Chapter 11

After that night, I already couldn't think as just friend when I see him. Nabigyan ko na ng malisya sa utak ko lahat ng mga ginagawa niya sa 'kin. Kung noon, sobrang moved lang ako sa pagiging sweet niya dahil dati pa naman siyang ganon, ngayon, kinukwestiyon ko na lagi kung ginagawa ba niya 'yun as a friend o may iba na siyang dahilan. 

I'm so confused with this set-up. Hindi na rin kasi ako nakapag-salita pag-tapos ng ginawa niya. Parang ninakaw iyong boses ko. 'Di na ako naka-kibo. 

But I forced myself to act normal the day after. I acted like nothing happened. Siya rin naman, parang 'di niya ako napa-tameme nang gabing 'yun no'ng nagkita kami kinabukasan. He's on his usual self, iyong laging naka-ngiti sa 'kin, laging nang-aasar, laging nag-a-attempt umakbay... and all those normal actions of him, lahat, may malisya na sa akin!

I shook my head and just danced with the beat of Guilbert's drum. Ayoko na munang isipin. Umingay iyong tugtog ng electric guitar para sa intro. I also strum on my guitar. The crowd we're getting hyper as I am. Kasisimula pa lang kasi nung night concert for the last day of our foundation week. Punung-puno ng mga tao 'yung music theater.

And Lolo's watching. I must make him proud of my band.

I looked at Note. He nodded and I smiled. I turned towards the crowd. Nilibot ko iyong stage.

"This is Skynote! Are you ready?" I shouted amidst our loud music. The crowd cheered noisily. "Hey! One! Two! Three!" Guilbert beat his drum in good timing. I started singing. "He was a boy, she was a girl. Can I make it any more obvious?"

I lively walked towards Lucky whose scribbling his keyboard. Inakbayan ko siya habang tinutuloy iyong pag-kanta.

"He was a punk, she did ballet. What more can I say?" He smiled at me while softly banging his head. "He wanted her, she'd never tell. Secretly she wanted him as well."

Naglakad ako papunta sa gilid ng stage.

"But all of her friends, stuck up their nose. They had a problem with his baggy clothes!" 

I hopped and jogged towards Note while singing the chorus. "He was a skater boy! She said, 'see you later, boy'! He wasn't good enough for her!" The crowd was screaming and dancing. I smiled wildly as I continue singing. "She had a pretty face, but her head was up in space! She needed to come back down to earth..."

I danced and swing the mic up on the air. I shake my head while jumping reason why my hair in a high ponytail followed my every move. Itinuloy ko iyong buong kanta habang may mga ilang portions din sa audience 'yung nakiki-sabay. 

For the second song, si Note naman iyong kakanta at ako 'yung papalit sa electric guitar, since meron din naka-sabit sa katawan ko kanina pa. 

"This is our second song titled: Tongue Tied by Faber Drive," Note's intro earns loud cheers and screams. Natawa siya sa tapat ng mic. "Getting pumped up, are we?"

The crowd answered by shouting with full energy.

Note and I looked on each other and he nodded. I smirked and started strumming the guitar. Nagka-tinginan kami ni Jessi at napa-ngiti kami nang malapad sa isa't-isa. This is what I like while performing. We all seem to enjoy what we're doing because this is our passion.

Note started singing.

"Bright cold silver moon, tonight alone in my room. You were here just yesterday," Note sang and the girls are shrieking and yelling things; about confession, proposal, I love you's pati iyong pagiging ama ng mga anak daw nila. 

"Slight turn of the head. Eyes down when you said, I guess I need my life to change..."

Natawa ako sa mga sumisigaw. Kung maingay kanina noong kumakanta ako, doble ang ingay ngayon sa kanya. His fangirls are crazy for his performance. 

"Seems like something's just aren't the same. What could I say?"

I continued strumming my guitar while I watch him sing. Guilbert beat up the drum loudly for the chorus. I can't wipe the smile off my face.

"I need a little more luck than a little bit 'cause every time I get stuck the words won't fit. And every time that I try... I get tongue tied, I'll need a little good luck to get me by..."

Note looked at me and smiled more.

"I need a little more help than a little bit, like the perfect one word no one's heard yet! 'Cause every time that I try I get tongue tied, I need a little good luck to get me by this time..."

Ang sarap pakinggan ng boses niya. Malamig tsaka mahinahon. Pero kayang-kaya niya pa ring ibagay sa soft rock nang walang kahirap-hirap. Samantalang iyong boses ko, buo tsaka mataas kaya bagay talaga 'yung rock kesa sa acoustic. 

Pakiramdam ko mauubusan na ng boses iyong mga sumisigaw sa baba ng stage pero hanggang nung umabot na kami sa third set, sobrang lively pa rin nila.

"Last song na 'to, ha!" I told them over the mic. They groaned in disagreement. I chuckled. "Thank you for staying the night, Zamoreans! The last song will be a duet... so enjoy!" 

The crowd grown batshit crazy. Lumakas iyong tilian tapos mayro'n pang mga nag-tulakan. 

"Guys, kalma tayo!" Note laughed over the mic and the girls just lost it. 

Without music, I started singing the first line. "Tell me how I'm supposed to breathe with no air?"

Then Lucky started maneuvering his keyboard and Guilbert softly hit his drums for the beat. Hanggang sa unti-unti nang sinabayan ni Jessi, Note, at ako nang marahan na strum ng electric guitar.

The audience were waving their hands on the air, slightly calmed down.

Tuwid lang kaming naka-tayo ngayon habang nag-gi-gitara dahil nasa mic stand naman iyong microphone. I smiled as I sing over the mic. Ipinikit ko 'yung mga mata ko. "If I should die before I wake, it's cause you took my breath away. Losing you is like living in a world with no air. Oh..."

Note sang the second part. He's seriously strumming his guitar while looking at the crowd. Mas lalo akong napa-ngiti. "I'm here alone didn't wanna leave. My heart won't move it's incomplete. If there was a way that I could make you understand..."

I slightly nod my head in the air. Huminga ako nang malalim para sa medyo mataas na tono. "But how do you expect me to live alone with just me? 'Cause my world revolves around you it's so hard for me to breathe!"

Gandang-ganda ako sa pagkaka-halo ng beat mula sa drum ni Guilbert at sa kiliting hatid ng tunog sa keyboard ni Lucky. Iyong electric guitar naman namin 'yung nagda-dagdag sa buhay nung kanta.

Nag-tinginan kami ni Note at sabay na kumanta. 

"Tell me how I'm supposed to breathe with no air? Can't live, can't breathe with no air... It's how I feel whenever you ain't there... It's no air, no air."

We smiled at each other as we sing again. "Got me out here in the water so deep. Tell me how you gonna be without me? If you ain't here I just can't breathe.. It's no air, no air..."

We just sing while strumming our own guitars and looking at each other's eyes. I got lost... sobrang na-enjoy ko lang 'yung performance. The next time I know, they're already giving us a loud round of cheers and applause. 

We widely smile as we stand upfront in a row. I get the mic.

"How's the night? Nag-enjoy ba kayo?" I asked and they cheered for us. Lalo kaming na-ngiti. "Thank you for this evening! We enjoy it, too, very well!" I exclaimed. 

"This is Skynote!" I shouted before lifting the mic towards their area. Sabay-sabay silang sumigaw ng "Rock on!" tsaka nagpalakpakan. 

Nagkatinginan kaming lima, nag-hawak-hawak ng mga kamay bago sabay-sabay na nag-bow. They kept the applause loud and alive until the stage switched off the light and the curtain.

"Well done!" bati ni Guilbert sa aming apat. 

"Good job, guys!" I gushed. "I enjoyed so much!"

The boys laughed. "We know, princess. It's written all over your face."

Napagod iyong lalamunan ko at sumakit 'yung daliri ko kasi more than twenty songs din 'yung pinerform namin pero ayos na ayos lang. I love my reality!

* * *

The next two months had been uneventful. Nag-lay low muna kami sa mga gigs dahil sobrang binaha kami ng mga quizzes at exams. Syempre, after ng pasarap buhay noong foundation week, ibabalik ng mga teachers iyong pasanin ng mga estudyante nila.

"Ano sagot sa number 16?"

I creased my forehead and look at Maya, confused. "Same answer sa number 3."

"What? Kaya pala mali ako."

"Oh? Patingin?" 

I looked at her test paper and slightly frowned. She has at least five mistakes. Nagtataka ko siyang tinignan. It's just ICT! She normally perfects her tests. 

"What's the matter, Maya? May problem ka ba?" I worriedly asked.

Dalawang buwan na kasi akong busy mag-bigay ng malisya sa mga ikinikilos ni Note mula nung gabi na 'yun. Hindi ko tuloy napansin kung may problema ba si Maya. Medyo nakonsensya tuloy ako. Tsaka hindi ko pa pala siya natanong kung bakit bigla siyang nawala noong last night ng foundation week.

She paste a smile on her face but she avoids my stare. "I'm okay, 'no."

"Sure? Baka may problema ka, don't forget that you've got me here to listen, okay?"

 She nodded. "Thank you, Cady. But I'm really fine."

Hinayaan ko na lang muna siya kahit 'di ako masyadong naniwala sa sagot niya. She looks disturbed and... guilty? Siguro dahil sa score niya ngayon. Masyadong istrikto iyong Papa niya pag-dating sa grades. Mamali lang ng isa, burado na agad 'yung appreciation para sa pag-aaral niya nang mabuti. Pasalamat na lang din ako dahil hindi ganon si Mommy kahit masungit siya.

The next week, we were all having practice in the Music Room. Mostly, sumasama si Maya sa amin lalo na kung wala namang pending assignments. But today, nauna pa siyang umalis sa room nang 'di nagpapa-alam sa 'kin.

"Maya's acting weird..." I told Note when the practice was over.

His full attention was on me. "How so?"

"Hindi ko alam. Parang may tinatago siya, e." I sighed. Ngayon ko lang siya nakita na ganoon. Hindi naman kasi 'yun naglilihim sa 'kin. "She seems disconnected in every class. Laging tumitingin sa phone niya. Tapos parang distracted lagi. She flunked all her quizzes... and she cut class." Last time kasi, sa gitna ng discussion, nag-paalam siya sa teacher namin na magpupunta sa Clinic dahil masakit daw iyong tiyan niya. Pero no'ng nag-punta ako after class sa clinic para sana tignan 'yung kalagayan niya, wala naman daw nag-punta na Maria Yasmine doon buong araw.

I just feel terrible...

Having my best friend lied to me like this...

Pakiramdam ko, wala akong kwentang kaibigan.

"Did you ask her first-hand?" Note asked.

I nodded. "I did ask but she denied it to me." 

Tapos nag-punta ako noong Sunday sa bahay nila para sana yayain siyang mag-mall pero wala siya roon. Nung naka-salubong ko si Tito (her dad) e nag-taka pa dahil ang akala niya ay mag-kasama raw kami. So I had to lie to Tito and just said na may nakalimutan si Maya kaya ako ang kukuha sa room niya...

"You should ask her again. As a friend, it's your responsibility to always remind her that she has you with her. But if you think, she's still not ready yet to open up, then you could use some break to let her handle things on her own. You are her best friend, Skylah. I'm sure she'd go to you if she can't deal with it anymore."

"But I want to help her," I insisted.

"Waiting for her to speak up is another form of help." Note smiled at me and gently tousle my hair. Ayan na naman 'yung malisya sa isip ko. Seryoso kaming nag-uusap dito, e. Ugh!

That afternoon, I've tried to contact Maya but I can't reach her number.

So I guess, my only choice was to just wait.

* * *

Note tried his best to cheer me up by treating me ice cream in our favorite ice cream shop near the school. Medyo guilty pa ako dahil ang dami na niyang kinukwento pero si Maya pa rin 'yung nasa isip ko.

"Tara, balik na tayo sa school?" he asked lightly.

I nodded.

"Stop it with the long face, princess. Gusto mo bang pumangit?" he teased so I glared at him. Tumawa siya sa mukha ko. "Ayan, mas okay 'yung ganyan."

"Nakaka-asar ka. Hindi ka ba nag-aalala kay Maya?" Magkaibigan din naman sila, ah.

He smiled and shook his head. "May tiwala ako 'dun. Magsasabi rin 'yun."

"You think?"

He smiled lightly, then nodded. "Oo naman. Don't you have faith in your friendship?"

"Of course, I have," I replied. Nag-aalala lang naman talaga ako sa kanya.

"Then you should trust her. Hayaan mo siya. It's her life in the first place. Let's stay and wait for her signal kung kailan na pwede," he consoled. "Pag sa 'kin nangyari 'to, ganito rin ba magiging reaksyon mo?" he asked.

Tumango ako agad. "Of course!"

He chuckled. "I'm a bit happy to know that you'd be worried but don't worry too much. Pag nawala ako kagaya ng ginagawa ni Maya, just wait. Hold onto me. Have faith. Kasi babalik naman ako."

Kumunot 'yung noo ko. "Aalis ka ba?"

"What?" he laughed. "Hindi, ah. That's just an example."

Nakaka-asar na example, ha. I clicked my tongue and proceed to their car. Mag-5 pm na. Late na din siyang makaka-uwi.

He jogged to keep up with me.

"Cheer up, princess," he pinched my cheeks but I just slapped his hands. "Oh, I have an idea to make you feel better."

"Ano na naman 'yan?" I asked blandly. Baka ano na namang kalokohan ang gawin nito.

"Pasok ka dito," he insisted as he opened the front door of the car. Pina-upo niya ako 'dun sa harap pero hindi isinarado iyong pinto.

He connects his phone on the car stereo. Nag-punta siya sa Spotify playlist niya tsaka ni-select iyong That's What I Like ni Bruno Mars bago itinodo iyong volume sa sobrang lakas. Napa-takip agad ako sa tainga tsaka sinamaan siya ng tingin pero tinawanan lang ako!

"Lakas naman niyan-"

"Sshh! Keep your door open, okay?" he grinned at me.

I did what I was told. Nagtataka ko siyang pinanood nang maglakad siya papunta sa space sa harap ng kotse. May kinuha siya sa bulsa niya. Huh?! Natawa ako. Paano nagkaro'n ng dark aviators 'dun? Sinuot niya iyon  tsaka ngumisi sa 'kin. Oh, my God. Isa si Bruno Mars sa mga iniidolo kong singers. Don't tell me—"What?!" I exclaimed while covering my mouth, avoiding my jaw to dropped on the floor.

Jump in the Cadillac

Girl, let's put some miles on it

Anything you want

Just to put a smile on you

You deserve it baby, you deserve it all

And I'm gonna give it to you

He started moving like he owned the song. He moves his body same as the rhythm and dance like he own the space. He started to wiggle his arms and legs simultaneously with a snap as the beat of the song was reaching the climax. And he also dubs the song! Kabisado niya rin?! Oh, boy, this guy just don't sing or play guitar or cook good dishes. He's also a frigging dancer! Why does he have to own everything?

Pinunasan ko 'yung pawis ko. May air-con naman pero pinagpapawisan ako. He's so good! Kuhang-kuha niya 'yung steps ni Bruno Mars sa music video. I could literally cry right now. Mukhang imbes na kay Bruno Mars ako mag-fangirl, dito na lang ako kay Note!

Tumingin ako sa mga naka-paligid sa kanya. 5 pm na pero ang dami pa rin palang natira na mga students. Everyone's watching him in awe. 'Yung iba naman, vini-video na siya pero itinuloy niya pa rin.  

When the song was near to end, sumasayaw siyang lumapit sa akin. I almost slammed the door only if he doesn't stop it. 

"Come on, Skylah," tumatawa pero medyo hingal niyang sabi. "Let's share my shame."

"No!" I laughed while shaking my head. "Ayaw! Ikaw na lang diyan!"

Hinihila pa niya ako, but I refused. Itinakip ko na lang 'yung kamay ko sa mukha ko habang natatawa kasi sumunod 'yung angle ng mga nag-vi-video sa gawi ko. 

"Come on, the song will going to end!" 

Tumawa siya lalo nung nahila niya ako. He pulled me in the middle of the parking lot then continued dancing. Sheeet! Ano ba 'yan? Bakit biglang may pag-giling na?! Wala naman kanina, ah?! Nagsi-tilian iyong mga nanonood. Gosh!

Tinakpan ko ulit 'yung mukha ko. Malakas ang loob ko pag kumakanta ako sa stage pero hindi kapag ganito na sinasayawan ako! Goodness!

"Gayahin mo 'yung sayaw ko," sabi pa niya. He couldn't stop laughing as he dance around me. 

Gosh, Note Asriel de Cordova! 

Nahagip ko pa ng tingin iyong guard na nakiki-video na rin sa kalokohan ni Note! Ito na yata iyong pinaka-mahabang 3 minutes ng buhay ko!

The song ended. Pagtanggal ko ng mga kamay ko sa mukha ko, una kong nakita si Note na pawis habang naka-sandal sa nguso ng sasakyan. Hinihingal pa rin siya. Kita na iyong mga butil ng pawis sa hibla ng buhok niya. 

His eyes are on me. He's smiling.

Tumingin ako sa paligid. Meron pang kumukuha ng picture niya habang naka-sandal siya sa sasakyan at naliligo sa pawis. I slowly walked towards him.

He grinned on me. "Ayos ba? Sobrang pula ng mukha mo."

Inirapan ko siya.

"Ikaw ba naman 'yung mag-ala macho dancer sa tabi ko?!" nai-eskandalong sabi ko kay tawa lang siya nang tawa sa 'kin.

Hindi ko mapigilang matawa din. 

"Sira-ulo ka talaga," I gushed. Nilabas ko iyong panyo ko sa bulsa ko tsaka ipinatong sa ulo niya. I really am thankful to have this guy around me. "Pero thank you. What you did just cheer me up."

"You're welcome, princess," he winked at me before getting inside the car to get his spare shirt.

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Songs used:

* Sk8ter Boy by Avril Lavigne

* Tongue Tied by Faber Drive

* No Air by Jordin Sparks and C.B.