Chapter 4





“Side. . .step and turn!” naginstruct si Suzumie ng steps habang kami nina Khris, busy sa mga tutugtuging kanta. Pinag-aralan ko na din ‘yung mga dapat kong kantahin. Tapos may kaduet akong Junior na hindi ko matandaan ang pangalan. =__=



“Ang hirap naman ng steps mo e!” Geo yelled out using his perfect English accent.



“Kung ginagawa mo kasi ng ayos!”



“Mukha mo!”




Tumawa si Khris. Kahit kasi nagcu-cuss na o galit na si Geo, fail pa din ang ‘Tagalog-angry accent’ niya. Para daw ‘naipit na bakla’ ang term ni Khris. >__> Hindi ko nalang pinansin si Khris at baka madagdagan ang pagkabadtrip ni Geo. Mahirap na.





“Aish. Di tayo matatapos nito e.”




I froze when I realized Rica beside me. Since yesternight, it’s been bugging me kung REE ba ay meaning Rica Lee o nagkakaroon lang ako ng conclusions na hindi naman dapat. It’s weird. Kasi malay natin kung RIA din ‘yun o baka wala talaga sa kanila. Ang hirap e.



“Is it you? Is it you? Maybe you’re the one I’ve been waiting for~” Tumingin nalang ako kay Aika na nagpa-practice ng song and dance ngayon. Pede din naman si Aika di ba?



“Go Aika! Woo!”



“Aika! Aika! Aika!”




Melody and Ria showing off their cheerleading basic steps. Bakit ba andito ang mga ‘to? Hindi ba sila hinahanap ng mga kagroup nila? Psh. What would you expect? Pasaway sila e. Tss. Cheerleaders.





“Is it you~ Is it you~” Napalingon ako nung biglang dumating si Charmaine sa room at sinubukang sabayan si Aika.



Napatingin ako kay Rica at mukhang kinakapa ‘yung kanta sa keyboards. Seeing them altogether before me makes me so confused and out-spaced. Lalo akong nalilito. Hindi ko alam. Ang gara.




Damn. @__@





“T! Hoy Travis!” I jolted when I heard my name Travis. Not in school, please.



“Don’t ever call me that name.”



“Eh hindi mo ako pinapansin. -__-”



“Malay ko kung maging maingay dito.” Palusot.com.



Mukha namang naniwala si Khris kaya nagpoker face lang siya. Umiling nalang ako at lumapit sa kanya. Kinuha ko ‘yung gitara sa kamay niya at nag-pluck ng strings. I need to focus. Iisipin ko pa ang line ups ng performance para sa Valentines. Ang hirap naman kasi nito. 14 days.




“Hi T!” Ms. President showed up out of nowhere, being so bubbly as she always used to be. “Ito na ‘yung complete arrangement ng performance para sa projects natin. In total there will be 10 performances.”



Tumango lang ako sa kanya. Ano nga ulit pangalan nito? Lagi ko nalang nakakalimutan e. =_=



Tumalikod na siya at nagtatalon? pabalik dun sa mga kaklase niya,




“Ms. President.” tumigil naman siya at lumingon, exposing her white teeth. “A-ano ngang pangalan mo?”



I really do have name problems.




“Rhythm Eliza Esmundo. Bow!” she literally bowed then smiled afterwards. Tumawa pa nga ‘yung ibang nakakita sa ginawa niya. I smiled unconsciously. I really find her cute. . . I mean, yung personality.




Rhythm Eliza Esmundo?





Fck. Another REE. =_=






And her name is close to Music or sound.






Napakamot ako sa ulo ko dahil sa mga iniisip ko. Imbes na matulungan, nadagdagan pa. Why should I bother myself of finding her anyway? Eh di ba siya naman ‘tong ayaw talagang magpakita? Pero sino nga ba naman ang niloloko ko.  Gusto ko talaga siyang makita e.



Lumapit na ‘yung ibang Juniors na kakanta sa gagawin namin. Itinago ko muna ‘yung files sa bag ko at pinag-aralan ‘yung tutugtugin ko. Ako sa guitars tapos si Khris sa drums and beatbox. Nagpatulong na din samin ‘yung ibang kagroup kung pede kami na rin ang mag-banda sa kanila. Since Mr. Popular din ‘tong si Khris, hindi tumanggi.




“Madami akong gagawin, Khris. =_=”



“Ako din naman! Ikaw talaga hindi marunong mag-gentleman!”



“Mag-gentleman? Grammar. =_=”



“Pabayaan mo grammar ko! Ayos accent ko naman! HAHA!”



“Mag-english ka nalang. =_=”




Alam kong pinapatamaan niya si Geo. Buti nalang wala dito. Badtrip pa rin ‘yun. Baka mag-away na naman ‘yung dalawa. Isang pikon at isang mahilig mang-asar. Tss.




Lumapit sakin si Tom at tinanong ‘yung chords ng iba para masabayan niya daw sa bass guitar. Lumapit na din ‘yung kaduet ko kaso mukhang nahihiya. Lagi kasing nasa tabi ni Tom, ni Rica o ni Khris tuwing tutugtog e.



Nung nagkatinginan kami, sinubukan kong ngumiti. Sabi din kasi nung iba nakaka-intimidate daw kasi ang itsura ko kaya nasusungitan o natatakot ‘yung mga lower batch sakin. Oo na, si REE ang isa sa may sabi nun. Improvement.





After ng practice  sa hapon. Dumiretso ako sa music club para ayusin din ‘yung mga nagpasa ng form para sa upcoming event. Walang tao. Umupo ako sa table ko at binasa ang mga papers na nakapatong dun.



Bali two days celebration. Ngayon ko lang din nalaman na birthday ng principal namin kaya tuwang tuwa siya ng may magaganap na event. Last year kasi simple Valentines program lang. Tapos yung Music Event ginanap nung December.



Nakita ko ‘yung banda nina Melody, kasali dun sina Ria, Aika at Charmaine. To be followed na daw ‘yung isa. Pinak-check ko na to sa ka-club officers ko. Mukhang tinanggap nila. Fine. Ayoko ng problemahin ‘to.



Binasa ko lang ‘yung notes regarding sa mga suggestions ng teachers and other staffs. Dinis-regard ko ‘yung mga nauulit na suggestions and such at isinave sa computer ang mga kasali. Dapat si secretary ang gumagawa nito e. Bakit ba sila umuwi agad?





*. . . Ring. . . ringring. . . *



Tumingin lang ako sa likod ko nung tumunog ‘yung phone ko pero hindi ko na pinansin. I can call him or her back. Wala pang 7PM kaya naman imposibleng si Ree ‘yun. Nakailang tunog din ‘yung phone ko kaya baka kelangan talaga.




Kinuha ko na ‘yung phone ko dun sa panglimang tawag. . .





“Sht!” Sinagot ko agad ‘yung tawag. “So-sorry. Hindi ko alam na—”




[“It’s okay. Halata namang busy ka e.”] she laughed quietly. I sighed at inayos ang upo ko. [“Too busy for the upcoming event huh?”]



“Oo e. Ang dami ko pang tatapusin.”



[“You want me to help you?”] I was alarmed by the tone of her voice. Seryoso ba siya? [“You’re really cute when you’re shocked.”]



“Pa-pano mo—” Bigla akong napatayo at tumingin sa paligid ng room. Kaso imposible. Studio type ang room at wala ding tao sa labas. “Asan ka?”



[“Umupo ka kasi. Aalis na ako dito.”] Pakiramdam ko ang malamig na pawis ko sa likod. Andito lang siya sa malapit. [“Sit!”]



“Hindi ako aso.”



[“Now the poker face~”]



=__=




“Ree.”



[“Good boy!”] She chuckled again.



“Ree.”



[“Hala! Tampo na si Travis?”]



“Pinaglalaruan mo ako.”



[“Ito naman! Ngayon na nga lang kita nakita ng ganitong kaseryoso ulit sa isang bagay. Pagbigyan mo na ko.”] Humarap na ulit ako sa computer at ni-loud speaker ‘yung phone para makapag-typr na ulit ako. Kelangan ko pa kasing tapusin ‘to.



“I’m always serious. Ikaw na nga mismong nagsabi sakin nun dati.”



[“But your eyes are different now compare to the simple serious T.”]



“Ano namang iniba ng mata ko?”



[“You show that you love what you’re doing.”]




Napatigil ako sa pagtatype nung sinabi niya ‘yun. I just stared at my phone and made my mind think  nothing.




[“I really love those eyes, Travis. That’s the eyes that I always stack for every year.”]



“Eyes stalker? That’s new.” I heard her soft giggles. She made me smile again.



[“But I doubt, parang mas gusto ko ‘yung ngumi-ngiting mata ni Travis.”] I smirked, realizing na pinapanuod nga pala niya ako kung saan man. [“You eyes can’t lie, you know.”]



“Ikaw na ang magaling magobserve ng mga bagay.” I mocked out.



[“Sayo lang ako ganito. Pag nakita na kita, sayo na naka-focus ang mata ko.”]



“Banat ka na naman.”



[“Havey naman sayo! Hahaha! You should see your smile right now!”] Alam ko. Yung ngiting aso na abot hanggang batok. Fck. >____> [“Pogi talaga ni Travis oh~”]



“Ikaw maganda ka, Ree?”



[“Hindi e. Pangit ako.”]



“Sus! I can imagine an angel’s face whenever I hear your voice.”



[“Angel na may sungay~”]



“I want to see you, Ree.” Kinuha ko ‘yung gitara sa tabi ko at nag-pluck ng strings habang tinuon ko ‘yung chin ko sa hollow part ng gitara. “Gusto ko talaga.”



[“You know you can’t cause I won’t allow it.”]



“Hanggang rinig nalang ganun?” I sulked.



[“Travis. . .”]



“Oh?” I still try my best to sound displeased.



[“Don’t frown! You’re getting ugly. ”]



“Don’t care.” I sighed.



[“Travis. . .”]




Aish. Ang galing talaga ng boses niya.




I sighed again for the gesture of my defeat. Wala naman kasing mangyayari kung bumaligtad man ang labi ko kakasimangot. She won’t show herself up and I think she really has the reason. Baka magalit pa ‘to sakin.





[“Close your eyes.”]



=_=?




[“Just close your eyes, Travis. Don’t peek.”]



“Ha?”



[“Gawin mo nalang. Dali na~”]




I closed my eyes and rested my back against the chair. Ano na namang meron?



“Don’t open them, okay?”



“Oo na—”




I heard the club’s door.




Pumasok siya?




[“Don’t dare to open them.”]



“What for? I want to see you.”



[“Just please, Travis.”]




Talo na naman.




I sighed again. Exhaling air to let her know that I just can do nothing but to obey.




I heard footsteps getting closer as well as the pounding in my chest that seems to be an unbearable feeling of nervous and impatience. I want to open my eyes so badly but I’m too scared that she may turn back and be away. I can’t let go now.




I jolted when soft palms covered my eyes.



“Just making sure you won’t steal a look.”




I was taken aback when I heard her voice.



Nanlamig ang katawan ko but at the same time, nararamdaman ko ‘yung init ng mukha ko.





“Whenever I wake up, the first thing I think of is you. . . I still can’t imagine that this really happen to me oh~” She rested her chin cheek at the top my head and I can feel my arms’ hair standing up. Giving chills and shiver. “. . .You are so wonderful to me~”



Now playing: So Wonderful by Devotion





“Ree?”



“Hm?”



“Di ba talaga pede?” Naramdaman ko ‘yung ulo niya sa left shoulder ko. Gusto kong gumalaw pero ramdam ko na para akong pagod na mas piniling umupo at pakiramdaman siya. “You’re such a mystery.”




She let me hear her sweet giggles. There are much better than through phones.



“I didn’t know that I can hold you like this.”




My heart was on the race track again. It beats so fast that it may suffocate me, anytime.




“Let me be unknown for now, Travis. Please. Don’t open them.” Dahan dahan niyang tinanggal ang kamay niya sa mga mata ko. I nodded. She seems upset. “I let you know soon. Promise.”



“S-sige.” then I felt her arms surrounding my neck. Goosebumps and heat waves.




Siguro kung ibang tao ako, he may take the risk of opening his eyes just to see who’s the lady at my back. Pero mas pinili kong maging duwag. May ipinaparating siya na hindi ko alam kung gusto o away kong malaman.




“You smell coffee.”



“Yes. It’s your favorite scent.”



I smiled when I felt her breath touching my neck.




Why can’t you open your eyes, Travis? Here’s your chance for Pete’s sake!





Why can’t I just open them now?







“This is bad.”



“Ha?”




“I’m losing my wings and I’m falling down slowly.”







I heard quiet sobs.





“I should regret this but I just can’t.”



“Ree—”



“I’ll have you Travis. Not now, but I will.”





I want to hold her but she already let go and run away. I opened my eyes and just saw her back running out towards the door.



“Ree!”




Too late.




Ang bilis niyang tumakbo.




Hindi rin ako makatayo mula sa upuan.




I tried to chase her pero hindi ko magawa.






Anong ibig sabihin niya?







I shook my head in disbelief. When did I become a coward? I’d lose her just like that. Napahilamos ko ang kamay ko sa mukha ko. Hindi ko tuloy maisip na lalaki ako at nagpapadala ako sa isang babae ng ganitong kadali. Sobra sobra na ‘to.



When I gained my reflexes back, I shut the desktop down for I won’t make any concentrations after what happened. Mixed of happiness and regret, that’s what I’m feeling right now. Just full of crap for I let her go just like that and bliss for I not only heard her, she came near just me to feel her presence.



Tumayo na ako matapos ayusin ang gamit ko. Lumabas na ako ng room pero isang bagay ang nakakuha ng atensyon ko.




Kinuha ko ‘yung isang keychain sa sahig at tinitigan ‘yun.




A musical note with ‘NLily’ carved on its back.





“Kay Ree.” I said while putting it inside my pocket.