Play For The Last Time

*Theia's POV*

"Courts! Courts!"

"Courtneey!"

I felt someone shaking me.

"Ano ba?"

Sino ba yung maingay?

"Gising naaa!"

Namulat naman ako.

"Gabby?"

"Gising ka narin sa wakas."

I sat up and looked around.

Nasaan nga ba ulit ako?

My eyes widened. "Anong oras na??"

"Kalma." He said. "It's still early. Tama lang yung gising mo para sa dinner."

Buti nalang.

"Nasaan si Charm?"

"Nasa kitchen." Sagot niya. "Nagluluto siya kasama yung iba."

"Si Charmaine nagluluto?"

"Uh-huh."

"Yung Charmaine na kaibigan ko 'to at jowa mo ha." Ulit ko. "Baka iba yang tinutukoy mo, Gabby."

Natawa kami parehas.

"Grabe ka sa kanya, Courts." Sabi niya. "Pag narinig yan ng lovey ko, lagot ka dun."

"Eto titigil na. Baka isumbong mo pa ko."

"Plano ko nga."

Inirapan ko siya. "Ano bang meron at ginising mo ang prinsesa sa mahimbing niyang tulog?"

"Sinong prinsesa?" He looked around. "Wala akong nakikita."

Pinalo ko siya sa braso.

"Ito naman, di mabiro."

I raised my eyebrow at him.

"Ang taray ha."

I giggled. Inipit niya kasi yung boses niya.

"So anong meron?" Tanong ko ulit. "I already got my chocolates by the way."

"Alam ko." Sagot niya. "Hindi ka talaga makapaghintay."

"Excuse me." I said. "Naghintay kaya ako. Dalawang araw din yun."

"Sabi ko nga. Tara na at mauubos yung oras."

"Kakain na tayo?"

"Kakasabi ko lang na nagluluto pa sila diba?"

Oo nga pala.

"Saan tayo pupunta?"

"It's a secret." Sagot niya. "I need to show you something."

"Ano yun?"

"Secret nga diba?" He said. "Tsaka ang dami mong tanong Courts. Kung kanina ka pa nagising, edi sana nandun na tayo."

Aba sinisi pa ko.

"Dali na." He said. "Saglit lang tayo, promise."

"Paano yung pagkain?"

"We'll be back before dinner." He grabbed my hand. "Tara."

***

"Where are we going?"

I finally asked.

Kakalagpas lang namin sa pool. Malapit na kami ngayon sa maze.

"Basta."

It's the gazebo.

Napansin ko rin 'to nung naglalaro kami. I was planning to ask Charm na samahan ako after the game but something else happened.

"Surprise!"

"..."

Biglang nagliwanag yung loob. The ceiling were surrounded by white string lights.

Nakatitig lang ako dun sa nakalagay sa gitna.

A grand piano.

"Shall we?"

Gabby offered his hand to me and I took it. Dahan dahan kaming naglakad papunta sa loob.

"Wow..."

Hindi ko napigilang hawakan yung piano. It was wooden kaya bagay na bagay yung kulay sa nakapaligid dito.

"This was the reason why I was late yesterday." He said. "Nalaman ko lang pag-uwi na hindi pa pala dumadating 'to. I wanted to make sure that when we come here, you will have a piano to play, Courts."

"..."

Naluluha ako.

"Piano was your escape sa lahat ng pinagdadaanan mo." He smiled at me. "Kaya hindi ko kayang makita na pati 'to, mawala sa'yo."

"Thank you.." I hugged him.

"You're always welcome, Courts." Sagot niya. "Gusto mo ba tumugtog?"

"Pwede ba?"

He chuckled and pulled the chair. "Of course."

"It's been so long, Gabby." Sabi ko pag-upo.

"I know." Sabi niya. "At dahil dyan, kailangan ko muna umalis."

I frowned at him. "Saan ka naman pupunta?"

"I'll just check on them."

"Paano ako?"

"Babalik din ako agad, Courts."

"Sasama nalang ako.."

"Wag na." He said. "It's our last day. You won't be able to play tomorrow."

May point siya. "Okay."

Gabby kissed me on the forehead. "Enjoy, Courts."

"See you later."

Kumaway siya sa'kin and I smiled as I watched him walk away.

I stared at the piano.

Sobrang tagal na. I'm not even sure kung marunong parin ako.

But I need to play for the last time, right?

I took a deep breath and brushed my fingers along the keys.

*I was made for loving you by Tori Kelly feat. Ed Sheeran now playing*

🎶🎶🎶

A dangerous plan, just this time

A stranger's hand clutched in mine

I'll take this chance, so call me blind

I've been waiting all my life

Please don't scar this young heart

Just take my hand

I was made for loving you

Even though we may be hopeless hearts just passing through

Every bone screaming (I don't know what we should do)

All I know is, darling, I was made for loving you

Hold me close

Through the night

Don't let me go, we'll be alright

Touch my soul and hold it tight

I've been waiting all my life

I won't scar your young heart

Just take my hand

'Cause I was made for loving you

Even though we may be hopeless hearts just passing through

Every bone screaming I don't know what we should do

All I know is, darling, I was made for loving you

Please don't go, I've been waiting so long

Oh, you don't even know me at all

But I was made for loving yo--🎶🎶🎶

Napahinto ako.

"May tao ba dyan?"

I'm sure I heard something.

"Bessy?"

I looked behind me.

Si Charm.

I stood up and hid behind her.

"What's wrong?"

"Parang may tao kanina.."

"I didn't see anyone." Sagot niya. "Baka guniguni mo lang."

"Siguro nga.."

"Tara?" She asked. "Kakain na tayo."

"Sure."

******

*Charm's POV*

"Uy."

"Bessy."

I looked at her. Tapos na pala siya maligo.

We returned to the cottage after dinner to get ready for the bonfire. They wanted to celebrate our last night here.

"Are you sick?" Tanong niya. "Konti lang rin yung kinain mo kanina."

"Wala akong gana.."

She placed her hand on my neck.

"Hala. Ang init mo, Charm."

Kaya pala masakit yung ulo ko.

Naulanan yata ako kanina.

"I'll tell Gabby."

"No!"

"Why not?"

"Hindi niya naman kailangan malaman."

"Did you fight?"

Away ba yung tawag dun?

"Sabi na nga ba." She said. "Kaya pala hindi mo siya kinikibo kanina."

"I just don't understand him at all, bessy." Sabi ko. "Parang nagbago na siya."

Theia sat beside me. "Nag-usap na ba kayo?"

Umiling ako. "He seemed distant. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko siya lalapitan."

"He's still the same guy, Charm."

"I don't know." Sabi ko. "We all want you to be safe pero bakit ganun siya? He's putting your life in danger."

"I'm sure he didn't mean any harm, bessy."

"Pero sana sinabi niya manlang sa'min ni Ry." I said. "Paano kung may nangyaring masama sa'yo? Mababalik ka ba niya sa'min??"

Naiiyak ako.

I missed him so much nung wala siya pero ngayong nandito na siya, parang wala parin siya.

"It's going to be okay." She patted my back. "You should talk to him about this, Charm. Mahalagang alam niya para maayos niyo parehas."

"I'll try."

Kakausapin ko nalang siya mamaya.

"Sasama ka ba?"

"Maybe later." Sagot ko. "Iidlip lang muna ako, bessy."

"Okay. Text me kapag papunta ka na."

I nodded and closed my eyes.

***

"Lovey, makinig ka naman sa'kin.."

"No." I said. "Hinding hindi na ulit."

Tumalikod na ko.

It would be easier to leave him this way.

"Kahit anong mangyari, wag na wag mo kong susundan."

"Lovey--"

"It's too late, Gab." Sabi ko. "We're done."

I was crying habang naglalakad palayo sa kanya.

Ayaw ko siyang iwan pero..

It was the right thing to do.

Hindi ko pwedeng hayaan na mapahamak si Theia dahil sa kanya.

I know I'll be heartbroken about him but no one can replace my best friend.

*Kuya Alec calling*

Pinunasan ko agad yung luha ko when his name appeared on my phone.

I need to stop crying.

Baka isipin ni Kuya may masamang nangyari.

"H-hello?"

"Charm?"

"K-kuya.."

"What's wrong?" Tanong niya. "Is it Theia??"

"Nothing, Kuya." Sagot ko. "We're okay."

Everything's okay.

"Wait for me." He said. "I'm on my way to take both of you home."

"Ha? Pero bakit?"

"I received a call from Dra. Guevarra." Sagot niya. "And she warned me about Ivy."

"Warned you??"

"Theia's in danger, Charm."

"WHAT??"

"Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ni Ivy." Sabi niya. "But we have to keep her safe."

"..."

Kung may sarili siyang plano..

Anong ginagawa ni Lovey?

"Whatever happens, stay with her." He said. "Papunta na ko."

"P-pero, Kuya--"

"Bakit?"

"H-hindi ko kasama si Theia.."

"Nasaan siya??"

"Hindi pa kami nagkikita simula kanina." Sagot ko. "Hindi kasi ako nakasama sa bonfire."

"You have to get her, Charm." Sabi ko. "We can't let Ivy----"

Hindi ko alam kung tama ako ng rinig.

But I swear I heard someone scream.

Sana mali ako.

Kasi yung boses na narinig ko..

"Is that--"

"Theia.."

Kung narinig din yun ni Kuya, ibig sabihin..

It's really her.

******