Baby I love the thought of that long as I know I'm the one you're comin home to

    But as long as the night ends with you in a yellow cab shootin' me a text sayin' comin' home soon

    As long as I can bet on ya crawlin into bed after slippin out ya high heel shoes

    I ain't lyin sayin havin a good time

    Out with your girls, girl do what you do

    No matter how late

    Baby I'll be stayin up

    I can't sleep without you

    Ya no matter how late I'll be stayin up cause I can't sleep without you No

    Cant sleep without you

    I cant sleep without you...

    And Taurence ended it with a few more strums on the guitar. Ang mga estudyanteng nakapaligid sa covered court ng college department ay nagpakawala ng palakpakan matapos ang awitin.

    Taurence was all smiles when he lifted his head and glanced at the crowd. He liked performing in front of the people; the stage was where he belonged. And he knew that in the near future, he would become big. He would not only be performing at their school but also on national and maybe international stages with millions of people watching him live. And people around the country... the world rather, would be looking up to him; idolizing him.

    "Isa pa, Taurence!" sigaw ng isa sa mga babaeng estudyante na nasa audience. Ang mga nasa tabi nito'y naghiyawan, urging him to play another piece.

    His smile widened before strumming his guitar. He'd probably play one more; he loved pampering his audiences. This time, he'd play a popular Bon Jovi song.

    Hinayon niya ng tingin ang buong covered court upang sulyapan ang mga kapwa-estudyanteng manonood; it's his way to engage with them.

    "Okay, I'll play one more," he announced on the MIC before giving the crowd his signature lopsided grin. He was awarded claps and cheers by the female and male audiences; kasama roon ang ilang mga teachers na tulad nilang mga estudyante ay naka-lunch break.

    He placed his fingers back on the strings and he was about to start playing when suddenly, something caught his attention.

    Sa likuran ng mga nagkumpulang audiences, sa entry mismo ng covered court, nakasandal sa bleacher ang babaeng nakasuot ng itim na blusa at lumang pantalon. Her arms folded across her chest, her face void of any emotions, and her eyes focused on him, seemingly scrutinizing him as if he was some kind of an object that needed analysis. Yes, she always had that look on her face.

    Halos labinlimang metro ang layo nito mula sa kaniya, but he could clearly see her beautiful face. Yes, she was beautiful. Despite her serious, emotionless face.

    He was always amazed at how this lady looked so endearing even from afar. Her long and straight jet-black hair was always tied in a ponytail, stretching her round, slanting eyes up even more. She looked like a tiger with those sexy brown eyes; dangerous and wild. And he was aware of how men on the campus were intimidated by her.

    He couldn't help but smirk in his mind.

    Not me, he said to himself. I would never be intimidated by her beauty.

    She's the kind of woman his mother would approve of, for sure. She was the kind of woman that would fit perfectly in the Zodiac family tree.

    Napangiti siya sa naisip. Right there and then, he knew he wanted to keep her for the rest of his life.

    Suddenly, while his eyes were still focused on the lady, his mind changed about the next song he would play. He's not gonna play some Bon Jovi's. But instead, he decided to play a classic one. Something perfect for the moment.

    He strummed his guitar, and without breaking eye contact with the woman standing on the other side of the court, he played Elvis Presley's Can't Help Falling In Love.

    Wise men say

    Only fools rush in

    But I can't help falling in love with you

    Tumayo siya mula sa pagkakaupo sa high stool na nasa ibabaw ng stage, at habang bitbit ang gitara at patuloy sa pagtipa ay unti-unti siyang naglakad patungo sa dulo. Isang metro lang ang taas ng stage, kaya balewala niya iyong tinalon. Pagdating sa baba ay itinuloy niya ang pagtipa, adding in the next stanza, with his eyes still locked on hers.

    Shall I stay?

    Would it be a sin

    If I can't help falling in love with you?

    Ang mga estudyanteng nasa harap ng stage ay nagbigay-daan sa kaniya. Ang mga babae'y kinikilig habang sinusundan siya ng tingin, ang mga lalaki naman ay napapangisi at hinayon ng tingin ang umagaw sa kaniyang pansin.

    He continued to sing as he walked slowly to where this beautiful lady was standing. Her name was Hennesy Hidalgo, and she was studying Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. She was a prodigy and the campus gem.

    Take my hand

    Take my whole life, too

    For I can't help falling in love with you

    Ilang dipa mula kay Hennesy ay huminto siya at unti-unting tinapos ang tugtog. He smiled and stood in front of her. Ang mga estudyanteng nakasunod ang tingin sa kanila ay tahimik na inantabayanan ang sunod na mga mangyayari.

    "Hi," he said, trying to be cute.

    "Hi," she answered, her face remained serious.

    "You look pretty."

    "I know."

    "Do you have a boyfriend?"

    "Yes, I have."

    "Does he love you?"

    "More than his life."

    Impressed, he let out a smile. "And you? Do you love him?"

    "More than anything in this world."

    "Hmm. Lucky bastard, huh?"

    Hennesy chuckled before placing her hands on his shirt and pulling it to draw him closer. And without another word, she raised herself and kissed him on the lips.

    A brief yet affectionate kiss that left everyone around them astounded.

    Makalipas ang ilang segundo ay humiwalay ito. Her eyes sparkled as she tried not to laugh. "I think I'll break up with my boyfriend and replace him with you."

    "Your boyfriend wouldn't allow you." Ngumisi siya at muling dumukwang upang halikan itong muli kung hindi lang may nagsalita sa tabi nila.

    "Naku, 'tong dalawang 'to, oo." Nakailing na sabi ni Prof. Celia Corpuz, isa sa mga professors ni Hennesy. "Break time's over. Maghiwalay na kayo ay hihiramin ko na 'tong si Hennesy."

    "Parang wala pang isang oras simula nang maupo ako sa stage, ah?" reklamo niya.

    "Well, you sang a couple of songs without you realizing it." Prof. Corpuz chuckled and gestured her head to Hennesy. "Come, we have a lot to talk about."

    "I'll be right there, Ma'am," nakangiting sagot ni Hennesy habang ang mga kamay ay nasa T-shirt pa rin niya.

    Nang makaalis si Prof Corpuz ay muli niyang hinarap ang dalaga. "Are you in trouble?"

    "Never," natatawang sagot nito. "May mga kailangan lang kaming pag-usapan tungkol sa grado ko. It's nothing serious."

    "Hindi ka naman siguro bumagsak?"

    Hennesy raised her chin and said, "Baby, I'm the smartest in my class."

    He chuckled merrily before placing his thumb and index finger on her chin. "Our conversation is not yet over."

    "We'll continue the discussion after my meeting with Prof Corpuz." She lifted her body and kissed him on the cheek. "I'll see you tonight."

    "Can I spend the night at your dorm?"

    Umikot ang mga mata nito. "Kung magpaalam ka'y parang hindi ka na halos tumira roon, ah?"

    Ngumisi siyang muli. "May pagkakataong ayaw mo ako roon dahil nag-aaral ka. The final exam is coming, I'm sure you would be very busy, that's why Im asking."

    "I'll be busy next week, but not this week." Muli itong ngumiti bago nito pinakawalan ang damit niya. "I'll see you tonight at my dorm."

    "Okay."

    Atubili niyang pinakawalan ang kasintahan. Hennesy turned her back and walked out of the covered court, pero bago ito tuluyang makalayo ay muli niya itong tinawag. She turned and frowned at him.

    "I love you," he declared.

    Kantiyawan ang lahat ng nakarinig.

    Malapad na ngumiti si Hennesy saka kumaway bago itinuloy ang pagtalikod.

    He watched his girl walk her way to the faculty room. And even if he didn't get a response, he knew that Hennesy felt the same.

    And yes, she did. They had been together for over six months and he knew that her feelings for him were equal to his feelings for her. Same amount. Same power.

    But just because they loved each other didn't mean they would stay in each other's arms forever.

    No.

    In life, there were always ups and downs. It was never fair. It would challenge one's patience and faith, fuck people up, throw relationships in the mud, and spin people's minds in the air until nothing's left in them but withdrawals.

    And it's up to the person how far he would keep his faith and hold on until he reached the end of life's little fucked-up game.

    Taurence and Hennesy were no exemption. They would go through life's little fucked-up game and endure all the challenges that would come their way.

    And these challenges are on their way now.

    Both of them had no idea that the next few weeks would be hellish. And there was nothing they could do to stop fate from happening.

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