The Pianist

strains of "gone" by jim chappel were wafting through the house. after plunking down the last few notes of the song, her small yet graceful fingers stopped moving on the ivory keys. just as she was starting to play the song "rendezvous" by jim brickman, her father walks into the room.

he sits beside her and puts his arms around her shoulders.

"bad day at the office anak?"

she shakes her head.

"so whats wrong? it must have been a really bad day because you usually go to the firing range with Howie when you feel ticked off."

"nothing dad. i just felt like playing. it has been awhile since i tickled keys and when i got here earlier, you weren't here. so i just went straight to the music room."

her father kisses her on the cheek and then takes her hand.

"anak, did you ever notice that we have the same hands?" her father says while holding her hands in his.

she looks down and nods. "yeah, ive been telling you that before. i also have your eyes and your stubborn streak and the talent to drink lots and lots of alcohol without getting drunk and mumphon..." the last few words came out muffled because her father had placed his hand on her mouth and when her father lifted his hand from her mouth they both started laughing.

that was one thing that she loved the most about her father. they were the best of friends. she looked at their hands once more.

"Dad, you think im ever going to be good enough for someone?"

she heard her father sigh and then say... "Anak, you're good enough for 90% of the people in this country. Pero the catch there is, are you the RIGHT one for them. O sya, i got to go and have the car fixed, want to join me?"

she shakes her head, "thanks dad. i'll be leaving na din naman i just want to finish something."

as her father leaves the room, she turns back to the keys. she slowly places her hands back on them and once more takes a look at her hands. she smiles. no one in her circle of friends knew that she played the piano. while she played "crossroads" by jim brickman, she pondered about what her father had told her.