Chapter 8
Passes

Zendaya and I were in an awkward silence. I was too confused to talk while I think that she's hesitating to open a conversation because of what she saw earlier.

"Uhm..." she made a sound, finally. "I don't want to sound like a chismosa pero... it was the second time I saw you had a row with Darlene."

I looked at her but she's just looking at her hands.

"The frappe incident..." she continued. "Na-tweet din 'yon sa for fun account ng school natin sa Twitter."

"I have my own reasons." sabi ko nalang at inalis na ang tingin sa kaniya.

"I know..." she said. "Honestly, at first, I was scared to approach you noong nalaman kong magpartner tayo. But when you smiled to me, nakita kong hindi ka naman pala nakakatakot."

Napangisi naman ako. "Do I look like a monster to you or what?" I joked.

"No! No! No!" agaran niyang pagsagot at nilingon ko siya. She's even shaking her head. "You're pretty, Blair. Sa katunayan nga, maraming nagkakagusto sa'yo."

"Okay na yung sabihin mong maganda ako. Huwag mo ng dagdagan ng joke." medyo natatawa ko pang sabi.

"But it's true." she said. "I've heard guys talking about you but they just don't have the guts to approach you..."

"Then they're a coward." sabi ko. "I hate coward boys."

Nilingon ko siya't ngumiti. She's like a puppy nodding at what I'm saying.

"Anyway, should we talk about our case digest?" pag-iiba ko ng topic at muli siyang tumango.

We spent ten minutes talking about our case digest. We distributed evenly the parts that we're going to do separately to be fair. I'll do the facts and analyze the issues, she'll do the rulings. I agreed to do the facts and issues because making rulings are hard.

I was planning to go home early today as well but knowing that Ida's not feeling makes me want to go to their house.

I went to a nearby Starbucks and bought Ida's favorite cinnamon danish and strawberry cream frappe with extra whipped cream before I went to their house.

"What an unexpected guest!" masayang bungad ni Tita nang binuksan niya ang kanilang pintuan. "Come in, Blair."

"Sorry for coming po nang hindi nagsasabi." paghingi ko ng paumanhin as I walked my way inside their house. "Ida told me that she's feeling sick kaya po pumunta ako dito and brought her favorites." sabay angat ko nang dala kong pagkain.

"She'll love it, Blair! Umakyat ka na. She's been staying inside her room for the whole day." sabi ni Tita.

"Sige po." I smiled at Tita before I went upstairs to Ida's room.

I was about to enter her room when I heard a door closing besides Ida's room. I know who owns the room besides Ida's.

"Blair?" he carefully called my name like he was doubting if he was really seeing me right now.

I removed my grip from the doorknob and turned to see Isaiah who's now walking towards me.

Isaiah's wearing black tight jeans, black plain tee shirt and black ball cap. He definitely likes wearing black. The strap of his guitar's bag was in his shoulders so I guessed his going out for a practice... even in the evening. Siguro'y talagang hectic na ang schedule nila lalo na't napapalapit na ang encore concert nila.

"Hey." I casually greeted him and smiled.

He smiled widely when I finally greeted him. "Didn't know your going to visit. Walang sinabi sa akin si Ida."

"I didn't tell her so..." I shrugged. "I'm going to give this to her since she's not feeling well."

His eyes moved to the brown paper bag that I was holding. It was hard because I'm supporting the paper bag using only one of hands to make myself looked cooler. Kinakabahan ako dahil baka lumusot ang frappe. Nararamdaman ko na ang pagkabasa ng ilalim ng paper bag. Dapat talaga'y pinalagay ko nalang doon sa pinaglalagyan nila ng beverages kapag take-out. Stupid me.

Ngumisi naman siya't mas lumapit pa sa akin.

I almost held my breathe when he stopped just an inch or two in front of me. He leaned down and smiled at me as he got the paper bag from me.

"The bottom of the bag's dripping wet. Ako na maghahawak. Open the door." he said.

Wala sa sarili akong tinalikuran siya't sinunod nalang ang sinabi niya.

I opened the door and I saw Ida covered with comforter while holding her phone. Her eyes widened and removed her earphones when she saw me entered the room.

"Blair!" she surprisingly called my name before she averted her gaze to her brother. "Kuya?" nagtataka niyang dagdag.

"It's not what you think." mabilis kong sabi't lumapit sa kaniya. "We just met outside your room."

Napabuntong hininga naman siya nang sabihin ko 'yon. "I thought you two were already taking the risk and dating outside the house." sabi ni Ida. "Sabi ko naman sa'yo kuya, dito nalang kayo sa bahay para safe."

"Ida!" pagsuway ko sa kaniya't narinig ko ang pagtawa ni Isaiah.

Nilingon ko naman siyang nilalapag ang paper bag na dala ko sa may side bed table ni Ida.

"Thanks for the help, Isaiah." I bid him a thanks.

Isaiah just smiled at me.

"Kuya, I thought pupunta ka ngayon kila Ike for the private band practice?" biglang tanong ni Ida sa kaniya.

So that's why he has his guitar with him. He's going to a private band practice with his band mates.

Mabuti nalang at kahit papaano'y nakita ko siya ngayon.

Napakunot naman ang noo ko nang maalala ko ang wallpaper ni Zendaya. I know that she's just a fan at maraming fans ni Isaiah ang gumagawa non pero siya palang kasi ang nakikita ko na kilala kong ginagawa siyang wallpaper.

Sometimes jealousy can give us a feeling that's so irrational. Basta kapag naramdaman mo, mararamdaman mo talaga't maaapektuhan ka.

"How can I go if Blair's inside our house?" he simply said.

It seems like he's serious with his answer as I saw him putting down his guitar at the floor and sat in Ida's bed.

"You're making me cringe, kuya. Stop it." sabi ni Ida at umakto pang para siyang kinikilabutan.

"May practice ka pala ngayon. Pumunta ka na." I tried to convince him to attend their band practice.

"It's not an official band practice kaya pwedeng hindi ako pumunta." sabi niya't ngumiti sa akin.

"But that's still a practice that can improve your performance sa encore concert niyo." I pointed out.

Nawala naman ang kaniyang ngiti't huminga ng malalim. "Please don't make me leave, Blair. Alam mo namang susundin kita kapag pinaalis mo ako pero please, don't make me leave. Isang beses palang kitang nakikita mula nung galing kami sa European tour. This would be my second time seeing you tapos papaalisin mo pa ako."

I don't know why but I find him cute pouting while telling me not to let him attend the practice.

"I seriously can't take seeing you two doing lovey-dovey talks in front of me." Ida said, still disgusted with the kind of affection her brother's giving me.

"We're not doing that." I clarified her wrong thoughts. "Anyway, binilan kita ng paborito mo. Pwedeng pakiabot, Isaiah?" pakiusap ko.

"Finally! Kanina ko pa 'yan tinitignan. Akala ko hindi mo na maiisipang ibigay sa akin." sabi ni Ida't sobrang laki ng kaniyang ngiti lalo na nang maibigay na ito ni Isaiah sa kaniya. "You're the best, best friend ever, Blair." she said and even gave me a thumbs up before she took a sip in her frappucino.

"Bumili rin ako ng dalawang cinnamon danish. One for you and one for me." sabi ko't kinuha sa kaniya ang paper bag bago nilingon si Isaiah. "Hati nalang tayo sa akin." sabi ko kay Isaiah.

"Does it mean that I can stay and eat with you?" he asked with high hopes and I almost forgot na kailangan niya nga palang umalis.

"Wrong move, brother." umiling-iling pa si Ida na sinimulan nang kainin ang kaniyang cinnamon danish.

"Oo nga pala! Baka hinihintay ka na ng mga bandmates mo." sabi ko. "Just bring this danish with you para may pagkain ka doon. Just in case..."

"You really want me to leave, huh?" he sounded hurt and I felt guilt building up inside me.

Most of the people around me say that I'm such a strong person. Pero sabi nga rin nila, lahat ng malalakas na tao ay may kahinaan. Just like Superman, no matter how strong he is, even if he can spin the world backwards to turn back time, may kahinaan pa rin siya... and that's the kryptonite. In my case, my family, Ida and Isaiah's my kind of kryptonite. Kapag pagdating na sa kanila'y lumalabas na ang pagkamahina ko, they're my weakness.

"How 'bout I'll suggest something that will benefit the both of you?" biglang pagtaas ni Ida ng kamay at sabay naman namin siyang nilingon ni Isaiah. "Kuya, go to your practice--"

"What? No!" mabilis na pag-angal ni Isaiah.

"I'm not yet finish! Don't cut me out." inis na sabi ni Ida't inirapan ang kaniyang kapatid. "Go to your practice and bring Blair with you." she finished her sentence.

"Ako?" I pointed at myself, suddenly wondering why Isaiah needs to bring me to their band practice.

"Yes." simpleng sagot ni Ida. "Since gusto mong umattend si Kuya sa band practice nila at dahil rin gusto ni Kuya na makasama ka pa ng mas matagal. Oh diba? Ang galing ko talagang mag-isip." she even praised herself.

"Well, that's a good suggestion." Isaiah seemed to agree with Ida's suggestion.

"That's a dangerous suggestion." sabi ko. "Baka may makakita sa amin ni Isaiah."

"Siyempre meron! And those people na makakakita sa inyo ay ang members ng New Classic." Ida sarcastically said. "Plus, Ike lives in a village with high-security kaya I doubt na may mga nakakapasok na press doon o kahit paparazzi."

I almost clapped my hands when I remembered that New Classic is Isaiah's band name. Hindi ko na kakalimutan ulit ang pangalan ng banda nila.

"Ida's right but how did you know that Ike lives in that kind of village?" biglang pagtataka ni Isaiah na kahit ako'y nagtataka na rin.

"We're friends, kuya." simpleng sagot ni Ida. "Saka pinapabantayan kita sa kaniya. Baka mamaya niloloko mo na ang bestfriend ko."

"I would never do that to Blair, Ida." mariin at seryosong sabi ni Isaiah.

"Okay. Whatever you say. Basta umalis na kayong dalawa. I'll be fine here with these treats from my sweet bestfriend." Ida sweetly smiled at me.

I took a deep breathe. Guess, I have to go with Isaiah if it's the only way para hindi ako maging sagabal sa practice nila.

I stood up from sitting at Ida's bed and looked at Isaiah. "Let's go." pag-aya ko na sa kaniya.

"You'll go with me?" mabilis siyang napatayo't ngiting-ngiti pa.

"May magagawa pa ba ako?" I almost playfully rolled my eyes at him.

"Uhm I guess no." sabi niya. "We better go before you change your mind."

He swiftly lifted up his guitar bag and carried it through his shoulder as he grabbed my hand at the same time.

Sa pagmamadali niyang makaalis kaming dalawa ay hindi na ako nakapagpaalam pa kay Ida na tumatawa habang pinapanood kami ni Isaiah palabas ng kwarto niya. I'll just text her.

"Wait a minute." he stopped when we were already in the garage in front of his car.

Isaiah removed his ball cap and fixed the strands of my hair, tucking it in the back of my ears before placing the ball cap in my head.

"There... so we can be safe." ngumiti siya't pinatunog na ang kaniyang Mustang.

Guess, I'll have to stay up late later because I'm still going to do my assignment. Mabuti nalang at madali lang 'yon at hapon pa ang klase ko sa subject na 'yon.

"Ike's village is just near ours." sabi ni Isaiah. "We'll be there in five or eight."

I nodded and got my phone to text Ida farewell dahil nga 'di ako nakapagpaalam kanina.

"It's Ida. You don't have to peek." sabi ko na kaagad kay Isaiah nang makita ko sa aking peripheral vision ang pagsilip niya sa phone ko.

"I'm not peeking." he denied and even chuckled.

"Suit yourself with your own lie." nakangising sabi ko.

He laughed. "It's really hard to please you." he said. "But I guess I'm lucky because I can spend time with you, huh?"

"Very lucky..." tumango-tango ako.

"Pero mas swerte ka." bigla niyang sabi.

"And how is that?" I raised my eyebrow.

"Mahal kaya ang talent fee ko! And yet, nakakasama mo ako ng libre." he proudly said and I can't help but to laugh. "But I'm glad and willing to give you all my time for free."

"You and your cheesy lines again." sabi ko nalang.

Tumawa nanaman siya. "I really like it whenever we're alone together." he said. "Kapag may nakapaligid kasi satin, even my annoying sister, you're quiet. But if we're alone, sinasakyan mo ang mga kalokohan ko."

"Kilala mo ko, Isaiah... I'm not use to these kind of situation kapag may ibang tao." sabi ko.

"I know." tumango-tango siya. "Anyway, the tickets for the encore concert will be released tomorrow. They're expecting that it will be sold-out in one day so, nagpareserve na ako ng tickets and also backstage passes for mom, dad, Ida and you."

"Isn't that kinda odd? I mean, pamilya mo sila kaya walang kaso kung bigyan mo sila ng backstage passes pero ako..." nag-aalangan kong sabi. "Baka may mga maghinalang staffs niyo."

"No, they won't." umiling siya. "May mga mapipili rin sa VIP section, around 25 fans para ma-meet kami sa backstage so, I think it'll be fine."

I smiled and nodded while I can already feel the excitement. The last time I saw him play in a big dome was during their first concert ever. Their last concert here before they went on their European tour, hindi ako nakapunta because I was sick that time at pagkatapos ng concert nila'y pinuntahan nila ako ni Ida sa bahay.

This time I'll attend his concert and scream my heart out because that's the time where I can also show him full attention and affection. No one will notice because they'll think that I'm just a die-hard fan, and I don't care about that.