First and Last

Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

Napatulalang nakatingin na lang ako kay Arrow. His words are so mouthful. It goes down directly on my heart at hindi ko maiwasang manlambot sa kanyang sinabi. Alam ko naman ang bagay na iyon pero nakakagulat pa rin na marinig ang mga salitang iyon sa personal. When someone express their love for you it’s something that really genuine, and it’s totally real. Because that person can be your best friend, lover, or your home. That person means a whole world to you.

He smelled my hair and gently touching my left shoulder with his soft hand. He drew small circles on it habang magkatingin pa rin kami sa isa’t-isa. His eyes. His tender stares. All of him. This is what I always saw when my Lolo stares on my Abuela every time they having their time. 

Ako na ang pumutol ng tinginan namin ni Arrow. I focused on the other magazines on my vanity table. Hindi na pinatapos ni Arrow ang pagtitingin ko sa kasunod na pahina kung saan sila ng kabanda niya ang na-feature. He said that it’s forbidden for me dahil mayroon silang tig-iisang pahina at ang sa kanya lamang daw ang pwede kong tignan!

I tried to reached the said magazine kaso ay inilagay na niya iyon sa kanyang likuran. Mamaya ko na lang daw tignan kapag napunit na niya ang mga pages ng kabanda niya!

“What’s now?” tanong ko sa kanya. Tungkol lang sa pagluluto ang magazine na hawak ko ngayon na nakita ko na nuong huli kong buklat sa mga ito. 

Arrow leaned on my shoulder at hindi ko alam kung nakikitingin siya sa hawak ko dahil hindi ko naman siya makita ng buo. He released a deep sigh.

“May problema?” I asked him. 

He didn’t response na hinayaan ko na lang. I admit that I didn’t know him that much even he confessed his feeling on me that’s why I can’t say that he has a problem or maybe thinking something. Sa klase ng trabahong mayroon siya at sa uri ng mundong ginagalawan niya ay madalas nagkakaroon talaga sila ng problema and the public are often makes their world uncomfortable for them to move. 

In this world, our silent battles can give two things: the best people in our life and the point where we can grow individually. 

“Come with me.” Biglang pag-aaya niya sa akin. I stopped from what I’m doing. I closed the magazine at hinayaan lang iyon sa hita ko. 

Umayos naman ng upo si Arrow. 

“Saan?” I curiously looked at him. 

“In our studio.” He answered. 

Arrow is a public figure. At ang banda nila ay hindi lamang basta-basta. Their fans are everywhere. Madali na lamang para sa iba na makilala sila agad-agad lalo na at kasagsagan ng career nila. Hindi ba siya nag-aalala? If we are going on their studio maaaring makilala kami. Mas malala na magkaroon ng issue.

“Are you sure?” he nodded. “Arrow, Hindi pwede. Baka makita ka ng media and who knows kung anong mangyayari.” Paalala ko sa kanya.

“Hindi yan.” Kontra niya.

“You’re a singer at usap-usapan ng publiko ang nalalapit niyong concert. Paniguradong mainit kayo sa mata ng mga tao.” Sabi ko sa kanya. “At ano na lang ang sasabihin ng management niyo sayo kapag nalaman nilang may kasama kang babae without their knowledge.”

“The management will not have anything to say regarding on our whereabouts.” He said like it is a small thing. 

Sigurado ba talaga siya? He knows how dangerous is ang makitang lumalabas siya sa public without a bodyguard with him. Isama pa na babae ang dadalhin niya roon.