Truth Doesn't Change The Way You Lie

Strings

"I think so," sabi ko sa kaniya at nilingon rin siya. I smiled. "Ikaw? Hindi ka kinakabahan?" tanong ko.

Tumawa ito. "I've been doing this for years, DJ. Bakit ngayon pa ako kakabahan?" 

"I mean, it's different now. Dati, you're just simply running for Grade 7 representative. And now, you're here. Running for Vice-president. That's a bigger responsibility. Bakit hindi ka tumakbo as president? Why me?" I ask her. Sometimes, I don't understand her. Winwin is unpredictable. She always telling me about her plans regarding student council election, but she ended up running for Vice-president.

She was about to respond, but the host called us. Pumunta na kami sa stage at umupo sa kabilang side. I saw how the crowd cheer us up nung binanggit ang party name namin. I look at my friends. Bryce is holding a banner with a short text on it that says "PLANADO ANG FUTURE NIYO, KAPAG BINOTO NIYO SI DJ KO!" That silly guy.  Mia is holding a banner for Winwin. The teachers are pleased with our stage prescence. This is the start.

Lumabas na rin ang isang party and the crowd starts to get wild. Nevi, the aspiring school council president of the other party waves her to the crowd. She's actually better than me though she's younger than me.

"I know you're comparing yourself again to other people," Winwin whispered in my ears. "Stop comparing yourself when it affects your self-worth. You'll never get good things from it."

After the inspirational message, the debate begins. I was trembling in the stage when I stood up in front facing Nevi. The cheer becomes louder. Natanaw ko kung gaano na nagwawala si Ralph at Sean sa upuan nila. I shake her hand and she smiled at me. 

"Good luck," I told her.

"Ikaw rin po kuya," She told me.

The topics and statements are pretty simple. They are about cyberbullying, homework banning, and even asking of how is our traits capable in leadership. I answered quite good as well as Winwin when it's her turn to answer. Kapag may impact ang sagot namin, nagwawala ang mga kaibigan kaya medyo naiingayan na ang mga teachers na nasa harapan dahil sa bunganga ni Bryce at Mia. 

"Bro! That's awesome! Halatang kabado si Nevi kapag sumasagot ka e," Ralph told me nung nasa backstage na kami. Nakabihis na kami for performance kaya pwede na silang pumasok sa loob.

"Sabihin mo na lang kasi ng diretso kay DJ na ilakad ka kay Nevi.  Bagal mo, bro." Umiling-iling pa si Sean habang sinabi niya 'yon kay Ralph.

"I sent your video to Roe. She said na super galing niyo daw! Poor girl. Nasa contest venue na daw siya nung napanood niya 'yong video." Jelena said habang pinapakita ang convo nila.

"Guys, let's eat after ng event." aya ni Bryce na naghahanap sa phone niya ng malapit na restaurant.

"Pass. Maghahabol akong lessons." I immediately told him. Bryce looks like a sad girl to my respond. He was about to ask Winwin but she shook her head as a sign that she's busy also. "Bwisit na acads! Sana masaya celebration niyo with that notebooks and highlighters."

"What about after election na lang?" Mia suggests but I immediately cross my arms in my chest and shake my head. "Edi wag! Kami na lang ang kakain para sa pagkapanalo niyo."

We end planning our celebration when our party is called to perform on stage. My friends gave me a hug and lots of "good luck" before they go back to their seats. 

Everything went smooth. We perform High School Musical and the audience are singing along with us. Hindi ako magaling kumanta pero hindi rin naman pangit ang boses ko. I gave my party members a high five after performing well on the stage. I also scheduled our celebration after this. Paniguradong nagtatampo na ang mga kaibigan ko kasi mas nauna pang magkaroon ng schedule ang mga party members ko kaysa sa kanila.

 The other group performed well. I give them a nod and clap as a sign that I appreciate their efforts. Naranasan kong hindi palakpakan sa mga bagay na ginagawa ko and I don't want them to experience that way. After all, everybody deserves an around of applause no matter how much effort they insert in a specific things. Everybody deserves to be appreciated. 

"Before the program ends, let's hear the performance from our new school band. Hiraya! Please give them around of applause."

Lumabas ako ng backstage para makapanood ng band namin. And it's the new one in our batch. I've already watched a lot of bands before and this is not new to me. Nasa gilid ako ng auditorium para matanaw ko ang bagong band ng school namin. They're already setting up their intstruments while the curtains are still closed.

"Hey, Kate. Test your microphone. Baka mamaya magkaroon ng technical problems," Madalim sa lugar namin kaya hindi ko masyadong makita ang tao sa stage. But I'm certain that the guy wearing said to the girl who's fixing her boots. Halos kasing edad ko lang silang lahat. I heard people from my back talking about the new band. So they're from the other section, huh?

The lights turn on and everything...slows down.

She's wearing a simple gray checkered cargo pants, black boots,  black short sleeves cardigan top while holding her guitar. Her eyes sparkled as her lips met the mic. I don't why I'm focusing on her black wavy hair, her almond eyes, her small heart-shaped lips and her very angelic and small face.

Bawat hangin na tinatanggap
Bawat buga....
At habang ika'y yinayakap nang maigi
Binubulong ang dalangin 'wag sana maglaho sa hangin

Ang bawat piyesa na bumubuo sa'yo
Bawat piyesang nawa'y mapasaakin
Habang-buhay...

Dito ka na lang habambuhay...

And when she starts to strum the strings of her guitar, I feel something foreign in my chest. A feeling that I never felt before.

To be continued...