Chapter 15: Chapter 15
SUMMER'S P.O.V.
"WE WANT MORE! WE WANT MORE!"
The people shouted. I paused and thought for a while. What song would i sing this time?
"we want to hear an acoustic!" Someone shouted.
I didn't mean to look at Skyler but when our eyes met, he nodded at me.
"okay then. One more song won't hurt." I said.
Everyone cheered up again.
"just wait a minute." I excused, walk to the operator and plucked the cord off my electric guitar and give the cord to him. I walked at the back stage. I get my other guitar that would suit for an acoustic songs and i put down the electric.
"Summer! That was great!" Jiana exclaimed.
"i'm not yet done." I smiled at her.
"you're going to play an acoustic, right?"
"yeah."
"i'll set up the stage for you." Before i can say something, she already grabbed the nearest stool and got out at stage.
I waited for her to get back after a few seconds.
"go on. It's ready."
I strapped the guitar across my upper body. "thanks!" I grinned at her then stepped out of the stage.
People made up a very loud noise again.
I waved at them.
I see the stool which Jiana grabbed earlier standing at the edge of the front stage, just a feet away and the mic stand being lowered down.
I reached the cord the operator offered to me and connected my guitar to it.
Then i approached the spot Jiana had prepared. I sit down and settled myself. I can't help feeling like so proud of myself that i am up here and they are on my feet, calling my name, wooing at me, idolizing me. I feel so powerful and like all centers at me. Only me. It really feels so great that i can't wipe the smile off of my face.
Maybe you wonder where's my boyfriend and his band. Well, i haven't told them about this. My performing here. Why? Because i want to perform solo and i want to only have this moment for myself. Selfish? Yeah. Sometimes that's me.
"i'm back again." I said to my audience. "ready to hear it everyone?"
"YEAH!"
"so let's get started." I said and started plucking my guitar. The mic's just few inches away from my mouth.
I know this song doesn't fit me. But i like it.
Waking up to see that everything is okay
The first time in my life
And now it's so great..
Slowing down, look around
And i am so amazed..
Thinking 'bout little things
That make life great..
I wouldn't change a thing about it..
This is the best feeling...
Coz innocence is brilliant,
I hope that it will stay,
This moment is perfect,
Please don't go away
I need you now
And i hold on to it
Don't you let it pass you by...
And i went on in my song. After singing the last part the people applaused. I gave them a very grateful smile.
"thank you guys and gals for listening to me and being here." I paused for a moment to wait for the noise to die down. "there will be other performers and you'll see me performing in some places and time again. So this is not a good bye. You can catch up on me performing in a band if you see me. Well, that's all and thank you again." I bowed at them and returned at the back stage. The wide grin's still plastered in my face and the very great feeling's flowing through my body. I know i did amazing there. Just base on how people enjoyed in my performance.
I'd just put my guitar at the side and i'd taken a few gulps of my mineral water. When i heard someone.
"Summer!"
I froze. And my heart beats fast. I'm stammering while closing my opened bottle, put it on the table and turn around.
"d-dad---"
A big hand has been thrown at my cheek and it feels like burning. I'm nearly sent to the ground but i managed to hold on the table. I put my hand at my burning cheek and it feel so hot.
I looked at my dad again. Tears attempting to flow out from my eyes but i blinked it back.
I see deep anger in my dad's eyes. Burning anger at me.
"this is--this is what you're doing?" He's panting in anger.
"you know that i love music--" Another hand threwn to my cheek again. To my left cheek and now both sides of my face are burning in pain. I've been swayed at the side but i managed to keep my balance. The first slap is more painful, i can feel.
"this is what you've been doing?! How long have you been doing this?!" He yelled at me. "doing this behind me!"
I can't find my words. It just won't get out of my mouth. I gulped hardly. I feel afraid, sorry, pain, and anger at the same time.
"you won't answer me?" He shoved past at me. I followed him and more fear surged to me when he held up my guitar that i'd just put down.
"no! Please!" I tried to snatch it out of his hands but he had banged it to the floor. Loudly. And it's been destroyed. Lucky no one can hear us because of the loud noise outside.
"i told you!" He pointed me. "i told you a long time ago that i don't want any of this! This bullshit!" He eyed my other music thing. "associated in our lives anymore!"
"i love music..." I whispered.
"you-- what?!" He grabbed my elbow, lifted his hands again and i closed my eyes because i know it's coming. His third slap at me. But seconds passed it hadn't landed at my face. I opened my eyes and saw Skyler. Holding up my father's hand that is about to come to my face a few inches before.
Skyler pulled me away from my father. He looked down at me. He's holding both of my shoulders. He's trying to catch my gaze but i don't want to look at him.
"Summer, don't worry." He gently said.
"you're out of this West boy." Dad said to Skyler.
"you'd laid 2 hands on her. That's an abuse." Skyler responded with a hard tone in his voice and faced my father.
No. i don't want any of this. I don't want this. I prepared myself. Then i started to rush out of the backstage and out of the crowd. I heard Skyler shouting my name but i didn't turn. I run and run and run. I just run until i got out of the school's property and at the road already. I'm feeling numb. I stopped running. I walk while still panting.
I'm about to cross a road absentmindedly, without looking at the sides. I heard the car's beep but it's so close to me already.
Then a hand grabbed me out of the way and i got chained by the strong arms, my face against his solid chest. He's panting hard. His chest up and down. I feel his warm. We stayed like that for a minute.
I just can't believe what happened. I thought i'm going to die.
"what are you doing Summer?!" He scolded me and i feel the vibration of his chest when he talks.
Then i realized our situation. I pulled myself away from him and turn back from walking but he grabbed my hand.
"where are you going?"
"leave me alone!" I snapped, not looking at him. I tried to pull my hand off his grip. "please." I want to get away from anyone so that i could cry out these feelings. "please, leave me alone." I tried to pull again but instead of letting me go, he pulled me to him, he pulled my waist and chained me in his body. He's so strong that even though how many times i tried to get free from him, he's even pulling me closer to him. I give up. Give up struggling and hot tears flow freely from my eyes to my cheek. I smelled freely his cologne. I know i'm soaking his polo by my tears but he seems not to care. He loosened his hold at me. He's rubbing my back and comforting me. Thank god, no one can see us. No one can see me in this moment.
"why--can't he--understand me?" I said in between sobs. "why can't he let me be happy?" Skyler pulled me behind to a closer tree with him. So that no one could see us. He's still closing me in his arms. "i love music. It's my life." I continued blabbering. It's dark out here but i don't care. I feel safe in Skyler's arms. I feel safe with him and better. He's still silent all this time. I know he's letting me push everything out. "but i can't blame him. It's my fault mom's dead."
"how can you say that?" Skyler finally talked. I told him the story.
My Flashback: i was 9 years old
"sleep tight now, darling. You'll have a big day tomorrow." Mom kissed me good night on my forehead. "good night."
"good night too, mom." I smiled at her. She stood up and walked to the door. She turned off the light before getting out.
The next day..
I'm at the backstage. Practicing my piece for the competition. I'm plucking my guitar and mom's beside me. I'm in the middle of the song when a string got broken. I looked at my mom, alarmed. We knew the rule of the competition that no one will share things especially instruments. I started to cry but mom comforted me. She looked at her wristwatch.
"don't worry darling. We still have time." She wiped my tears. "i'll buy you a new one. Just wait for me here, okay?"
I noded.
"don't worry, we can do this. I got to go." She kissed my cheek, hugged me and smiled assuringly at me.
She stood up then and gone out of the backstage.
I waited for mom. My father is a bit against of my joining the contest because he don't want me to feel sad if i lose. But it's a contest so it's either winning or losing.
THIRD PERSON'S P.O.V.
Shaira, Summer's mother just done at the counter and now, going out of the instrument store with a new guitar in her hands for her daughter.
She smiled at the thought of her daughter. She's very supportive to her. Music is Shaira's passion too. She's the one who introduced it to Summer and now, Summer loved it too.
She looked up her wristwatch. She then hurry up to her car at the side. She got in and drive immediately.
She won't make it if she's not going to speed up the car. So she doubled her speed. Overlapping other cars. But a van suddenly appeared and it's too late before she noticed it. She tried to avoid it and did but instead her car bumped a giant tree horribly.
The car's front has been destroyed. Shaira's bleeding and full of wounds, she even got injuries. She's barely breathing. She forced her eyes to be open. She slowly looked at beside her. The guitar she bought for Summer had been ruined too. She wants to touch it but her hands feel numb and her body's in agonizing pain.
A tear fell from her eyes.
I'm sorry darling. I can't make it.
The sound of ambulance and police cars roared in her ears. Her eyelids shut close and her breathing stopped.
Summer has been waiting at the back stage. Full of hope that her mom would arrive soon just in time of her number.
Her turn already come, but her mother had not yet arrived. She's pacing back in forth and nearly cried when her father showed up.
"dad! Mom's not yet here. She's gone to get a new guiatar because mine had got a broken string."
Shawn ducked to face his daughter. He hugged her tightly.
Summer hugged back.
"dad, don't worry. I trust mom. She would make it---"
"--she's gone." He cutted her. "she's gone, Summer."
"gone? What do you mean gone?"
"dead. Your mother's dead."
"no! Sh-she can't be dead!" Summer struggled to let go of her father. But Shawn tightened his grip to her daughter.
Summer's denying everything her dad had said that her mother's gone. Tears flowed down from her eyes. She don't mind everyone at the back stage turn to their direction.
Shawn carried Summer and brought her to the scene where Shaira's car had bumped at the roadside.
"Summer, i want to ask you something." Shawn said to her daughter. "i want you to forget music. I don't want to hear anything about it. Especially not from you. And i don't want to remember your mom's death because of your stupid music thing."
Summer noded absentmindedly. She's still crying in seeing her mom being carried away.
"mom.. This--c-can't be--true d-dad.. Mom.." She sobed. Shawn hugged her daughter again and tears flowed from his eyes as well.
"this is true darling y-your mom's d-dead."
Summer cried a lot.
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