00 The First Note

🎶

It was a summer vacation on April and the blazing heat of the sun was melting everything-- everyone, if hyperbole was being normalized.

"Welcome to our new humble abode!" Dad uttered as he made his way towards the newly painted white gate, opening it wide enough so that Mom and I can pass through it.

Truth be told, he isn't really my biological father. He is my step-dad, George F. Adante as his name. My mom, Rosetta, married him a month ago and decided that it would be better if both us live with my step-dad in this small town called Consolacion.

"Renei! Let me show you your room. I renovated it." My dad, which I prefer calling him that way, enthusiastically opened the front door of the house.

"Go on. I know you are excited to see your room." Mom said. In fact, she was right. I haven't tried having my own room. Mom and I shared the same bed from our previous house in the city.

I made my way inside the house and only realized that I was sweating a lot. But I didn't care. I am having my own room!

I followed dad upstairs. He turned left on a small hallway until we reached the second door from the left. Dad grabbed the doorknob and it was at that moment I can't help myself from smiling.

"Wow!" I exclaimed when I saw what was inside the room. There was a single bed on the right and on the opposing side, a vanity table was placed. The walls were painted in pastel beige and facing the door was a sliding window.

There were boxes on the floor and I'm guessing these were my things from our previous house. It was sent here two days ago.

"Do you like it?"

"I love it! Thank you, Dad!"

"Now, the furnitures are still limited, just tell me if you need anything--"

"Don't spoil Renei. She's needy all the time." I glared at my mom when she suddenly spoke behind dad.

Dad chuckled, "It's fine, Rose. I'll give our daughter everything she wants!"

The way how he said that made my heart flutter. I was filled with so much joy. It was the first time I heard something like that from someone. I wasn't able to see my dad ever since I was born. Mom said he died from an accident but as I grew up, I knew she was lying and it was fine.

As long as that lie would make her feel good, then I'm down for it. I couldn't bare the idea about mom being hurt and sad. She has been through a lot.

That is why I am so glad that she married someone who could make her happy. George is a good guy, and I could see that. He's a bit goofy and careless but he loves us.

This is getting cheesy. Brr.

After we ate our lunch, I asked permission if I could stroll around the town. Mom was against it but dad saved me. He said that I wouldn't get lost since it was just a small town and as long as I know the street name of our house then it's good to go. I could just ask someone if in case I did get lost, right?

I walked through an alley until I got out of it. It led me to the main road where vehicles were passing by. It was a small town but the roads were busy.

"Ah! They have 7/11!" I exclaimed upon seeing a popular convenience store at the corner of the alley.

The sun was still boasting its heat so I decided to buy something at the convenience store to cool off myself. I had a fifty peso bill in my pocket (Never go out of the house moneyless!) which was enough to get myself a chocolate drink, leaving me a coin of ten as a change from the cashier guy who was obviously bored.

I went outside while sipping the straw of my drink, thinking where should I go next. I remember dad mentioned to me that he has a cafe store nearby. So it has been decided, I'm going to find that store!

I don't know where it is but I know the name of the store. It was Cafe Up. A simple name, as expected from my dad. I heard it was popular here in Consolacion.

The town was getting busy as I was trying to find the store. Mini vendors were lined up on one side of the street, selling various kinds of products and most of them were food.

"Tempura! Three pieces for only 12 pesos!" An old guy shouted. I would love to buy tempura but the ten peso coin in my pocket wasn't enough so I decided to resume on my quest.

Ten minutes had passed and still, I haven't found the cafe store. The heat was making me tired, regretting on why I decided to go on a stroll at this hour.

I was about to retreat and go home when I heard someone singing. I examined the place to find where it came from and it was on the other side of the road.

I waited at the pedestrian lane until the traffic enforcer made a signal that people can cross the street.

Upon reaching the other side of the road, I saw him. A guy was singing a song that was unfamiliar to me. He was singing the lyrics of the song while strumming the strings of his guitar. Looking at him, it seems like we are at the same age. He was smiling while singing as if he was performing in front of a huge crowd. In fact, I could only see three people watching him. I was the fourth person.

I went closer and tried to listen to the lyrics of the song that he was singing.

🎶

if you just realize what i just realized

then we'd be perfect for each other

and we'll never find another

just realize what i just realized

we'd never have to wonder

if we missed out each other

🎶

His voice was soothing and deep at the same time. I caught myself staring at his face.

The guy had small face with a lean body. His hair was long and scuffy, chiseled jawline and a buttoned nose that fits perfectly on the structure of his face. What mesmerized me the most was his brown eyes. The color was prominent as the sunlight refracted in it.

"Hey," I snapped back to reality when the guy suddenly talked to me. I looked around and noticed that I was left alone with this guy. He finished singing his song, I wasn't even aware.

"Good voice,"

"That's it?" I raised my eyebrows upon his reassuring question. What else does he want me to say? "You have to give something at least for watching my performance." He slightly tapped the guitar case placed on the ground with his left foot.

I shifted my gaze towards the case and inside of it was paper bills and several coins.

"Oh, you're a beggar?" He looked at me with wide eyes then he started to laugh. Loud.

"No, I'm not."

"Oh,"

"I was busking, not begging. Both are two different things. Begging gives nuisance to other people while busking provides entertainment."

"Uh...I don't have much."

"It's fine. Any amount will do." My face lit up when he said that.

I walked closer to him, went down to his guitar case and placed the ten peso coin change that I got from the convenience store. Then I heard him laughing again. Louder than before.

He's....a happy guy, I guess. He was always laughing.

"I didn't expect that. But, thanks!" He flashed a smile and suddenly, I got a weird feeling in my stomach. Was it because of the chocolate drink?

"You have a good voice." I said as I looked at him placing his guitar inside the case. Is he leaving?

"I heard you the first time saying that." He chuckled. "I gotta go! Thanks, again!"

He was about to leave but I unconsciously called him out. "Hey!" What was I trying to do?

"Hmm?"

"Will...you be here tomorrow?"

"I guess?" He smiled as he turned his back towards me, walking away.

I faced towards my right side and I was surprised when I saw my dad's cafe store. It was here all along. I didn't even realize that.