Mitch
"Daddy talked to you? Like what did he told you? Was he bastos—"
"Hon, no. Relax," Brix replied over the phone. We were busy that day that we didn't talk all day and I missed him so much. "Maayos naman ang naging pag-uusap namin."
"Oh!... Ohhhh..." Nakahinga ako ng maluwag. "As in?"
"As in," Brix mimicked me that made me laugh. "Sa palagay ko ay okay na."
"God, I hope so. Ayaw kong bumalik sa apartment. I love Rose but she always nags at me for opening the AC but I missed the pancit canton and quick quick."
Brix laughed at the other end. "What?" he asked laughing.
"The orange balls," I replied giggling.
"Kwek kwek."
"That and the Mnaong sauce."
"Manong sauce," natatawang ulit niya. "Jesus, I really love you."
"I guess so too," biro ko sa kanya. "Anyway, will I see you tomorrow?"
"I'll try to finish our rehearsal—"
"Oh, meron nga pala kayong rehearsal. Can I just watch na lang if you don't mind me being clingy?"
"I don't mind at all," he replied. Eme, kilig ako. "In fact, I like that about you?"
"Me being clingy?"
"You being malambing," he answered. Gosh, this man makes me kilig like a highschool. "Let me know what time ka makakapunta para hindi ako maghapon nakatingin sa relo kaysa sa music sheet. Mapapansin na naman ako ni Blaze."
"Yeah, Sir Blaze is very observant sa mga gusto niyang i-observe. Can I be a nosy girlfriend and ask what Dad told you?"
Brix told me how he got a phone call from Dad. I was smiling when he said Sir Blaze insist to be with him as a back-up. And I cried when he said Dad will give him a chance.
"Hey, umiiyak ka?"
"That's sweet," I murmured.
"Don't cry. Everything will be fine. I will do my best, Michelle."
Jesus, please ibigay n'yo na sa akin si Brix. Siya na po ang end game ko. Siya na ang happy ending ko. Please Lord, please, I begging you that this time, pareho na tayo ng plan.
"Mitch," Brix called when I didn't reply right away. Nagpunas ako ng mga luha.
"Yes, hon?"
"I love you."
"I love you too, Brix."
"I better go. Maaga pa ang call time ni Jaxx bukas. Baka mag-penalty ako kapag na-late na naman."
Huminga ako ng malalim. "Okay, see you tomorrow. I love you."
Kinabukasan, sa school, may dalang quick quick si Rose. I almost jump with joy.
"For me?" tanong ko kay Rose while opening the plastic that covers the plastic cups.
"Naawa ako sa nagtitindi. Panay balik sa bahay akala 'ando'n ka pa," sagot ni Rose.
"Feel free to buy for me. I'll pay."
"'Wag na. Jusme naman 'to, parang others," sagot ni Rose.
"I missed your pancit canton, Rose." Gosh ang sarap ng Manong sauce. I eat fast when I saw the Japs walking towards us.
'Mabulunan ka naman," wika ni Rose sa akin.
"Enemy spotted," I joked. Raisen will eat everything when he sees the orange balls.
"Kwek kwek," sigaw ni Raiden when he saw what I am holding.
I almost die choking but still, Raiden had one plastic cup of quick quick. I cough and tried not to cough in front of my friend. Rose immediately taps... hard... my back instead of giving me water.
"Ayan, kasugapa mo kasi. Ayaw mong mamigay. Ano? Tubig?" nang-aasar pang tanong ni Rose.
I am in the process of dying and Rose still nags me and talks in a psychologist's way of talking.
"Water," I said clinging to Rose while choking and coughing.
Ken gave me water, thank you, Lord. I feel like a red tomato when I breath normal again. Nakain na lahat ni Raiden ang mga itlog.
"Ubos na," nakuha niya pang magsalita.
Nalungkot ako. Ubos na nga ang itlog.
I was excited when class finished. Nagpaalam ako sa mga friends ko. I am on the way to Kuya Jaxx's place dahil doon ang practice nila Brix.
Ate Margaux opened the main door for me.
"I have pizza and beer."
"Nag-abala ka pa." Nakangiting kinuha ni Ate Margaux ang pizza sa akin. I hold the beers. We went to the studio and Ate Margaux motioned the pizza she was holding from the glass window.
Unang lumabas ng studio si Brix at niyakap ako ng mahigpit.
Hay, this is home.
"Hoy!" Si Sir Blaze agad ang unang umangal.
Brix holds me still and I felt him exhale deeply. I felt his kiss on my hair.
"Okay ka lang?" nag-aalalang tanong ko.
"I just missed you," sagot niya.
"Hoy, yuck!" isa-isang pabirong nag-angalan ang Overdrive. Natatawang bumitaw si Brix sa akin.
"Ang clingy n'yo sa isa't-isa. Mas nakakaumay pa kayo sa cheese ng pizza," sabi ni Ryker. "Six cheese ba ito?"
"Five cheese lang," Ate Margaux answered.
"Ayaw ko na pala. Kaunti ang cheese," biro ni Ryker. Isang batok ang tinamo nito mula kay Sir Blaze. "Joke lang. Dala mo ba ito, Mitch?"
"Yes, and beer."
"'Yon!" sabay-sabay na sagot nila Ryker, Sir Blaze at Kuya Jaxx.
"Pa-hug nga rin," ani ni Ryker.
Isang playful na suntok sa balikat ang binigay ni Brix sa kanya. "Sa susunod sa mukha na 'yan," Brix commented.
"Seloso naman this guy," biro pa rin ni Ryker.
"May ipapakilala ako sa 'yo," I said to Ryker. Hinayaan kong kumain si Brix. Parang kanina pa sila nagpa-practice at nakalimutan ng kumain.
"Hindi ko type si Rose," sagot agad ni Ryker. Nagbukas siya ng isang beer.
"Hindi si Rose," natatawang sagot ko. "Although, type mo si Rose?"
Natawa lang si Ryker at umiiling-iling.
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Ears and Rhymes
RomanceMichelle Salvacio is a typical 'anak-mayaman'. Nag-iisa siyang tagapagmana ng pamilya niya kaya lahat ng luho ay nasusunod. Although you can see her as a 'maarte' and spoiled brat, she has a heart of gold that everyone doesn't know. Brix Gonzales is...
