Chapter 12
Happiest
"So, it's like drugs? You can't get rid of it?" I asked while we were walking.
Papasok na ulit kami sa elevator papuntang condo. He insisted to help me with my stuff. Buhat niya ang mga supot na galing sa mall at pangalawang balik na namin 'to dahil masyadong marami kung bubuhatin nang sabay-sabay. Hindi niya kakayanin lalo na't siya lang naman ang nagbubuhat. He wouldn't even let me touch a thing.
Princess treatment ba ang tawag dito?
He licked his lips. "Yeah, sort of," he nodded. He looked like he finds it ridiculous that I compared music to drugs. Bakit ba? Common naman 'yon.
"Hindi na lang siya basta pampalipas oras?"
He creased his eyebrows as we entered the elevator. Ako ang pumindot ng numero bago tumabi sa kaniya.
"I never thought of it like that," aniya. "The moment I learned about music, I knew it's going to be part of my life for eternal."
Tumango ako, bahagyang naiinggit. Sobrang swerte mo, musika, dahil ganito ka ituring ni Eli. Probably just one second of learning about music he already knows it is for him. Like they're meant to connect and be an allies forever.
How about me? What did he feel the moment he saw me? Did he even feel anything? Or just... annoyance?
"So... you'll really pursue music?" I asked again.
They are rich. They have generational wealth, kaya kahit anong gusto niyang gawin sa buhay niya, pwedeng-pwede. 'Di ko lang alam kung ayos 'yon sa mga magulang niya.
"Yeah. I don't see myself engaging with anything else other than it..."
I nodded again and our eyes met.
"That's nice. You're still young but you already know where you're heading."
He played with his lower lip for a second. "Why? Don't you have plans for your future yet?"
I pressed my lips into a thin line and chuckled nervously. Bigla akong nahiya. Umiling ako at nanatiling nakangiti.
"Sa ngayon, wala pa..." I looked away
He nodded with his normal expression. Medyo matagal bago siya nagsalita.
"That's fine. You're still young. You don't need to figure it all out..." then he said those words
My eyes stayed longer on him, amazed that he was capable of saying those words. Kung titingnan kasi talaga siya nang masinsinan, para siyang walang pakialam sa mundo. Tipong sarili niya lang ang iniisip niya. Iyon ang panlabas na impression ko sa kaniya, na ibang-iba pala.
It seemed as though he didn't regret delivering those words. He didn't find it cliché or cringey.
"Thank you..."
"For what?" He glanced at the door and I exited, he followed.
Hinintay ko siya para magkakatabi kami. "For those words. To be honest, I was nervous when you asked me about my dreams. Kasi ikaw... alam mo na ang gusto mo, may plans ka na, samantalang ako... wala pa." I smiled. "I was a little... ashamed."
I entered my pin quickly and spread my hands to welcome him for the second time.
"Pasok!" I said with enthusiasm. "Don't worry, malinis sa loob. Maaga akong nagising kanina, naglinis ako."
Hindi siya nagsalita. He placed my things on top of the counter. He sighed and looked at me.
"Am I intimidating you?" he asked with so much concern in his eyes. "Do I make you feel bad—"
