The one in vain

7. Stay still

She’s going to sing his song for his Cinderella. Hindi siya mapakali. Calen stayed at the back stage habang pinapanood niya si Harmony na naglalakad patungo sa may stage ay lalong tumitindi ang pagnanais niyang samahan ito sa entablado. He saw he waved at him. Ngumiti siya.

“Di ka mapakali? Kinakabahan ka para sa girlfriend mo?” Tudyo sa kanya ni Lex. Inirapan niya ito. Mula nang araw na makilala si Harmony ng mga ito ay hindi na siya nito tinigilan, palaging sinasabi nito na girlfriend niya daw si Harmony – kung sabagay, hinalikan kasi siya nito sa harap ng maraming tao.

“Good evening, my name is Harmony.” Narinig niyang nagpakilala ito sa audience. Tahimik lamang ang mga nanonood kay Harmony, he was still staring at her. “This is for the ones that had lost someone in the past. Guys, really, move on.” What she said came out as a joke, pero hindi niya naiwasan ang hindi mataaman.

Harmony strummed her guitar. Habang tumutugtog ito ay hinahanap niya si Jin Hye.

“Summer after high school, when we first met
We make-out in your Mustang to radiohead
And on my 18th birthday, we got matching tattoos

Used to steal your parents liquor and climb to the roof
Talk about our future like we had a clue
Never planned that one day I'd be losing you…”

He swallowed hard. He saw Jin Hye sitting just in front of the stage, she was intently listening to Harmony. Hindi niya matanto ang ekspresyon sa mukha nito. Para bang nahulog ito sa malalim na pag-iisip. He sighed, ano pa nga ba, kung maaalala man siya nito dahil sa kantang iyon ay sigurado siyang si Caleb na naman ang iisipin nito. He sighed.

“Okay ka lang, Cal?” Tanong ni Lex sa kanya.

“Sure…” He simple said. Inilipat na lang niya ang atensyon niya kay Harmony. Tatlong beses niya palang itong naririnig kumanta pero sa tuwing mangyayari iyon ay parang ibang tao ang nasa harapan niya. Harmony sounded so good, at mukhang nagugustuhan na rin ito ng mga tao.

Some were even singing along with her.

But in another life, I would be your girl
We keep all our promises, be us against the world
In another life, I would make you stay
So I don't have to say you were the one that got away
The one that got away…

 Nang matapos ang kanta nito ay pinalapakan ito ng mga tao. Jin Hye was the first one to clap her hands for her. Nagpasalamat si Harmony, patalikod na ito nang biglang sumigaw ang mga tao ng MORE!

Harmony smiled. Muli itong nagsalita.

“Sige, okay lang. Isa na lang ha?” Sabi nito. “This is for the man who gave me his first guitar pick ever. Sabi niya kasi friends na kami so this is for him…”

Napangiti siya. Lalong lumawak iyon nang tumingin ito sa kanya at saka kumindat.

I say can you believe it?
As we're lying on the couch
The moment I could see it
Yes, yes, I can see it now

Do you remember when I ambushed you the other day?

I put my arm around you for the first time

You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter
You are the best thing that's ever been mine.

Nang matapos ang set nito ay nagpasalamat ito sa mga tao.

“Thank you guys, uuwi na ako at magre-review.” Sabi pa nito. Nagtawanan ang mga audience. She waved at them tapos ay bumalik na ito sa back stage. Sinalubong niya ito.