Don't Blame Me

dbm

Ness could feel his sweaty palms as he closed his fists and walked towards the backstage area.

He can also feel eyes staring at him as if they are watching the prey slowly enter the predator's cage.

Fuck, gusto nya talaga umatras pero wala na syang magagawa. Nandito na sya eh.

When he entered the mentioned place, Rio was the first person he saw playing his bass guitar. Nakita niya rin si Edrei na may hawak na drum stick sa kaliwa nyang kamay while his other hand is typing on his phone. The other guitarist and their keyboard player are also peacefully talking about the songs they will play later. 

He stopped looking around the room.

He doesn't want to look for the other one.

He found a monoblock chair near the sofa where Edrei is sitting. Si Rio ang unang nakakita sakaniya at binati naman siya nito. Bumati siya pabalik kaya nakuha niya rin ang attention ni Edrei and the latter smiled at him and greeted him happily.

"Uy, Ness, pre! Long time no jamming with you!" Edrei stood up from his seat and hugged Ness, who was about to sit on a monoblock. Niyakap naman siya pabalik ni Ness.

"Yeah, busy sa music org eh. Sayang nga eh di kayo napapasyal sa music department office, miss na kayo nila Lia." He replied.  He felt a sense of ease while talking with the band's drummer, Edrei, because Edrei is genuinely easy to talk to at madaling pakisamahan.

Because of Edrei, his negative thinking temporarily died down.

"Miss na miss ko na rin sila! Balita ko manonood sila ngayon, ah? Sayang kasi tuwing napapasyal kami sa music dept di ko kayo naaabutan! Si hanni lang naaabutan namin doon sabi nasa klase na kayo." Edrei said with a pout.

I made Hanni lied. Huhu sorry, baby.

The truth is, makita niya palang sa bintana ng music department ang anino at pigura nila Neon, umaalis na siya roon as soon as possible.

Minsan naman ay nag papanggap syang busy na tipong di sya pwedeng maistorbo. At dahil siya ang presidente, may takot talaga ang mga kamembers niya na istorbohin sya, ganoon din sila Edrei kaya siguro di na siya inaabala ng mga ito sa tuwing bumibisita sila sa Department Office.

Mabuti naman. Kung di lang nila kasama yung lalaking yun, kahit sa department na matulog sila Rio, okay lang.

He was about to respond to Edrei when a wooden case fell to the cement floor. It makes a noise that draws everyone's attention inside the room.

The wooden case opened and its contents were spilt. Napunta pa ang iba sa paanan nila ni Edrei. 

Edrei was about to pick it up pero naunahan siya yumuko ni Ness. And, as he gets closer to the object, unti unti niya ring namukhaan kung ano ito. 

It's a stainless guitar pick.

Putangina...

His heart begins to beat fastly. If anyone were to witness his reaction at that exact moment, they would notice the horror in his eyes as he stares at the pick.

He released a shaky breath while mentally reading the words that were written on it.

'Music heals.'

He stood up straight and looked for the certain person who PROBABLY was the owner of the thing he was holding.  

And when he did, Neon was looking at him like he was caught in the act. 

Everybody was watching them carefully. Ni hindi niya na nga napansin na wala na si Edrei sa harapan niya. The latter is already next to Rio, who is speaking to him in a whisper.

Neastle's soul almost flew to another place when Neon began walking towards him quickly, akala mo sinusugod siya nito.

And as soon as they were facing each other, Neon snatched the guitar pick he was holding.

"T-thanks..." Neon stutteringly thanked him, his voice hoarse.

And he looks like a fucking tomato. His face was red as fuck. 

Nag bablush ba sya? Puta...

Bakit?

Bago pa siya makasagot sa namumulang binata. Tinalikuran na siya nito at iniwan siyang parang tuod sa harap nila Rio. 

From his peripheral vision, he can see Neon picking up the other picks from the floor and placing them in the case before leaving the area.

Ness was staring at nothing. Nakataas pa rin ang kanang kamay na akala mo hawak pa rin niya ang bagay na kaniyang nakita. 

What the fuck just happened?