The Chimes of Music
“Damn, that’s your last game?”
“Come on, Kane, you’re gonna get left out” The disappointment from the voices of Kane’s friends can be heard from his headset stuck onto his ears. He knew that there was still a mystery that he needed to solve, and it always left him indulged yet perplexed.
“Yeah, nice game, though. I’ll try to win some rounds tomorrow so I can reach the next rank and catch up with you guys.” Kane uttered to the mic close to his mouth before taking off his headphones and leaving the game server. It was already 10:00 pm, and he still has classes tomorrow.
He wanted to play more, but as the clock got closer to midnight, his hands always wanted to grab his phone and plug on his headset. It’s been like this ever since Kane got into college. He was an avid gamer that went on grinding for hours until past midnight. Things changed after Kane stepped foot into another chapter of his life; being busy with studies hindered him from playing more, but Kane knew he was brilliant. He knew that he could complete his homework easily since he reviewed everything before the lesson got even tackled.
What gets most of his time is his phone; regardless of him playing only for moderate hours, he would often indulge in his cellphone and find solace in it during the night.
Kane turned off the lights in his room and placed a globe that’s been embedded with stars. It was sophisticated lighting that he found online. The globe would project the stars in the ceiling in his bedroom while it rotates when powered by electricity. He placed it beside the top of his desk beside him and illuminated the socket with his phone light so that he could plug in the device.
He was mesmerized when a thousand stars came to life above him, brightening up the darkness that engulfed the room after he plugged it in. Kane plastered a smile, seeing how beautiful his newly acquired device was. He would never have to experience laying down in cold plain darkness.
Kane laid down on his bed and wore his earphones that were connected to his phone. He played the perfect song for the perfect moment that he had been waiting for a long time.
“Look at the stars. Look how they shine for you.” The first verse of Coldplay’s Yellow spoke through Kane after the song’s intro. He can feel his heart pump in ecstasy as the bright stars roam above him. “They’re so beautiful,” He uttered with a genuine smile.
“Your skin. Oh yeah, your skin and bones turn into something beautiful.” It was a heartfelt feeling that he wanted to feel over the days. He can only imagine through the music what it feels like to have been said by those words. No matter how much he tried to hold it, his tears eventually fell from the mixed feelings that he was experiencing.
With every lyric of the song,
“You know I love you so,”
Echoes through him.
“For you, I’d bleed myself dry.”
The phone eventually switched on to the next song and, it played a sentimental feeling that he felt was a guide to get him back to the good old days.
“You’re alone, you’re on your own, so what? Have you gone blind? Have you forgotten what you have and what is yours”
He sobbed through the verses of Lauren Aquilina’s song. His heart knew that he shouldn’t be in this state forever, but it was the only peace and solace he had; for now, he had no one to tell about his problems, fearing that it might be troublesome for his friends, and he hates getting pitied.
He felt that this was the only way he connected through his feelings, through music. It’s as if he traverses into another world, finding out a vast ocean and him standing in front of it with the moonlit sky with stars twinkling from above.
He closed his eyes, hoping to get into that peaceful state.
“You’ve got it all; you’ve lost your mind in the sound. There’s so much more; you can reclaim your crown.” His heart lightened up as if a heavy object had disappeared in an instant. His tears ran down from his eyes again, but this time it was about a realization that hit him hard. He can never conquer the ocean if he doesn’t take any steps to tame it.
Peace and solace.
Why would he conquer something that he knew that he already found peace in it? What’s the need for it? His mind constantly asks.
“Put all your faults to bed.”
He clenched his fists, resolved to take a step into the ocean to conquer it. Regardless of what will happen, he knows the music will guide him.
“You can be king again.”
The ocean suddenly rages, and the skies turn dark. Seconds after, heavy rainfall met him on the shore, with violent waves threatening to drown him.
He opened his eyes and was startled the moment when his father barged in, reeking with alcohol.
“You little shit!” Kane’s father turned the lights, and Kane squinted his eyes to the sudden brightness. His heart pounded as his fear started to overcome his senses. His father charged towards him and grabbed him by the collar, and gave him multiple punches in his body.
“Why did you have to be born!” His father hissed at him with curses while he was striking punches at him. Kane could only bear the pain, giving in to fear every time his fists landed on him.
Every time Kane’s mom leaves for work out of the country, this happens. Kane developed a sense of resiliency like this one but-
“You,” a silent echo through his mind resonates.
With every hurtful word his father throws at him, he felt it was senseless even to fight back.
“can be”
He needed music. He needed to envision the world in case any of these circumstances may kill him.
“King, again.”
Before he lost consciousness as he was severely bruised by his dad that had left after throwing his violent tantrums, Kane’s mother called.
“Hello honey, is everything all right?”
“Yes, mom, everything will be fine,” He replied, grunting at the severe pain before his vision darkened.
-To be continued.
