The not so Random Story of two Strangers(Kathryn Alison M. Revillo) Chapter 1 : Joshua

My name is Joshua. Some call me a music prodigy.. Someone who was gifted with more than enough talent, wealth and looks to earn myself a blossoming career as a concert pianist. Everything was perfect… or so I thought it was until an accident made me realize how my life was so hollow and so out of purpose. How my priorities then were selfishly aimed at things that doesn’t even matter in the long run.

The deafening applause vibrated against the walls of the amphitheater as another successful concert was concluded. I could hear the usual cheers as I closed my eyes and took a bow. Next would be the after party, and the exquisite cocktails and stunning girls all warranted my attention. The night was not yet over as I found myself drunk and ready to get some shut eye. I was looking for my P.A. to tell her I was ready to leave when I saw a bunch of girls moving towards me.. I had enough flirting for one night and the usual formalities all made me exhausted. I turned around and hid behind a door which led to a narrow hallway. It was dark, so I decided to get back from where I came. Just my luck, I thought, the door leading back to the party was locked. I was getting more dizzy and nauseous with every second passing by. I could barely make out the exit sign as I was stumbling along the dark hallway. Too much alcohol does not go well in the dark. I clasped a door handle and pushed, then cool air brushed passed me as I found myself outside the building. I tried to walk to the front of the building but my vision was so blurry from the alcohol. The last thing I heard was the sound of a violent car honk and then darkness.

I woke up and found myself in a hospital room, no one was there with me. I looked at my hands and a moment of panic seized me… they were wrapped in thick bandages. I called for someone and a nurse immediately came. “what happened to me?” I was shocked that my voice was hoarse and dry. “let me get your doctor” was all she said.

I learned I had an accident, and that it was so severe that they had to operate on me. I was unconscious for 3 days and worst of all, my left arm was paralyzed.


Chapter II: Ericka

My name is Ericka. Music is my life. I am a scholarship student at a university offering the most sought out music curriculum. It wasn’t easy to get accepted, the tests and auditions were harsh enough. Now I’m in my third year and I could almost grasp my dream of becoming a professional pianist. Every year my school selects 5 students who are the best in the batch to send to a competition, and the first prize? A scholarship to Europe. The selection was to be announced today. I could hear shrieks of excitement and anguish as I approached the bulletin board. People were crowding around to get a glimpse of who got in. The noise seem to lull as step by step I neared, all I could hear was the beating of my heart. I scanned through the list and found familiar names, these were girls from my class. 1… 2… 3… 4… 5.. I carefully read it again, but still the same… there was no Ericka.

I found myself hours later on a bench somewhere at the back of the school, I didn’t know what time it was and didn’t care. I felt like my eyes were about to fall off from the tears that I cried. “Ericka! There you are! I was very worried” the familiar voice approached. I could feel her hesitation from the way her footsteps sounded. “Are you ok? You just ran off and didn’t even go to class!... That selection was bias and you know it! All 5 girls from influential families! Ericka look at me, you are the best and every teacher knows it, but they’re just afraid to offend the school’s major donors! “Jasmine, please stop..” “But Ericka, how about all the efforts you made?.. all the sacrifices and time you..” “Jasmine! It's done, what can we do?! Just leave me alone..” I could see the hurt in her eyes and it made me guilty, but I could not bear pity right now, it's just too much.

It was almost dark when I finally went home, all the tears I shed left me with a feeling of numbness. The path that I walked to and from school was a long one, and for the first time the noise of cars from the busy streets did not bother me. The shortcut I always take goes through an abandoned construction site. I quickly slid through the narrow opening of the fence and walked normally. Halfway through the path my heart skipped a beat when I saw someone plowing the grounds. This place was supposed to be abandoned. I observed the old man wearing a white shirt and dark jeans and was lost on how to proceed. A thorough look and I noticed that he was crying, from afar I could feel his anguish and the sadness that clouded his features was so apparent that it made me feel worse than earlier. For a while I just stood there quietly. “how long are you gonna stand there, young lady?” I glanced at him nervously and did not answer “Well, if you don’t have anything better to do why don’t you just pick up that plow beside you and help me.” he looked at me and smiled and it made my heart feel warm. I took the plow and pushed it to the ground with all my might. It felt really good.

From then on, after school I would help the old man do whatever he was doing, whether pulling weeds or clearing the land from abandoned lumber. A silent camaraderie developed between us. I didn’t ask any questions, the silence was not awkward in any way.

One day as I went to my shortcut, I noticed something different. The old man was not there, instead there was a rugged young man, pouring sacks of fertilizer to the area we cleared the other day. I immediately felt worried for the old man, is he sick? I approached the young man and as we exchanged glances, time just stopped and I was caught in it.


Chapter III: Joshua

The girl standing in front of me was the most beautiful girl I ever saw, but her eyes were her most striking feature. They were hazel, and it was so deep and emotional that she immediately took my breath away. Her voice broke my trance, “You’re not the old man” she said with a questioning look. “Yes, obviously I’m not” I answered. she gave me a look of annoyance. “Where is he? Is he coming back? What happened to him?” the worry in her voice was quite apparent. “My grandpa is sick, the doctor said he doesn’t have long” “well.. could.. could you take me to him?” she asked me nervously.


Chapter IV: Ericka

The house that Joshua led me gave me quite a shock. It was like the ones taken from magazines! Maybe his grandpa worked here. As we came inside maids quickly came to greet us. “where’s grandpa?” Joshua said. “He’s up in the music room” one maid answered. My breath came short from the revelation, the old man owns this house! My surprise was so apparent that Joshua gave me a laughing smirk. His eyes told me he knew what I was expecting. He led me to the grand staircase through a very wide and captivating hallway and then through a large room with a grand piano in the center. By the window, I saw the old man. I immediately approached him but then I remembered, I didn’t even know his name. I opened my mouth but didn’t know what to say. “I was just gone for a day and you look like I died…” I was surprised by what he said and didn’t realize that tears were forming in my eyes. He laughed. “Ericka, has anyone ever told you how emotional you are?” “how.. how did you know my name?” he pointed to a stack of books I left at the shortcut yesterday. “You’re a very talented composer, I had the pleasure of going through your music sheets,” he smiled at me and I blushed. “could you maybe play for a dying old man?” he pleaded. “You’re not dying, you’re as strong as a horse.” I answered and then I went to the piano and played my heart out.


Chapter V: Joshua

In all my years as a concert pianist, I had never quite heard something as lovely as Ericka’s playing. Her piece told a story and I was captivated by all the emotion she made the listener feel. She possessed a raw talent that showed lots of promise. When the piece ended I had to turn my back to hide my astonishment. In my mind, one phrase keeps repeating over and over. “this is the girl I’m going to marry.” I think me and my grandpa had the same thought as he peered at me with laughing eyes.


Chapter VI: Ericka

Grandpa, as he told me to call him, gave me a job. It was to help Joshua make the shortcut into a garden. He told me that when we finished it without any help from anyone else he would grant me one wish. I knew it was weird, but something inside me told me that this is very important to him. Joshua was another matter, I didn’t know anything about him. He was kind to me and kept asking questions about me, but every time I asked about him, he would find that there was still lots of stuff to do. One day, a storm tore through our place. I had doubts whether Joshua would be at the shortcut but I had the sense that he’d be there. I was right, and amidst the cold and rain he was making drainage so the water wouldn’t destroy the nursery we'd put up the other day. I got a shovel and lent him a hand. All afternoon we fought through the rain to preserve weeks of hard work. suddenly Joshua let out a cry of pain. I approached him as he was curled around in the mud, holding his left arm like it was killing him. “Joshua, what’s wrong?” “Nothing! Go back to work, this storm is gonna’ destroy everything!” he looked so pained that I could not bear to leave him alone. I went to him and, ignoring all his protests, observed his left arm, it was swelling and a little bit discolored. “Joshua, you can’t work like this.” “I just need to rest a little while.” “No, if you go on like this you could lose your left arm forever, and how am I supposed to finish this job all alone? Think about me Joshua!” he looked at me with confusion. “ok, I’ll stop, but I won’t leave you here.”


Chapter VII: Grandpa

I knew my time was about to come. I could feel the light calling me towards it. But I cannot die now. I still have one thing to accomplish before I surrender. Ericka was the blessing I’ve been waiting for and just like Joshua’s grandmother, she was just in time. After about three months of non-stop work, Joshua told me that the garden was finished, an exact replica of the picture I showed him before. After struggling to get in a wheelchair and then to the car, I finally arrived at the garden. I couldn’t help but cry as the memories of what the place once was flooded my mind. Ericka was smiling at me and she hugged me like a real granddaughter. Words could not describe the gratitude I felt. Ericka led me to a bench and after minutes of silence I told her the story of my wife’s garden. After it was done, Ericka looked at me with tear filled eyes. “at her deathbed she made me promise that I would bring back her garden, the garden where we first met, before business men ruined the beauty of this city. Ericka, thank you for helping me fulfill that promise.” I gave her the envelope I was holding. “Ericka, please accept this gift.” as she scanned through the contents of the envelope her eyes grew wide. “how did you do it?” she asked. “I am the president of the university, I knew all about the competition you wanted to join, and how you didn’t get a chance to prove your talent.” She gave me back the envelope with a look of determination. “I can’t accept this, I helped you because I wanted to, not because I expected something in return. Knowing I granted a wish is enough for me.” I looked at her and at that moment she reminded me so much of my late wife. “I know Ericka.. you are a very kind hearted girl, but instead of granting you a wish, I’m asking you to grant me one final wish instead.” She nodded her head but there was doubt in her eyes. I told her how a year ago Joshua had an accident that left his left arm paralyzed, and even with the therapy Joshua refuses to play music again. “I think he’s afraid of starting from scratch again, but I know you could help him. Ericka, go with him to Europe, learn music together and draw strength from each other. This is my dying wish. When I’m gone, you’re going to be all he’s got.”


Chapter VIII: Ericka

That night, grandpa died. After all the ceremonies were done, Joshua and I were to go to Europe to study music together. I don’t know how I’m going to convince him to play again, but I know that we were brought together for a reason. life is a cycle of anguish, happiness, grief, sorrow and joy, you don’t know what awaits you… but then again, isn’t that the best part? This is just the beginning.

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