Chapter 3: Cold Night

It was my elementary graduation when I got my very first owned guitar. It's a gift from my mother and father. I knew how hard my parents worked just to buy me that beautiful and expensive guitar.

I named it Melo, short for melody. That guitar became my best friend. It's very special to me. I was always with him, in school, at home, everywhere I went. I loved playing it. When I felt sad, angry, frustrated, happy, excited and all the possible emotions I could have, I would just play and sing songs with it.

Melo heard all the unspoken feelings and words I wanted to hide.

That rainy day, everything's still clear. It was weekend and my dad's band would perform at the college's event near our town. Since it's not that far, he wanted us to come along with him to watch them perform. We were very excited.

"Mina, bring your guitar with you. Okay?" my father reminded me.

I just smiled and said, "Oh—will you let me perform later?"

My father just looked at me with his bright smile.

We reached the town in almost an hour. We stopped by the nearest restaurant to grab some lunch since it's already lunch time. When we finished, we went straight to SN University, the college where they would perform.

The crowd was already hyped when we entered the school's ground. Loud music, youthful vibe, different booths, instruments set up on stage, college students were everywhere, banner that said "SN University's Foundation Day"

"Wow! I love this place. I wish I could study here someday." I told my brother.

My brother laughed at me, "You wish! Only the smartest can study here. This school doesn't deserve you."

I hit my brother and told him, "Tell that to yourself, too!"

"Never wish something which is impossible." He laughed at me again and ran away from me. I followed him feeling annoyed.

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My brother, mother and I were standing near the stage. My father's band would perform soon. The two female hosts were still talking to the audience. I didn't know what they were talking about since I was not that interested. What I was really looking forward was my father's band stage.

"Mom? Why did dad borrow my guitar?" I asked my mother while intently listening to the two female hosts.

I put my face near hers and called her once again.

"Why?" she answered.

"Why did dad borrow my guitar? He has two."

"Ah--- he just wanted to use yours. He wanted your guitar to experience big crowd. And through that, your guitar could give you the confidence he has in performing. So, someday you can also perform like him – no worries, just having fun." my mom explained.

"Dad did the same thing before. He borrowed my guitar one day. That gig was even bigger than this. It was at our city's annual band festival where big bands gathered and performed together. Woah! That was so impressive that I could not even sleep when we went home. I asked the same question and he told me the same answer, like what mom has just told you." My brother added.

"And after that, your brother got the confidence to join the audition for his school's music team and he got accepted. Now, we can't stop him joining band's competition, song writing contests and a lot more. He hesitated for so long because he never considered himself a good singer. That's not true. You, your brother and your dad are all the same. You are all great, not just great singers but great artists." My mom said while smiling at us.

My brother looked at me and pointed at mom at the same time, "And you, too!"

We laughed together. That was unforgettable. Being with them and those spoken words warmed that cold rainy afternoon.

It was time for my dad's band to perform. I could hear the loud cheer. I could hear my heart beat, too. The stage looked cool, the crowd was getting louder. I looked at my brother, he was ecstatic. I looked at my mom, she's so happy. Then, I looked at dad, he's looking at us. He was really enthusiastic.

"Are you guys, readyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy??" my dad screamed, the crowd got deafening.

The drums started to roll, bass, electric and the rhythm guitar followed. The resonances pleasantly synchronized with the loud cheer from the crowd. My dad's band started to perform. The first song, It's My Life by Bon Jovi.

The audience was singing along. They all looked excited, jumping, raising their hands, banging their heads. The drummer, the bassist and the rhythm guitarist, they all looked crazily happy. My dad, swinging his electric guitar, singing with us, he looked so cool. "That's my dad!" I kept shouting in my head.

First song, second, third.. the band looked exhausted already but the smiles on their faces could tell that they were having the best time of their lives.

"Are you having fun?" my dad asked the audience. He looked more handsome in a sweaty face.

The audience shouted "Yes!!!"

My father went to where the guitar stand was positioned. He put his electric guitar back and got my acoustic guitar. Wow! Melo looked charismatic on that stage, being held by my father.

He got his mic and put it on the mic stand, pulling it, then went closer to the audience.

"I want to share with you a beautiful story.

I was in senior high school when I didn't know what to do in life. All my classmates were busy preparing for college but me? I was still stuck.

All my life I had followed my father's dream for me. I went to business high school because he wanted me to. I came with him on his overseas trips because he wanted me to get exposed to managing, meeting and dealing with prospect business partners. I was never happy but I could not disobey him. He's my father after all.

One winter night, I was just walking at this square. It was snowing heavily, heavy as my thoughts when I heard a beautiful song.

That song. For the first time in my life, I felt like someone could finally hear me. That voice. That voice was comfort that embraced me. It's my wife's."

My dad looked at her. I could see my mom's teary eyes. She smiled at him. My dad waved at her.

The crowd started teasing him, "Woah-------"

"That's so sweet!"

"He's very romantic!"

"What a beautiful story."

"I think I'm crying."

I could hear voices at my back. My brother looked at me and whispered, "That's our dad! Cool, isn't he?"

My dad continued talking to the audience.

"I hope that you will also find comfort in the song we'll be playing.

We all go through empty nights and days in our lives when we think that no one's there for us. We all get depressed when we see busy streets and feel like we're left behind because we don't know what to do in our life.

But, I'm telling you as someone who has already gone through those rough times, there is always someone who can hear and understand what you feel. There is always someone who won't judge you just because nothing is happening right in your life now.

When everyone seems they don't care, there is always someone who cares for you. And that someone, make that person an inspiration to get up and continue living with a purpose. With that someone, happiness will surely find you. And from that, you'll know what to do and what you really want in life. Strive for it with that inspiration."

Silence. Everyone looked emotional while listening to my dad's words.

Looking at the crowd with sincerity, he held and strummed the guitar. He started singing.

"Listen to me my dear
Put all your worries in my hand 
I'll carry them to the wind
So, they will go far, far away
Share your pains with me
Let's cry together.."

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It's already 6 PM when my dad's band finished performing. My dad's bandmates went home first but we were left at the school because my favorite band would perform as the last act for today's event. My dad knew I love them so much and I thought it's also the reason why he decided to invite us here.

But it's still 6. The last stage would be at 9 PM. Our parents brought us to the famous seafood restaurant near the school. We were eating when my dad's phone rang.

"Oh yeah, we are here. How did you know?" my dad asked.

I looked at my mom and asked her who but she shook her head. She didn't know either.

"Sure, sure! We'll just finish our dinner and go there." My dad looked excited and hang up.

It was his best friend in high school. He was also here for a business meeting. I heard from my dad that his best friend found out my dad's also here because of the live broadcast of the concert through the school's homepage. His best friend was a student from SN University.

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"Are you sure you don't want us to go there?" My brother asked dad.

"You'll get bored there since we will catch up. He might be talking about his businesses. Your mom and I will be back here. Have fun." My dad said while giving us money to spend.

We tried to return the money but he refused.

"You can't enjoy the event if you have no money with you. Eat something or buy those good stuff from different booths here. Okay?" My mom said while smiling.

She held my hands and told me "You can also buy those DAY6 merch. Their booth is there, I saw it earlier."

"Really?" My eyes got bigger hearing DAY6.

My dad smiled and added, "Enjoy listening to them later. Don't use your phone. Just enjoy their performance and save it in your eyes, ears and most important, heart. So, you can recall that wonderful stage in your memory."

"Yes, dad! I'll make sure to do that." I smiled.

"Give me her guitar, I'll carry it around." My brother said.

"Ah! I'll bring this. There's a guitar shop where we will be meeting my best friend. I'll buy this guitar new accessories. It looks dull. I'll have its name engraved here, too." My dad said.

"Wow! Really?? Thank you!!"

"JP, take care of your sister. Many people are here, she might get too excited and get lost." My dad reminded my brother while laughing teasingly.

My brother and mom also laughed.

"I'm not a little girl anymore, dad!" I frowned.

"Well, we have to go. See you later!" My mom waved at us.

It was only a few steps away from us when I ran towards them. I hugged dad then mom while saying, "Thank you for this day, Dad, Mom! Take care."

I was still hugging them so tight when my brother pulled my red hoodie I was wearing.

"Let them go, Mina. They must have a date later after meeting dad's best friend. You're making their precious time shorter."

"Ooppps, sorry—" I stepped back and giggled.

My dad and mom just smiled. Those bright smiles were glowing along with the colorful lights at the school's ground.

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Eating some potato sticks, I was standing in front of the DAY6 merch booth. My eyes were delightful seeing so many band's posters, light bands, stickers, fans, bag pins, notebooks, jackets, shirts, and a lot more. I could see their handsome faces. I felt like there were all smiling and looking at me. I bought one group poster, some stickers and a notebook. I sighed, I still wanted to buy more but I didn't have enough money.

"What else do you want to buy?"

When I looked, it was my brother beside me. I thought he went to his friend because he said he had a friend who's studying here.

Smiling, I pointed at the black hoodie. That's something I'd been wishing to have.

He got money from his pocket and paid for that black hoodie. I hugged my brother and thanked him.

"Happy?" he asked me.

"Of course! Who wouldn't be? Oh, thank God, I have a handsome, talented, kind and very generous brother."

He moved my head away from his chest.

He let loose and said, "Thanks to DAY6, my sister praised me for the first time."

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We sat at the table at the corner of the food stalls. My brother bought hot beef noodles with rice.

He was busy eating when I asked him a question.

"Grandfather went to my school last time."

"And?" he asked.

"He said you could still change your mind if you want."

"Why didn't he just talk to me directly? Why bothered you." He sighed.

"How's music school? Is everyone good to you?"

"Can't you see I look happier and better now compared before when I forced myself to follow grandfather?" he answered.

It's really true. We could tell how happy my brother was when he followed what he really wanted to do – studying in music school and not in a prestigious college.

He finished his food. Drank some water and told me to stand up.

"Let's go to the café in this university. I will meet my friend, he's already there. I'll introduce you to him. There's still time left before your favorite band's performance."

"Okay." I stood up and got my bag.

We're walking to the café when I saw the big screen lighted up. DAY6 photo was already displayed. It's so big that I could see it even though the concert ground was far from us.

"I don't think I can go with you."

"What? Hey! No, stay with me. What if you get lost?" my brother told me.

"I have phone. I can contact you if there's a problem. I need to save seats for us. I really want to have a good spot so I can see them up close. Please?" I begged him.

He scratched his head while telling me to never leave the concert ground.

"Don't go anywhere. Just stay where you can find our seats, okay? I'll call you later."

"Yes, sir!" I joked.

He patted me on my shoulder and left. I walked to the concert ground.

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30 minutes before my favorite band's performance.

"DAY6 UP NEXT" can be seen at the big screen beside the stage. My heart was pounding already. My brother was gone for a while to meet his friend who was studying at SN University. He promised me that he would be back before 9 so we could watch the last performance together.

I decided to walk around the school since I felt bored. Besides I already secured our seats.

The university's really big. Studying here must be good, I told myself. It's one of the prestigious universities in the country. Carrying this school's name means a big responsibility to be a successful person. I guess that's the reason why my brother stopped coming here.

John Paul, JP for short, that's my brother. He's actually smart and a very talented person. He knows how to play a lot of instruments such as guitar, violin, cello, drums, piano, bass, flute, etc. He's also good in academics especially in Math and Science. My brother can also paint.

But what makes me so proud of him is that he's a good singer. His voice resembles my dad's.

He passed the college test and got accepted at this school – SN University. He decided to take a business course just to make our grandfather happy. When I asked him why he did that, he told me that he couldn't bear hearing harsh words about dad for not obeying grandfather. So, to lessen the resentment our grandfather had towards our parents, he went to SN University.

However, my brother couldn't fool himself. It was only the first term when he quit studying here. All his friends mocked him for choosing that music school over a prestigious university. With this, our grandfather resented our family more.

I sat down on the bench near the school's entrance gate. As much as possible, I didn't want to think about our family's situation, my dad, mom and now my brother being hated by our own relatives for choosing a simple life. But walking inside this university, I couldn't help.

I got my phone and checked the time, 15 minutes left before the last stage.

So, I got up and walked to the school's field. But suddenly, I heard a loud crash sound.