Reaching For Her Skye (Completed/Unedited Version/ Published)

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ALAYNA found herself flying back to Manila hours after she talked to Crissandra over the phone. Tunog-suicidal na kasi ang luka-luka niyang kaibigan at hindi niya kayang dalhin sa konsensya niya kung sakaling may gawin itong hindi maganda.

Her friend was kicked out of the house by her own father and now her handsome rockstar of a boyfriend broke up with her. Malamang nga na mapraning ito at hindi niya dapat hayaang mangyari iyon.

Dali-dali siyang nagpa-book ng flight pabalik ng Manila at hindi na nag-abala pang bitbitin ang mga gamit niya. Ang tanging dala lamang niya ay ang wallet niya at ang sarili niya.

Palabas pa lamang siya ng paliparan ay sinalubong na siya ng kaibigan na ikinagulat niya. She expects her to be on the condo, crying her heart out while rummaging a pint of ice cream. Looking at her right now, mukha naman itong nasa matinong estado pa ng pag-iisip. Geez, she was even wearing make-up.

"Hey! Hindi ka naman mukhang tatalon na sa pinakamalapit na bangin na madadaanan natin ah!" sita niya rito.

"Don't ask because we need to hurry!" hinawakan nito ang kamay niya at hinila siya nito pasakay sa isang taxi. "Manong sa Araneta tayo!"

Agad naman sumunod ang driver. Dalawang oras din mahigit silang nasa byahe bago huminto ang sasakyan sa tapat ng coliseum.

Iniabot ni Cris ang bayad sa driver bago siya hinila muli pababa at patungo sa Coliseum. Maingay sa loob niyon. She was almost sure a concert was being held inside.

"What are we doing here, Cris?" nagdududang tanong niya rito.

"I can't tell you, okay? Find that out yourself. Here." At isinuot nito sa kanya ang isang ID. Tinignan niya iyon. VIP PASS in bold letters was written on the tag. Nagsuot din ito ng isa para sa sarili saka siya hinila papasok.

Walang guard o ushers na humarang o nagtangkang pumigil sa kanila kahit na dire-diretso sila sa mismong harap ng stage. Maging ang boundary na naghihiwalay sa mga audience at sa mismong stage ay napasok nila. Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng kaba.

Tumingala siya. Tumambad sa kanya ang mukha ng mga performers na nasa stage. It was Rylen's band. And Rylen was looking at Cris. Cris made a thumbs up and smiled. Rylen smiled back.

Realization dawned on her. They did not broke up!

"Crissandra, what the hell is going on?" patili niyang sabi sa kaibigan upang marinig siya nito kahit pa pagkalakas-lakas ng musikang nililikha ng banda at ng naglalakihang speakers sa gilid nila.

Nilingon naman siya ng kaibigan.

"Look I'm sorry." Pasigaw ding sabi niya. "I really am sorry but you know I love you and I'm doing this for you, okay?" sabi nito.

Nothing makes sense to her. The lie about them breaking up, the concert and everything that she was saying to her. Nothing makes sense until the loud music stops. Rylen asked silence from the audience and everybody obliged.

"First of all, I wanted to thank everybody for coming to our concert. You guys rock!" nagkaingay muli ang crowd. Pagkatapos ay katahimikan muli. "At gusto rin naming pasalamatan ang mayaman at gwapong producer ng concert na ito. Kung hindi dahil sa impluwensiya niya at kayamanan, this concert which was planned for only a week wouldn't be possible, the best ka Mr. Producer!"

Everybody laughed except me. Okay, so this concert was planned for only a week which means minadali ito. Was it even possible? Well, maybe if the producer is that powerful and that rich. But what the hell am I doing here anyway?