What if?

Chapter 49: Guitar

Nick

Michael’s question shocked me. I didn’t know that he knew I was embarrassed. I felt like my face was slowly getting red as I thought about what my answer would be with him. 

*Knock *Knock *Knock

Someone knocked on the door. Without hesitations, I immediately went next to the door to open it. Whoever knocks on the door is my life sver today. “Boys, your mom is calling.” Janice said as soon as I opened the door. She is always something that can help you whenever you are in this kind of situation. “Mom?” Michael said as he walked closer to me and Janice. “Yes! Here grab the telephone.” Janice said and gave the telephone to Michael. 

Don’t get it wrong, Janice did not give me the telephone first even though I was already in front of her because Michael is the spokesperson. Nah! I am kidding! It is because Michael is older than me (by months). And besides, I don’t really like talking on the phone because I feel like something is strange and it is kind of awkward.  

Michael grabbed the phone and answered the call. “Mom, hello good afternoon.” Michael said while smiling. You can also sense in his voice that he is happy. I really appreciate Michael’s love for our parents. Even though he is not really that good in showing his love to our parents, Michael has his own way of showing his love and warmth to those that are important to him. 

“Yeah, we are fine. We actually got home a couple of minutes ago.” Michael said to Mom. I cannot hear what they are talking but mom must have asked how we are. Well, she usually asks that. She cares a lot about that. “Yeah, Nick is with me… okay, I will pass the telephone to him.” Michael said through the telephone and passed me the telephone. 

I grabbed the telephone from Michael’s hand and put it near my ear. “Mom, this is Nick speaking.” I said and waited for mom’s reply. “Janice said that you started to practice playing a guitar at your club, so how was it?” Mom asked me with a cheerful voice. I know mom must have felt really glad about me learning how to play the guitar because she knows that I really want to improve myself in music. 

“Yeah, I did mom.” I answered mom’s question. “Whaa! You must have felt cool, am I right?” Mom said trying to tease me. “Yeah! Hahaha…” I laughed as I answered. It was a little funny so I laughed. “Yieee… Okay so we will be back there quite late. I think it's 8 pm so wait for us okay?” Mom said to me. I don’t get what she really wants. I mean, I am still awake at that time though. I will watch videos on YouTube about the proper way to hold a guitar and the positioning of the fingers on the strings. I am also planning to learn a new chord and have a guitar here so Jake won’t have a hard time teaching me unlike what happened today. 

Jake was being so kind to me today in learning even though I know that he was having a hard time in teaching me so I decided to learn on my own. Unfortunately, I don’t have a guitar. It could have been better if I had a guitar. I actually wanted to ask mom to buy me a guitar but I am too shy. “Hmm… but I think we are going to eat first.” I said to mom to brighten the conversation more. I am learning to be a brighter and not an awkward boy. “HAHAHA… Of course! We are also going to eat here because we will have a dinner meeting. Okay so goodbye already.” Mom burst into laughter and said. “Bye mom.” I replied and immediately gave the telephone back to Michael so he can also say goodbye to our mom. “Bye mom, take care of dad.” Michael said to mom. I was not able to hear what Mom replied to Michael but he was smiling widely so I think mom said something hilarious. 

Dad was not able to talk to us but I was actually able to hear his voice softly. It seemed like dad was talking over the phone and was talking about some business things because I heard him say the word “DEMAND” so I expected that he was busy talking to someone. 

Mom then ended the call and Michael handed the phone over Janice. “I will go back downstairs.” Janice said to the both of us while smiling widely as if she was teasing us with her smile. “This house is full of positive, cheerful and kind people.” I said to myself as I saw Janice leaving the room. 

As Janice was no longer visible to my eyes I remembered Michael’s question a while ago. “Nick…” Michael said but he was not able to finish what he was about to say because I cut him. “Oh! Mom said that they will come home late, she said that maybe at 8 pm they will be at home. So I will be sleeping now, I feel so tired all of a sudden and just wake me up if it is already dinner.” I said to Michael and walked quickly to my bed’s direction. I then immediately jumped on the bed and covered myself with a blanket. I did this so I will not answer Michael’s question. 

“s**t! Now my plan of learning how to play the guitar is ruined. I can no longer learn it because I have to stay away from Michael’s question.” I said to myself. He is so much into my business. 

“Ugh! I can’t fall asleep.” I said to myself. I slowly opened my blanket a little so I could see what Michael was doing. When I opened the blanket, I saw Michael walking away from the door and I thought he would go to his desk and do some of his things. Maybe he will read a book or watch informative videos. You know, what smart people do. I covered myself with the blanket again and then I slowly felt sleepy. 

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“Nick, wake up.” I heard someone waking me up in my sleep. “Hmm… Yes?” I replied without opening my eyes. I know that it is Michael’s voice. “It is already 7:30 pm and we have to eat dinner already.” Michael said which made me stand up from my bed. I felt the adrenaline rush over my body because of what Michael said. “Why didn’t you wake me up at 6 pm or 7 pm?” I asked Michael because I was curious about it. He should have just woken me up. “I tried but you were so into your sleeping that it made me hesitate and not wake you up as I planned.” Michael answered my question. “Aren’t you hungry?” I said as I walked outside the bedroom. “A little that is why I woke you up already because I could not take it anymore.” Michael replied to me. 

After hearing what Michael just said, I felt guilty. “Okay let us go and eat.” I said to Michael. We are now downstairs and then we went to the table and sat on the  chairs. The foods are already prepared. I think Michael informed them to prepare the food before he woke me up so when we go downstairs, everything is prepared. 

We started to eat our dinner. “Mom and dad said that they are on their way here.” Michael said before he ate his first spoon. “I see. Let us hurry to eat then.” I said to Michael. “You must be really tired today, you even slept really well. I wonder if you can still go back to sleep after this.” Michael said to me. “I am not sure but I think I can still sleep though.” I said to Michael. “I did not sleep because I was tired, I slept forcefully I wanted to avoid you.” I said to myself while staring at him eating. s**t! I really wanted to tell him this but I couldn’t.

“Hi kids! I heard mom’s voice as she went to the both of us. “Hi mom. Where is dad?” Michael asked as he found dad. “Oh, he is in the living room. Are you finished eating?” Mom asked me and Michael. “I am.” I said as I put the spoon on the plate. “Okay, how about you Nick?” Mom asked Michael. “Hmm... “ Michael answered as he was still chewing the food. “Finished!” Michael said. “Great! Let us meet your dad outside.” Mom said and she held our hands and we walked to the living room. Dad was standing. “Good evening kids!” Dad said as he came to hug the both of us. “I heard something great happened today with Nick.” Dad said. “Yeah.” I replied while smiling a little shyly. “Oh mom and dad have a gift for you. Surprise!” Mom and dad both said as they held the guitar together. “What?!” I exclaimed in surprise. “This is for you. I hope that someday you can play your music. Do well.” Dad said as he handed over the guitar to me.