Scent's Point Of View

Armil left his seat after he confessed. Hindi niya ako binigyan ng time para makapag-salita. Nakita ko na lamang ang papalayong pigura nito papunta sa stage. Bumaba na rin si Apple kaya si Jun at Armil nalang ang natira sa stage.

 "Nakita ko 'yon. What's with you and him ba talaga?"

Naramdaman kong umupo si Apple sa dating upuan ni Armil. May hawak rin siyang card na medyo makapal.

"Nag-confess si Armil," bulong ko.

"Oh, my God, true?!" nanlaki ang mata niya at napahawak sa labi.

Tumango ako. Punyeta. Naguguluhan ako. Masaya ako na malungkot. Kinikilig ako kay Armil pero hindi ko siya mahal. Hindi ko rin siya crush. Gwapo si Armil pero may nakita na akong mas gwapo sa kaniya, marami na actually.

"Tapos? Anong nangyari? Anong sinabi mo?"

"Wala. I didn't got the chance to talk. Tumayo siya agad tapos umalis."

"Ay, pangit. Gusto mo siya?"

"Hindi. Hindi ko nga crush. Kinikilig lang ako sa kaniya."

"Sure ka na ba sa feelings mo na 'yan? Kasi kapag sinabi ni Armil na gusto ka niya, hindi ka niyan tatantanan. If he's obsess with something, he will really have it whatever it takes."

Napatango-tango ako.

"Kung gano'n, harapin niya si Mama. Gusto ko maranasan magka-boyfriend, at the same time ayoko rin. Not now, strict Mama ko."

"Same. Pero boto si Mommy at Daddy kay Jun, consistent kasi at magaling sa lahat ng bagay. Kaya eventually, pumayag din sila."

Napakibit-balikat ako. Tumingin ako sa stage. Nando'n si Armil at nakatingin na naman sa 'kin. Uminit ang mukha ko at hindi siya pinansin.

"Announcement of leaders na, Scent. Chop-chopin natin mamaya si Armil."

Napatawa ako sa sinabi nito. Parang ang sakit pa rin isipin na hindi ako nakapasok. Brokenhearted ako ngayon. Hindi na ako nakapag-focus sa sunod na nangyari. Lumilipad na 'yong utak ko kung ano na ang mangyayari dahil sa biglaang confession ni Armil na alam kong seryoso. 

"Hey," untag ni Apple sa 'kin.

Lumingon ako sa kaniya na may nagtatanong na ekspresyon sa mukha.

"Announcement na. Ayos ka lang ba talaga? 'Wag mo na kasi dibdibin 'yong hindi pagtanggap sa 'yo ni Armil at do'n sa ibang members ng Music Club."

"Hindi naman," mahinahon kong sabi.

"O, baka 'yong confession niya ang dinidibdib mo ngayon?" nakangising tanong niya.

"Shut up ka diyan, Apple. Masyado ka ng imbento," pabirong irap ko.

"Sus! You can't lie to me, Scent. I've been observing you and I can say that you're not a good lying."

"Hindi ko nga mahal," tanggi ko.

Lumaki ang ngisi ni Apple. She encircled her arms on mine and rubbed her face on my shoulders.

"Hindi ko tinatanong, Zethadel Scendra. Anong hindi mahal? Hm, ikaw ha," tukso niya.

Gusto ko hablutin bigla 'yong buhok ni Apple tapos kurutin siya. Nakakainis na kasi. 

"Tigil mo nga 'yan, parang tanga naman 'to," bulong ko.

"At this time, we will about to announce the next leader of Music Club who was led by the former Club President, Armil De Luna," Jun announced.

"I would like to thank all of you, who had appreciated and loved our band and singers for the past years that I handled the club. It is time for me to officially let go and choose someone who was qualified and the band's standard to be a new leader. But before that, let's talk about how I started as the leader of Music Club," Armil cleared his throat.

"I was in grade seven, when one of my classmates suggested that I should sign up for Music Club. He said I was good at singing ang playing different kinds of instruments, and I believed. Naniwala ako syempre, alam ko naman kasi sa sarili ko na magaling ako."

Everyone laughed. Armil smiled at everyone.

"Kidding aside. So, I signed up for that club. And I was damn lucky to be chosen as the next leader. I had doubt first, of course. Magaling nga ako, tamad naman. Wala sa bukabularyo ko ang salitang responsable kaya pa'no ko iha-handle ng tama 'yong buong club? Tumutugtog lang din ako kapag nasa mood. That was all a rush. Wala na akong nagawa no'ng in-announce na ako na ang bagong leader ng club. Take note, I was only a grade seven student at under ko na ang mga estudyante na nasa grade eight hanggang senior high students. 

"Naalala niyo 'yon? Mga ka-batchmates ko diyan, naalala niyo 'yon? I'm sure naaalala ni Jun 'yong araw na 'yon, he was the one who pushed me to walk to the stage to receive the trophy, certificate, and sash. Ang sama ng ugali mo, Jun Joshua."

"Enough of the history, tinatamad na ako magsalita. In behalf of the members of the Music Club, I, former club leader Armil John De Luna, announces to all of you the new club leader of Music Club. Let us all welcome and give her a round of applause, Miss Zethadel Scendra Colina!"

Dumagundong ang kaba sa dibdib ko nang marinig iyon. Napuno ng hiyawan ang buong school auditorium. Grabe rin ang hiyawan ng mga kaklase namin na nasa likod ko lang pala.

Napatakip ako ng bibig dahil sa hindi maipaliwanag na nararamdaman. 

"Scent! Akyat ka na do'n!" kinulbit ako ni Mykee sa likod.

I turned around only to find my classmates with a wide smile.

"Ha? Anong gagawin ko?" naguguluhan kong tanong.

"Akyat ka sa stage tapos kunin mo 'yong trophy mo!" sigaw ni Alyssa.

"Slay, girl! Congratulations!" sigaw ni Jerick.

"Oh, sipsip! Congrats, Scent. Painom ka naman mamaya, ako na bahala sa chaser. Love you, Colina!" Ryan winked.

Apple forced me to stand up and drag me at the edge of the stairs in the stage. Parang ang liit bigla ng paligid ko. Gulong-gulo din ako at hindi alam ang gagawin.

"Sabi na eh, may magandang plano si Armil para sa 'yo. I told you to trust Armil, didn't I? Congratulations, new leader. Go and show them the new leader. It's your time to shine. As what Jerick said, slay girl!" litanya ni Apple saka ako binitawan.

Dahan-dahan ay hinakbang ko ang mga paa paakyat sa stage. Armil greeted me with a smile. He encircled his arms around my waist the moment I stepped at the stage. He guided me to the center and stood beside me with his arms still clinging on me.

"Congratulations, Scent."

Armil whispered and it sent shivers to my whole body. 

"Pagbati, Binibining Colina," ngumiti 'yong isa sa mga members ng club.

He was holding a bouquet of flowers and he handed it to me. Next was Jun with a trophy in his hands.

"Congratulations," he simply said and just smile a little before walking away.

Attitude? Kidding.

"Congrats po, Ate Scent! Ang galing mo po do'n sa perforance mo, Ate. Anong motto mo sa life po? Para malagay ko sa bio ko sa Facebook at Instagram," tumawa ito at sinuot sa 'kin ang sash na dala.

"Maturity comes with acknowledging you know nothing and take time to learn from everyone," I softly answered.

"Thank you po pero pwedeng pa-send nalang po? Hindi ko po kasi na-memorize. Congrats po ulit, see you around," she bowed down and left.

"Certificate, Miss. Hindi pwedeng wala 'to. One of the evidence."

A guy came to me holding a gold certificate. He handed it to me and I gladly received it.

"Picture muna. Smile."

I smiled while looking at the camera. Some random student took picture of us.

"Last but not the least... this."

I turned to Armil. In his hand was a didder silver tiara.

"Para saan 'to?" mahinang tanong ko.

He smirked. May lumapit sa 'ming estudyante at hinawakan 'yong mic niya. Nilagay no'ng estudyante 'yong mic malapit sa bibig ni Armil para kapag nagsalita ito ay maririnig pa rrin ng lahat. Hawak ang tiara gamit ang dalawang kamay ay nilagay ito ni Armil sa tuktok ng ulo ko. Hindi ko na kailangan yumuko, he's way taller than me. 

"A goddess in a uniform. Nevertheless, you're so pretty. Congratulations Miss Leader--" he stopped and the crowd went silent, waiting for the next thing he will say, so was I.

"Miss Leader ng buhay ko," he added.

The crowd went wild. Napuno ng sigawan at hiyawan ang buong school auditorium dahil sa kalandian ni Armil. Nagulat ako nang mamatay ang ilaw at nagsiilawan ang cellphone ng mga estudyante. I was stunned when a music was played and Armil started singing in front of me.

"Hawakan mo ang kamay ko

Nang napakahigpit

Pakinggan mo ang tinig ko

Ooh, 'di mo ba pansin?"

Some unfamiliar students took all the stuffs I was holding. Armil took my hands and placed it on top of his shoulders. He encircled one of his arms around me while the other one was holding the microphone.

"Na ikaw at ako, ooh-whoa, oh

Tayo'y pinagtagpo

Ikaw at ako, ooh-whoa, oh

'Di na muling magkakalayo."

"Sa tuwing kasama kita

Wala nang kulang pa

Mahal na mahal kang talaga

Tayo ay iisa."

He slowly danced with me... in front of the silent crowd, vibing with the music.

"Ikaw at ako, ooh-whoa, oh

Tayo'y pinagtagpo

Ikaw at ako, ooh-whoa, oh

'Di na muling magkakalayo."

Ang lakas ng tibok ng puso ko. Nakakatakot. Natatakot ako na baka marinig niya. The music was loud, but I feel like the rapid beating of my heart is more louder.

"Unos sa buhay natin

'Di ko papansinin

Takda ng tadhana

Ikaw ang aking bituin."

Armil pulled me closer to him. He hugged me tightly while dancing. His voice didn't change, didn't even tremble. My face was in his chest, and I can hear how his heart beats so fast, just like mine.

"Ikaw at ako, ooh-whoa, oh

Tayo'y pinagtagpo

Ikaw at ako, ooh-whoa, oh

'Di na muling magkakalayo."

"Ikaw at ako, ooh-whoa, oh

Tayo'y pinagtagpo

Ikaw at ako, ooh-whoa, oh

'Di na muling magkakalayo."

"I wasn't joking when I told you I love you," he whispered.

*****