PAINFUL LOVE #SunflowerAwards2k18#TLA2018

Chapter 18

Mula ng umalis si Kath, hindi na magawa ni Trent na talagang maging masaya. Ngumingiti siya, tumatawa pero kabaliktaran niyon ang kanyang tunay na nadarama. Ibinuhos niya ang kanyang buong atensyon sa pag- aaral at paglalaro ng basketball  upang makalimutan ito pero sa tuwina ay sumasagi pa rin si Kath sa kanyang isipan. At kapag naaalala niya ito ay palagi siyang dinadamba ng kalungkutan.

"Trent!"

Napalingon siya sa pinagmulan ng boses ngunit sa paglingon niya ay ang bolang nasa ere na kalauna'y lumanding sa kanyang mukha ang sumalubong sa kanya.

"Tulala ka na naman, Alonzo," naiiling na sabi ni Mr. Beirut saka iniligid ang paningin sa bawat isa sa kanila.  "Okay team, this is all for today but be here tomorrow. Six am sharp."

"Yes! Coach," they said in unison.

"Alonzo, you need to be back to your old self as soon as possible kundi ay tatanggalin kita sa first five."

Napayuko siya. "Yes, coach."

Tinalikuran na sila nito. Siya naman ay kinuha ang towel mula sa sports bag saka pinunasan ang pawisang mukha.

"Pasensya na, tol," hinging- paumanhin ni Vincent nang lapitan siya.

"Okay lang, tol. It's my fault anyway, " sagot naman niya sabay tapik rito.

"Kumusta ka na, tol?" tanong ni Mikhail.

Pagak siyang napatawa,"Kung magtanong ka naman tol, parang ang tagal nating hindi nagkita, ah."

"You know what he means," Kyle butted in. Nang-aarok ang mga tinging ipinupukol sa kanya.

Pinuno niya ng hangin ang kanyang baga sabay tumingala. "I know. But as you see, I'm still in pain."

"It's been two months, tol. You need to get her out of your system," wika uli ni Kyle.

"Easier to be said than done."

Inakbayan siya ni Mikhail. Out of the three, he knew he was the one who understood him most. "You'll pass it. We're here for you. "

"Thanks, tol."

+++

"Until now, we still don't have a participant for the singing contest. Other contests were filled in already except this one. Any volunteer?" James, the current governor of their department, asked.

A hand was raised among the crowd. Janna acknowledged her as one of her classmates named Alyanna.

Tumayo ito. "I know someone who can participate for us."

"Who?" wika ni James.

Sinuyod ng tingin ni Alyanna ang mga naroon. At sa kanyang pagtataka'y huminto ito sa kanyang direksyon. "Janna Nicola Dizon."

Sukat sa sinabi nito, lahat ng mga mata ay napadako sa kanya.

"No! I can't sing that well," aniya kasabay nang pagwagayway ng mga kamay.

"Come on Jan, you have a very wonderful voice. Remember the theater act we presented last semester? You're one of the back up singers and back then I realized you're good," kontra ni Alyanna.

Pinandilatan niya ito.

"I remember that!" sabat ng isa sa kanyang mga kaklase.

Nakilala niya ito bilang si Grizell.

"I agree she's good," dagdag pa nito.

And to her surprise, all of her classmates nodded their head and said the same thing.

"It's settled. Janna, you will be our representative."

"You can't be serious, gov!"

"I'll give you the freedom to pick your own piece, just remember it must be an OPM love song. The Valentines ball will be on Friday. So, prepare yourself. Same goes for the other participants. That's all, dismissed."

Nagsitayuan na ang mga kasama niya sa room pero nanatili pa ring nakaupo si Janna.  She couldn't believe their governor turned a deaf ear to her refusal.

"Bakit mo ginawa 'yon?" tanong niya kay Alyanna hustong dumaan ito sa kanyang harapan.

"Dinugo 'yong ilong ko. Kainis naman kasi 'yang 'speak in english' policy na 'yan while having a meeting."

Tiningnan lang niya ito. Kung inaakala nitong maililihis nito ang topic, nagkakamali ito.

She cringed. Her shoulders dropped as she sat beside her. "Because I believe you're good. No. Scratch it. You sang heavenly. Sayang ang boses mo kung itatago mo lang."

"Pero hindi pang-contest 'yong boses ko! And have you forgotten? I have a stage fright."

"But you can pull it off katulad no'ng ginawa mo sa play."

"Nagawa ko lang mag-perform noon sa stage kasi marami tayo. Paano kapag ngayon, hindi na? Paano kapag pumiyok ako dahil sa sobrang kaba? Mapapahiya ang buong department Aly," mangiyak-ngiyak niyang reklamo rito.

Hinawakan nito ang magkabila niyang balikat saka siya pinakatitigan. "Huwag ka kasing mag-isip ng puro negative. Whatever happens, susuportahan ka namin. If you'll be nervous just look at us or just look at that person of whom you want to offer that song with. Look at that person who gives you strength and inspires you. Kung wala naman siya sa crowd, just think of him or her as if he or she was there listening to you. You can do it Jan, I know you will. I wouldn't suggest your name if I knew you couldn't."

Hindi siya kumbinsido sa sinabi ni Alyanna pero wala na rin siyang magagawa. Kilala niya ang kanilang governor, kapag nagdesisyon na ito mahirap na iyong baliin. And you wouldn't want it to be in his bad side anyway.

After their meeting ay dumiretso na ng uwi si Janna. Nagulat pa nga siya nang abutan niya si Trent sa sala habang nanonod ng balita sa CNN. She never expected that he would come home this early. 

She looked at him intently. Nanonod nga ba ito? As if kasi tagusan ang tingin nito sa screen.

Did he just pretended not to notice her o talagang hindi nito namamalayang may tao sa paligid? 

She planned to ignore her thoughts and went straight to her room for she knew he would only snap but curiosity and worry beat the best of her.

"Trent?" untag niya rito.  

He blinked.

Tama nga ang naisip niya. Tulala na naman ito.

For a split seconds, she saw a blot of tear in the corner of his eyes as his gaze flew in her though he tried to mask it with annoyed expression afterwards.

Too late. She already saw it.

If only I could do something to ease your pain, Trent. I will be glad to do anything.

She took a deep breath. Pakiramdam kasi niya maiiyak na rin siya.