MARUPOK na kung marupok pero literal na napanganga ako nang dahan-dahan s'yang tumayo para ngitian kami. Ang gwapo n'ya ngayon, he's radiating a different aura tonight which made every girls awed.

What the fuck is Adam doing here?

Gustong-gusto ko man s'yang tanungin kung bakit at kung ano ang rason n'ya ay hindi ko na ginawa. My night was already in its worse state, and then I saw him. I think I'm slowly losing my sanity because of what's happening.

Tinignan n'ya iyong tanong na para sa akin. "Good evening, Ms. Ruby Jane Mendoza," he greeted. "You look gorgeous tonight."

Okay na sana 'yong greeting mo, dinagdagan mo pa ng papuri, sobra ka na talaga. Masyado mong pinapaasa ang puso kong salawahan. Galing mo pa ring bumanat, hays.

Nanginginig kong tinanggap 'yong mic mula sa lalaking emcee. "Thank you."

"Your question is... If love is the answer, what is the question?"

Napalunok ako habang nanginginig na itinapat ang aking bibig sa microphone. Gumawa ito ng feedback kaya inilayo ko rin agad. Potek naman, mas kinabahan ako lalo.

"T-Thank you for that wonderful question, sir Cordova."

I heaved a deep breath, focusing my sight on my classmates. Sila ang nagchecheer sa akin ngayong gabi. I have to at least return the favor they have done for me. I have to do my fucking best, so please Ruby, don't screw this night for them. If you can't do it for yourself, then do it for them.

Make them proud.

"There are four questions of value in life. First, what is sacred? Second, what is the spirit is made of? Third, what is worth living for? Lastly, what is worth dying for?" I said, confidently facing the crowd. "The answer to each question is only one. It's only love."

Ngumiti ako pagkatapos makahinga ng maluwag. Hindi ako nabulol, thank you Lord huhuhu. Napangiti sa akin ang judges at pinalakpakan ako pagkatapos.

"Thank you, candidate #6. And now let's call on candidate #5." - emcee Girl.

Para akong nabunutan ng tinik nang bumalik ako sa tabi ni kuya Gregory.

"You've done well. Ganda ng sagot mo," he whispered.

Nahiya naman ako sa kanya. "Thank you, kuya."

Pinanood ko ang mga kandidatang sumasagot sa kani-kanilang tanong. I was amazed at how they briefly answered their respective questions. May iba rin na sobrang haba ng explanation. May facts pa at iba't-ibang citation, ayaw talagang patalo kaya binawi na ng emcee pabalik ang mic.

Natapos kaming lahat sa pagsagot. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pinaalis muna sa stage ang mga lalaking kalahok pero sumunod naman silang lahat. Naiwan kaming mga babaeng candidates. They offered us seats, yun pala may serenade na ipeperform.

Sosyalin. Walang ganito sa probinsya namin.

"And now, let's all welcome Eros de Marco to serenade our beautiful ladies!" impit na kilig ng babaeng emcee.

The stage lights were focused on Eros' good looking features. Everyone shrieked when he started singing the lyrics. Nakakakilig naman kasi ang kagwapuhan n'ya, bonus na iyong kanta na nagdadala sa kanyang aura.

Beautiful Soul by Jesse McCartney. Kaboses na kaboses n'ya kasi ang singer.

"I don't want another pretty face
I don't want just anyone to hold
I don't want my love to go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul..."

Umakyat s'ya sa stage kung saan kami nakaupo. He smiled at us at pinaikutan kami. What a flirt!

"I know that you are something special
To you, I'd be always faithful
I want to be what you always needed
Then I hope you'll see the heart in me...

I don't want another pretty face
I don't want just anyone to hold
I don't want my love to go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul
You're the one I want to chase
You're the one I want to hold
I won't let another minute go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul
Your beautiful soul, yeah..."

He kissed Ms. CEd's hand, ganun din ang ginawa n'ya sa ibang kandidata. Mabuti na lang at malayo ako mula sa kanya. Besides, we're classmates. Ang awkward no, 'di ko naman s'ya type.

"You might need time to think it over
But I'm just fine moving forward
I'll ease your mind if you give me the chance
I will never make you cry, c'mon let's try..."

He walked forward to me and kissed my hand. Kinindatan n'ya ako habang kumakanta. Mukhang naiintindihan ko na kung bakit marami ang nagkakamaling mahulog sa lalaking ito. Napaka-chickboy kasi.

"I don't want another pretty face
I don't want just anyone to hold
I don't want my love to go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul
You're the one I want to chase
You're the one I want to hold
I won't let another minute go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul
Your beautiful soul~"

I sang along with him. He kept facing the audience na kinikilig sa bawat galawan n'ya. He has a different style of holding a microphone. Sa pwetan ng mic lang 'yung hawak.

"Am I crazy for wanting you?
Baby do you think you could want me too?
I don't want to waste your time
Do you see things the way I do?
I just want you to know that you feel it too
There is nothing left to hide..."

Pumunta ulit s'ya sa ibaba at nakipagkamay sa ibang students. Parang nagcoconcert lang Eros ah? Kaya ba sikat s'ya? Ang dami atang feelingerong gwapo sa university namin.

"I don't want another pretty face
I don't want just anyone to hold
I don't want my love to go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul
You're the one I want to chase
You're the one I want to hold
I won't let another minute go to waste
I want you and your soul.."

Sinabayan namin s'ya sa last part ng kanta.

"I don't want another pretty face
I don't want just anyone to hold
I don't want my love to go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul
Your beautiful soul, yeah
Oh, yeah, your beautiful soul, yeah.."

"Thank you everyone!" tapos bigla siyang nawala sa paningin namin at tanging usok na lang na nanggagaling sa sahig ang natira.

At sa'n naman s'ya napunta?

"That was nakakakiliiiiggg, Eros. Crush na crush talaga kita kahit kailaaan," impit ng babaeng emcee.

Nakita kong binatukan siya ng kanyang kasama dahilan para mapatayo s'ya ng tuwid.

"A-Anyway, let's proceed to the next intermission. Ladies, are you ready to hear your hearts out?"

Everyone shouted in sync. Hindi ko nga lang maclarify kung ano ang sinisigaw nila.

"Sila ang nanalo sa Battle of the Bands last year, from the college where everyone is busy washing their plates clean. Let us all welcome the College of Engineering!"

Everyone cheered and applauded like their brains were intoxicated by the college they introduced. It's like the whole place was having a mass hysteria. Everyone was literally losing their minds when the band started.

"Kinukulayan ang isipan pabalik sa nakaraan
'Wag mo nang balikan, patuloy ka lang masasaktan
Hindi nagkulang kakaisip sa isang magandang larawan
Paulit-ulit na binabanggit ang pangalang nakasanayan

Tayo ay pinagtagpo ngunit hindi tinadhana
Sadyang mapaglaro itong mundo~"

Sobrang kaba ang naramdaman ko when the stage light was focused on their lead vocalist. It was him. Shit, my heart.

"Kinalimutan kahit nahihirapan
Para sa sariling kapakanan
Kinalimutan kahit nahihirapan
Mga oras na hindi na mababalikan

Pinagtagpo ngunit hindi tinadhana
Puso natin ay hindi sa isa't isa..."

His voice made my heart pound with excitement, kilig, and other emotions that he and only him can make me feel.

"Hindi na maibabalik ang dati nating pagsasama
Ang tamis ng iyong halik ay di na madarama
Pangako sa isa't-isa ay 'di na mabubuhay pa
Paalam sa ating pag-ibig na minsa'y pinag-isa
Tayo ay pinagtagpo ngunit hindi itinadhana
Sadyang mapaglaro itong mundo..."

He took the microphone out of the mic stand at ibinigay ang gitara sa kanyang kasamahan. Naglakad s'ya sa kung saan ako nakaupo. My eyes were fixed on him like no one else was here like nothing else matter but him and only him.

"Kinalimutan kahit nahihirapan
Para sa sariling kapakanan
Kinalimutan kahit nahihirapan
Mga oras na hindi na mababalikan

Pinagtagpo ngunit hindi tinadhana
Puso natin ay hindi sa isa't isa..."

Dahan-dahan n'yang hinawakan ang aking kamay patayo. Sobrang lamig ng kamay ko dahil sa aircon. His soft hand was holding mine. They were staring at us habang kinakantahan n'ya ako. He's freaking serenading me in front of many people, even though the song doesn't fit the scenario. Mas lumapit s'ya sa akin, his face was too close. The moment he'll hear my heart beating like drums would be the moment of truth.

"Kinalimutan kahit nahihirapan
Para sa sariling kapakanan
Kinalimutan kahit nahihirapan
Pag-ibig na ating sinayang

Pinagtagpo ngunit hindi tinadhana
Hanggang dito na lang tayo..."

Bakit ba ang ganda ng boses niya?!

"Pinagtagpo ngunit hindi tinadhana
Puso natin ay hindi sa isa't isa."

"I love you," bulong n'ya at hinalikan ako sa noo.

The words that I have been wanting to hear from him... he said it, he definitely did.

I stood frozen, still holding his hand. Hindi ko iyon kayang bitawan, I want to hold him kahit isang oras lang. (Kung may papangarapin kayo sagarin n'yo na para hindi kayo mabitin).

Nanatiling nasa aming dalawa ang mata ng madla. Gulat na gulat din ang ibang candidates dahil sa natuklasan nila. Ikaw ba naman haranahin ng isang Joseph Angelo Rivera sa harapan ng lahat, hindi ka ba magugulat? Nahiya si Rapunzel sa haba ng hair ko. Baka maapakan n'yo oh, huh!

"Just tell her already, dude."

Napalingon kaming lahat sa nagsalita. It was Gabriel. Ngiting-ngiti pa s'ya habang nakatingin sa amin.

Kunot noo ko s'yang binalingan ng tingin. "A-Anong sasabihin mo?" my voice was stupidly quavering.

Ang bilis ng pangyayari, kasing bilis ng tibok ng puso ko ngayon. Wala akong pakealam kung matagalan kami rito. I want time to stop just this once. Magpapaka-selfish ako kahit ngayong gabi lang.

"Precious, please go out with me," he said directly into my eyes.

My lips parted as my opponents' jaw literally dropped dead. Unti-unting kumurba ang mga labi ko. My whole system was in haywire, I can't think of any words to say to him right now. I'm fucking overwhelmed.

"YES NA YAAAAN!"

"SIGE NAAAAA!"

"WAG GIRL! AKIN LANG SI SEPH!"

I couldn't hear anything else but the sound of my damn heart beating erratically for this guy.

"So? I'm waiting for your answer, Precious." tinaasan n'ya ako ng kilay.

"Hindi naman iyon tanong ha?" pamimilosopo ko.

Dismayado s'yang nailing at napangisi. "Damn girl, why did I even fall in love with you?"

"Kasi maganda ako," ngiti ko, kasabay ang pagpipigil ko ng luha dahil sa sobrang saya. "At oo. I will go out with you! Namiss kaya kita ng sobra."

"I fucking missed you too. So much," he smiled.

Hindi man ako ang tinanghal na panalo ngayong gabi. Para naman akong nanalo sa lotto dahil sa nangyari.

"You look beautiful tonight," sabi n'ya nung natapos ang pageant. He was waiting for me in the backstage. Grabe, feeling ko tuloy ang ganda-ganda kong babae. Ikaw ba naman hintayin ng isang napakagwapong lalaki?

Nakakakilig!

"Alam ko na iyon. No need to state what's obvious."

And once again, he kissed me on my forehead, which was the sweetest thing that ever happened to me that night.

——