Chapter Theme - Lawson - Where My Love Goes

"De Juan, Reika M." 

Dressed in my black toga and worn out black sneakers, I walked up the stage with a proud smile and head held high. 

A strong round of applause and loud screaming blared. I glanced at the crowd and saw my everyone clapping loudly for me. My parents were standing next to Magno, Sawyer, Jethro, Apollo, and Haji. Next to them was Slade and his Mother.

I glanced at the escort's row and found Grandpa and the Twins' father clapping loud for me. 

"That's my Girl!" Slade suddenly screamed, evoking cheers and laughter from the crowd, making me smile uncontrollably as well. I made him promise not to clap so I guess he preferred to scream instead.

It had been years since the accident. After countless sessions of therapy, Slade had finally regained 70% of the strength and feeling in his right hand. Unfortunately he's still unable to play the guitar since his fingers couldn't keep up the pace of changing rhythms. Slade kept telling me that it's okay, that he could still find other hobbies, but I still can't help but worry over him. After all, words are just words.

"Congratulations, you actually did it." Biro ng dean sabay abot ng diploma sa akin. I grinned and winked at him. 

With the diploma in my hand, I faced the crowd once more. The rush of happiness and satisfaction reigned over my entire body. In a fit of triumph, I raised hand up in the air as my fingers made the rock and roll sign as I stuck my tongue out and winked.

Tears brimmed up my eyes at seeing everyone cheering and clapping for me.

Every hardship I went through just to make it, all paid off.

After our dean's closing remarks, our graduation hymn blared across the stadium all over again. Everyone was crying and running up to their friends. I was about to look for Silver but before I could even move, I saw her running with a big bright smile up her face.

"Reika!" She looked so adorable as she ran towards me, holding her graduation cap into place so that wouldn't fall of.

"Elemento!" I ran to meet her halfway.

We hugged each other tight, not giving a single damn about everyone around us. After all, everyone was also busy taking photos and celebrating with their friends and families.

"We're not going to cry! Chill lang tayo!" I reminded her as I continued to hug her tight.

"H-hindi tayo iiyak!" Giit ni Silver pero sa pagkakataong iyon ay umiiyak na ito. Nang marinig ko siyang umiyak, parang nawala ang lahat ng pagpipigil ko. Kahit ako, naiyak na rin.

 "'Wag kang umiyak! Papanget ka lalo!" Bumitiw ako mula sa yakap at pinunasan ang pisngi niyang basa ng luha, gamit ang mga kamay ko.

"Umiiyak ka na! Pumanget ka lalo!" Umiiyak na ganti ni Silver sabay punas din sa mga luha ko.

Hindi ko napigilan matawa. Ganun din siya. 

"Nothing's going to change okay? Kahit graduate na tayo o kahit maghiwalay man kayo ni Slade, ako pa rin yong Elemento mo ha?" She cried with a smile up her face.

I pressed my lips together, trying to stop myself from bawling. I nodded quickly as I continued wiping her tears. "Reika De Juan never abandons. Walang iwanan, walang iwasan, okay?"

She nodded as well while wiping my tears. "Walang Iwanan. Walang Iwasan."

For a few seconds, we remained looking at each other with tearful eyes. Until all of a sudden, we burst into laughter. Para kaming mga baliw na tawa nang tawa habang umiiyak at pinupunasan ang luha ng isa't-isa.

That's the thing about Silver and I. We just get each other so much. Isang tinginan lang, nagkakaintindihan na agad kami. 

Magsasalita pa sana ako pero bigla na lang may bumangga at yumakap sa akin nang mahigpit. Bahagya akong napatili at malakas na natawa nang umangat sa ere ang mga paa ko. As expected from Slade.

"Congratulations! I love you!" He yelled cheerfully as he kissed me on the cheek and turned around quickly, making me scream a little and shut my eyes to fight the dizzy sensation. 

"Slade nahihilo ako!" I laughed as I snaked my arms around his neck.

"Gusto mo pang mahilo? Sure!" Slade laughed maniacally as he turned around again, making me scream and laugh even more.

Biglang may tumikhim at sa puntong iyon dahan-dahan akong ibinaba ni Slade. Ilang sandali akong napakurap-kurap upang mawakli ang pagkahilo. Ipinilig ko ang ulo at napalingon sa direksyon ng tumikhim.

"Gramps." Lumapit ako sa kanya at yumakap nang mahigpit. Sa tuwing yakap ko siya, pakiramdam ko'y bata ulit ako.

"Thank you dahil ako pa rin ang kinuha mong escort kahit pa andiyan na ang mga magulang mo." He whispered as he hugged me tight. I felt him kiss the top of my head.

"You're my favorite. Don't tell anyone." Pabiro kong bulong sa kanya at narinig ko siyang humalakhak.

Bumitiw kami mula sa isa't-isa. Idinampi ko ang daliri sa gitna ng labi ko saka ngumisi. "Shhh."

"Shhh." Gramps grinned as well as he put his finger between his lips.

"Hoy! Anong sikreto ninyo?" Magno appeared out of nowhere, frowning like a little kid.

"Addamson!" I was still in high spirits, so high that I lunged towards him and hugged him tight.

"Reika naman eh! Nakakahiya!" Reklamo niya kaya natawa na lang ako at mas hinigpitan ko ang yakap sa kanya. Umiral na naman ang kademonyohan ko kaya hinalikan ko pa siya sa pisngi.

Nang bumitiw ako sa kanya, panay ang ngiwi at punas niya sa kanyang pisngi. Tatawang-tawa ako dahil mas lalo lang tuloy kumalat ang dark lipstick mark sa pisngi niya.

Tawang-tawa si Gramps at inakbayan kaming dalawa. "Kayong dalawa talaga. Wala pa ring pinagbago. Basta, protektahan n'yo lagi ang isa't-isa ha? Pati si Tron at Drummer."

Protection. I'm still scared of his definition of that word. Alam ko kasing iba ang paraan ng pag-protekta niya. 

"Para ka namang aalis, Gramps." Natatawang bulalas ni Magno.

"Oo nga, Gramps." Sabi ko naman.

Gramps chuckled as he nodded.

"Flight ko na mamaya. Napagdesisyunan kong bumalik na muna sa serbisyo. May kaibigan kasi akong nangangailangan ng legal assistance. Kailangan kong manatili nang pansamantala sa probinsya. Naisip ko ring kumuha ng iba pang mga pro bono cases dahil tiyak maraming nangangailangan ng tulong doon."

Yumakap akong muli nang mahigpit sa kanya. "You're the best, Gramps. Mag-ingat ka lagi. Kapag may free time, dadalawin ka namin doon."

Gramps sighed as he hugged me back. "Gusto ko iyon. Basta, mag-iingat ka rin dito. I will give your parents a chance to take care of you and Drummer. But if anything happens--"

"Gramps, ako ang bahala sa kanila. You can trust me." Magno cut him off. He smiled confidently and joined our hug as well, just like the good old days.

"Protect your family at all cost." Paalalang muli ni Gramps bago kami binitiwan. 

"Smile for the camera!" Biglang sumulpot si Sawyer na may dalang camera kaya agad kaming nagngitian. Sumali pa sina Haji at Slade sa amin. Ang mga loko, nagbigay pa ng bulaklak.

"Reika..." Narinig ko ang pagtawag sa akin ni Mommy.

Sa puntong iyon, ngumiti si Gramps sa aming dalawa ni Magno bago tuluyang umalis. Bumigat bigla ang kalooban ko. Hindi pa rin kasi talaga sila nagkakasundo ng mga magulang ko. Mas lumala pa nga ata dahil may miunderstanding na naman sila, this time tungkol na kay Drummer. Good thing I was already around to beg Gramps to concede and just let my parents decide for my brother's welfare. Old people problems are so complicated. 

"Hey, cheer up. It's a good day." Siniko ako ni Magno kaya ngumiti akong muli.

Lumapit ako kay Mommy at Daddy at niyakap sila nang mahigpit. Natawa ako dahil inabutan pa ako ni Daddy ng bouquet at sinuotan naman ako ni Mommy ng Garland. They didn't bring Drummer, fearing he'd just cry and be uncomfortable with the crazy heat.

"Smile!" Sumigaw ulit si Sawyer kaya mabilis akong ngumiti sa gitna nina Mommy at Daddy. Hirap ako sa mga dala kong bulaklak kaya niyakap ko na lang mga ito. Pagkatapos ng isang flash, hinila ko agad si Magno na sumali sa amin.

"Sali rin ako!" Sigaw naman ni Slade kaya agad siyang sinamaan ni Daddy ng tingin.

"You're not part of the family!" Bulyaw ni Daddy.

"Not yet." Ngumisi si Slade kaya halos mamula si Daddy sa inis.

"Silver! Sali ka!" Tawag ni Mommy sa Elemento na abala rin dahil sa mga lumalapit sa kanya. Mabilis na nagtatakbo si Silver patungo sa amin habang yakap din ang mga bouquet na natanggap niya.

"Dito ka, hija." Ngumiti si Dad at talagang naglaan pa ng espasyo para kay Silver.

"Bakit si Silver, pwede?!" Reklamo ni Slade kaya bumuntong-hininga na lang si Dad at pinayagan siyang sumali.

"Sali rin kami." Natatawang lumapit sa amin ang mga magulang ng kambal. Sa tagal ng relasyon namin ni Slade, naging magkasundo na ang mga magulang namin. His parents are even friends with Gramps! 

Hindi nagtagal, nainggit ata ang mga kupal naming kaibian at sumali rin. Nag-utos pa sila ng estranghero para kumuha ng litrato.

It was a wild photo op! At hindi pa ito nagtapos dahil hinanap din namin ang grupo nina Riley. 

*****

After our own celebration with our families, we received a message from Cohen saying there will be a party at his bar for us. Dahil nasa iisang restaurant lang naman kami nag-dinner nina Slade, Silver, at mga kupal, sabay-sabay na kaming tumungo roon.

As we got to the bar, sobrang dami na ng tao. Suot pa rin namin ni Silver ang mga toga namin kaya nagpaalam muna kami na tutungo sa restroom. 

Silver took off her toga revealing her metallic grey backless dress that reached her knee. I grinned and winked at her. "Damn, Elemento left the human host."

Pagkahubad ko naman sa toga ko, lumapit ako sa salamin at inayos ang lacey black dress na suot ko. 

"Reika Magno De Juan, baka magkaroon ako bigla ng pamangkin." Nakangiwi niyang biro.

Ngumisi naman ako. "Don't worry, we'll use protection."

Umarte agad ang elemento na parang nasusuka, natawa na lang ako.

Magkaakbay kami na lumabas ng restroom dala ang mga nakatupi naming toga. Lumabas muna kami at iniwan ito sa loob ng sasakyan. Pagpasok namin ulit, sinalubong kami ni Slade.

He sighed as his eyes roamed from my head down to my toes. "Babe, you're really making this difficult for me." 

"Hey, Mom bought this dress for me." I raised my hands innocently. "Blame her."

He chuckled as he grabbed me by hand. "Sil, pahiram muna ng girlfriend mo."

"Magsama kayong mga panget kayo." Biro ni Silver at halos itulak pa ako patungo kay Slade. Natawa na lang ako.

Silver would always act disgusted when Slade and I are around each other but I know for a fact that she's the person who supports our relationship the most. 

Hawak-kamay kaming naglakad ni Slade patungo sa pinakaunahang bahagi ng audience. Suprisingly, binibigyang daan naman kami ng mga ito. 

Nang makarating sa front row, napangiti ako nang makitang nakatayo rin pala rito ang mga kaibigan namin. 

"Rei-rei!" Biglang lumapit sa akin si Braylee at niyakap ako mula sa beywang.

"Bubbles!" I kissed her by the cheek as usual.

"Buti pa si Reika, nakakahalik lagi sa'yo." Komento ni Haji na nakabuntot na naman pala kay Braylee. Maypasima-simangot pang nalalaman ang bumbay. Nagpapaawa kay Braylee.

"Gusto mo rin ng kiss?" Braylee asked innocently.

Haji's face beamed. Kung nakakasilaw lang ang ngiti, bulag na kaming lahat dahil sa kanya. Mabilis itong tumango-tango, nagniningning ang mga mata.

"Wait, hanapin ko si Riley." Braylee looked around, destroying all of Haji's hopes and dreams.

Before I could even react, bigla na lang may nagsalita sa isang microphone. Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa stage at nakita kong nakatayo na pala rito ang Wave Syndicate at handang-handa nang tumugtog. Pero nagtaka ako dahil nasa gilid si Heath at nasa harapan ng keyboard.

"Hello Filimon Heights!" Heath yelled, eliciting wild screams and cheers from the crowd. Kahit kami, nagsigawan din. "Tonight is a special night for we are celebrating, not just the graduation of our friends, but also the return of our dearest brother!"

Napatingin ako sa tabi ko at nagulat ako dahil wala na si Slade rito. Bagkus, si Chewey na ang katabi ko. Si Chewey na siyang pumalit kay Slade bilang bassist ng Wave Syndicate.

"W-where's Slade?" Tanong ko nang mapatingin sa akin si Chewey but he just grinned.

"I know you guys are used to seeing Heath up front but let me do it just this once, for my little shit." 

I looked up right away and found Slade standing in the center of the stage, holding up his guitar. I froze the moment his fingers moved against the strings, producing a beautiful sound that blared across the room.

"Reika De Juan, thank you for being the bright side of my darkest days. For always believing in me, even if I stopped believing already."

Tears brimmed up my eyes when I realized that he was finally playing like the way he used to, back before the accident.

And when Slade started singing, I covered my mouth just to hide my crying.

My love goes out of my heart and into the wind
Out my guitar and under your skin
Into your house and out of your headphones
That's where my love goes

All of a sudden, I remembered the pain in Slade's eyes when he was told that he will never be able to play the guitar again. The sadness he suffered from losing the only thing that mattered to him his entire life. And his ceaseless efforts during his therapy sessions. 

Slade looked at my eyes as he sang, a smile stretched up his lips. 

I could see nothing but happiness in his face.

There were more than a hundred of us in the club but in that moment, it felt like there was just the two of us and Slade was singing to me directly.

I got lost at looking at him that I didn't notice the song was already over.

Next thing I know, Slade was back at his old spot next to Heath, making music through 'Oggy' the bass guitar. I couldn't be happier for him.

As their set ended, patakbong bumaba si Slade mula sa stage hinagkan ako. Walang pakialam kahit pa napakaraming tao sa paligid namin.

"I bought tickets to Katalin Island. Want to run away with me?" He asked.

All of a sudden, I remembered that December afternoon with Slade by the beach. It was a precious memory and I'd love to relive that over and over again.

"Sure." I smiled wide. "Let's return by Monday though. Drummer cries when he misses me."

Slade grinned and grabbed me by the hand as we ran out of the bar, away from everyone else.

▬ end of 63// thank u ▬