Chapter 67: Found the X

***

"I was hoping you would kiss me here." sabay point sa lips niya. Haha! I gave him a peck only on his cheeks.

"Asa you."

"Nah. I'll not worry about that. I get more of that when we're married." sabay tawa niya.

"O-oy adik ka!" hinampas ko naman siya sa braso.

"Kidding! It's too early for that. But I'm serious about that, you know."

"Sus!"

Bumalik na rin kami sa suite. Magdinner at natulog, malamang. Pero this time sa kama ko na ako natulog. Ang awkward naman kung... you know. Basta yun.

The next days eh okay lang naman. Usual na klase at exams. Balak yata ng mga prof. na tapusin ang tests before February eh. Tss. Nahihirapan din kami, you know!

Nagexam na rin kami sa music. Tss. Di ko lang alam kung mataas pa grade ko dun. Di naman ako magaling magproject. Si Kenneth nga wala nun eh. Baka pinatawag na naman sa gym or somewhere. Pero sabi naman niya mageexam siya sa susunod.

Ang saya ko ngayon. Pero there's this part of me na worried. I know things, but I can't force myself to believe in it.

Araw araw para akong nasa heaven. Haha. Hyperbole. Pero kasi naman, totoo. I'm cherishing every moment, baka mamaya kasi hindi na pala ako makakagising sa piling niya.

Shet ang corny nun!

"Kath, gusto mong chocolate?" alok ni Lex. Nandito na naman kami sa usual place.

"Wag na, okay lang."

Masyado nang matamis buhay ko ngayon, di na kailangan ng mga ganyan. Joke.

"Rejected!" tinawanan naman ni Rein si Lex.

"Di ah." mahina nyang sagot.

Nakunsensya naman ako. "Akin na nga, Lex." sabay ngiti ko sa kanya.

Lumapit naman siya sakin nang nakangiti. "Here."

"Salamat." I appreciate naman kahit papano. Si Kenneth kasi wala na naman. Si Jap din wala. Ano kayang meron?

"Asan sina Jap?" tanong ko naman kay Andrea.

"Si Kenneth? Nasa gym yata ulit."

Tumawa naman ako. "Si Jap. Kenneth ka dyan. Oh, ano nang status nyo?"

"H-ha? Ano," she blushed. Cute! Haha. "D-dating, maybe?"

Nagulat naman kaming lahat. Sabay sabing, "DI NGAAA?"

Namula pa tuloy lalo si Andrea. Ang cute cute nya lang talaga!

"D-di wag kayong maniwala." yumuko pa siya.

Narinig naman naming bumukas yung pinto.

"Totoo yun."

Si Jap.

Mygaaahd! :"> I'm so a fan of them!

"Wow pare! Ibang klase ka talaga!" sabi ni Rein kay Jap.

"Ganun talaga. Si tol pa!"

"First love mo ba pare?" tanong naman ni Zan.

"Hindi. Si Kath first love ko." straight niyang sagot.

And for the second time, mga nagulat na naman ang bakulaws. "WEHH?"

Mga nakatingin tuloy sakin. "Aba malay ko dyan kay Jap! H-hehe." sabay iwas nang tingin.

"Pero diba hindi na ngayon? Sabihin mo Jap hindi na si Kath ngayooon?!" si Lex naman. Haha! Grabe talaga itong taong 'to. Napakakulit.

"Malamang. Si Andrea na nga diba." sabay ngiti naman niya kay Andrea.

"Yiiiieee!" pangasar namin.

"Eh kayo ba? Sinong magka-someone dito?" Jap

"Wala, pare! Mga magkakapatid lang kami." Zan

"Ows?" Andrea

"Sa tingin nyo naman ba papatulan namin 'tong mga bakulaw na 'to?" Lauren

"Oy kapal mo naman. Gwapo naman kami ah!" Rein

"Suuus! Saang banda, Rein?" Ate Shanta

"All over!" smug pa niyang sagot.

"Kapal aba." Lauren

"I heard that!" Rein

Pero totoo nga, mga magkakapatid lang talaga ang turingan nila. Pero may nasesense naman ako kay Lauren at Franco. Haha. Ayaw lang din sigurong aminin. Well that's for them to find out. Sina ate Lovie at Shanta naman eh secretive talaga, pero sabi naman nila na meron nga daw silang special someone. Si Rein? Nako! Babaero daw ito. Haha. Si Zan? Ewan. Loyal sa girlfriend, di ko naman kilala kung sino. Si Lex? Wala akong alam dito. Pero basta ang cute at kulit niya. Pwedi ko nang kapatid. :)

"Asan si dude Kenneth?" Zan

"Baka nancchix!" natatawang sabi ni Rein

Hala! Parang nanlambot naman ako sa thought. Di pa rin nila alam, di ko sinasabi. Di naman nila tinatanong eh. Nahalata naman ni Andrea ang pagiging uneasy ko.

"Ano kayo? Di ganun si Kenneth. Loyal din kaya yun!" sabi naman ni Andrea.

"Oh? Kanino naman yun loyal?" Lex

"Secret! Pero basta nandito rin yun sa room na 'to."

May nagtilian naman na babae sa kabilang part.

"Echusera yung mga yun. Feeler, di naman sila kilala ni Kenneth." bulong sakin ni Andrea. Kaya imbis na maging uneasy pa ako eh natawa nalang ako.

"Sino kaya yun?" tanong ni Lex sa sarili nang malakas.

"Nako Lex, nasasapian ka na naman!" ate Lovie

"Di namaaan. Yabang nyo talaga!" Lex

Nagexcuse naman bigla si Andrea. Lalabas lang daw sandali. Sinundan naman siya ni Jap.

Malamang, ligaw portion diba.

/ANDREA'S PERSPECTIVE

Totoo ngang nagpapapansin lang si Jap nung nakaraan araw. Kasi kaninang umaga eh siya na nagprepare ng breakfast and all. Nakakainis nga eh! Ang sweet pa nun mokong na yun.

Yung pancake eh may nakasulat sa taas na, "Please say yes." gamit ang vanilla syrup.

Pero di ko naman nasagot kasi gutom na talaga ako kaya kinain ko na bigla. Haha. Ganun talaga!

Basta ang sweet na niya. Hindi na nga niya ako sinisigawan kahit nakikipagtalo pa ako eh.

"Saan ka pupunta?" tanong niya.

"May sasabihin lang daw si Kenneth. Puntahan ko lang." sagot ko.

"Tch! Bakit ikaw pa? Sasamahan kita."

"Private nga eh! Bumalik ka na sa loob."

"Ayoko. Susundan lang kita."

Haaay! Ang kulit!

"Tsk. Oo na. Bahala ka."

Pinapupunta kasi ako ni Kenneth sa music room daw. Nagtaka naman ako kung bakit ako pa ang tinawag. Pero ang mean naman kung di ko pupuntahan.

Pumasok na kami, nakaupo naman siya sa gilid. Nagtu-tune yata ng guitar. Nilapitan naman namin, kaya nakuha namin atensyon niya.

"Oh, you came. Thanks." bati niya sakin.

"Uhm, pati 'to." turo ko kay Jap. "Ang kulit kasi. Sensya na."

"Darn!" mahina niyang sabi. At di rin nakatingin samin. "I have to confess something."

"Ano yun?" tanong ko. Nakita ko namang curious din yung mukha ni Jap.

"But promise me first to never tell anyone. Keep it to yourselves."

"Oo naman. Ano ba?" tanong ko ulit.

"Pare siguraduhin mo lang na matino yan ha." Jap

I warned him by look, he backed off naman.

"I," he sighed. "I am Jake Flynn."

Silence.

More silence.

Tahimik pa rin ako pero si Jap eh tumawa na nang malakas.

"Pare nababakla ka na ba? Adik ka dude!" Jap

Ngumiti lang nang pilit si Kenneth, ako naman eh stunned pa rin.

"I'm serious." Kenneth

"Di nga? Tol nakakatawa ka! Ayos ah! Yun lang pala eh. Tara na Andr—"

I cut him off. "Pagexplain muna natin siya."

"Thank you." Kenneth mouthed. "It's true. I'm Jake Flynn. I'm not really a counterfeit here, my real name is Kenneth Jake Verge. But don't call me that anymore or else that won't be me. I am a teenage singer, you might possibly already knew. And I escaped the harsh showbiz industry. Then I ended up here. I'm half-Fil by the way, so it's no big deal me being here, and—"

"Wait?!" I stopped him. "Seryoso ka talaga?"

"I'll sing, for proof."

"Paano kung kaboses mo lang siya?" kontra ni Jap

"Are you kidding me? We have the same features and we have the same voice. When Kenneth's gone, Jake Flynn's active. Vice versa. So, does that ring a bell?"

"I, uhh..." we couldn't utter even more.

Kumuha siya ng wig na kulay blonde. Isunuot yun at kumanta. And oh my gaaad! Si Jake Flynn nga! I'm not completely satisfied... pero si Jake Flynn yan eh!

"Ooohh my gosh! Jake!" napayakap naman ako kay Kenneth.

"Easy Andrea." natatawa niyang sabi.

"Ehem," sinabi na naman ni Jap. As in sinabi talaga. Ayun, lumayo na ako kay Kenneth. "Dude wala namang agawan. Nasayo na nga si Kath eh." kalma niyang sabi pero may bitterness.

"Huh?" confused Kenneth.

"Wala yun," I smiled at him. "Umayos ka nga Jap. Idol ko yan eh! Idol alam mo yun!" mahina kong sabi kay Jap.

"Tsk. Ano naman. Masgwaponamanakodun!"

"Ano ulit?"

"Wala." then tumingin siya kay Kenneth. "So, edi alam na rin 'to ni Kath?"

His face fell. "Actually, no."

Nagulat naman kami ni Jap. "So paano na yan? When are you planning to tell. Kayo na tapos hindi niya—"

"Wait!" Jap almost yelled. "Kayo na ni Kath?!"

"Yeah, man." maikli niyang sagot. May sinabi naman si Jap pabulong, pero I don't care. Nakakaamaze pa rin!

Jake Flynn! :"">

"Eh bakit mo nga kami," umubo si jap. "I mean, bakit mo pinatawag si Andrea dito?"

"Uh, that's the thing. I need your help." sabi niya sakin.

"What help?"

"You see, I'm not yet ready to confess on Kath about my other identity." simula ni Kenneth. "So I need you to refrain her from seeing the other me, it's getting a little bit complicated right now, so please, please help me."

"That's bull Kenneth! Bakit ayaw mong aminin sa kanya?! Kayo na tapos magtatago ka pa sa kanya?! Hindi ba parang ang unfair naman nun?!" galit na sabi ni Jap.

I tapped his back. "Jap calm down, please."

"Eh nahihibang na kasi 'tong lalaking 'to eh!"

"Kumalma ka nga!" sigaw ko na. "Walang magagawa ang sigaw mo. Tulungan nalang natin 'tong dalawa, that's very much effective."

"Tsk. Bahala na."

Tiningnan ko naman si Kenneth. "Eh bakit ba napaamin ka naman yata ngayon agad?"

"It's very crucial this time. I wanted to reveal all things to Kathy way back but her bestfriends said I need to stay quiet for the meantime."

"Okay. Fine. I understand. Team KayVee rin naman ako eh!" kinilig pa ako sa ganitong sitwasyon. Haha. Eh bakit ba!

Katherine

Calling...

Decline | Accept

Hala?

"Tumatawag si Kath, Kenneth." I eyed him. "I'll answer this. Wag ka nalang maingay." he nodded naman. Si Jap eh nakaupo na sa gilid, naglalaro ng kung anong instrument. Haha. Mukhang tange lang.

"Oh, Kath?" I answered her call.

"Asan ka ba? Kanina pa kita hinahanap."

"W-wala lang, naggagala. Bakit nga pala?"

"Samahan mo naman ako sa music room. May pinapadala lang si ma'am Paseo."

"H-ha?!" nagpapanic na ako. Shet. Of all places, why here?!

"Sabi ko sa music room. Asan ka ba kasi?"

"Nasa—"

Oh my gash!

Biglang nahulog ni Jap yung drumsticks sa mismong drum. Panira aba! Mygaaahd!

"Music room? Nandyan ka naman na pala eh! Wait for me! Hahanapin ko yan! Kaya 'to ng powers ko." natatawa pa niyang sabi.

"Eh-hehehe. S-sige." tapos naibaba ko na agad.

Sana matagal pa bago mahanap ni Kath 'tong lugar na 'to. Grabeeee! Parang kakaamin lang ni Kenneth kanina tapos may problema na agad? Grabe lang!

"She's coming here." natataranta kong sabi kay Kenneth. "Thanks a lot to that man over there!" referred to Jap.

Nakakainis!

"Stop her, please."

"H-ha? Ba't ka ba muna kasi nagtatago ha? Tsaka pwedi ka naman munang umalis dito eh?" tanong ko. Naguguluhan na talaga ako.

"I need to record my exam for music. This is my last and only chance or I'll fail. We have training later so I really couldn't do it some other time of this day."

Pinunasan ko naman yung mukha ko na nagpapawis na. Grabe lang talaga. "Okay, okay. I'll think of something."

"Wait, hahanapin ko na si Kath. I'll try my best to refrain her going here." sabi ni Jap.

Tingnan mo nga naman 'to. Concern din naman pala, itatago pa. Sus! Haha. Ayun lumabas na siya. I just hope Jap would find her very soon.

Umupo naman ako sa isang couch na malapit sa pintuan, para madali kong mapipigilan kung sino mang papasok. Oh mafifilter, ganun. Haha.

Nagsimula namang magrecord na si Kenneth slash our Jake Flynn! :"> Mygaaahd lang talaga!

/KENNETH'S PERSPECTIVE

I started the audios and system in recording room just inside the music room as well.

I always feel the relief when I spill to someone I can trust my secret. It's not that I want to brag about my personality and fame, but because they're my friends now. Friends who're worthy to know everything since they've been nice even before they knew the real me.

And Jap, he's good. I can tell he's concerned about the situation, well hopefully. And Andrea? Well that's pretty easy since she's a fan of Jake and a friend of Kenneth. I'm so lucky to have them.

I readied myself in front of the microphone and slipped the headphones into my head, fitting perfectly the speakers of it into my ears.

♪ I need another story, something to get off my chest. My life gets kind of boring. Need something that I can confess. ♪

Secrets aren't lies. Some of them turns out to be counterfeit, to hide what's the genuine in jeopardy. Secrets doesn't always have to be concealed, yet it also has to be kept from people for an intense purpose.

♪ 'Til all my sleeves are stained red from all the truth that I've said. Come by it honestly I swear. Thought you saw me wink, no, I've been on the brink, ooh... ♪

I'm ready to confess everything to Kathy. I really am. But the situation disagrees with the plan I plotted so long ago. There's a lot of mystery behind my life. And that's all because I chose to reside in an issue-polluted world namely Showbiz. I never thought things wouldn't go smoothly as I imagine it would be, and now I could mentally kill myself for everything about that.

♪ Amazing that we got this far. It's like we're chasing all those stars, who's driving shiny big black cars. ♪

I never want such girls fangirling over me. I just want them to enjoy my music, that's all. Of course I know that they most probably knew that they cannot reach me because of walls in between, but I've been hearing some news that shocked the nerves out of me. And I wouldn't bother remembering all them.

♪ And everyday I see the news, all the problems that we could solve. And when a situation rises, just write it into an album. Seen it straight to go. I don't really like my flow, no, so... ♪

News. Everyday you're on news. Whether it's true or not, you'll be there—crashing your silent living and privacies. It's going to shatter every little particles you might own even a least, leaving you none of your options.

♪ Tell me what you want to hear, something that were like those years. I'm sick of all the insincere, so I'm gonna give all my secrets away. ♪

I'm ready. I'm ready to reveal anything of myself to Kathy. But what worries me the most is that she might hate me like what her friends had warned. I knew this was going to happen. If only I appeared to her genuinely from the very start, things would be easier this time around, wouldn't it?

♪ This time, don't need another perfect line. Don't care if critics ever jump in line. I'm gonna give all my secrets away. ♪

I don't care what others will say. All I care about now is how would Kathy react on my situation now. I'm absolutely in anxiety, who wouldn't if there are lots of ways peeking on how I could lose someone I already own—someone I treasure in my own chest.

The audio stopped and I heaved a deep sigh. It's finished. I'm all set and this wasn't going to be complicated after all. My mind sank as the door banged opened. Surprised to see who was standing near at the threshold, my knees felt week, ebbing its strong grip a while ago.

It was my girlfriend.

Or soon-to-be ex. My heart ached at the thought. What more if it would happened right about now when she decided to open her mouth and say something. I couldn't quite understand the gestures she carried on with her, along with my difficulty in comprehending what's the plastered look on her beautiful face.

Is she going to dump, or worse, break-up with me now? No, no! That was the venom I knew would end my mental life all along. That wouldn't be right.

Andrea was flabbergasted, too, when she saw who's standing at the door with papers stayed firmly on her arms. That was seconds ago, when she finally let go of those pieces unconsciously.

I eyed her with apology. I sure hope she gets that. I'm really uneasy right now. I couldn't utter words even when I have hundreds in mine to explain. Why of all events in my screwed-up day I could not talk right now?

She's really going to do it. It's all gone. We're gone. The WE that I've been dreaming all the time since I divulged from this very chest that I love her.

She closed her eyes, probably holding back her traitor tears. I can't help seeing her like that, darn! It was all my fault! I could stay away just so she could compose herself once more. But no, I would take the risk just to keep her mine.

Please, please God. Help me. I kept on praying deep in my thoughts.

Kathy opened her mouth to say something but she closed it again, pursing now her lips. She's now holding back her words, it's obvious! But why can't she just blurt it out? I almost forgot! Did she even see me, or more like, hear me singing?

Of course she did, idiot! Half of my mind said. She wouldn't be acting like that if she hadn't got the chance to hear the obnoxious voice of Jake Flynn coming out of her boyfriend's mouth.

Now Kathy stood firm. She tucked her excess strands of her against her right ear. She now then looked at me in the eye.

It surprised everything in me that she said different words rather than those I would most likely expected her to say.

"So, kamusta naman ang buhay-Jake Flynn, Kenneth?"

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