CHAPTER 26 - By Your Side

UNANG HINANAP NG mata ni Kara si Janus nang makapasok siya sa music room, ngunit wala ito sa loob, gano'n din si Kohen. Siguro ay may klase na ito. Tinungo niya ang kinaroroonan ni Riella, nakaupo ito at mukhang naglalaro ng Adorable Home.

"Hoy!" tawag niya.

Inangat nito ang tingin sa kaniya saka pinatay ang cell phone. "Hoy ka rin! Bruha ka! Ba't hindi ka pumasok?"

She stifled a laugh. "Sama ng pakiramdam ko kanina. Wala naman daw ginawa, eh, sabi ni Vera."

"Gaga nagpa-quiz si ma'am," pananakot nito at hindi lang niya pinansin. Alam naman niyang hindi ito seryoso.

Nilingon niya sa sofa si Vera. Nakatagilid ito ng higa at nakasuot ng earphones. Hindi nito napansin ang pagdating niya dahil doon. Kumunot ang noo niya nang mapansin ang mabilis na pagtaas baba ng balikat nito.

"Tulog si Vera?"

"Malamang,Kara. Hindi ba halata?" pabalang na sagot ni Riella kaya bahagya niya itong kinutusan.

"Riella, mukhang naiyak," mahina niyang bulong.

Doon lamang napatitig si Riella kay Vera at sumeryoso ang hitsura. Muli nitong binalik ang tingin sa kaniya.

"Is it her mom?" muli niyang bulong.

Hindi sumagot si Riella ngunit naglakad ito palapit kay Vera. Lumapit rin siya nang tapikin ni Riella nang bahagya ang braso nito.

"Vera . . ."

Umiling ito. "Don't mind me, guys. I'm fine." Based on her words, they know she's not okay.

Naupo si Riella sa sofa saka ito pilit na pinaupo. Vera immediately wiped her tears using the back of her palm. Marahil ayaw nitong makita nila siyang umiiyak.

"The last time I checked, hindi iyan ang mukha ng okay," medyo pabiro pero seryoso pa rin ang mukha na tanong ni Riella.

"I'm fine, Riella. Can I just get a hug from you, guys?" Mabilis naman nila itong niyakap.

After a minute, kumalas na ito sa yakap saka nakangiti silang hinarap. Tumigil na ito sa pag-iyak at pinunasan ang luha.

"Thank you," nakayuko nitong saad.

She patted Vera's back. "If ready ka nang magkuwento, nandito lang kami."

Tumango ito saka sila nginitian. They stayed in the music room until 2 p.m. Vacant kasi nila nang one hour kaya nakatambay pa sila. Pagkabalik nila sa room ay nag-discuss lang ang subject teacher nila at maaga ring nag-dismiss.

"Kara, mamaya ka na umuwi," Riella said while taking a picture of their notes on the black board.

"Bakit? Sa'n tayo punta?" aniya habang inaayos ang gamit.

Lumapit sa kaniya si Vera na nakasuot ng earphone. "Nag-aya si Sir Jannick mag-celebrate. Sagot daw niya."

"Sama ka please!" Riella gigled.

Gusto sana niyang mag-review ng ilang notes dahil may quiz sila bukas, pero tumango na lamang siya dahil ayaw niyang magtampo ang dalawa.

"Alam na nina Kuya?" tanong niya saka isinukbit ang bagpack sa likod.

Ngumuso si Vera sa likod niya. "Nandiyan na sundo mo."

Nanlaki ang mata niya at mabilis na nilingon ang pintuan. Hindi niya mapigilang mapangiti. Janus was leaning on the side of the door. Mabilis na nagtagpo ang mata nila. Naglakad ito palapit sa kaniya saka inabutan siya ng plastic na naglalaman ng Smart C at tatlong Advil.

She can't help but smile. Nang lingunin niya sina Vera at Riella ay para silang mga ipis na kinikilig.

"Sana all talaga," rinig niyang bulong ni Riella. Kumaway ang dalawa na mauuna na sa music room.

She glared at them bago muling lingunin si Janus. "Nag-aya raw si Sir Jannick mag-celebrate. Next time na lang tayo sa somewhere mo."

Tumango lang ito saka kinuha ang hawak niyang libro. "Sasama ka?" he asked.

"Yeah! Nasaan pala sina Kuya? 'Di mo kasama?"

Janus shrugged. "Baka nasa music room na," anito saka nagsimula nang maglakad na sinabayan naman niya.

"Pumasok ka?" tanong niya na ikinakunot naman ng noo nito.

He grimaced in annoyance. "Of course. Bumili lang ako sa labas kaya hindi ko alam kung nasa'n sila."

"Okay. Don't glare. Nagtatanong lang ako," aniya sa mahinahong boses.

"You're asking as if I always skip my class."

She tsked in her mind. Parang last week lang, eh pinipilit niya itong bumalik sa school. Masama na bang magtanong?

His face darkened. "Stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?" 'Ano na naman?'

"Stop being so adorable," seryoso nitong saad.

She licked her lower lip. Tiningnan niya ito nang masama para itago ang kilig na nararamdaman. Damn, how could he say it that way? Parang nagwawala ang mga paru-paro niya sa tiyan.

She rolled her eyes. "So?"

"Stop being so adorable or I'll kiss you," he threatened.

Mabilis na kumabog ang dibdib niya at napatingin sa labi nito. Kissable.

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin saka binilisan ang paglalakad para maabutan sina Vera. She heard Janus laugh, pero hindi na niya iyon nilingon.

Damn, sobrang init ng mukha niya!

Nang makarating sila sa music room, her Kuya Ei was laying on the sofa while reading a book. Napailing na lang si Kara nang mabilis na lumapit si Vera kay Kohen na nagda-drums at saka piningot ang tainga nito.

"Damn you, kuddo! Sinabing 'wag gagalawin, eh!" Vera frowned.

"Aww! Teka—" Pilit na inaalis ni Kohen ang kamay ni Vera sa tainga niya pero bigo ito. "Sorry na, boss! Hindi na mauulit!" nakangiwi nitong saad.

Inirapan itong muli ni Vera at akmang hahampasin ng drumstick ngunit mabilis na itong nakaiwas. "Wew! Daplis!"

Napahalakhak na lang sila ni Riella. Ang kulit talaga ng dalawang iyon. She heaved a sigh. Siguro mas okay iyon kaysa noong hindi pa sila nagpapansinan bago ang fundraising.

Nakangisi niyang nilapitan niya si Oddity. "Einstein, paupo! Hindi sa 'yo 'yang sofa!"

Bumangon ito saka isinara ang libro. He was about to sit when Kara noticed the small cut on his lower lip.

"Anong nangyari diyan, Kuya?" Akmang hahawakan niya iyon nang tabigin nito ang kamay niya.

"It's nothing, princess. Umawat lang ako sa suntukan kanina," anito saka bahagyang tumingin sa direksyon ni Janus na mas lalo niyang ipinagtaka.

Janus looked away as if he did something wrong. Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin niya sa dalawa ngunit nagpakawala rin ng malalim na buntonghininga nang hindi siya nakakuha ng kahit isang sagot.

Hindi kaya nakipag-away na naman ang dalawa? Huwag naman sana dahil malapit na ang graduation ng kuya niya. Ayaw niyang may mangyaring masama dahil running for valedictorian ito.

Tahimik niyang tiningnan si Janus na nakaupo sa katapat na sofa. He's now strumming his guitar. Gusto niya itong tanungin kung anong nangyari, pero pinagsawalang bahala na lang niya.

Maybe she's just imagining things.

JANUS' THOUGHTS ROAMED around his head. Hanggang ngayon ay iniisip pa rin niya kung ano ang pinag-awayan nina Javaid at Oddity kanina. Oddity lied about his cut. Hindi ito umawat ng away kanina. Lunch time noon at papunta sana sila ni Kohen sa rooftop para doon mag-lunch nang hindi sinasadyang marinig ang pinag-uusapan ng dalawa.

"I will take her back. And you can't stop me this time, Odd."

That was the last words that Javaid said to Odd. It's haunting him. He was confused as hell! They were talking about Javaid's sister. He didn't even know that he had one. He met Javaid in the orphanage kaya ang alam niya ay wala na itong kilalang kamag-anak.

Bahagya niyang tinapunan ng tingin si Oddity. Something is off with him. Alam niyang wala ito sa sarili nitong mga nagdaang linggo. Something is bothering him, too. Ano ang koneksyon nito sa sinasabing kapatid ni Javaid?

Oddity glanced at him and his eyes flicked with sadness. Mabilis din iyong nawala nang mapalingon sila sa bagong pasok na si Sir Jannick.

Mabilis itong lumapit sa kinauupuan nina Vera at may hinanap sa cell phone. Janus once again looked at Oddity. He ran his finger through his hair. It's his quirk when he is frustrated. His brows furrowed.

Something was really strange about him. He needs to talk to him. Because the last time he took someone for granted, he lost a friend. He lost Javaid . . . at ayaw na niyang mangyari iyon ulit. Not with Oddity.

"I have good news for you, guys!" Sir Jannick faced them. "Watch this," anito saka iniabot sa kanila ang cell phone.

Tinuon niya ang atensyon sa video. Kuha iyon sa last performance ng Empty noong fundrasing event.

"May isang vlogger na nag-upload ng last performance n'yo sa YouTube and it already hit 4 million views. You're trending guys!" Nanlalaki ang mata nito habang nakangiti.

He blinked twice. Joy overwhelmed him. Walang umimik sa kanilang lima. Hindi siya makapaniwala sa nakikita.

"Hell no!" naibulaslas ni Kohen nang makabawi.

Napatakip naman ng bibig si Riella. "Damn, sir! Is this true?" she said with her eyes not leaving the phone.

Nakatulala silang napatingin kay Sir Jannick habang naghihintay na sabihin nagbibiro lamang ito ngunit binigyan sila nito ng malawak ngiti.

He nodded countless times. "C'mon. This is real, guys! At nag-email sa akin ang isang talent manager from Phantom Oak Studio. And guess what?" Binitin pa nito ang huling salita. His heart was panting. "They want to hear you guys play!" Sir Jannick shouted in excitement.

"Fuck!" sabay na bulaslas nila ni Oddity! Pareho silang napatayo at sabay na nagkatinginan.

"Bads, we made it!" He almost shouted in excitement.

"Omg!" tili naman nina Vera at Riella habang nagtatatalon.

While Kohen was still leaning on the side of the sofa, looking petrified. He took a glance at Kara who was watching them quietly. When their eyes met, she smiled at him and mouthed, "Proud of you."

The corner of his lips quirked up and curved into a smile. Her expression softened and folded her arms while leaning on the table.

He met Kara when everything was falling apart. Parang wala na siyang pag-asa noon. He turned his back against the world. As cliché as it sounds, but when he met her, he met a girl who's able to see his wounds. A girl who can see right through him.

She gave him hope for a change, she believed that he can when he gave up on himself. Kung hindi dahil kay Kara, baka sinuko na niya ang pangarap niya at tuluyan nang umalis sa Empty.

He walked to close their distance without breaking their eye contact. Nang marating niya ang kinaroroonan nito, hinapit niya ang baywang nito at mahigpit na niyakap.

"J...J-anus."

He can feel the fast beating of their heart. Her warmth is like an ecstasy, and he's addicted.

"Thank you," he whispered.

He knows thank you is not enough because that wouldn't justify how happy he was and how grateful he was that she came and saved him.

Kara caressed his back and tightened their hug. "Just promise me you won't quit from your passion ever again. Continue singing because that is what makes you you."

Kumalas ito sa pagkakayakap niya saka tiningnan siya nang seryoso sa mata. "Despite the darkness, I want to see you shine, Janus. Shine brighter than the stars."

Damn, he can't help but fall deeper into her depths.

He cupped her cheeks and kissed her forehead. "Just stay by my side until then."

Kara nodded and looked in to his eyes. "I will always be here, watching you . . . I promise."