Passionate Serenade

Chapter 19

Delavina Elleanor Salvedo

We literally became beggars for tonight with 2 high stools for us to sit, his acoustic guitar on his lap, a mic stand-with microphone, of course-in front of him, and a black huge sized box in front of us where people could put some money.

"I didn't expected this," Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko habang inaayos niya ang mini-speaker para sakaniyang gitara, "Ngayon ka lang ba rito o ginagawa mo na 'to noon pa?"

"I've already done this before with the guys, pero hindi na kami umulit dahil nakipag-laro lang ang iba sa mga bata" Bahagya siyang tumawa, saktong natapos na siya sa ginagawa niya kaya naman umupo na rin siya sa high stool na nasa tabi ko.

Ibinigay ko sakaniya ang gitara niya na pinahawak na muna niya sakin, kinuha niya 'yon at ipinatong sa isang binti.

"Hindi ba tayo huhulihin ng mga guards?"

He chuckled, "No, gusto mo ba?"

I glared at him, "Nagtatanong lang naman ako"

Lumakas ang tawa niya, "P'wede naman kung gusto mo"

"Bahala ka, isasama kita" Sabi ko at ngumisi sakaniya.

Chuckling, he shook his head, "No need to worry about, the owner of this plaza knows me-Papa's friend"

"Ikaw 'yon, Phoenix. How about me?"

"You? Papa's daughter-in-law"

Malakas na hinampas ko siya sa kaniyang braso dahilan upang malakas siyang tumawa. 'Yan nanaman siya sa pang-aasar niya at pagbibiro niya, palibhasa wala siyang alam kung ano ang epekto no'n sa buong sistema ko.

"Tigilan mo ako, Phoenix Astrophel" Pabiro akong umirap.

"Okay, boss" Natatawang saad niya.

Napailing nalang ako sa kalokohan niya.

"Sound check... 1... 2..." He mic tested first before adjusting it's volume in the speaker.

Damn, he was just checking the sound quality of the microphone but people already went near us to watch. Well, sino ba naman kasi ang hindi mapapalapit, Phoenix' voice was so husky, he sounds so hot by just checking the mic.

Phoenix looked at me, I smiled at him, "We can do this"

He smiled, nodded, and looked at the audience in front of us.

He cleared his throat, "Hello, everyone. It's Phoenix here, I'm with my wife," He looked at me, "Elleanor," I blushed, my heart pounded so fast, I wanted to glare at him for joking and making up a story that I am his wife.

Despite of my fast heartbeat, I smiled at the audience, some are watching us with a big smile, mukhang kinikilig sila.

"We are going to perform and sing a song for all of you to earn money, the money we'll be earning tonight will be donated to an orphanage I was helping, there are a lot of lost kids there. Your kindness and love to those childrens are wholeheartedly appreciated. Thank you" He said, smiling, then he started to strum his guitar.

We are doing this for a charity, for those childrens who have no family. He's surprising me with his soft side, it made my heart feel so warm upon thinking that Phoenix is helping childrens on an orphanage who are in need of home and love.

"Nobody knows, just why we're here
Could it be fate or random circumstance
At the right place, at the right time
Two roads intertwine"

Ah! I know this song. You'll Be Safe Here by Rico Blanco. The people around us are watching us and taking a video of us. Wala pa si Phoenix sa chorus ay marami na ang naglalagay ng kani-kanilang pera sa box na nakalapag sa simento-sa harap namin, at dahil hindi ko naman matulungan si Phoenix sa pagtugtog ng gitara at pagkanta ay ako ang nagpa-pasalamat.