April 7, 2009. No one is more enthusiastic than I am, for it was my last recognition day at high school. Next year, I will be a graduating student, and I can no longer see wise freshmen being tested for new techniques on recognition on the stage.
My day started with a practice of Windchime. The sun was shining bright, and so is my face. I didn’t bring my identification card with me, as I do not know where to find it. I hurriedly went out the house, with the old I.D. of my brother, which is very similar to the I.D. I use as a high school student.
I am late. I rode the jeepney at around 8 am, and the call time was – guess what – 8 am, too! The jeepney’s wheels continue to roll like a never-ending roulette spinning in the lusty casino room. As I gaze upon empty fields, lifeless clouds and the black smoke coming out of the exhaust, I was thinking of Tagalog words, for I am composing the tagalong version of Moment of Truth. (By the way, the copy of it is available on our forum site: http://www.gold0809.forumotion.com)
The C-point jeep that I rode was kinda weird. I was one of the last passengers to board, and I felt that everyone was looking at me, maybe a result of severe paranoia that I frequently experience. All of the passengers seems to serve as an acquaintance to each other, with me, on my Intrams T-shirt bearing the name of my school, being the outcast of the group. They are so noisy, with one talking to the driver, another talking to four other passengers, and some talking on their phones.
Passing payments and changes became a whole jeepney affair, as one man gets active and noisy in financing. Everyone was in a high mood, and we are like a jukebox with annoying noises coming out, and unfortunately for me, I was inside.
At last, after slowly crossing the white pedestrian lane, I got the chance to shout “Para po!”
I stood up, with my back bent at a fairly high angle. Slowly, I walked down the cramped center aisle of the jeepney, and I nearly went out of balance. I jumped out of the “jukebox” jeepney, and I crossed the busy asphalt road on the thick white lines of the pedestrian lane.
As I enter the gates that I wouldn’t enter for two months, I felt ten percent nervous. My I.D. is a fake, and every I.D. states that it is “non-transferrable”. Luckily, as I walk under the messy-looking ground floor of the incomplete building, no keen eye was watching; no guard is at sight.
I quickly walked the steps leading to the High School gate, for it is much safer inside the high school compound. Reaching it was a great relief, but another concern popped out on my mind. The place was eerie, shrouded in total silence. The bird’s chirps are absent and so are the voices of the faculty members. What concerns me the most is that, the Windchime is the noisiest organization on Systems Plus, for we have resounding drums and annoying high-pitch metallic lyres that can easily wake up a Sleeping Beauty.
There was nothing but total silence.
I approached the fourth year building, where the Drum and Lyre Room is. Still, there wasn’t any sound. I felt sad, for I really do not want to go home. It will feel like I have wasted P38 of fare for nothing. I walked nearer. I held the cold doorknob, and slowly twisted it, hoping that someone is inside, and that it is silent because Kuya Canono, our drum and lyre trainor, is saying his sermon.
The door was locked. My optimism kicked in, and I told myself that I should try the other door. I know that door was never locked, for its doorknob is busted. The only thing that keeps it closed is a wooden rostrum behind.
I pushed it vehemently, and inside is a bald table with its wooden top slanting against the wall. The drums are idle, waiting for some hands to beat on it. The lights are closed, and so are the air conditioners. The deafening silence was crawling beneath my skin, and thoughts came rushing up my mind.
Is this the end? Will I now go home? Where have they gone? Is there any practice? Did they go somewhere else?
I stayed there for five minutes, wandering foolishly inside the room. I was digging through a carton box in the room, where we found pictures and projects of the past.
Finally, I had enough. I felt so bored and failed that I went out and started my venture out the school campus. I stepped slowly, as I breathe deep. My heart was pumping strongly, my lungs were violently respirating and my muscles were vibrating in misery.
Then, I saw one familiar hairstyle. It was a girl, of a face I have seen before and of a height I am familiar with. I am acquainted with her bag, and the way she runs strikes a memory on me. It was Danielle, and how delighted I am to see a fellow Windchime member in this campus! I quickly accosted him, and started screaming her name.
Her head turned, and it was quickly followed by a halt in running and a twist of her body. She smiled at me, and walked nearer to me, as I do the same.
I told her my story, that I have been up the room and that one was there. Danielle was scared that they might have left to practice to another place, for our “guest coach” knows many places to practice at.
We went up to the Drum and Lyre room, for I guess, she has doubts on my honest words. She thinks that I am joking. We went there, and I have confirmed my honesty – no one was there. I do not know if she was deserted by what she saw, but as to me, it was nothing for I am with someone now.
After going up, of course, we will soon go down, and that was exactly what we did. Coincidentally and very unfortunately, we saw the High School Department’s principal, who has a reputation of speaking in English always. He cracked a conversation with us, and he told us that he is feeling that the flowers will just be wasted and that he cannot donate it to the church because it is Holy Week. He also asked us if we are going to play on the Overture for the Recognition Rites later in the afternoon. Of course, my answer was yes. He stood silent, thinking of a new topic to open, but Danielle and I initiated to leave him, for he nearly saw my invalid ID.
Finally, the Windchimes come in one by one. Next to come is Sarah, and she told us that the practice will actually start at 9 am, she only said that it will start on 8 for she knows that everyone will be late.
After minutes, we started our practice – and the piece was freakishly difficult! Hahaha!
No comments:
Post a Comment