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Ivy was in trance while she walked on the hallway, she couldn't believe that just after she came back she would see that man immediately. She continued to be in dazed until she reached her classroom, after sitting on her chair she immediately buried her head on her desk and closed her eyes shut. 

It's been a long time since she saw Axel, in fact it's over 13 years since she last saw him. Pero hindi pa rin mawala-wala ang takot na nararamdaman niya, kapag nakikita niya ang lalaking 'yon. She could still remember the disgust within his eyes while looking at her, while begging at him to help her save her brother, and the cruel words from his mouth.

At that time, her brother's life was hovering between life and death. Naaksidente ang plane na sinasakyan niya dahil sa pagmamadaling bumalik sa Pilipinas para lang sagipin ang kapatid niya. 

Ngunit wala siyang ginawa sa mga panahong 'yon kung hindi umiyak at magwala. She thought at that time, that it was all because of Erica's doing, why her life was a mess. Kung kaya't wala siyang sinayang na araw para pahirapan si Erica. She keep going like that on and on, until nalaman na lamang niya na ang kompanyang inalagaan ng kuya ay napunta na sa anak sa labas ng ama nila due to bankruptcy. Leaving them with nothing, but a house and few thousands of money.

Ngunit hindi pa 'yon nagtatapos, her brother needed brain surgery. She have no money, she tried contacting their father pero wala ito dahil nag-out of country para sa business abroad. She tried contacting her friends pero, wala ni isang tumulong sa kan'ya. She felt miserable, dahil sa nangyayari sa buhay niya. She wanted to kill herself, but her brother still needed surgery so she can't. She was so desperate to the point na lahat ng mga alahas at natitirang bahay nila ay isinangla na niya para lang pampagamot sa kuya niya.

However, reality was cruel. Her brother had complications during the time of his surgery. He died, within an hour after entering the ER. The brother who pampered and held her like a pearl on his palms is dead, and now she was left alone with nothing but her poor self. Nang bumalik ang ama nila, she was already holding a funeral. No one came, except her father who only looked at her brother, and gave her a check before walking away. 

Doon niya lang nalaman na, ang kuya niya ay hindi totoong anak ng ama nila. At doon niya rin nalaman kung gaano kasamang tao ang tatay nila. She was living a whole life full of lies and deceptions, and only her brother was good to her. 

After that, she went insane and she was only released after 5 years of treatment in a mental institution, where she experienced inhuman treatment. If not for her will power to survive because she remembered her brother's words, baka maging kagaya na siya ng iba na nakakulong pa rin sa mental.

When she finally left the institution, news of her father greeted her. It was an interview about how proud he was of having a son with high capability in business, unfortunately it wasn't her brother... it was the illegitimate child he has been hiding for more than two decades. Not long after, she also heard that Erica had become a world renowned violinist, and became engaged with Axel.

Looking at the news, she couldn't control her anger and jealousy. Pero wala siyang magawa kung hindi manuod na lang sa gilid. She can only turn her back and thrive to live for herself, as retribution for all the wrong things she has done. As the time goes by, she gradually forgets her past and gradually forgets her past identity. 

Unfortunately, the news of her being released from the mental hospital heard by her half-sister. Ngunit imbes na pakawalan siya nito, her half-sister started to designed maliciously. Hindi niya alam kung bakit ayaw siya nitong tantanan, maybe because of fear na baka agawin niya lahat ng nasa kan'ya ngayon. O, baka sa selos na kinimkim niya sa mahabang panahon, that's why she wanted to get even with her.

During her final days, her half-sister visited her and revealed all of her schemes just to see her miserable. Unfortunately, hindi niya ito pinakinggan o mas saktong sabihin na naging manhid na siya dahil sa lahat ng pinagdaanan niya. And only wished to die to sooner so she can apologize to her brother if they can still see each other in the afterlife.

But fate seems to be playing with her.

When she was about to give in, someone showed up and let her see how beautiful life is. Someone showed up, and told her how much he loves her. And someone showed up, to make her believe that there's a rainbow after the rain. 

Unfortunately, her time is running out. At that time of her death, she didn't wish for revenge for the people who caused her downfall. Siya ang may gawa ng lahat ng mga 'yon sa sarili niya, kaya tanggap niya na magdusa. She only wished to be given more time, just to accompany the man who took care of her and told him how much she loves him...

Kasi alam niyang sa oras na pumanaw na siya, masasaktan siya.

‘Kaya please just a little bit, just a little bit... please?’ she pleaded silently deep within her heart.

Habang inaalala niya ang nakaraang buhay niya, hindi niya na namalayan na tumulo na pala sa gilid ng mata niya ang kan'yang luha. She just couldn't get over how her last life turns out. She thought that it would be the end. 

Thankfully, she was given a chance to start over again, and correct all the mistakes she had made. And this time, siya na ang maghahanap sa kan'ya...

"As you all know, there is a yearly tradition of our school, that we hold piano and violin competitions. It is not just for showcasing the young talents of our school but also help you to prepare yourself in case you wanted to participate international competition such as Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow, Frederic Chopin International Piano Competition, The Bach International Competition in Leipzig, Paganini Competition or Premio Paganini or even the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists."

“Competition?” Agad na napatanong si Ivy sa sarili at ibinuka ang mata niya. She was confused why there's suddenly competition going... oh, yes she remembered it.

She didn't manage to attend this competition dahil hindi siya nakapasa sa screening test. Although matagal na ang bagay na 'to, she remembered how disappointed her professor was to her. 

Dahil sa lahat ng mga estudyante niya, Ivy was the only one who didn't manage to enter the competition. Her professor talked to her at that time, to tell her that her music was regressing instead of progressing. 

She even said at that time, "Ivy, music isn't always about how much talent you have, or how many techniques you have mastered. Music itself has a soul, music should be given an emotion in order to express your feelings and let your audience feel and hear what you wanted to say. So you should never play a violin if you can only play it like a lifeless machine." 

However she was enraged at that time and didn't even have time to listen to the professor's teaching. Instead she berated the judges for picking someone like Erica, she even threatened them that she'll going to expose their blatant favoritism. 

After that, she created ruckus outside the campus—spreading malicious rumors targeting Erica and the panel of judges, without understanding that she really wasn't qualified. Because her heart has changed... it was no longer suitable for playing music.

Looking back at her actions at that time, she felt that she might be possessed to do such things.

Bakit niya nga ba nagawa ang mga bagay na 'yon? Kung sana hindi niya nagawa ang mga bagay na 'yon, baka mabigyan pa siya ng isa pang pagkakataon para makapag-perform. Thinking back at her actions, she really was stupid at that time.

Their professor smiled, "And there's also a chance that you might be taken in by famous masters."

"Wait! Totoo 'yan ma'am?" sigaw ng isang kaklase ni Ivy.

"Sana mapili ako!"

"Nah, 'wag na kayong umasa, if there's someone who can be taken in. It would be Erica!" a girl said in discouragement.

"Ahhh, how good it is to be a genius!" 

"Yup! Sayang nga lang si Ivy!" 

"Oo nga..."

"Ma'am! Pupunta ba si Yuhan! Oh, 'di kaya si Professor Bertram?" someone asked excitedly!

"What? Professor Bertram, ’yong famous professor sa Menuhin!" 

Napangiti ang Professor nila. "Well maybe... or maybe not? Anyway the competition would start next month, first week. Para may oras pa kayo mag-practice sa mga pieces na gagamitin niyo sa competition. However, before you can enter the competition, dapat muna kayong pumasa sa school screening. Good luck, guys!"

Agad namang nagprotesta ang halos lahat ng mga kaklase ni Ivy sa sagot ng professor nila. Ivy on the other hand, sighed and began to reminisce about the past since she knew what was going to happen.

Professor Bertram, is considered to be one of the finest professors in Menuhin school. He was proficient in both piano and violin, and produced countless talented musicians that were studying under his wing. 

He also has a mysterious disciple named Yuhan. He was a prodigy in playing piano and was hailed as one of the world renowned master pianist in modern times. 

However, no one has ever seen his face, because he always wears a mask during his performance. At wala ni isang nakakaalam kung bakit nagsusuot siya ng mask. Some says that, he wears mask dahil pangit siya. Ang iba naman, they said that Yuhan was someone with a peerless face, kung kaya't tinatago niya 'to. Who knows?

Back to Professor Bertram, according to what she have learned in her last life. He would attend the competition. At pipiliin niya si Erica as his second disciple. 

Erica soared like a phoenix, and she gains prominence among other violinist. Syempre, maraming naiinggit sa kan'ya sa mga panahong iyon, at isa na doon si Ivy. She was jealous, because she can never reach what Erica have reached.

But now it was different, although she wasn't quite sure about kung magiging disciple siya ni Professor Bertram. Pero sure siyang mapapasama na siya ngayon sa contest. Hindi man niya sabihin, this competition is one of her regrets. She didn't have a strong wish to be taken in by a mentor immediately, but she wished to play the violin in front of the audience. Besides, she wanted to find that man quickly, it's really a pity that she didn't manage to get the man's name...

At the end of the class, Ivy remained seated and watched her classmates leave the classroom. As usual pinalilibutan ng mga tao si Erica, but unlike the usual routine na sisigawan niya 'to. Ivy just slumped down on her desk. 

She never knew that learning theories again was quite hard. It's been a long time since she has heard those, at nangangalawang na siya regarding sa theory and technical knowledge. But she was quite sure that she can play violin more maturely than her previous self at this age.

Pero nakaka-drain ng utak... she felt that she just experience a rollercoaster ride! How she wished she have those photographic memory, para hindi niya na kailangan pag-aralan lahat ng libro niya!

"Ms. Reed, hindi ka pa ba uuwi?" someone asked her.

Ivy looked up and stared at familiar face of her professor. "Ma'am Juvy?" tanong niya dito.

Professor Juvy seems surprised, dahil hindi 'to nakaimik ng ilang segundo. "O-Okay ka lang?" 

Ivy was stunned with her question. "Eh, bakit po ba?"

Juvy looked at her student a few times, before sighing. She might be hallucinating, how can Ivy be polite with her? Ivy was known for impoliteness with everyone, not even for the teachers.

"N-Nothing, you should go home soon." 

Agad na tumango-tango si Ivy, "Okay po, salamat!" 

After that she grabbed her bag before bowing in front of her. Juvy was horrified, matapos niyang marinig ang pasasalamat ni Ivy sa kan'ya. She couldn't help but grabbed her chest in horror! So it's really not her hallucinations! Ivy was really polite to her! How come! Bumaliktad na ba ang mundo ngayon?! 

"M-Mag-ingat ka!" she said awkwardly.

Ngumiti si Ivy sa kan'ya, "Ikaw rin po!"

Nang makaalis na si Ivy sa classroom, hindi mapigilan ni Professor Juvy na mapaupo sa desk niya! She really doesn't know what's going on!

When Iris arrived at their home, the sight of her brother sitting on his usual chair while reading a business magazine greeted her eyesight. Suddenly, without knowing why she felt relieved. Dahil hindi 'to ang maputla at halos walang kulay na mukha't labi, nang huli niya 'tong makita.

"Kuya," she whispered softly. 

As if he notice someone staring at him, itinaas ni Lennon ang ulo niya. He saw his little sister, at napangiti siya dito. "Welcome home."

She didn't reply and instead ran to his side and hugged him fiercely. She buried her head in his arms as if seeking comfort. 

"What happened? Did he do something again?" tanong ni Lennon sa kapatid at hinaplos ang buhok nito. Whenever she's upset, she always do this to him so he can coax her. 

She shook her head. "No... I just wanted to hug you," mahinang sabi niya.

"Do you want me to buy Stradivarius Violin again?" natatawang tanong ni Lennon.

"No!" Ivy pouted. ‘I am just relieved... that you're still alive,’ she added silently. "Gusto ko lang mag-ingat ka palagi."

Lennon laughed again. "Silly. Dahil ba sa panaginip mo 'to?" 

Ivy glared at him. "There's nothing wrong with being careful, Kuya! We don't know if... something might happen."

Lennon nodded his head helplessly, he really didn't know why he had a silly sister. "Fine then, as my sister said so,” he said and pinched her cheeks.

"Stop it! Magpa-praktis na ako!" naiiritang sabi ni Ivy at mahinang sinampal niya ang kamay ni Lennon. ‘Damn this brother of mine! He really does spoiled me rotten...’ she said mentally.

"Go, I heard you have a competition. I am looking forward to my sister's performance."

Ivy just stared at him and nodded. ‘I know, because in our last life I didn't manage to step on the grand stage and thanked you for all the sacrifices you've made.’

After that, agad na pumunta si Ivy sa kwarto niya. And at the moment she closes her door, her legs break down like the gales of the storm. Her emotion went turbulent...

Tumulo ang mga luha niya, na mula pa sa paggising niya pinipigilan. They were hot, and full of sorrow. Her lips were shaking, and her fist were clenched on tight fist. 

The feelings that were buried deep within her heart were erupting like a volcano, showing its might. She wanted to let out all this emotion, she wanted to shout but her voice failed to do so. Instead, she reached out the violin bag on her shoulder. She unzipped the zipper, at kinuha ang stradivarius violin na ibinigay ng kuya niya noong 16 years old siya. The violin she pawned for a low price for the sake of her brother.

With familiarity, she put her chin on the chin rest, and positioned the bow on the bridge, before placing her fingers on the fingerboard. As she started to play, the sorrowful music echoed inside the room. It didn't have the casual melancholy, but the pure sadness and mourning. It was so heartbreaking, enough to make people into tears in sadness. 

The piece started slow before picking up slowly, and back again. It was like a merry-go-round, a cycle... Like her torment.

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