Two Steps Behind

Las Vegas | Sinthesis | Flight

It has been three months right after maka-graduate kami ni Myrtle. I have been out on the road for the Sinthesis Tour. We are currently in Las Vegas playing a full packed show. Nag-eenjoy naman ako, but haven't been sleeping well. Hindi ako sanay na wala si Myrtle sa tabi ko. But I had to do this for the band and also to give Myrtle the space para sa paghahanda nito sa licensing exam niya. We would make time each night to talk to each other and have the phone call going until we both fell asleep.

In the morning, I never called her for I know that she needed to review for her licensing exam. I waited for her to call me, she would every morning to wish me luck on the shows and to take care of myself while I am out on the road. Ganito ang naging buhay namin sa loob ng tatlong buwan na magka-layo kami. I always had her in every prayer that I make, the band had been so understanding and supportive. Eto nga sila ngayon, trying to make me laugh a couple of hours before our last show in Las Vegas.

"Papi naman, hindi ka naman tumatawa eh." pagmamaktol ni Cara.

"Mami, wala nga ako sa mood diba?" sabi ko kay Cara.

"Oo nga naman, Sweetie. Let's leave Devin alone. Sige amigah, mag-emote ka muna dyan ha?" Charlie said sarcastically.

"Charlie, iniinis mo ba ako?" I asked her unamused.

"Depende yan amigah, naiinis ka ba?" tatawa-tawang sagot ni Charlie.

"Hindi, you can try harder." I smiled at her.

"Hoy, tigilan niyo na nga si Devin." Arden admonished them.

"Oo nga, alam niyo namang malungkot yan dahil wala si Myrtle sa tabi niya." Aria agreed with Arden.

"Ako din malungkot guys!" Sabat naman ni Drei.

"Hoy! Tigilan mo ako ah?! Naka-score ka na kay Rachel, malungkot pa din?!" sabi ni Arden sabay batok kay Drei.

"Aray naman Arden! Ganyan ka ba talaga mag-lambing brad? Para kang si Mr. Grey ah?!" tatawa-tawa namang sagot ni Drei.

Arden didn't speak, she just rolled her eyes at Drei and placed her arm around Aria.

"Sama ba kayo? Mag-snacks kami ni Aria." Arden said to us.

"Sige, tara na." I said to them.

We walked to a nearby store, we bought some snacks and drinks. I just bought a small packet of potato chips and water. We headed back to our dressing room, I ate my potato chips and drank water. I tried to call Myrtle, gawa nga ng namimiss ko na ito, last month nakapag-exam na siya for her licensing. Her phone was turned off, which I found odd because she never turns her phone off, pwera na lang kung nasa eroplano ito. Sa pagkakatanda ko, wala naman siyang namention na may pupuntahan siya.

"Mami, nag-message na ba sa'yo si Myrtle?" I asked Cara worriedly.

"Nope." Cara said as she was hugging Charlie in the couch habang nag-susubuan sila ng pagkain.

"Charlie?" I asked her

"No, Papi." She answered.

"Oh, bakit parang hindi ka makali?" Cara asked me.

"Kasi naka-off yung phone ni Myrtle." I said worriedly.

"Papi, focus on the show. Wag mong alalahanin si Myrtle, she's a strong woman, isa pa andun naman ang childhood friends mo sa New York 'di ba?" Cara said.

"Well, yeah." I answered them, I sighed and got her off my mind. Naisip kong baka tulog lang ito or perhaps nasa isang deadspot sa flat niya.

I prepared myself mentally for the upcoming show we had to put on. Nagready na kami, ito na ang final show namin, kaya may mga surpresa daw sa amin ang Daddy ni Cara. Ni hindi kami informed sa pagkakasunod-sunod ng mga kantang tutugtugin namin, basta malalaman na lang daw namin while on stage.