"Pres, kakanta ba ang banda para sa coronation night sa susunod na buwan?" I heard one of the seniors asked that.

Kaagad akong nagbaling ng tingin kay Yumi na nasa tabi ko at kagat-kagat ang ballpen niya habang nakatuko ang mga braso niya at maiging nakikinig kay Pres. Yumi is one of the members who has the voice. Kaya baka intresado siya at magpresanta pa. After all, she love singing.

Tinuki ko siya gamit ang kanang siko ko. Bahagya akong napatawa nang muntik pa siyang mapasubsob sa lamesang kaharap namin.

She eyed me. I just tilted my head on the side and grin at her.

"Bored ka ba, Poresa? Kita nang seryoso ako rito, eh," aniya.

Kibit balikat lamang ang ginawa ko bago magsalita.

"Kakanta ka?" tanong ko kay Yumi.

Tumigil siya sa kangangatngat ng ballpen na nasa bibig niya at inilagay iyon sa notebook na nasa lamesa.

She stared at me.

"Sana..." she whispered. "But I think it suits you better," she said that made me look at her questioningly.

"Bakit naman?" kuryusong tanong ko.

She crossed her legs and looked in front where Samuel's busy announcing and discussing something. Especially for the two new member of the club from freshman and sophomore.

"'Di ba pangarap mo ang kumanta?" she asked. I nodded at her. "Narinig ko kase na baka gawan ng album ang lahat ng kanta ng banda tapos ipapasa sa audition sa company nina Hartley. You know that it's a big shot since their company's doing great as of now," she stated that made me realize what she meant.

Bigla akong napaisip sa sinabi ni Yumi. It's good. Baka nga magkaroon pa ako ng pagkakataon na makakanta sa harap ng mga tao at sa ilalim ng ilaw. Pero kase...

"But I need to do a part time. Hindi pa kase nagbabayad si tita sa utang niya, eh," nasabi ko na lamang.

"I can lend you some. Tutal naman ay magkaibigan tayo, ano," napangiti na lang ako sa sinabi ni Yumi.

"No, thank you..." ani ko. "Hindi pa nga ako nakakapagbayad sa ginastos mo para sa research, eh," dugtong ko sa kaninang sinasabi ko.

Pinagtaasan niya lang ako ng kilay niya bago pangliitan ng kanyang mga mata.

"It was only around two hundred pesos and you're making it a huge deal. Really, Poresa?" sarkastikong tanong niya sa akin.

Kahit na ba. Ang utang ay utang, ano. I just can't take it and say my thank you to her when I was the one who said that I'd borrow it.

I shrugged my shoulder.

"Even so... Two hundred is still a money, Yumi..." untag ko pa.

Ramdam kong aangal pa sana siya sa sinabi ko nang biglang magsalita si Samuel na siyang umagaw sa atensiyon ko.

"Our band will perform next month. And for the next day after that night, for all the interested member here, we can rehearse a song for the performance on Ms. Agnais wedding anniversary. She's the head of executive in our campus and she told me that she'll pay an enough amount of money if we will."

Hala... Seryoso 'yan?!

Dapat pala sumali ako para naman makabayad na ako sa tuition ko. Hindi na rin ako mahihirapan kung sakali. I just need to manage my time correctly so I can do both academic and the club.

Napatingin ako sa sapatos kong gumagawa ng ingay.

But I don't think Tita Hilda will stay calm if she find out. Sigurado akong magbubunganga na naman 'yon kapag nalaman niya. Matabil pa naman din si Eunice at paniguradong magsusumbong ang isang 'yon.

"Miss Derillo?" I heard Pres called me.

Napalingon ako kaagad sa puwesto niya at nakita ko siyang nakatingin na sa akin.

His dangerous and disturbing deep set eyes met mine. Wala sa sarili akong napairap dahil sa mga mata niyang iyon. It was giving me a feeling of disturbance, somehow.

I moistened my lips first before talking.

"Yes, Pres?" I asked. Trying to make myself calm.

"Can I put you as a lead vocalist? Niko can do as a pianist to occupy your forte so you can be the lead vocalist," aniyang nakatingin sa akin.

I-is he serious?! H-he want me to be the vocalist?!

Narinig kong mapasinghap ang ibang kagrupo namin. Habang nakita ko naman kung paanong mag-ngising aso ang dalawang ka-batch mate niya. Lalong-lalo na si Kairos at Eric.

"The banat one point two of Samuel. Amen..." Kairos was grinning like crazy while saying it.

"The pasimpling galawan one point two by Doctor Villosillo. Hallelujah..." Even that Eric made a singsong with that.

Tinignan ko nang masama ang dalawang kaibigan niya yata na dinilaan lang ako bago balingan ng tingin si Samuel.

Mas lalo pang sumama ang titig ko nang makita ko siyang mamula maging hangang sa likod ng tainga niya! I was probably two meters far away from his place yet I saw it clearly.

Good heavens...

"Wews, Poresa, ha?" I heard my best friend mumbled kiddingly.

Pati siya?!

Nagpilig na lamang ako ng aking ulo dahil sa mga pag-iisip nila. I wasn't dumb to not get what they were trying to show up. Sadyang wala lang akong gana sa mga ganyan nila, ano!

The freshman was looking at me curiously. If I wasn't mistaken, it was Jandi. Sarkastiko na lang akong ngumisi bago balingan ulit ng tingin si Samuel.

"Payag ako," I said that made him look at me. "But please make it sure that I can get a payment. I'm in a need of cash, just so you know," I added.

He cleared his throat while still looking at me.

"Okay then. Niko will be the pianist, Kairos and I will be the guitarist, then Eric will take care of the drums while you will be taking the part of the lead vocalist," aniyang parang wala lang.

Tumango ako.

Mabuti na ang klaro. Baka mamaya wala naman pa lang bayad at masayang ang oras na dapat sana'y pangtrabaho ko nang makabayad ako sa tuition ko.

"Pres, I'm going to leave the club," biglang sabi ni Yumi na mabilis kong ikinalingon.

"Yumi...?" Tawag ko.

Nginitian niya lang ako at isinenyas ang hagdanan. Agad kong nilingon 'yon. And only to see Nathan leaning on the wall while crossing his legs.

Is it because of him again?

"Lilipat ako sa dance troops. I want to spend more time with Nathan, Poresa," she said as if it was enough.

Hindi na lamang ako umimik pa. I know that she already decided about it. Because if she didn't yet, she will ask me and tell me at least about her plan.

I guess Nathan was really meant special for Yumi...

Pumara ako ng tricycle sa harap ng gate ng university. It was already have three passengers. Akmang sasakay na ako nang biglang mahagip ng mga mata ko ang taong ayaw na ayaw ko nang makita.

I took a step backward. My heart started racing and going wild when I saw him took off his sunglasses. His eyes immediately glued at me that made my knees wobbled because of fear.

H-how in the hell... W-why... W-when...?

Umalis na lang ang tricycle na pinara ko ngunit nakatayo pa rin ako sa puwesto ko at blankong nakatitig sa kanya. Ngumisi siya sa akin na siyang nagbigay kilabot sa buong katawan ko.

Pakiramdam ko ay kakapusin ako ng hininga dahil sa lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko dahil sa taong ilang pulgada lang ang layo mula sa akin. Ang kulubot na niyang mukha ay hindi dahilan upang hindi ko siya makilala.

He raised his hand on the air and waved it before started walking towards my way. My lips quivered and my eyes lost its focus.

N-no... P-please... Just no...

I didn't move when he finally stopped just inch away from me. Ang kaninang mabilis nang tibok ng puso ko ay mas lalong bumilis nang nasa harap ko na siya.

"Na-miss mo ako, apo?" tanong niyang nakangising animo'y hayop sa akin.

He lifted his hand and settled it on my shoulder. I was supposed to flinched from his touch but I don't know why I didn't. I was stuck. All I could do was to stand in fear and closed my eyes in panic.

Pinaglakbay niya ang kamay niya mula sa balikat ko pababa sa braso ko bago itaas ang manggas ng suot kong blusa at ipasok doon ang gitnang daliri niya. He was alluding me.

"Lambot, ah?" bulong niya.

I didn't know if the students passing by can heed what he was doing to me. When they didn't even throw a glance at me and notice my fear.

"Miss Derillo!"

He rapidly withdraw his finger from the sleeve of my blouse when he heard Samuel's voice. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mararamdaman ko nang marinig ko ang boses na iyon ni Samuel. If I should be grateful or what.

"Are you going home?" rinig kong tanong niya.

I slowly opened my eyes to see the man who was with me. But I didn't saw him. It was Samuel who appeared in front of me as he stared at me seriously.

"You're trembling, Poresa," aniyang kunot ang noong nakatitig sa akin.

I didn't speak. I was only staring at him.

"Are you okay? You look pale as well," he said and touched my cheek.

Mabilis kong tinampal ang kamay niya na ikinatingin niya sa akin ng mariin. Bigla akong napahakbang palayo sa kanya nang dumantay ang kamay niya sa balat ko.

"Hey..." pukaw niya sa akin.

Tinitigan ko lang siya. I saw his eyes seems worried. But he's no different from him, I know it. And I am sure with it.

"D-don't r-rape me..." I whispered. Scared and hopeless.