Black Veil

Black Veil          



         "Get out of here! Our performance could have been perfect if you were not there!" the concert master of Strezemann Orchestra shouted in his face.

         "Sir, give me another chance. I'm truly sorry." he pleaded while he knelt down, even though the floor was dirty and a bit muddy.

         "I can't. I told you to play this, instead you played your own composition onstage! What were you thinking back there?!"

         "I'm sorry, Mr. Guipucci. I thought that--- I just thought that it was my best work and that, I'd like everyone to hear it." He replied upon standing up and brushing the dirt on his pants.

         "You see, son. This orchestra started with members that were never interested in music, either they were forced or were just playing around. I was one of them. Mom bought me a violin and I don't want it to go to waste so I joined this orchestra when I was a bit confident of myself. But our very first conductor, and founder of this orchestra gave each of us a month before finally playing in the orchestra, to search what music is really to us."

         "So, are you saying--"

         "Yes, I want you to take a leave from this orchestra for about two months. You can come back then and tell me what music is to you."

         "But-- this orchestra only plays compositions with piano or oboe--"

         "I will find a replacement for you in no time. For now, think of why you decided to join this orchestra and what pulled you into music."

         "Sir--"

         "I have to go, Johannes. Take care and I look forward to seeing you again soon, any time soon." He took off his hat as he went in the little building, where the orchestra practices, and closed the door behind him.

         That was a sign, he thought to himself, that I should now go, too.



         He thought and thought and finally decided that he should try playing somewhere else so that he'll see what truly is music. He also wanted to know if he truly does belong to an orchestra or if he should have just been a soloist.

         He looked for vacant jobs but unfortunately, no applications came good with him. He ended up, knocking on the church's gigantic door. This was his last resort, even though he'll be playing for free.

         No one answered his loud knocks, so he decided to welcome himself in. He walked in the dark aisles, not noticing that someone was in front of him. He continued to walk, and suddenly, there was a loud crash and he landed on the floor with a loud thud.

         "What's going on there?" yelled a priest who just came in and turned on the lights.

         "Ah!!" he replied in a loud voice as he picked  the papers scattered on the floor. He checked them and was surprised that his biodata was not there. "Oh, where is it?" he whispered to himself.

         "Are you applying to become our pianist?" a soft voice said. He turned down and saw a beautiful girl holding up to him his remaining folders. He stared at her for seconds, when finally the girl smiled at him, which brought him back to the real world from his imagination, and said "I'm Veronica." She reached out her hand to him, he hesitated for awhile but finally took her hand.

         The silence was then broke by another priest who just came in. "So, what do we have here?"

         "Father John," Veronica stood up and turned to the priest. "he's our new pianist."

         Father John smiled. "He looks like a real pro to me. Welcome, gentleman." He stops and gives him a warm hug that surprised Johannes. "What's your name?"

         "Johannes. But you can call me Johan."

         "Then Johan shall it be."

         Veronica came to him and said "Come with me. Do you want to see the piano?"

         He nodded and went in an even more darker room. Veronica turned on the lights but it was still a bit dim. The lights were actually not of a big help.

         "I'm sorry. Our old pianist wanted it this way. He wanted a dark room, but we can change it if--"

         "I like it."

         "Oh. And I almost forgot, our piano is very old, too. It's been used by this church for generations, yet it has always stayed in shape. Also, I really like the sound of this piano, all the while, everytime someone plays it, memories of the past just keeps on coming in my mind." She smiled at him and he smiled back, even though his cheeks were a bit red.

         "I--" he stopped and looked at Veronica. "Yes? " she replied. He breathed in deeply and said. " I might enjoy my stay here and discover what role music plays for me."



         The next day, he arrived early in the church. He thought he was alone when he was surprised that someone else was playing the piano. He hurried in the room and was even more surprised that it was Veronica.

         She turned to him as he opened the door. "You're early."

         "You can play?? That was good."

         "No," she smiled. "I'm only a beginner yet. I was thought by one of our old pianist here. He was very kind to me."

         "But I really think that you were amazing." He said as he put down his bag on the floor and sat beside her. " You know, maybe I can teach you more. And maybe next time, you won't have to hire any pianist anymore."

         They both laughed and he tried to teach her some new things about playing the piano. She was amazed of how good he was and he, too, was amazed of how fast she learns every topic.

         Johan looked at her as she played the piano and knew that he was feeling something for her and he knew-- he knew it was love.

         As time goes on, Veronica started to feel the same way for Johannes, even though she does not want to admit it to herself.

         

         They became good friends and always were seen together. But Johan was having a hard time. He decided that they'll be friends for a bit while then.

         "Do you live here?" Johan asked Veronica.

         Veronica smiled at him. "My mother left me when I was still a baby right in front of the church. The priests found me and they have took care of me ever since then."

         "You're lucky."

         "I am." She replied and knew that she was inlove with him, too.

         

         Sunday came and Johan was feeling a bit nervous even though he had played in front of a crowd many times. Still, it felt different and he didn't know why.

         He played-- without mistakes when he looked at the choir and he was surprised again that Veronica was the lead singer. She looked back and smiled at him but he looked down. He knew his heart beated faster than the usual. As if it was a sign of something.

         

         Days go on, and Johan always came early to meet Veronica in the piano room. He was on the piano, while she sang in harmony. Together, they create beautiful music which was extraordinary.



         The fourth Sunday came and Johan played even a bit better than before. He was very happy and it was all because of Veronica. He was inlove. He decided that today, he'll ask Veronica if she felt the same way for him.

         After the mass, they had a little feast in the main hall, but Johan was surprised when Veronica was not there.

         "Father Charles?"

         "Yes, Johan."

         "Have you seen Veronica?"

         "If I'm not mistaken, I remembered seeing her by the prayer room with Sister Jane."

         "Thanks." He ran off the prayer room.

         He was about to wave his hand to Veronica when he heard Sister Jane mentioned his name. "Johannes. Tell me, Veronica, if you have feelings for this young man."

         "Sister Jane, I--"

         "Tell me straight dear." She smiled at her but Veronica looked down.

         Johan felt pain in his heart when he saw Veronica turned her head from side to side. "No, Sister Jane. You've misunderstood our friendship."

         "Good." Sister Jane said as she left Veronica, who was in tears. As Sister Jane walked down, she saw Johan yet she said nothing. When she was a few inches before him, she looked back and said to him "There you have it. Now you know her reply and won't be  asking for it anymore."

         Johan did not reply for those words meant nothing. But hearing Veronica's rejection straight from her red lips, meant everything.



         Days after, they no longer practiced alone in the piano room. Veronica didn't know why he was always late and he played a bit lousier and slower than before. She decided that maybe she had to confront him. She saw him in the piano room, he was sitting by the piano, but he was only staring at the keys.

         "Johan." She said as she closed the door behind her. "What happened?"

         He didn't turned to her, but he replied. " I was rejected by the girl I like."

         She suddenly felt pain in the heart, but pretended that there was none. "Who was she then?"

         At first he hesitated, but still gave her a reply. "Someone you don't know."

         She felt tears in her eyes but she wiped them away before he can see them. She cleared her voice before she talked. "What do you like about her?"

         "Everything."

         She didn't know what to say next, so she left the room.



         Days passed and they ignored each other. Johan kept on practicing harder even though he was still hurt by those words and didn't understand the way Veronica acted back there. He knew something was wrong with her, too, yet he was too weak to ask her why.

         It was late in the afternoon when he remembered that he left his bag in the piano room. He was surprised to see Veronica in there.

         "I've been waiting for you."  She said to him.

         "What's wrong?" He said, not meeting her eyes, as he took his bag on the floor.

         "Can't we go back to how we were before? When we were good friends?"

         He looked down. "I don't know if we still can."

         She was surprised by what he said. "Why?" He approached him to meet his eyes. "Why can't we?"

         "Because I like you."

         She was speechless with what she heard so he continued. "But I heard you-- what you said to Sister Jane, you don't feel the same for me."

         "I do." She said in a whisper.

         "But why did you say--"

         "You don't know a thing about me. I'm different."

         "I love everything I know about you. Even the things I don't know yet."

         "Then, will you ask me now what I want to be?"

         "Why would I--"

         "You even can't." She said as a tear rolled down on her pink cheek.

         "What does that it have to do with our feelings for each other?!"

         "Because I wanted to become a nun! Ever since then, I have dreamt of becoming one. But now I can't because I have fallen for our pianist!"

         "Veronica." He said as he hugged her. She continued to cry silently.



         They didn't talk to each other anymore. But one night, Johan crept into Veronica's room. He woke Veronica up. "Will you choose between becoming a nun-- or becoming my wife?"

         Veronica rubbed her eyes in disbelief. "What are you saying, Johan?"

         "It's now or never."

         "I don't know, I--"

         "Please give me a reply, Veronica."

         "But--"

         "You love me back, don't you?"

         She was stunned a bit as she gazed into his eyes. She nodded and started packing her things. Afterwhile, they were out of the church. Johan was holding tightly her hands. He pulled her, but she pulled back as she took her last glimpse of the church.

         "Veronica. We'll be now together." Johan looked at her.

         She said nothing, but instead gave him a smile.

         They were then both surprised when Father John, was screaming for them. "Veronica, Johan! Come back. Where are you heading to?"

         Hand in hand, they ran across the street and unexpectedly a huge truck was on the road. Veronica felt a gentle push, and was thrown on the other side of the street. She was surprised about what happened and called for his name.

         "Johan!!" She ran to Johan, who was lying on the floor, and hugged him tightly. "Don't leave me! Together, right?"

         

         Father John and Veronica waited outside the operating room. He approached Veronica who was in deep tears. "My child, everything will be okay." He said as he patted her back.

         The doctor came out and smiled. "He's fine, but right now, he's still not waking up. We'll wait until he opens his eyes back."



         Veronica tiredlessly waited beside him. Everyday, she waited for his awakening. And surprisingly, while she was knitting a scarf beside him, a voice came into her ears.

         "Where am I?" Johan said. He turned to Veronica and said to her. "Who are you?"

         Veronica's smile faded and was replaced with a tear that rolled down from her left eye. "You're kidding, right?"

         "What are you doing here?" He asked her straightforwardly.

         Suddenly the doctors came bursting into the room and asked her to leave for awhile. She didn't want to because she was so confused of what had just happened but she knew she had to. She left the room hastily.



         "He's suffering from amnesia. He lost his memories, so it's like he's back to basics." The doctor explained to her what has happened to Johan.

         "So," Veronica looked up to the doctor. "He won't remember me? He simply forgot about who I am?"

         "I'm afraid so."

         "Does that also mean, " Veronica paused and looked into the doctor's eyes "he couldn't play the piano anymore?"

         "Yes. Even though how good he was before."

         She felt the pain back into her heart again. The pain which comes back every now and then, ever since he met Johan. "I destroyed his life", she whispered to herself. She wanted to cry but she knew her tears won't help Johan even a bit. She buried her face into Father John's shoulder.

         "Don't you think this is a sign?" Father John said to her.

         "Of what, Father?"

         "That God wanted you to be part of the family and that you were truly destined to become a nun. Don't you think it's even better this way?"

         "Father, I do love--"

         "Why don't you try seeing it this way, Veronica. If you were really meant for each other, nothing like this could have happened."

         "He saved me, Father."

         "Of course, because you still need to reach your goal-- to wear that black veil."

         She did not reply this time but continued to cry. She thought about what Father John said to her. Maybe he was right after all, she thought to herself.

         

         They saw each other across the hospital hall but Johan said nothing and continued walking. Veronica called him, "Johan. "

         Johan stopped and turned to her. He replied in a low voice . "The doctors--  they said that's my name."

         "Yes, yes it is." Veronica smiled. "Please don't forget."

         "Okay. I'll try."

         "And also-- " she paused and cleared her throat. "Please don't forget about the piano." This was her last words before she bid goodbye to him.

         

         Years passed and the two of them parted ways. Veronica became a nun and Johan became a businessman and a part-time pianist. He was not as good as before anymore-- but he was still amazing.

         

         Veronica was late for the mass and as she hurried down the hall, she saw Johan waiting on the other end of the aisle in his best suit. She cried silently to herself as he saw him to the hand of the woman in a long white gown.

         She looked away and wiped her tears. She could have not been a nun today, and could have become his wife. But no-- she was not the woman in a wedding gown, but the lady with a black veil.