A Change in My Life

Happy family. Anyone likes to have a happy family including me. I want to do anything together with my family. But then, all of that is only a dream for me. Since I was little, I always spent time alone at home. My parents are so busy with their work. One day, my mother divorced my dad. She said that she and my dad no longer have the same opinion about each other and that it's better for both to go their separate ways. I was just a child at the time, and the news of the divorce left me feeling confused and abandoned. My mom takes custody of me. There is nothing different for me as I continue to spend my time alone. My mom is so busy as she works as doctor at local hospital. My mom always said to me that I need to study hard and never play around. That’s why I think I always get first place during exams. At school, I only have one friend. Maybe it’s because of my gloomy experience. I wear glasses and I never comb my hair properly. Although I always get good results, it never makes me popular. I think it’s better for me as I need to study more and less play. But there is always empty space in my heart. I don’t know what is missing in my life. Then, one day, something starts to change my life.

“Nakamura Yuka, can you see me after this?”

My music teacher, Takashi sensei asked me to meet him after class. Did I done something wrong?

“Yuka, why Takashi sensei ask you to meet him? Did you finally not finish your homework? “ ask my only friend, Wakamiya Ai.

“Are you kidding, Ai? I always do my homework. You can go home first. I afraid that you wait for a long time.”

“Alright Yuka! Goodbye then and see you tomorrow!”

“Goodbye Ai.”

After that I went to the music room where he asked me to meet with him. When I arrive at the music room, I see that Takashi sensei is sitting on chair while holding a guitar.

“Sensei, may I come in?”

“Yes.”

"So, why you want me to meet you, sensei?”

“I want to give this guitar to you. There is also a ticket for a local band concert. You can go there this weekend.”

“Why you suddenly give me all of this?”

“Just assume this as my way to your dad’s kindness.”

“Do you know my dad?”

“A long time ago.”

“But I don’t know how to play guitar.”

“You can read this tutorial on how to play guitar from this book. Now, you can go back to your home.”

I don’t know how to react to this situation. This is so sudden. What is the relation between dad with Takashi sensei? I continue to think about this while I walk back to my home. When I arrived home, my mom still not home yet. I put the guitar under my bed. I am sitting at my study table and read a tutorial on how to play guitar. I don’t understand too much, especially about notes and how I put my finger on the fingerboard. I don’t want my mom to know about this guitar. I am afraid she will be angry with me if I do anything other than study. So, I hid this guitar under my bed. From that day, I will learn how to play guitar before my mom goes home. At the school, I showed the ticket to Ai and asked her if she wanted to go there instead of me.

“I think you should go there. You will know what to have fun with music. By the way, this band is popular in our town. You should go there!”

That’s what Ai said to me. Should I experience it by myself how it feels when I go to the concert?

Today is the day when I will go to the concert. Luckily, my mom said she will not be home until tomorrow. I will take this chance to go there. After arriving at the venue, I showed the ticket and the performance just start now. When they perform the first song, there is a weird feeling that I have never feel before. The song somehow feels so close to me. With the upbeat rhythm and hoarse voice that vocalist has, it really fits pop genre song. I can’t stop feeling excited. I started to jump and cheer with another fan. Why have I never encountered this kind of thing in my life before? I feel so happy that I can’t stop smiling. After the concert ended, I rushed back to my house. I arrive at my house and enter my room. I take out my guitar from under my bed. I heard that band that I went to their concert just now writing their own song. I want to try to make a song too! I learn by watching some videos from the internet. It’s not easy as I need to learn more about notes that guitar can make. What kind of song that I should make? I don’t have any idea. I will decide about that after I become better at playing guitar. I continue practicing playing guitar after I back from school. I did not know that my mom would know about this new hobby. There is day when she will be home a bit early. During that time, I was still playing guitar and I did not realize the door was open.

“Yuka! What are you doing ?!”

“Mom?! When did you back?”

I am so surprise! What should I do now?

“Let off your hand from that thing! I have said before that you just only need to focus on studying! Why are you doing that now?!”

“Mom, this is just hobby. There is nothing wrong with-“

“Yes! This is wrong! You should use your free time to study so that you can become a doctor like me!”

“Why I need to become a doctor like you? I am already in my second year in high school now. I can decide what I want to do right?”

“When did you start to change? You have never behaved like this before! Is it because of this guitar? I will throw this for you.”

“No! You can’t throw that guitar mom!”

I am running toward my mom and taking the guitar from her.

“You never know what I feel everyday right? Since I was little, you and dad never had spent time with me. For the food, I don’t think I will ever taste mom’s cooking. Only dad always cook for me in the morning for my lunch and dinner when I still in grade school before. Then, you suddenly divorce dad. Don’t you know what I felt during that time? Now, you take my only freedom from me. Are you happy now, mom?!”

I let out everything that I have keep in my heart for along time. Then, I feel something hitting my cheeks.

“Why are you slapping me, mom?!”

“You really don’t know how to be grateful right? I work to get money for our family. Don’t you think you should be good with me? Now, give me that guitar and continue studying again after this! ”

“I already said no! Why don’t you want to try to understand me, mom?!”

“You should follow what I said, Yuka!”

“I don’t want to see you again, mom!”