Damsel in Disguise

~~~ Chapter 31 ~~~

The voice changed and sang the next line,

"All the times I have sat and stared and stared
As she thoughtfully thumbs through her hair
And purses her lips,
Bats her eyes as she plays,
With me sitting there slack-jawed
And nothing to say,"

This is so weird. I don't know how we'll end up but curse me because I'm admitting that their voice are so good! And the pianist is also damn good.

"Cause I love her
with all that I am
And my voice shakes
Along with my hands
Cause she's all that I see
And she's all that I need
And I'm out of my league once again,"

Goodness, his voice. Bumibilis ang tibok ng puso ko lalo na't tanaw na na'min ang hangganan ng mga rosas na nakakalat.

"It's a masterful melody
When she calls out my name to me
As the world spins around her
She laughs,
Rolls her eyes
And I feel like I'm falling
But it's no surprise,"

There we reached the end and finally saw it! Agad na bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Inside the gazebo, may tatlong lalaking nakatayo, ang isa ay nasa keyboard. I already have a hint on what's going on here pero ayokong paunlakan 'yon.

"Cause I love her
With all that I am
And my voice shakes
along with my hands
Cause it's frightening
To be swimming in this strange sea
But I'd rather be here
than on land
Yeah, she's all that I see
And she's all that I need
And I'm out of my league
Once again,"

Alex was the last one to sing those, nang namataan kami ay tumigil sila aa pagkanta at pinalitan ito ng recorded para magpatuloy ang tugtog. I was about to step back ngunit ang isang braso ay agad na hinapit ang bewang ko.

"You can't escape me," Bulong nito sa'kin at nilagay ang mga kamay ko sa kanyang balikat. Napaiwas ako ng tingin at sinubukang ilipat ang topic.

"You have a nice voice," Komento ko.

"All for you," Aniya. Nakaramdam ako ng init. Hindi ko alam kung para saan. Dahil ba sa sobrang bigat ng nararamdaman ko? Naiiyak ako. Oo, kasi parang ang tagal na na'ming hindi nakakapag-usap. Parang ang tagal na na'ming hindi nagsama. I missed him.

Sinabayan niya ang huling lyrics ng kanta. Hindi niya ito kinanta, binulong niya ito sa akin habang diretso ang tingin sa mga mata ko. And for once, pakiramdam ko huminto ang lahat, pakiramdam ko walang iba kundi kami at ako na nakatitig sa mga mata niya.

For once, pakiramdam ko nasa ibang mundo ako sa pamamagitan ng paninitig sa kanyang mga mata.

For once, hindi ako nagduda kung sino ako. 

"I like you," Natigilan ako sa narinig. Ngunit napangiti ako. Of course, we'ce been friends. Ngunit ang dinugtong niya ay pumawi sa aking mga ngiti, "And I love you."  Hindi ko alam kung anong tamang mga sakita ang pagpapaliwanag sa nararamdaman ko. Kung ito ba ay gumuho ang buong mundo pero dahil magkahawak kami at magkatitig sa mga mata ay pakiramdam ko wala itong epekto sa akin. O nabuo ang mundo kong puno ng kulang na puzzle. Kung bumalik ito sa lahat at iba-iba ang dulot na pakiramdam ngunit isa ang sigurado, saya.

"Nice song," Tanging komento ko. He chuckled.

"All for you," Sagot niyang muli. "Naiintindihan ko kung wala ka pang maisagot ngayon. Kahit na gusto kong malaman ang nasa isip mo ngayon. But I want you to know that whatever your answer is, I'm going to court you." Sambit niya. Panandalian lang ang ligaya. Dahil ang nasa isip ko talaga ay ang anyo ko ngayon. Imposibleng magustuhan niya ako. Kung totoo man, handa ba siya? Handa ba siyang ipahiya ang sarili sa buong mundo kahit na itong buong eskwela'y ngayon pa lamang ay puno na ng bulungan.

Handa ba siya? Kahit na ang 'minahal' niyang tao ay nagpanggap at nagsinungaling sa kanya?

"This is not right," Utas ko at tila bigla siyang natauhan at napalitan ng kung anu-ano ang kanyang emosyon. Takot, pag-aalala at sakit. Agad siyang lumapit muli sa akin at hinawakan ang siko ko.

"Everything's right, Patricia. I was scared enough noong sobrang busy niyo para pansinin kami. Is it true? Iniiwasan niyo kami? I'm so afraid that time. I can't lose you, not now, never! Lagi kayong nawawala, isang linggo or maybe longer than that! And I'm always afraid, na baka hindi na kayo bumalik! And it nearly killed me to ignore you for this surprise' sake! Then, you're going to tell me that?" Nagulat ako sa pinakita niya. He was never like that before. He never showed this side before but now, he looks so vulnerable.

"You didn't know everything!" Singhal ko sa kanya. Tinignan niya ako na para bang nagsusumamo.

"Then tell me, please tell me." He said in a very soft voice. He said that as if I were a glass, that once he raise his voice I would already get shuttered. Dahan-dahan itong lumapit sa akin at niyakap ako. His touch were so careful.

"You like me even with this face?" I said, mocking him.

"I don't care how do you look," Bulong niya.

"You don't understand," Utas ko kahit na alam kong ako ang mali dahil hindi ko naman pinaintindi. But I would never be submissive this time. I would never let my emotions conquer me.

"I do," Bulong niya sa tenga ko.

But his voice is so pleasing. I don't certainly know what I'm feeling for him but I don't want to lose a friend. And I'm scared to admit that I am so eager to leave them because I felt paranoid of losing a friend. So, it would be a better solution to prevent everything before it settles. But their grips were tight.

A flash stopped my hurdled thoughts. Bumitaw rin ako sa yakap kay Andrew.

"Wow, this would be a great remembrance." Komento ni Phoebe sa litrato at humagikhik. I don't like what ever's going to be the consequence of this. But I do like this. Because being with them makes me feel  normal. Like I could be comfortable with them and not be vigilant with my moves. However this thing got us caught up.

"I'm feeling hungry," Utas ni Harley nang maging siya ay hindi nagugustuhan ang nangyayari sa paligid.