Chapter 19 | Answer

Gustong matawa ni Xamuel dahil sa narinig.

"You're being irrational, Klassey," he chuckled.

Dinala siya ni Klassey sa dulong bahagi ng hallway para doon mag-usap. Labag man ito kay Xamuel, wala siyang nagawa dahil naagaw na nila ang atensyon ng mga tao kanina sa cafeteria. He didn't want to draw more attention, so he obliged.

"Xamuel, just listen to me!" Klassey said. "I'm serious! Matatapos na ako kay Derrick kaya gusto kong magbalikan na tayo after ng prom—"

"I'm sorry pero hindi na kita maseryoso, Kla," Muel intervened. "You've spent the past few months with another guy, and now that you're almost done with whatever you're doing, you want me back."

Klassey's display of vulnerability may have convinced the untrained eye, but Xamuel wasn't fooled for a second. Sinubukan ni Klassey hawakan ang kanyang mga kamay pero mabilis umiwas si Xamuel.

"Kla, hindi na magbabago ang isip ko. Isa pa, iniisip ng lahat na kayo na nga ni Derrick. Ayaw ko na ulit maging usapan kapag pinagbigyan kita sa gusto mo."

With shaking hands, Klassey retorted, "Seryoso ka ba, Muel? Mas importante pa sa 'yo ang iisipin ng iba kaysa... sa relasyon natin?"

Muel wanted to roll his eyes. "Wala na tayong relasyon, Kla—"

"But it never ended for me, Xamuel! You're being unfair. You're the one being irrational here. You promised me you'd always be with me. You said you love me. You said—"

"Yes, yes, Kla, I said those words because I loved you. I would still be doing them if you hadn't chosen another guy."

Klassey felt a wave of emotions crash over her, and tears streamed down her cheeks like little rivers. It was as if every memory, every feeling she had ever held inside, was suddenly pouring out.

"Hindi ko pinili si Derrick para ipalit sa 'yo, Muel. Una pa lang sinabihan na kitang may kailangan akong malaman—"

"At nagtagumpay ka na ba ngayon kaya itatapon mo na rin siya—"

"I wasn't able to gain anything from him, Muel! This is burning me out little by little. Mag-isa ko lang 'tong ginagawa para sa atin tapos ikaw... ikaw okay na nang wala ako?"

Seeing Klassey's frustration etched across her face, Xamuel felt a tight knot in his stomach. He knew better than to press more.

"I-I'm sorry," was all Xamuel had to say. "Pag-usapan na lang natin 'to ulit, Kla, kapag tapos na kayo ni Derrick."

"I don't want us to talk again after that! I want us back, Muel! What's stopping you anyway? May iba ka na bang gusto—"

"Huh? Wala! Gusto ko ring pag-isipan muna—"

"I'll tell you what this is all about once we're together again, Muel, kaya hindi mo na kailangang pag-isipan 'to nang matagal. I did these things because I had faith you'd understand and wait, so I couldn't understand why you were hesitating now. It's either you don't love me anymore, or there's somebody else."

"There's no one else—"

"Then you don't love me anymore," Klassey whispered as another tear fell. "I fucking hate you."

A warm breeze blew over Xamuel's face as Klassey walked away, leaving him stunned and speechless. The air crackled with tension, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy between them. Xamuel wanted to reach out, to call her back and pour his heart out, but fear held him rooted in place.

Now that he remembered Klassey's goal in getting close to Derrick, he suddenly questioned whether his decision to give up on their relationship was right.

Hindi na nawala sa isipan ni Xamuel ang katanungang iyon hanggang sa natapos ang araw at nakahiga na siya sa kama. Maga-alas dose na ng gabi at masakit ang katawan ni Xamuel galing sa practice pero gising na gising pa rin ang kanyang diwa.

As Xamuel lay alone in his dimly lit room, he couldn't shake the memories of his relationship with Klassey. He closed his eyes and let emotions wash over him, recalling their passionate and tender moments with equal intensity.

He remembered how Klassey's laughter could light up a room and how their shared dreams once seemed invincible. A wave of uncertainty washed over him as he questioned whether these feelings were merely nostalgia or if a spark still existed between them.

"Xamuel? Xamuel!"

"Oh, bakit?" Kunot noo siyang tumingin kay Lion na kanina pa siya tinatawag.

"Kanina ka pa wala sa sarili mo. Patapos na ang formal ceremony, kailangan mo na pumunta sa backstage para magpalit as mascot. Halika, sasamahan na kita!" Lion said and pulled his arm.

Sumunod na lang si Xamuel sa kaibigan dahil nawala na sa isip niyang magpe-perform nga pala sila ni Yara ngayong gabi. Sa laki ng venue at dami ng taong dumalo, walang nakapansin sa pag-alis nilang dalawa.

"Si Yara pala? Nandito na ba siya?" Xamuel asked. "Hindi siya nag-message sa akin mula kahapon."

Ang huling mensahe lang ni Yara sa kanya ay tungkol sa kantang pinili niya para sa performance. Pamilyar kay Xamuel ang mga kanta kaya hindi na niya kinailangan mag-ensayo o magkabisado. Ngayong papalapit na ang performance nila, saka lang niya naisip kung paano kaya nila matatawid ang performance kung hindi sila nag-dry run ni Yara?

"Nag-pm siya sa 'kin ngayon lang. Nasa gate na raw siya kaya baka makasalubong na natin sa dressing room," sagot ni Lion. "Talagang itutuloy niyo 'to nang walang practice-practice, ah. Baka mamaya pumiyok ka."

Xamuel chuckled. "Kailan ba ako pumiyok? Baka si Yara..."

"Excuse me? You heard me sing with my piano. Paanong ako pa ang pipiyok sa 'tin?"

Parehong nagulat sina Lion at Xamuel nang biglang sumulpot si Yara galing sa helera ng halaman.

"Yara! Bakit diyan ka galing?" natatawang tanong ni Lion at walang dalawang isip na tinulungan si Yara.

Natatawang nagpagpag ng damit si Yara. Tinanggal naman ni Lion ang mga nakasabit na dahon sa buhok ng dalaga. Maraming curtains lights sa paligid kaya kitang kita ni Xamuel ang ayos ni Yara. Nakaputing long sleeve at loose pants lang siya.

Bahagyang natawa si Xamuel dahil ibang iba ang ayos niya kay Yara. Literal na naka-full suit siya dahil sa event tapos ang kasama niya'y parang magbe-beach.

"Halatang tumakas ka nga lang talaga," pang-aasar ni Xamuel.

Yara smiled. "Nagmukhang tao ka sa suot mo, Xamuel."

Xamuel chuckled and rolled his eyes. "Oo, gwapo talaga ako."

"Ay, mahabag sana!" Parinig ni Yara at humawak sa braso ni Lion para magsimula na muli silang lumakad.

"Hoy, ako ang hawak ni Lion kanina!" Muel rushed beside Lion.

Lion rejected his hold that made Xamuel feel betrayed. "Li! Pinagpapalit mo na ako kay Yara?"

"Tanga, ikaw ba ang galing sa damuhan? Naka-upo ka lang naman buong event, huwag mo 'kong artehan."

Sa buong minuto nilang paglalakad, pinagkaisahan lang nina Lion at Yara asarin si Xamuel. Kahit papaano'y napagaan nila ang loob ni Xamuel at saglit nalimutan ang problema niya. Pagdating nila sa backstage, nakahanda na roon ang dalawang cute na mascot costumes. Parehong kulay puti iyon na may light blue at pink lang na designs para ma-distinguish ang characters.

"Mauna ka na," utos ni Yara kay Xamuel. "Ang dami mo pa kasing aalisin sa katawan mo."

Xamuel rolled his eyes. "Ang sabihin mo, gusto mo lang akong mauna para pagtawanan mo agad."

Hindi na nagdalawang isip si Xamuel suotin ang costume dahil wala na rin siyang magagawa—nandito na sila ni Yara. Ang tanging pampalubag loob na lang niya ay may kasama siya sa kabaliwang ito at walang makakakilala sa kanila mamaya.

"I mean, yes, people heard me sing once or twice, but for sure hindi naman nila makikilala boses ko?" bulong ni Xamuel sa sarili habang tinitingnan ang sarili sa salamin.

"Tapos ka na ba?" Yara asked from outside. "Tagal, ah. Nagriritwal ka pa ba?"

Xamuel sighed as he gathered his belongings into his tote bag and mustered all his strength to leave the dressing room.

"Huy, ang cute super!" Yara said, clapping her hands.

"Ng mascot," Lion added. "Akin na pala ang mga gamit niyo mamaya para mabantayan ko."

"Thank you, Li! The best ka talaga," Yara said before going inside the dressing room.

"Bakit ikaw ang the best, e ako ang kasama niya sa kabaliwang 'to?" Xamuel asked.

Sobrang seryoso ng tanong niya kaya natawa si Lion. "Alam mo, Muel, hindi ako makapaniwalang pumayag ka sa idea na 'to. Akala ko ba last na 'yong anniversary surprise?"

"Huwag mo na akong tanungin niyan, Li. Hindi ko rin alam paano ako nakumbinsi ni Yara dito."

"Well, I guess we all feel the same towards her... na hindi tayo makahindi kapag si Yara na ang may pabor."

"Besides, did you see her reaction? Maybe that's why I agreed—to see her happy."

May dumating na isa pang SC committee nang lumabas si Yara galing sa dressing room para i-orient sila kung kailan papasok sa stage. Dala na rin ng committee ang dalawang microphones para sa kanilang dalawa.

"Basta sa stage lang kayo and face the audience the entire performance. Ilalagay din kasi 'to sa school newspaper," huling reminder ng committee. "Li, ikaw na bahala, ah."

"Yup, ako na sa dalawang 'to."

"Ang busy niyo naman today," bulong ni Yara nang umalis ang committee. "Pero in fairness, ang ganda ng venue at ang lamig! Giniginaw pa rin ako kahit naka-costume na."

Ang tanging paraan lang para makakita sila sa costume ay sumilip sa tinted plastic sa mga mata ng character. May kulay pa ang mga ito kaya sa kasalukuyan, puro kulay blue ang paligid ni Xamuel.

"Pagtapos ng performance, aalis ka na ba?" Xamuel asked Yara.

"Malamang?"

"Ayaw mong kumain muna?" Lion asked. "I mean, you're still a student here."

"Nah, thank you for the offer, though. Kailangan ko ring makabalik before 11 dahil iyon ang oras ng uwi ng parents ko."

"To kick off our prom night with a bang, we have two very special guests who are here to serenade you with their incredible voices and infectious energy. Please give a warm welcome to our star performers—"

"Shit, shit! Tayo na!" Yara exclaimed as they headed near the stage entrance.

"What? Ngayon ka pa kinakabahan?" natatawang tanong ni Xamuel. "Relax ka lang, baka pumiyok ka talaga niyan."

"Sorry, ha? Wala kasi akong experience kumanta sa harap ng maraming tao gaya mo," panunukso ni Yara.

"Hindi mo talaga ako titigilan hanggang huling segundo bago tayo mag-perform, 'no?"

"They are the life of the party, and they're here to ensure your night is filled with music, joy, and a lot of fun! So, without further ado, let's welcome our dynamic singing duo, Spark and Twinkle, to the stage! Let's get this party started!"

"Go, guys! Kaya niyo 'yan!" Lion cheered from the tech booth.

The audience welcomed the two mascots with loud cheers, unaware of the people behind the costumes. Everyone expected them to perform lively dance music at the event's peak, but Yara had a different plan. Lion, as per Yara's request, connected the speaker's cord to his phone right after the mascots entered the stage and secured their places.

The audience's floor was dimmed, allowing the stage to become the brightest and most captivating focus of attention.

"Little do you know how I'm breaking while you fall asleep. Little do you know I'm still haunted by the memories," Yara sang the first verse of the song.

As Yara's voice filled the air, a wave of emotion swept over the crowd. Xamuel watched in awe as their expressions transformed from indifference to captivation, from doubt to belief. It was as if Yara's voice possessed a unique power, reaching deep within each person and stirring something profound within them.

"Little do you know I know you're hurt while I'm sound asleep. Little do you know all my mistakes are slowly drowning me," Xamuel sang as he gazed longingly at Klassey.

Perhaps it was the weather, the night, or their emotions that made the song resonate like a haunting echo of everything they felt deep within their souls.

Xamuel's heart pounded as he stared at Klassey among the crowd. He couldn't bear the thought of leaving her hanging any longer, but he also couldn't shake the doubt that clouded his mind.

Deep down, he knew he shouldn't keep Klassey waiting for an answer. He realized that prolonging the uncertainty would only lead to more pain for both of them, but he couldn't make up his mind.

"I love you until the sun dies," he sang, thinking of Klassey, hoping it was as easy to say as it was to sing.