" Yellow asked after me having a talk with Dad. I just smiled at him at gave him a hug. This guy never disappoints me.

"Thank you, Dilaw. I owe you massively." i said gratefully while still hugging him tightly now.

"Always, for you. I would gladly do everything to make you happy, Calathea." he said sincerely while hugging me back and kissing the top of my head.

For me, Yellow is shining like a brightest star at night. He's like a compass that leads every wandering heart to its meant destination.

If ever one day he stops from shining, i just hope i could still find my own way to where i am meant to be, even without him. Because right now, all i want is to stay where i am and just be with him 24/7.