Laments of Broken Strings (Arte del Amor #1)

Chapter 9

"Woah, what was that about?" salubong ni Isaiah pagkabalik namin sa table. Kaius is also there now, too. Parang umiikot ang paningin ko dahil ngayon palang yata nag-sink in sa akin na kumanta ako sa harap ng maraming tao.

Crying had always made me feel liberated, because I do not do it often. I did not shed a single tear this past year and it is a mystery why I always find myself crying these days. Since I met the guy who just embraced me... and told me how proud he is of me. I have no Idea why he said that but somehow, it relieves me.

Iginiya ako ni Ashriel sa kanina naming inuupuan, tahimik lang. He's just looking at me with his usual stoic expression. He must be thinking of me differently by now, even in the slightest. I mean, who wouldn't? I literally cried in front of everybody.

"May pinaghuhugutan?" Kaius asked, itinaas baba pa ang kilay. Inakbayan siya ni Jiro, probably in an attempt for me not to think about what Kaius just asked. "I didn't think that you'd actually sing!"

"Yeah, but I kind of got too into it." Nakayuko kong sinabi pero hinawi ni Ashriel ang buhok ko, dahilan para mapatingin ako sa kanya.

"Ano?" tanong ko, nagsisimula nang magtaka sa sobrang tahimik niya. He's staring too much and it's making me uncomfortable! Nakakailang kaya.

"Libot lang kami ng tables." paalam ni Nikolai bago tinapik sa balikat si Ashriel at lahat sila ay iniwan kaming dalawa. Seems like they felt the tension as well . He scooted a little closer to me as soon as they were out of sight.

It was silent, but not awkward. I was just looking around to see some familiar faces of people probably from my school but I never got to know even just their names. I glanced at Ashriel through my peripheral view. This person beside me is awfully quiet and it's bothering me.

Huminga siya ng malalim, looking like he was about to say something but he chose not to. Umiwas siya ng tingin. "Are you okay?" I finally asked.

I can tell that something is not quite right with him since after I sang but I can't really tell. Quiet times like this are common for the both of us but this... is not.

Nakatingin lang siyang diretso sa baso niya ng softdrinks. I wonder why he didn't drink alcohol tonight. "Yes, I am. Yeah." tumango tango siya nang ilang beses sa sagot niyang iyon. Well, I don't think that you are, it seems to me that you're convincing yourself.

I yawned. I looked at my Casio wristwatch to check the time and it's already past midnight. No wonder why I'm already this sleepy. "Do you want to go home?" he asked, dinudungaw ang mukha ko. Namumungay na rin ang mga mata niya and I can tell that he's running on empty.

Nagpasya akong umuwi na dahil wala na rin naman kaming ginagawa dito kung 'di makinig sa mga nagpapatawa o kaya naman ay nagpeperform sa harapan.

"Magpapaalam lang ako sa mga classmates ko, go ahead..."

"Give me your guitar, I'll put it inside my car." Inilahad niya ang kamay niya, hinihintay na ibigay ang gitarang palaging nasa tabi ko o kaya naman ay nakasabit sa katawan ko. Despite his offer, I refused. This guitar is something that should be with me at all times.

Tumango lang si Ashriel kaya tumalikod na ako para puntahan ang mga kaklase kong halos mga lasing na at wala sa tamang wisyo.

Some of my classmates who were just 17 like I am went home early because they had curfew at home, which is something I do not have. Some just didn't really attend the party because they didn't think this place would be rented fully and minors would be allowed.

Speaking of Ryna, kanina ko pa naririnig ang tawa niyang umaalingawngaw sa buong restobar. Siya yata ang pinakalasing sa kanilang lahat, pulang pula na ang mukha at napipikit na rin ang mga mata.