Rhythm to My Chaos

Chapter 2

#NewClassicRTMC

Chapter 2
Top Star Records

I strode past the crowd on the beach and went on my way back to the restaurant. My thoughts were still clinging on to the strange man I met. No reason crossed my mind why he knows my name. To be honest, I wanted to ask him but I didn't want to entertain him more.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang balak niya sa akin at kung bakit niya ako hinahanap. If there's one thing I learned from my fall, it's to never trust a person so easily. Make people work hard to earn your trust. It's not a giveaway. It shouldn't be free of charge.

If people want to be trusted, they should prove that they are trustworthy.

"Aleena!"

I pulled away my gaze wandering off to a distant place and found Gian at the entrance of the restaurant. He was probably waiting for me, even though it had not been that long since I left his sight.

Sinalubong niya ako sa paglapit sa kanya at kinuha ang aking gitara upang siya na mismo ang magbitbit no'n para sa akin. "Saan ka galing?" tanong niya.

"Sa may duyan lang," sagot ko. "Magpa-practice sana ako para sa mga kakantahin ko mamaya."

"Then why are you back so soon?"

"Hmm... Masyadong mahangin sa labas. 'Di ko marinig nang maayos ang boses ko."

I decided not to tell him about my encounter with that stranger because I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. Kapag nalaman iyon ni Gian ay baka umiral na naman ang kanyang pagiging overprotective sa akin. Paniguradong ipapahanap niya 'yon dito sa resort. I didn't want to come face to face with that man again as I was trying to avoid him.

Tumango-tango siya. I was relieved when he bought my excuse.

"Doon ka na sa office ko magpractice," sabi niya. "I'll call you once you're about to perform."

I smiled and nodded at Gian. A small smile also touched his lips before he started walking off. I followed him right away as he led me into his office inside the restaurant.

Mukhang busy si Gian kaya matapos niyang masigurado na maayos ako sa loob ng kanyang opisina ay lumabas na rin siya kaagad upang magtrabaho.

Inabot ko ang guitar case na itinabi ko rito. On its pocket, I pulled out my so called music notebook where I write songs. I was planning to just sing songs that I already performed before. But just as I was scanning the pages and deciding my setlist, something just clicked inside me.

Nagmadali ako sa pagkuha ng ballpen mula sa penholder sa lamesa ni Gian. I turned the pages quickly until a reached a blank page. Like water flowing on a stream, words continuously spilled out of the pen and filled the pages with ink.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit biglang pumasok sa aking isipan ang mga nawawalang salita at himig. I was struggling during the day to pick up the faint rhythm in my head. Kung kailang hindi ko na masyadong iniisip ang paggawa ng bagong kanta ay saka lumabas ang lahat sa akin. It was like my brain forcibly squeezed out all those creative juices left for me to create one last song before forgetting about songwriting completely.

For straight four hours until my performance that night, I spent my time composing and polishing the song, even though I knew it wouldn't meet perfection. When the clock struck seven, Gian came inside with a tray of our dinner.

Sinuyod niya ang coffee table sa loob ng kanyang opisina na puno ng kalat. My things were all over his table. Mabilis kong sinikop ang mga ito at pinagpatong-patong upang may mapaglayan siya ng hawak niyang tray.