We Are Not a Parallel Lines to Begin With

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

I got so many missed calls from Belle and Maui so I texted them as soon as I've reached the school. I'm at the open field right now where the live band will perform. The set-up is good and there's a lot of people roaming around. Nakakaliyo.

I'm at the entrance of the field where they put a stamp on your wrist whenever you enter the field. It's just a precaution measurements.

I unconsciously looked up in the sky and it showed me the stars who's calmly sparkling.

"Ade!" napatingin ako sa tumawag sa akin and it was Belle. She's with Maui, they are walking towards me with foods in their hands. I waited for them to reach me.

"Oh," tanging saad ko lamang ng makaharap ko na sila.

"Talagang tinatamad ka pa niyan sa ayos mo ha," Maureen looked at me from head to toe.

"Oo kaya aalis na ako," I acted walking away from them.

"Joke lang, 'nukaba, bestie!" Maui hugged me.

"Pasok na tayo! Dapat nasa harap tayo, kakanta crush ko, beh!" pag-aaya ni Belle. Hinila kami nito kaya wala kaming choice kundi sumunod.

It's too crowded. I'm praying that I won't be suffocated in here. Nakahawak ako ng mahigpit kay Maui para hindi ako mawala kaso, anaknampucha! Nabitawan niya ako! Pinilit kong makisiksik sa mga tao upang hanapin si Maui or Belle pero I can't see them.

I'm contemplating if either I'll just go out and text them or I'll just go in front on my own. I can't even use my phone because of the crowd. Oh my, God! I'm being squeezed! Hindi ako makaalis.

"Naknampucha! Stop pushing!" I can't help to shout. I also heard someone shouting about how crowded this field are.

I keep on trying to move forward but hindi ako makausad not until someone grab my arm away from the crowd. Hindi ko masyado maaninag ang taong humihila sakin.

We've reached the left side of the field kung saan hindi masyado crowded. Hinihingal pa ako ng makarating kami rito. I looked at the person who pulled me out of the crowd.

"Your hair is a mess," he commented. Inayos ko lamang ito.

"Paano mo ako nakita doon," I asked Seiji.

"Coincidentally, I saw you when I'm handing out the food my cousin asked me to buy," he explained.

"You're aiming for the front row?" he asked.

"It was Belle's idea," I answered while fixing myself. I texted Maui that I got lost but I didn't receive a reply.

"Let's go," hindi pa ako nakapagsalita ng hatakin akoni Seiji sa kung saan. Bakit ba hilig nila akong hatakin.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"To your friends, duh!" he said as a matter of fact.

"You know kung nasaan sila?" I asked.

"We'll find them," he said.

He's now in my back holding both of my shoulders guiding me to walk forward and protecting me from the crowd.

We're almost in front when someone called him.

"Where have you been, Seiji. Malapit na mag-start," a guy with a guitar asked him.

"Hahabol ako," saad lamang ng lalakeng nasa likod ko.

"It seems urgent, you can go," binalingan ko ito ng tingin. Medyo mataas ang boses ko dahil sa ingay.

"It's fine. I'll accompany you first," he said leaning towards my ears. It tickles my ears.

"Malapit na lang naman. I can handle, go ka na," I said and remove his hands on my shoulders at hinarap siya.

"Go," he sighed in defeat.

"I'll find you later," he whispered.

"Why? 'wag na!" I answered.

"Wow, parang ayaw mo ako makita ah," tumatawa nitong sabi. Umirap lamang ako dito.

Pinauna niya muna akong maglakad para hanapin sina Belle bago siya umalis.

I keep on excusing myself habang dumadaan sa harap ng crowd.

Nakita ko rin sa wakas ang dalawa na patuloy na nags-selfie, parang wala silang kaibigan na nawala, a.

"Grabe, nag-alala kayo sa akin 'no," bungad ko sa kanila.

"Ayy, beh! Nandito ka na!" malakas na tinig ni Belle ang sumagot.

"Hindi, kaluluwa ko lang ito," sabat ko. Magrereklamo pa sana muli ako nang biglang may nagsalita

"How's the night East Gate University!" nabigla ako sa dagundong ng sounds at sa mga sigawan ng tao. Tumingin ako sa harapan at nakita ang isang lalakeng emcee.

"OMG, that's Pierce!" malakas na sigaw ni Maui. I think she's referring to the emcee.

"Are you all ready to jam all night with our bands?" he asked to tye crowd which made the crowd roared.

"Hindi ko na ito papatagalin. Let us welcome our first band who'll serve us great music tonight."

"Let's jam with the Good-looking People from Architecture Department!"

Napaubo ako ng narinig ko ang pangalan ng banda.

"Wala na bang ibabaduy ang pangalan na iyan," natawa si Maui ng narinig ang hinaing ko.

"Don't worry, babe. Belle said na their name doesn't disappoint," she patted my back.

At queue, the field went black. A keyboard tune starts to envelope the field.

Nag-umpisang maghiyawan ang mga tao nang tumutok ang spotlight sa vocalist ng banda.

Fallen by Lola Amour

"Ampogi mo, Atlas!" malakas at matinis na sigaw ni Belle sa kumakanta na sinabayan naman nang alulong  na parang aso ni Maui. What the fuck is happening? 

"Tangina mo, Maurice! Ano ka lobo?" natatawang kutya ni Belle kay Maui.

"Shut up, Ysobelle!" Maui retorted.

Natapos na ang ilang kanta but everyone is still going wild because of the hype songs that the band plays. On queue, the tune now change and I think an electric guitarist will solo? 

I felt my phone vibrated so I took it out and saw my mom's message. Pahirapan pa ako sa pagr-reply dahil napaka-sikip at magalaw itong mga kasama ko. 

A satisfying and attractive sound of an electric guitar made the crowd wild once again. I can't see who's playing as my eyes stuck on my phone screen. 

I am answering my mom's question about how to use the air fryer. Mahirap na hindi masagutan agad ito, baka sugurin pa ako sa condo.

"Seiji Sy! Tapakan mo ako at ako pa ang mags-sorry!" napantig ang tenga ko ng marinig ang pangalan ni Seiji. 

I lift my head and see who's on stage and I saw him playing the guitar. He's not there kanina ah?  

I sent my message to mom and return my attention on the stage.

It looks like he's looking for someone not until our eyes met. Iniwas ko ang tingin ko pero ibinalik din and he's still looking at me? He smirked and gave me a wink. Damn that mole below his left eye.

"Oh, my God! He winked at me!" irit ng babae sa likuran ko.

"Dream on! That wink is for me!" sagot naman ng isa.

"That's for you, right?" bulong naman ni Maurice.

"Tangina! Crush ka talaga ata niyan!" maingay na bulalas ni Belle.

Umiling lamang ako at ibinalik ang tingin sa entablado kung saan ay nakatayo si Isaiah Seiji na may malaking ngiti sa labi.