nine

𝗗𝗘𝗘

𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟭𝟲, 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟲 𝗮.𝗺.

Nasa school na ako kahit mamayang eight pa naman ang class namin. I sat on one of the benches dito sa quadrangle. Sa harap kasi ng field, may parang maliit na park with at least ten benches circling a big fountain with an angel holding a vase and from it, clear water flowed.

You might ask, And why were you early, Dee?

Well, last night, I received a call from an unknown number whose owner turned out to be none other than Shiloh Dominguez. How he got my number would forever be a mystery to me. But siguro kay Kyo niya nalaman kasi that kid had our numbers. Or kay Amy. Or pwede ring from Paris.

Oh, God. Naalala ko na naman si Paris. Wala akong mukhang ihaharap sa kanya.

Anyway, kikiligin na nga sana ako kay Shishi, eh. Ikaw ba naman ang maka-receive ng call from someone famous. Who would not be flattered? But he shouted agad after I said hello. Actually, I did not even get to finish saying the whole word when he started rapping like Eminem from the other line.

"Pumasok ka bukas nang maaga. Mga ala-sais. Practice tayo. Dalhin mo kopya mo ng lyrics no'ng kantang gusto mo. Ayoko nang pinaghihintay ako."

Rhyme pa yung last sentences niya. I said okay na lang. He did not even say bye and hung up.

I asked Manong Allan to drive me to school na lang kasi hindi ako makakasabay kila Gwen at Helen. Buti na lang, medyo maliwanag na and medyo marami na ring tao sa school kaya hindi masyadong nakakatakot ang paligid.

I had no idea where Shishi was. I just sent him a text a few minutes ago when I arrived to tell him that but I was yet to receive a reply. And like when you spoke of the devil, he would come. I received a text from Captain Barbel.

𝐒𝐚 𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧. 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐨. 𝐊𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐤𝐚 𝐩𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐨 𝐤𝐚 𝐧𝐚 𝐤𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐨 𝐩𝐚 𝐛𝐮𝐡𝐚𝐲 𝐦𝐨.

Don't judge me. I always used corny names to save contacts in my phonebook. My girlfriends were the only exception. Paris was saved as Macaque and Kyo was saved as the Yen sign.

Tumayo na ako and headed to the garden. I was sure na I would find him sa pwesto nila so hindi ako kabado na maghahanap pa ako dahil two minutes lang ang binigay niya sa akin this time.

After over five minutes, nakarating na rin ako sa pwesto niya sa garden. Hingal na hingal ako. Nobody ever pressured me to walk a thousand miles in a span of two minutes.

I found Shishi sitting at their table—a cigarette stick in one hand and a can of Red Horse beer in the other. Monday na Monday. Umagang umaga pa.

Lumakad ako palapit sa kanya and sat on the chair across from him. "Hey," nanglalambot na bati ko. Not even an hour in school yet pero haggard na ako.

"Bakit ang tagal mo?"

Eh bakit nga ba ako sumusunod sayo?

Kung tutuusin, pwedeng hindi ko siya sundin because I did not owe him anything and I could fail this subject once and for all. Pero kusang sumunod ang utak ko sa sinabi niya like it had its own decision.

Huminga ako nang malalim. "Nasa quadrangle po kasi ako kaya natagalan." I fanned the smoke of his cigarette away from my face dahil nauubo na ako. Magkaka-cancer na talaga ako sa second hand smoke na nai-inhale ko.

"Ang arte mo. Para yosi lang, eh." Siniringan pa niya ako but nevertheless, pinatay naman niya yung cigarette niya. He even stood up and went to the bin to throw the butt away. So minsan pala nagma-manifest din sa kanya yung mission and vision ng school kahit bully siya. He went back to his seat and took a long swig.

Pinanood ko lang siya habang umiinom siya. Nasusuka akong tingnan siya. Like, yung lasa ng alak na ininom namin ni Paris parang nasa stomach ko pa.

"Hingalin ka, eh, 'no?" He said that as he yawned. And para lalo siguro akong asarin, he smirked and offered me the can. "Gusto mo?"

"Hindi ako nainom," I told him nonchalantly. Okay, liar.

"Ikaw 'tong hinihingal d'yan, eh. Pasalamat ka nga, inaalok pa kita."

Sumimangot ako. "May dala akong water sa bag ko. Bakit mo ba kasi ako pinapasok nang ganito kaaga?"

Binaba niya yung almost empty can on the table with a thud before looking at me in the eyes like I was the only person in the world. Assuming on my part, but ang tagal kasi. Ilang seconds na. Naramdaman kong nag-iinit na ang mga pisngi ko dahil sa pagtitig niya. Hindi na rin ako mapakali sa inuupuan ko. Parang gusto kong maihi or matae. Kadiri but true.

Akala ko dati his eyes were black. Like the feathers of a raven in the middle of a corn field. Beautiful, but dark. But I was mistaken. Under the light of the sun, I realized they were actually brown. They were like the brown of the expensive cognac my dad always drank, gazing at me through the glass. Strong, but beautiful all the same.

Good Lord, help me.

Looking into those eyes felt like being pulled into a black hole. You knew how dangerous it was and how it could kill you but your human curiosity still got the better of you.

This was the first time na natitigan ko nang malapitan talaga ang mukha niya. He had thick eyebrows that would make Helen envious because they were shaped naturally beautiful. His curly lashes were so long that it made me hate him for a second. His nose was thin and long and looked very delicate. His lips were not that red, maybe because he smoked a lot, but it had the best Cupid's bow. When I first saw him before, parang humabang buzz cut yung hair niya but it had grown out longer since. Yung curls niya, nagba-bounce na minsan kapag gumagalaw yung ulo niya. He had a small mole on his left cheekbone din pala.

It was becoming very uncomfortable dahil sa titig niya. Tatanungin ko pa lang sana siya kung bakit niya ako tinitingnan lang but he beat me to it.

He leaned back a bit and yawned like the lion he was. Then he used the back of his other hand to wipe the almost invisible remnants of beer from his lips. Buti walang nagsusumbong sa kanya na pumapasok siya nang lasing?

I wondered kung may problema ba talaga siya na dinadala every single day kaya palagi siyang nag-iinom. Or if he was just a highly functioning alcoholic at a very young age. Sometimes, it amazed me how he carried himself around like he was as sober as the rest of us. Siguro nasanay na rin ang katawan niya sa alak. Baka immune na. Or baka hindi lang talaga siya madaling malasing. Or talagang iniiwasan din niyang magpakalasing nang sobra. I should not have to worry about it naman.

After niyang humikab, uminom ulit siya before finally speaking. Akala niya siguro crush ko siya like everyone else and inaasar niya ako kaya niya ako tinititigan kanina. He was very used to girls fawning over him siguro. "May practice tayo bukas ng uwian. 'Wag ka nang pumunta sa club mo. Excused ka na kay Kyo. Hindi rin siya makakapunta bukas sa club niyo."

Hinanap namin this past Friday kung sino sa room ang groupmates ni Kyo. It was Kotani Suzuki and Odessa Rivera pala. Nahihiya raw silang lumapit kay Kyo kasi nga he was a part of the Vandalics. So ayun, si Kyo na ang nag-adjust at nag-approach sa kanilang dalawa.

"Okay, fine."

Bigla na naman siyang sumimangot. Namumula yung ilong niya na parang may sipon talaga siya. May allergy siguro 'to. "Nagpa-practice ka na ba? Mahiya ka naman sa mga kabanda ko, hindi pwede ang papetiks-petiks do'n. Professional kami. Pro-fes-sio-nal."

He emphasized each syllable of the word like he was teaching a first grader how to read. Ang sarap diinan ng elbow yung hita niya para masaktan siya.

"I know," sabi ko. "Nagpa-practice din ako but nahihirapan ako mag-isip kung pa'no gawing blues yung Sparks Fly. Ikaw ba?"

Humikab ulit siya. "Tinatanong mo talaga ako n'yan?"

"Okay, fine."

"Nasa'n yung kopya mo ng lyrics?"

"Sure ka? Lasing ka, eh. Tigilan mo na kaya muna 'yang pag-inom mo? May class pa tayo mamaya."

"Napakapakielamera mo talaga, puta."

Napaatras ako dahil may kasama pang cuss word ang sinabi niya. Hindi ko alam kung matatakot ba ako sa kanya kasi baka bigla niya akong i-Kamekameha nang wala sa oras or kung maiinis ba ako kasi talagang ang sama ng ugali niya.

"Nakakarinde ka, alam mo 'yon?"

I looked away. "Sorry."

He stood up again para itapon yung cans niya ng beer, even yung kakabukas niya pa lang. Titigil din naman pala. Maninigaw pa. When he came back to his seat, he looked at me expectantly.

"Game," sabi ko and forced a smile as I laid out the paper on the table. "So ano na na-practice mo?"

Kinuha niya yung papel papunta sa side niya. "Dapat slow yung pagkanta. Same melody pa rin, pero slow saka swing. 4/4 kadalasan ang blues, tapos gagamitan natin ng syncopation para ma-emphasize yung weak na beats. Tapos may mga pasada ng quaver. Parang ida-drag mo bawat nota, lalagyan mo ng alon. Kaya mo ba 'yon?"

"Actually, hindi kita ma-gets."

"Tang ina naman. Wala tayong mararating nito."

I took a deep breath. Panget talaga ang boses ko and alam niya na naman 'yon. Alam niya rin na wala akong alam sa music pero kung ano-anong jargon ang pinagsasasabi niya. Instead na mainis ako, nahiya ako.

He brushed his hand over his face. Nilabas niya yung phone niya and biglang tumugtog yung original version ni Taylor Swift. "Ganito." He paused the song. "Etong unang line. The way you move is like a full-on rainstorm. Gano'n kabagal. And I'm a house of cards. Try mo."

Fuck it, ang ganda ng boses niya. Ang dami ko nang napakinggan na cover ng song na 'to. Hindi kanya yung pinakamaganda but fuck them all, ang ganda pa rin ng boses niya.

"Oy. Nakikinig ka ba?"

"Yeah, yeah. Hindi ko kaya 'yan."

"Tang ina," mahinang sabi niya. "Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ako o maiinis."

"At least, honest ako."

Tumawa yata siya. Nakayuko kasi siya, eh. He was studying the lyrics. But I heard a sound. Tawa niya yata. Napangiti ako.

"Pwedeng parinig ako kahit hanggang first verse lang?"

He glared at me but itinuloy niya kasabay ng pag-beat niya sa table para makuha ko raw yung sinasabi niyang 4/4. "You're the kind of reckless that should send me running, but I kinda know that I won't get far."

He was that rainstorm. And he was that kind of reckless. Should I run?

God help me. I could not take my eyes away from him again.

Tinapos niya hanggang sa first chorus tapos tiningnan niya ako. "Gano'n. Second verse ka na lang, tapos sabay tayo sa second chorus. Sa bridge, hati na lang ba tayo?"

"Ikaw na lang din dun kung okay lang."

"Ako na nga lang. Baka masira pa."

Napangiti ako imbis na mainis. Conclusion: ang sarap niyang kasama bigla.

"Bakit eto napili mo?"

"Wala lang. Swiftie ako, eh," sabi ko na lang kahit nagulat ako sa tanong niya. When he told me sa bleachers na kailangan niya na yung list ng mga kantang gusto ko, this was the first and only song that came to mind, but I would never tell him that. "May napili ka na bang song?"

"Pake mo?"

"Groupmate mo 'ko."

"Wala 'kong pake. Kantahin mo yung parte mo. Gano'ng tempo rin."

Shit. Nakakahiya. But mas nakakahiya kapag hindi ako kumanta kasi he did his part. Ayoko na mas responsible pa siya sa akin kasi mas mabait ako sa kanya.

"Naghihintay ako."

"Eto na nga, eh." I cleared my throat and gripped the paper tightly. Sana hindi mabasa dahil sa sweat ng palms ko. "My mind forgets to remind me, you're a bad idea."

I glanced at him and saw him frown sa last few words. Sobrang panget ko talaga sigurong kumanta. Nakakahiya, shit.

"Bagalan mo sabi." He played the song and fast-forwarded it to the part I sang. "Narinig mo? Ganyan lang din ginawa mo. Pagdating sa 'mind', pwede mong i-stretch yung word na yun pati yung mga susunod saka mo birahan ng mabilis sa parteng 'you're a bad idea'. Sabay pasok ng susunod na line. Gano'ng beat pa rin. Lagyan mo ng konting feelings. Para kang natula, eh. Halatang wala kang talent."

Ikaw yung bad idea, alam mo ba yun? Ang dami mong panlalait na baon palagi.

I tried the second verse again and we went back and forth sa pag-correct niya sa akin. He even sang it himself para raw malaman ko. I could listen to him sing forever pero kapag tinitigilan niya na para magsalita nang normal, gusto kong i-tape ang bibig niya. Sabi nga ni Paris sa kanya noong Friday, ang sarap niyang bangasan.

"Can you, like, record yourself while singing this whole song? Para yun yung pag-aaralan ko sa bahay," sabi ko. Okay, may halong malisya yun. I could get their music anywhere pero iba yung ni-record niya na ako lang ang mayroon. Special yun.

"Ayoko. Aabalahin mo pa 'ko." Tinupi niya yung paper at ibinato sa akin. Hindi ko nasambot kaya nalaglag sa ground.

I picked it up and pagtingin ko sa kanya, medyo nawala ang inis ko kasi hindi na siya nakasimangot. His left cheek leaned against his left palm and his arm was propped above the table. The fingers on his other hand drummed a beat sa table. Nakatingin siya sa malayo and parang wala naman siyang iniisip. He looked quite peaceful that moment, actually.

I took my phone out of my bag and replied to Helen's text. Tinatanong niya kasi ako kung nasa school na raw ba ako and if she needed to bring me breakfast kasi baka raw hindi na naman ako kumain dahil maaga akong nagising. Naramdaman ko pa na napatingin sa akin si Shishi saglit habang nagta-type ako ng reply. I told Helen na I was fine because our chef prepared a sandwich for me which I ate in the car. We exchanged a few text messages pa before she excused herself kasi magbibihis na siya for school.

I put my phone back inside my bag and turned to Shishi. Tatawagin ko sana yung name niya, but hindi ko na naituloy kasi nakita ko na nakapikit na siya. His lips were slightly apart and he breathed softly. Nakatulog na siya agad.

Maybe he fell asleep agad kasi lasing na siya. Or maybe, puyat siya dahil pang-night life ang work niya as a band guy and I saw sa Kurai Miwako na they had a mall show last night sa Cabuyao in Laguna. It was surprising kasi he looked so innocent ngayon. Parang hindi siya si Son Shiloh. Okay, corny.

Fuck, nagkaka-crush na yata ako sa gagong 'to.

Kill me now because I took a photo of him.

Shit, crush ko na ba 'to? Hindi pwede.

I zoomed the photo in and out sa mismong mukha niya. He was very lucky. He was born with great genes. Eto ba yung sinasabi ni Gwen na laging nakatingin sa akin?

After kong titigan ang picture niya, I deleted it. Siguro kasi ayoko na may traces siya sa personal life ko. He invaded my thoughts na nga since Wednesday, pati ba yung phone ko?

The day went by in a breeze. Lunch time came and we went to the cafeteria. Ngayon lang kami nakapag-usap talaga nila Helen kasi nagiging heavy na yung lessons, so ngayon lang din nakapagkwento si Gwen about sa date nila ni Kyo kahapon. I would have loved to chat about it kanina pa, but even si Gwen na may baon na kwento, nakikinig nang maayos sa class.

Malapit na kami sa queue when the chattering turned into loud greetings. We whirled around and saw Vandalics walking in with Amy. The cousins laughed at something they must have found really funny kasi pinapahid pa ni Kyo yung tears niya sa sobrang pagtawa.

"Shit, do you think pinagtatawanan ako nila Paris and Kyo because of what happened kahapon?" Gwen asked. She looked so mortified kasi namutla talaga siya.

"Gaga." Hinampas ko siya. "Mas nakakahiya nga yung nangyari sa'min ni Paris. At least ikaw, nadulas lang. And nasambot ka niya so hindi ka bumagsak. It was romantic kaya. Right, Lenny?"

Tumingin sa'kin si Helen, then kay Gwen, then sa akin ulit. Ngumiti siya at nag-nod. "Yeah."

"See? Wag kang paranoid," I told Gwen. Tiningnan ko ulit yung Vandalics and nakita ko na sobrang immersed na naman sila Shishi and Amy sa pinag-uusapan nila. Magka-link arms na naman sila. I knew na si Amy yung nag-loop ng arm niya kay Shishi kasi lagi niyang ginagawa yun kahit sa amin.

Pero bakit parang nakakainis? Dati, I even said so myself—bagay sila. But now, I wanted to snort at the thought of it, like, Bagay sila?

"Dee."

I looked at Helen. Naka-frown siya, mukhang nag-aalala.

"Are you okay? Natulala ka."

"Of course," I told her with a smirk. "Ask Gwen. You know na nagta-transform 'yan when Kyo is around."

"Gusto mo, mag-transform na ako ngayon then sasapakin kita," Gwen told me with a playful glare. "Nag-level up na kaya kami."

"Hey, nandito pala kayo!" It was Amy. Bumitiw siya kay Shishi at tumakbo papunta sa amin. "Sabay-sabay na tayong kumain!"

Nagkatinginan kami ni Paris noong nakalapit na rin silang tatlo sa amin. He smiled at me so I returned it kahit nahihiya pa rin ako.

"Kumusta?" Paris asked kaya sabi ko okay lang, although mahina yata masyado yung pagkakasabi ko.

"Sorry talaga ulit," I added. "I didn't mean to throw up."

Paris chuckled. "Okay nga lang. Talsik lang naman, eh. 'Wag ka na kasing sasagad ng inom next time."

"Yeah," I agreed. Yung mga kasama namin, immersed din sa topic nila. Inaasar ni Amy sila Gwen at Kyo. Helen was on her phone naman. But si Shishi, nakatingin sa amin. Nakasimangot na naman siya pero yung simangot na parang confused. Hindi niya siguro alam. Wala yata talaga siya that night during their pustahan, eh.

"Baka naman dumikit na mukha mo sa phone mo," sabi ni Paris kaya tiningnan siya ni Helen. "Ano na? Wala pa tayong nagagawa. Sila Dee nagpa-practice na."

"Fuck you, it's my lunch. Give me a break."

"Wednesday ka pa naka-break."

Helen took a deep breath. "Fine. Mamaya after school na lang. I have a song in mind na."

"Yown," sabi ni Paris. Ngumiti pa siya sa akin, wiggling his eyebrows. Crush niya siguro si Helen.

"Sabay na tayo kumain," Amy said. "Sige na. There are eight-seater na tables sa taas."

My best friends and I looked at one another. They waited for our answer kung sasabay ba kaming tatlo na kumain sa kanila. Well, except Shishi who was looking at the menu for the day na nasa counter sa likod naming tatlo.

Kanina noong nakatulog siya sa garden, ginising ko siya thirty minutes before mag-first bell. Nagalit pa nga siya sa akin kasi hindi ko raw siya ginising agad. Wala pa pala kasi siyang sagot sa homework namin sa Biology and hahanap pa raw siya ng makokopyahan kila Paris or Amy. He was very straightforward about pangongopya ng homework naman. So I offered him mine which he accepted reluctantly. Together, we did our homework before the class started.

We were silent while doing our works. Pinilit kong hindi siya tingnan at all habang ginagawa ko ang homework ko. I didn't look up from my book and papers even once. But I felt his eyes on me from time to time while nagsusulat din siya. Nagdududa yata siya kung tama yung mga sagot ko. When we finished, ten minutes before Homeroom, I told him I had to go na to meet Gwen and Helen but inunahan niya akong umalis without saying anything to me.

I felt a little bad kasi parang hindi normal sa amin na hindi talaga nag-uusap. Nag-uusap naman kami during the very few instances na kaming dalawa lang, though galit siya palagi sa akin. But kanina, wala talagang kahit ano.

"Sabi niyo hindi tayo kakain," mahinang sabi ko. "Bibili lang tayo ng drinks."

Napatingin sa akin si Shishi but I chose to ignore it and looked at Amy instead. Siya kasi ang nagyaya, so sa kanya ako medyo nahihiya. My friends did not say anything so I hoped na naintindihan nila. Kakain talaga dapat kami kaso ewan ko, ayoko biglang kasama ulit si Shishi. Mukhang sasama rin kasi siya sa amin kahit never niya pa ginawa 'yon.

"Libre kita, Dee," sabi sa akin ni Paris. "Dali na, kain na kayo dito."

"Sorry, Paris. Next time na lang," Gwen told him bago siya tumingin kay Kyo apologetically.

"Okay lang," sabi ni Kyo. "Yun yata talaga plan niyo, eh."

Of course, ngingiti nang pabebe si Gwen kasi kinikilig siya. Ang sarap batukan, eh.

Amy said na sayang naman daw but she understood. Bumili na rin kami ng drinks namin at lumabas na.

"Okay ka lang ba, Dee?" Gwen asked me.

I looked down for a second, watching my feet in my white indoor shoes do a race kung mauuna ba yung right or yung left foot. Nasa main hallway na kami pabalik sa building namin. "Ayokong kasama ang Vandalics. I like them but I suddenly don't like being near Shishi."

Hindi ko maamin sa kanila na ang sakit sa mata tingnan nila Shishi at Amy na magkasama. I would look bad kasi mabait si Amy sa amin.

"That's fine, babe," Helen said. "Okay rin yun na hindi ka maging close sa kanya. Remember what we talked about?"

"Yeah. Sorry rin, Gwen. Kasabay mo sana si Kyo ngayon."

Ngumiti siya sa akin. "Mas gusto ko pa rin kayong kasama."

Niyakap ko silang dalawa kasi nasa gitna nila ako kaya nagtawanan kami.

∘ ⸻ ∘

𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗡

𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟭𝟲, 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟯:𝟭𝟱 𝗽.𝗺.

Lumingon na naman sa akin si Paris kaya I gave him the finger again. He frowned at me then nakinig na ulit siya kay Mrs. Kajo who gathered the whole Vandalics and some of those who played in other bands. Nasa classroom kami kanina to discuss our project, but dumating si Kyo kasi nagpapatawag daw ng meeting si Mrs. Kajo for them. So here I was, waiting for the meeting to end sa clubroom nila.

It had been almost ten minutes na pero hindi pa rin sila tapos. It was Paris' fault. Ang dami niyang questions, ang dami niyang suggestions. Ang dami niyang sinasabi. Lalong tumatagal yung meeting dahil sa kanya.

I went out muna to buy a drink from the vending machine sa hallway. There I saw Emma who was studying the drinks inside like it was a matter of life and death. Hindi siya part ng meeting, although I learned from Amy na siya yung pinakamagaling tumugtog ng chosen instrument niya within Kapisanan. When she saw me approaching, she smirked.

"Bored?"

"Medyo," sabi ko. I surveyed the drinks but I could not choose.

"Ano na progress niyo?"

"Ngayon pa lang kami magdi-discuss but" —I shrugged— "meeting."

"Yeah." She chuckled. Sumandal siya sa wall sa tabi ng machine, drinking the bottle of energy drink na binili niya. "Do you really sing? Natugtog ka ba?"

"No," sabi ko and pressed the combination for Coke na lang. "I don't know shit sa gagawin namin. But sabi ni Paris, siya na bahala. Suggest lang daw ako ng kanta and ituturo niya na lang sa'kin kung pa'no kakantahin."

"Swerte."

"You? What other instruments can you play?" Sumandal ako sa tabi niya, but there was distance between us.

"Yun lang. Si Warren kaya lahat," sabi niya. "Enjoy ko rin naman tumugtog pero mas enjoy ako 'pag inuman."

"Do you always go to bars?"

"Every weekend. Minsan, school night, kapag yung gusto kong band tutugtog somewhere na malapit."

"Where do you usually go?"

"Toracco. Minsan sa Nunier, may bar din do'n, yung BBG. Mas malaki pa sa Toracco. Gusto mong sumama?"

"Yeah, sure. Just text me."

"Hindi ka nga nag-reply sa text ko sa'yo kanina," sabi niya. Nag-smirk na naman siya then uminom.

Hindi agad ako nakasagot kasi she was right. She texted me kanina, asking me if I had something to do tonight, but I did not reply. I could not ask her what that was for naman ngayon. But baka magyayaya siya ng gimmick.

Nakita ko sila Callie at Scheri, yung friends ni Amy na palaging parehas ang earrings, walking toward us. They sniggered habang palapit and I saw Emma glare at them.

"Hey, emo, do you get jealous ba kapag namamatay phone mo?" Callie asked.

"I'd get jealous kapag nauna kang namatay," sabi ni Emma and Scheri pulled the bitch away agad papunta sa kabilang room for the Theater Club.

"Assholes," sabi ko. Hindi ko rin talaga gusto yung dalawang yun, especially Callie. There was a time that she tried to correct my answer during recitation. But I proved her otherwise. Kaya siguro mainit ang ulo niya kahit kay Emma kasi kasama ko.

"Dami n'yan dito." Emma shrugged and tossed the empty bottle to the bin. "I have other things I enjoy."

"What?"

"Shutting up assholes."

Natawa ako. She grinned at me and went back inside their clubroom na.

Hindi na ako bumalik sa loob. I would just wait for that moron here sa labas. After a few minutes, lumabas na rin siya. Hindi niya agad ako nakita kasi sa kabilang direction muna siya tumingin. When he saw me, parang nagulat pa siya. Lumapit din siya agad and I had to look up. He was maybe six feet tall. I did not even reach five feet, for fuck's sake. Nahiya pa kasi ng one inch.

"Tagal mo," sabi ko.

"Sorry." He smiled at me. "Dami kasing gustong mangyari ni Mrs. Kajo, eh."

I rolled my eyes.

Lumapit siya sa machine. "Nakakauhaw. So anong song yung gusto mo?"

"Stop This Song by Paramore."

Humarap siya sa akin. "Aba, maganda yun. Won't someone stop this song, so I won't sing along."

Inirapan ko siya kasi kinanta niya pa talaga.

"Anong genre gusto mong gawin natin?"

"I don't know. Gusto ko lang yung song na yun."

"Electro pop? Tama, tama. Bagay electro pop dun. Tamang tugs, tugs, tugs tayo no'n."

I did not want to, but natawa ako sa sinabi niya. He acted like the bottle of Pepsi na binili niya was a flashlight pa from that commercial.

"So okay sa'yo yun?"

"Yeah, sige. Fine by me," sabi ko. "What about you?"

"Wala pa rin akong maisip, sa totoo lang. Sorry. Ang dami ko kasing gustong kanta."

"Minamadali mo 'ko tapos—"

"Sorry na. Pero medyo nangingibabaw sa'kin yung Hanging by a Moment. Alam mo yun? Kanta ng Lifehouse?"

I shook my head so he brought out his phone and played the song. Maganda yung kanta, sweet yung lyrics. Familiar din sa akin kasi classic siya in a way na palagi kong naririnig kay Zach na kinakanta niya kapag nagka-karaoke kami dati nila Dee. I did not know na yun pala ang title no'n. And ang ganda pala ng original. Ang panget kasi ng boses ni Zach.

"Feeling ko maganda kung rap gagawin natin dito. Rap yung mga verse sabay biglang chorus na halos same lang ng original pero iba tempo."

"Sure ka? Hindi mo binababoy yung song?"

He laughed. "Sira, hindi. Maganda yun, promise. Lalo sa bandang bridge. Kasi uulitin yung first verse after no'n, eh. Parang ganito."

So kinanta niya nga nang pa-rap yung bridge, with beatboxing on the side, then halos same lang din ang ginawa niya sa inulit na first verse. Then yung chorus ulit, although first line lang ng chorus yung kinanta niya kasi gumawa na siya ng 'bam' na sound effect.

"Mic drop," sabi niya at nilaglag niya pa yung bottle niya, pero na-catch niya using his other hand. "Ayos, 'di ba?"

I still did not want to, but napatawa na naman niya ako. Baka isipin niyang close na kami. Pero talented nga siya. At ang ganda nga ng boses niya. To think na nagawa niya yun on the spot. Well, maybe he already tried to rap that song beforehand, but it still was a great experiment kasi ang ganda ng result.

"Mas bagay sa'yo natawa, kesa yung palagi ka nakasinghal."

Tumigil ako sa pagtawa at tiningnan siya. He was smiling. Umiling ako at tumingin na lang sa kabilang side.

"Galit ka na naman. Bati na tayo."

Hindi ako nagsalita but nakita kong nakaabot yung kamay niya for a handshake. Reluctantly, I accepted it kasi hindi rin healthy para sa project kung hindi ko siya gustong kasama na gumawa dahil hindi ako mamo-motivate.

"Yun," nakangiti pa ring sabi niya. "Ipa-practice ko na lang yung songs sa bahay mamaya. Record ko kung kaya tapos ipaparinig ko na lang sa'yo. Decide ka na lang kung aling part yung gusto mong kunin. Okay ba 'yon?"

"Yeah, works for me."

"Okay."

"So okay na? Can I leave now?"

"Hindi naman kita hino-hostage."

I rolled my eyes again and threw my empty bottle to the bin. "I'm going."

"Ingat."

Nilingon ko siya and he gave me a two-finger salute. Since nakipag-shake hands na ako sa kanya, I waved at him na lang and left.