"Go, Tito Daniel!" Sigaw ni Maxine. Nagpalakpakan naman ang mga customer nang tumapak na sa platform si Daniel. What is he doing?
Tumikhim muna siya bago hinawakan ang mic. "Good evening everyone...I'll dedicate this song to my little girl...." Hinanap muna ako ng mga mata niya bago lumipat kay Maxine. He smiled sadly. "I want her to know that I love her so much...and that...daddy will always protect her from anything..."
Napalunok ako at nangingilid ang mga luhang nilingon si Maxine na walang kaalam-alam sa nangyayari. Sumisikip ang puso ko para sa kaniya. She deserve to know him but I'm scared.
Bumalik lang ang atensyon ko sa kaniya nang mag-simula na ang intro ng kanta.
Will you live like me, in a world run by desire?
Will you wake from worldly dream and not be tired?
Will you work like me to lift the conversation higher?
Will you be cool like water putting out the fire?
How can you be free from all this sorrow?
Will the ones you love today be gone tomorrow?
And if angels don't have answers to your prayers
Oh, I will be there
Oh I will be there
You will be there? No, Daniel. When I lost our Maximo...you weren't there. And it broke my heart.
And if who you love don't want your love, well then
Do you cut a deal with love and run again?
You see, love contains the meaning of despair
Will you think like me? Will you have your mother's fire?
Maybe the way we are will not be how you're wired
Will we do right by you? Will we you have what you require
To make your days on this Earth not so dire?
Can you choose to lead if no one follows?
And if we fell today, must you tomorrow?
Sanctify your answer not your prayer
Oh, I will be there
Yeah, I will be there
Yeah, I will be there
And even when it all becomes too much
When you're growing old and feeling out of touch
Ooh, listen to this song and just take care
And know that I will be there
Yeah, I will be there
No, I swear that I will
Yeah, I promise I will
Little girl, I'm cryin'
Suminghap ako pagkatapos ng kanta at pa-simpleng nagpunas ng luha kasabay ng palakpakan ng mga nakikinig.
"That was amazing! You guys like it?" 'Yong vocalist.
Naghiyawan naman ang mga tao at muling pumalakpak. They like it. Kahit si Maxine na walang kaalam alam ay natuwa rin sa kanta. Ang alam niya kasi ay may anak si Daniel sa malayong lugar, hindi niya alam na siya 'yon. Napalunok ako at lalong nakaramdam ng guilt. I'm so sorry, anak. My heart ache.
I sighed heavily.
Inabot ko nalang ang wine glass ko at inubos ang laman non. Okay, Daniel. Enough with the shows. Please?
"Momma, let's dance!" Tili ni Maxine 'tsaka bumaba ng upuan niya at pilit akong hinihila. Tumutugtog na ulit ang banda at may mga nagtatayuan na para sumayaw. May mga bata na rin akong nakikita sa harapan na nag-eenjoy. Pwede naman kasi sa kanila ang tugtog.
"Maxine, katatapos mo lang kumain." Ngumiti ako at inayos ang nagulo niyang bangs.
Ngumuso siya. "Please momma....sayaw tayo..." Ungot niya.
KABANATA 11
Start from the beginning
