The Top Teen Models

35: VACATION

"Damoves mo, Mics." Sabi ni Aeril at tinapunan siya ng face towel. Tumawa lang si Mico sa pang-aasar nila at kinuha ang towel mula sa ulo.

"So guys, why don't you give her a round of applause." He said emcee-like. Tinabi niya muna ang kanyang microphone at bumulong sa akin. "Anong kakantahin mo?"

Umiling ako at medyo lumayo. Nararamdaman ko yung mainit niyang hininga sa tainga ko. "Hindi ko alam. I didn't prepare anything."

His brows rose surprised. Nag-isip muna siya sandali bago lumapit ulit sa tainga ko. "How about the song you sang last year?"

I frowned. "You mean yung—"

"Nung narinig kita sa field."

Oh right. He heard me sing before. "Alam mo ba ang chords?"

Tumango siya sa akin at lumayo para ilagay ang microphone niya sa mic stand at kunin ang acoustic guitar na nakahilata sa tabi ng drums ni Ryce. "I learned it after hearing your voice."

Naramdaman ko ulit na uminit ang pisngi ko kaya tinalikuran ko siya. Bakit madalas na akong namumula? Ngayon ko lang nalaman na mestiza pala ako.

He wore the strap of the guitar and tested it. Satisfied with the tone, he nods at me.

Then he started strumming the acoustic instrument. I cleared my throat and gulped. This is it. Sana hindi ako mapahiya ngayon.

"Lyin' here with you so close to me.
It's hard to fight these feelings when it feels so hard to breathe."

I heard them cheer for me, although I'm not sure if they're amazed or dumbfounded. Hind ako sigurado kung tumatawa ba sila o ano but I kept my head held high. Ginusto nilang kumanta ako kaya tiisin nila ang boses ko.

"Caught up in this moment.
Caught up in your smile."

Kakantahin ko sana ang second part since I have no one to sing with when Mico suddenly butt in.

"I've never opened up to anyone.
So hard to hold back when I'm holding you in my arms."

Dumbfounded, I turned to my side. He is still playing the acoustic guitar, but his eyes are close as he sang to the microphone. Naghihiyawan ulit sa kilig ang mga nakikinig kaya binuksan niya ang mga mata. Nang makita akong nakatingin sa kanya ay ngumiti lang siya at tumango kaya humarap ulit ako sa mga tao sa baba.

"We don't need to rush this."

We sang together.

"Let's just take it slow."

"Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight.
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright.
No I don't want to mess this thing up.
I don't want to push too far."

I can't believe I am actually having a duet with someone, and with him at top of that. This is the first ever moment that many people have heard me singing. I also have insecurities, and I don't want others to use it against me. Kaya ayaw kong kumanta sa harap ng maraming tao dahil alam kong marami akong kapintasan pagdating sa pagkanta.

I'm usually confident, but when people know my flaws and all, I get weak. Not because they can insult me, but because I can't get rid of it. I can't get rid of my faults.

But when I saw him smiling at me, all my blemishes seems to fade away.

I shook my head mentally.