Dagger Series #3: Unscripted

Chapter 16: All In

"Nako lagot ka. Last time hininto niya iyong concert kasi may mali sa tunog no'ng gitara ng lead guitarist niya," pananakot ni Trace.

Alanganing napakamot sa batok niya si Coal. Lia's a musical genius. She don't rub it to people's face and she rarely talk about it sa mga interview niya but she really has a gift. Kahit isang string lang ata ng gitara na problematic napapansin niya and she will stop the concert even in the middle of singing just to fix it.

"It's fine. Pero patingin muna kung nasa tono." Kinuha ni Lia ang gitara sa lalaki. She started plucking some of the strings then she turned some of the tuning keys. Nang maayos niya na iyon ay ibinalik niya na ang gitara kay Coal. "Done. Anong kanta kaya?"

Lucienne's eyes glinted. "Alam ko na! Wait lang. Trace samahan mo ako dali!"

Kung may isa silang pinagkakasunduan ay panigurado akong iyon ay pagawa ng kalokohan. Tumakbo sila papasok ng bahay pagkatapos iabot ni Trace si Cookie kay Thorn at nang lumabas sila ulit ay may dala silang mga papel na hinati-hati nila. Inabutan nila kami ng tig-isa. Hindi pa sila nakuntento at binigyan din nila si Gun, Thorn, at Pierce.

"Sulat kayo ng kanta na gusto niyo," utos ni Trace.

Sa pagtataka ko ay nakita kong nakatutok sa papel na hawak ni Pierce ang mga mata ni Lucienne na nanatiling nakatayo sa kinaroroonan ng tatlo. The man is looking at her weirdly as if he can't understand why Lucienne is being nosy.

Nakita kong naghulog sila Coal ng gusto nilang kanta sa bowl na hawak ni Trace. I decided to just write the first thing that came into my mind and when I thought of Taylor Swift's Willow I wrote it down. Inilagay ko iyon sa bowl at nakangiting bumalik si Trace sa kinaroroonan ni Lucienne na nakatutok ang mga mata sa sinusulat ni Pierce.

Nang matapos ang lalaki at mailagay niya na sa bowl ang sulat ay bumalik na ang dalawa sa kinaroroonan namin. Umupo sila sa binakante nilang puwesto at inalog-alog ni Trace ang hawak na bowl. When he was done, he asked Lia to pick one.

Sinilip ni Lucienne at Trace ang nabunot ni Lia pero sa pagtataka ko ay inagaw iyon ng lalaki at ibinalik lang sa bowl. "Pangit 'yan. Iba na lang."

Muling bumunot si Lia pero nang mabasa ni Lucienne ang nandoon ay binalik niya lang ang papel. "Wag yan."

"Akala ko ba theme song ng first kiss niyo ni Thorn ang Kiss Me ni Ed Sheeran?" takang tanong ni Lia.

"Para iba naman," nakangising nag peace sign na sabi ni Lucienne. "Pili ka pa ng iba."

"Sabihin niyo na lang kaya kung anong gusto mo na kantahin ko?" Lia rolled her eyes when Trace just shake the bowl again. Muli siyang bumunot at binasa niya ang nandoon. "Huh."

"What is it?" tanong ni Trace.

"Fallin All In You."

Nagkatinginan si Lucienne at si Trace pero sa pagkakataon na ito ay wala ng kahit na sino sa kanila ang umangal. Nagkibit-balikat si Lia at kinuha niya ang cellphone niya. Gano'n din ang ginawa ni Coal na mukhang hinahanap ang chords no'n.

"At least I'm familiar with it. Akala ko Livin' La Vida Loca na naman ni Trace."

"Hindi ko nga favorite 'yon!" Humalukipkip si Trace. "Fake news lang nila Domino 'yon. Masama ang ugali niyan, walang galang sa nakatatandang kapatid."

"Ikaw ang fake news. Ang bait ko kaya." Tumingin sa akin si Domino. "Mabait ako idol."

Tinapik ko siya sa balikat at umilaw ang mukha niya na para bang hindi na lang parang na-move bukas ang Pasko pero ngayon na mismo.

Lucienne made a "shh!" motion when Coal started plucking the strings of the guitar. The melody sounded sweet but when Lia's voice joined in, the sound came alive.

"Sunrise with you on my chest. No blinds in the place where I live. Daybreak open your eyes. 'Cause this was only ever meant to be for one night. Still, we're changing our minds here. Be yours, be my dear..."

I know Lia's known for her range but I also know that she never stick on just singing songs with high notes. Kung titignan pa nga ay parang mas gusto niya iyong mga kalmado lang na kanta. She's more into the lyrics and showing the emotions of them more than proving that she can hit amazing notes.

She seems shy and dainty but when she sings it's like she's in her own world. She takes ownership of a song as if it's made for her even now that she's singing in what seem is in the point of view of a man.

"Ooh, you know I've been alone for quite a while haven't I? I thought I knew it all. Found love but I was wrong. More times than enough. But since you came along... I'm thinking baby you are bringing out a different kind of me. There's no safety net that's underneath, I'm free. Falling all in. You fell for men who weren't how they appeared, yeah. Trapped up on a tightrope now we're here, we're free. Falling all in you."

"Sa'yo bang kanta 'yan?" narinig kong bulong ni Axel kay Domino.

Umiling si Domino na hawak ang cellphone at vinivideohan ang sister in law niya. Malamang sa hindi ay ipapadala niya iyon kay Luna na hindi na naman namin kasama ngayon dahil laging abala sa trabaho. Sa pagtataka ko nga lang ay paminsan-minsan ay tinatapat niya iyon sa direksyon ko bago niya ibinabaling sa kinaroroonan nila Pierce.

"Every night I'm with you I fall more in love. Now I'm laying by your side. Everything feels right since you came along, I'm thinking baby..."

There's something in the lyrics that are filling me with warmth. I looked at the opposite direction of the place and I saw Thorn has his eyes on his son that he's carrying, Gun is watching his wife, but to my surprise... I found Pierce staring directly at me.

"You, yeah, are bringing out a different kind of me. There's no safety net that's underneath, I'm free. Falling all in."