WHEN FOREVER MEANT UNTIL (WHEN SERIES #1)

Chapter 11: You'll Be Safe Here

Shayla's POV

University Days. The campus was buzzing—students scattered all over the quadrangle, booths left and right, people laughing, cheering, taking photos. Ang saya ng atmosphere. Ang daming kulay. Ang daming free food. Pero somehow, despite the excitement, parang hindi ko maalis ang pakiramdam na may kulang.

Or maybe, may someone.

"Uy, Shayla, dun tayo sa harap!" si Trina, hawak ang fries at milk tea namin. "Mamaya na 'yung booth niyo, 'di ba? Pahinga muna tayo."

I nodded. "Sige, saglit lang naman."

Naglakad kami papunta sa mini-stage na set up para sa student performances. Ang dami nang tao. Ang dami ring sumisigaw. Apparently, may mga pa-talent show na. Dancers, band, soloists, open mic—lahat pwedeng mag-perform basta student.

Then the emcee announced, "Next, we have a surprise performance from a student under the Psychology department. Please welcome... Skyler."

Skyler?

I froze. Literal. As in parang may tumigil sa mundo ko ng dalawang segundo.

"Uy," Trina elbowed me. "Crush mo 'yun 'di ba?" sabay tawa.

"Trins..." I warned.

She winked. "Huwag kang deny nang deny. Ayan na siya, oh."

Umakyat si Skyler sa stage. Simple lang suot niya, plain black hoodie, jeans, and white sneakers. Pero grabe... bakit parang biglang tumahimik ang paligid?

He took the mic. "Uh, hey. Good evening."
Tahimik ang crowd, listening.
"This song is kind of old, but it means something... to me." Then he looked down, inhaled deeply.

The music started.

"Nobody knows... just why we're here."

Wait.

My chest tightened. The intro. The melody. The lyrics.

"Could it be fate... or random circumstance..."

No way.

I blinked twice, my heart starting to race.

It was our song. Ang Huling El Bimbo was one thing. But this? This was different.

"At the right place... at the right time..."

I dared to look at him. Just to check.

And there he was.

Eyes straight. Locked in my direction.

Directly. At. Me.

My breath hitched. Napayuko ako agad. No. Don't assume. Huwag kang assuming, Shayla. Baka coincidence lang. Maybe he's just looking at the crowd. Maybe—

"You'll be safe here..."

Boom.

My stomach twisted.

I swallowed hard. Why this song? Bakit ito pa? Ito 'yung kanta namin ni Den-Den noon. Lagi naming kinakanta kapag takot kami sa thunderstorm. Lagi naming sinasayaw tuwing uulan. Lagi niyang sinasabi sakin, "Lala, you'll be safe here."

A name no one else calls me anymore.

But this time, it was Skyler.

Hindi si Den-Den.

Right?

I glanced at him again. He was still singing. Still looking at me. Eyes soft. Parang may sinasabi... pero hindi niya mabigkas.