Chapter Five

Weeks passed by like a blur. Last week na ng January at nasa Stravin University ako ngayon dito sa Valievice—sa library, to be exact. May one hour pa bago ang next class ko kaya tumambay muna ako rito.

Halos araw-araw na rin kaming nagkakausap sa telegram ni Lexus. Palagi niya akong kinukulit, but I won't deny that he's really entertaining enough to make me smile and burst into laughter. He really knows how to keep the conversation alive.

Marami na kaming napag-usapan na kung ano-ano pero kaunti palang ang alam ko tungkol sa kanya. Hindi ko pa rin nakikita ang buong itsura niya. Last week, tinanong ko kung bakit siya laging naka-mask pero ang sabi niya, trip niya lang. But I doubt it.

Lexus aka JKLM, 21 years old, from Valievice City.

That's the only main details that I've discovered about him. Nakwento niya rin na nag-aaral siya sa Houstrill City kaya doon siya palagi nanggagaling. Idagdag pa na minsan mabait, madalas mahangin at parang may saltik. Charot.

"Excited na ako sa Music and Arts Festival next week! Makikita ko na ang BT5, at last! Silang lima!"

"OMG! Pinaalala mo na naman! I really can't wait to see them! Crush na crush ko si JK!"

"Nagpakasal na kami ni Jax sa isip ko! Sorry hindi kita na-invite, hindi kasi siya makapaghintay. Hihi, sorry aken."

"Boba, delulu ka. At least ako, kahit mag-apply lang bilang tagapag-alaga ng pinakamamahal na aso ni Vash, kems na!"

"Shunga neto, hindi ka niya tatanggapin kasi mukhang aso ka rin. Charot. Basta gusto ko rin makita si Reece! Ang cool niya!"

"Hmm. Mas gusto ko 'yung medyo cold type katulad ni Yohan, hehe."

I shifted my gazed to Yen and Selene—my friends here since my freshman year. Silang dalawa ang naging sobrang close ko mula nang lumipat ako rito sa University. Nakaupo sila sa harap ko ngayon at mahinang nagtsi-tsismisan.

Inilapag ko ang book sa table at nangalumbaba. "Sino 'yang pinag-uusapan niyo?"

Sabay nila akong nilingon na parang nagulat pa dahil sa sinabi ko. I just returned it with a confused stare.

"Bakit hindi mo sila kilala? 'Diba taga-Clesfrin ka?" nagtatakang tanong ni Yen.

My forehead creased. "Required ba na kilala ko sila? And what does it have to do with my hometown?"

Sabay na napaawang ang mga bibig nila kaya mas lalo akong na-weirduhan.

"Sila 'yung sikat na band from Risewest University, sis! BT5 as in Beat the Five! Sa Houstrill City, kaya mas malapit sa Clesfrin," sagot ni Selene.

Agad namang sumingit si Yen, "Nag-viral 'yung first performance nila sa music event sa school nila, two years ago! Although, nabuo lang 'yung group nila doon, sobrang sikat na nila hanggang ngayon! Actually, maraming agencies ang gustong kumuha sa kanila kaso tumatanggi sila."

"Pumapayag lang silang mag-perform sa different kinds of events pati sa mga universities, pero minsan pili lang daw. That's why we're so lucky that we can watch them perform here, like OMG! Hindi ko yata kakayanin!" dagdag ni Selene.

I was startled when Yen suddenly leaned forward in front of me. "Hindi ba mahilig ka sa music? You should try listening to their songs! You won't regret it. They're worth it!"

Napatango-tango nalang ako sa mga sinabi nila.

Maybe the reason why I wasn't aware of that band's existence for the past two years was because I've been refraining myself to be too engaged in social media. Ginagamit ko lang ito kapag kailangan. Masyado akong tumutok sa studies ko. Naririnig-rinig ko lang mula sa mga tao sa paligid ko 'yung mga new released songs pero hindi ko na masyadong pinagkaka-interesan o kinikilala ang mga artists. I just settled with my own playlists.

"Join us, next week! Malalaman mo kung bakit kami ganito mag-react sa kanila," sambit ni Selene bago humagikhik. Nakipilit na rin sa'kin si Yen.

I just heaved a sigh and nodded at them. Giving it a shot won't kill me, right?

•°•°•°•

I threw myself at my bed as soon as I finished taking a quick shower. Gabi na at sobrang napagod ako dahil sa daming ginawa kanina sa university. Umayos ako ng higa at kinuha ang phone ko.

I opened my Instagram account which I just recently created. Pinilit lang ako ng kambal na gumawa ulit nito, last Christmas. Hindi ko na kasi mabuksan 'yung account ko na na-deactivate ko dati. Actually, Instagram, Telegram, at Messenger lang ang mga social media apps na mayroon ako sa phone ngayon.

I was scrolling through the newsfeed when something suddenly popped into my mind.

BT5

Bumalik sa isipan ko ang lahat ng mga sinabi nila Yen kanina.

Just when I was about to search them, I saw a new post from jetherx. A rush of excitement sent color to my cheeks as my lips curved into an amused smirk.

Hindi ito ang Jether na kapatid ko. There's a funny story behind this.

Last Christmas, when the twins just forced me to create a new account, I decided to follow them first after fixing my name and profile picture. Ang kaso, nagkamali ako ng pindot nang account na ni Jether ang if-follow ko. Instead of jetherrx, I accidentally clicked jetherx. Sino ba naman ang hindi malilito 'diba?!

It was a follow request, actually. Babawiin ko na sana ng pindot pero nagulat ako nang i-accept agad ito ng person na 'yon. Pero mas lalo akong nagulat nang malaman na ako lang ang follower niya. Black lang din ang nasa profile picture niya.

When I attempted to check his posts, I was stunned the moment I've found out that all of them are his cover songs. Hindi ko makita ang mukha niya dahil halos kalahating katawan at gitara niya lang ang nakikita. Minsan piano din or all black lang na video. Maiikli lang pero hindi ko maiwasang mapahanga sa boses niya.

This may sound weird but I honestly like his voice more than some of those original singers of the songs he covered. I find it really unique and soothing to my ears, very smooth and I love how he controls it and maintains his own style. After listening to his twenty covers, I've realized that he can sing any style and can even reach some high notes flawlessly. His vocals are very stable and his range is pretty good, too. His voice is so addictive and I didn't expect that I would fall in love with it.

Pagkatapos kong mapakingan ang lahat ng covers niya, I've decided to remain following him until I found myself waiting for his new covers. It was as if I became his fan.

Nagtataka nga ako kung bakit naka-private siya at hindi niya ibinabahagi sa iba ang mga ito. Hinanap ko siya sa ibang social media by searching the same username he uses (jetherx) but I didn't find anything that has his trace. Wala din naman kasing nakalagay sa bio niya.

Pinindot ko na ang bagong post niya sa IGTV at pinakinggan ito. Still With You, ang nakalagay na title. Pero nagtaka ako nang wala siyang nilagay na artist. All black lang din ang video kaya hindi ko siya nakikita.

That faint voice of yours that grazed me

Please call my name one more time

I'm standing still under the frozen light, but

I will walk towards you, step by step

Still with you

Bahagya akong napatigil matapos marinig ang first verse ng song. This song isn't familiar to me. Kaka-release lang ba nito? At sino ang artist?

Napapikit ako at dinama ang kanta at ang magadang boses niya.

A pitch dark room

I shouldn't get used to it

But I'm used to it again

The low-pitched sound of the air conditioner

If I don't have this, I might just fall apart

We laugh together, we cry together

These simple feelings were everything I had

When will it be?

If I see you again

I will look into your eyes

And say, "I missed you"

I was busy enjoying the mood of the song with jetherx's soft voice, when my phone suddenly vibrated. A message from Lexus on telegram suddenly popped up. 

JKLM: Hi, Mine :)

Napabuntong-hininga ako dahil hindi pa rin niya itinitigil ang kakatawag sa'kin ng mine. Sabi niya, gusto niya na iyon ang nickname na itawag sa'kin. Pero alam ko naman na gusto niya lang akong asarin.

Justmine: Ano? Istorbo ka.

'Yan nalang ang ni-reply ko. Totoo namang nakakaistorbo siya sa pakikinig ko. Sanay naman na rin siyang ginaganyan ganyan ko. One month na rin kaming nagkakausap dahil malapit nang mag-February.

In a rapturous memory

The rain pours even when I dance alone

By the time this mist clears

I'll run with my feet wet

So hug me then

JKLM: Awts, ang sungit mo na naman. Sorry kung nakaka-istorbo pala ako. Sige bukas nalang :)

Justmine: It's okay. Nakikinig lang naman ako ng kanta. Ang ganda kasi. Plus, it sounds new to me.

The moon looks lonely

Like it's crying in the bright night sky

Even though I always know the morning will come

I want to stay in your sky like a star

JKLM: Ano'ng title?

Justmine: Still With You. But I'm not sure kung sino ang original singer and composer. The one I'm listening rn is just a cover. Do you know that song?

JKLM: Kaninong cover?

Justmine: Um. I'm sorry but I think it's confidential. He actually seems to be a private person.

Every day, every moment

If I knew this was gonna happen

I would have remembered more of them

When will it be?

If I see you again

I will look into your eyes

And say, "I missed you"

JKLM: Kilala mo sa personal?

Justmine: Nope. So back to my question... Do you know this song? Naalala ko kasi na sinabi mo sa'kin, mahilig ka rin sa music. So I just thought na baka alam mo 'to. I'm really curious.

JKLM: Nagustuhan mo ba 'yung kanta? 

Justmine: Yes. Tho, kakapakinig ko palang, I admit that I got easily hooked by it. It's so relaxing. I love the song already sksksks

JKLM: 'Yung kanta nga ba o 'yung kumakanta? HAHAHAHA

Justmine: Timang! Hahaha. 'Yung boses ng kumakanta oo sksksks char not char

In a rapturous memory

The rain pours even when I dance alone

By the time this mist clears

I'll run with my feet wet

So hug me then

JKLM: I'm glad that you loved it :)

Justmine: Wait, so alam mo nga 'yung kanta?

Behind the faint smile that looked at me

I will draw a beautiful purple shade

Though our footsteps may be out of step

I want to walk this path with you

Still with you

Nakadalawang ulit na ako ng Still With You pero hindi pa rin siya nagre-reply. Hindi ko maiwasang magtaka dahil usually, sobrang bilis niyang tumugon sa messages ko. 

I just shrugged and heaved a sigh. Maybe, he's just busy.

I was about to turn off my phone when I noticed that jetherx posted something again. 



I blinked twice as soon as I saw his picture. Ngayon ko lang nakita ang kabuuan ng mukha niya. Kalahating katawan niya lang kasi ang usually na pinapakita niya, hawak ang gitara. 

I tried to zoom in the picture. Though, I couldn't clearly see his eyes dahil nakayuko siya, hindi ko mapigilang mapahanga sa itsura niya. It's kinda blurred but there's something bothering me. Bakit parang familiar siya?

Napatingin ako sa caption niya.

'Thanks for listening, miss :)' 

My eyes widened in surprise when I realized something. Is he referring to me? Ako lang naman kasi ang follower niya at syempre ako lang ang nakakapakinig dahil naka-private siya.

I pressed my lips into thin line to suppress my smile. Pero hindi ko mapigilan. Sino ba'ng hindi mapapangiti? I'm really a fan of his voice! Besides, he's really good at playing instruments, too!

I buried my face in my pillow and squealed.

Kinikilig ako!