Happy 70th chapter!
Wooo!! 5 chapters to go at magtatapos na ang story nina August at Brynn! Excited na ba kayo? Hihihhi
Happy reading!😁
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THIRD PERSON'S POV
Nilagay ng lalaki ang upos nang sigarilyo sa ashtray. Gamit naman ang kaliwang kamay ay kinuha nya ang baso na may lamang rum. Tinungga nya ito ng diretso.
Tinukod nya ang mga siko sa tuhod nya tsaka kinuha ang tablet sa coffee table at pinindot ang video na naka-pause.
Pagkatapos mapanood ang video ay binalik nyang ito ulit sa lamesa at sumandal sa sofa na may seryosong mukha.
Sakto namang bumukas ang pintuan ng pagkalakas-lakas at pumasok mula dun ang babaeng may kulay kapeng buhok na hanggang bewang ang haba. May prominenteng ilong, pantay na kilay, itim na mga mata at pula pero maninipis na labi. Halatang galing sa magandang angkan.
"Dad! What are we going to do!? You said you'll going to make August mine! Why is it still not happening until now!?" sigaw nya. Siphayo ang halata sa boses.
Nakasunod naman sa likod nya ang apat na lalaking malalaki ang katawan. Bukod dun ay meron pang isang babaeng nakasunod sa kanya.
"Heartley, my dear, umupo ka muna at pag-uusapan na 'tin 'to ng maayos." kalmadong saad ng lalaki.
Yamot namang umupo si Heartley sa tabi nito.
Tumingin ang lalaki sa isa pang babae sa kwarto. "Hyacinth, you sit too."
Tumango si Hyacinth at umupo sa tabi ni Heartley. Umusog naman si Heartley palapit sa tatay nya ng hindi tintatapunan ng tingin ang isang katabi.
'Tsk! Heartley. . .!'
Nag-ikot lang ng mata si Heartley ng mapansin nya ang galit sa mukha ni Hyacinth.
Umiling ang tatay nya. Ang dalawa naman sa apat na lalaki ay pumwesto sa gilid ng pintuan at ang dalawa ay nasa sing-kabila ng sofa'ng inuupuan ng tatlo.
"Dad, tell me. I miss August. I miss her so much. You don't know how much I want to snatch her from Brynn everytime I see her clinging on my August. I don't know much I can suppress this feeling of mine anymore. It's making me insane! Dad, please. . ."
"Heartley, rest assured. I'm your dad, I'm not going to turn back from my word. Kahit hindi ko alam kung anong nagustuhan mo sa batang 'yun, ibibigay ko ang gusto mo. Mapapa-sayo sya, malapit na." Ngumiti ang lalaki. Pinapakita na ayos lang ang lahat.
"Really??" Lumaki ang ngiti ni Heartley. "Then, can I help you with anything??"
"Mmm, no. It's too dangerous." tanggi ng tatay nya. "Mas mabuti kung itutuon mo muna ang atensyon mo sa pag-aaral. And you know, the AMA is coming right?"
Dahil tatay at anak ang nag-uusap, natural lang na makuha agad ni Heartley ang nais iparating ng tatay nya. Base narin sa tono ng boses nito na kakaiba.
"Are you planning to. . . execute your plan at the day of AMA?"
Ngumiti ang tatay nya ng makabuluhan pagkatapos ay uminom ng alak.
"But, how are you going to do that, dad? And, how can you be so sure that August will be there too? She's not our student anymore, remember? Besides, there'll be many people at the AMA, you can't just simply cause a commotion at that day, would you?" nag-aalala nyang tanong.
Seryosong tumingin sa kanya ang tatay nya. "Heartley, si Britanny ang pinag-uusapan na 'tin. Importante para sa kanya ang pagkanta, at, sigurado akong hindi nya palalagpasin ang araw na 'yun para ipakita kay August ang isa sa mga bagay na importante sa kanya." sabi nya. "And AMA is open for public so there'll be no problem with that."
Napahinga naman ng maluwag si Heartley. "Thank you so much dad! I believe in you! And I love you!"
Niyakap ni Heartley ang tatay nya na tinawanan lang ng isa habang tinapik-tapik ang braso nito.
Habang masayang nag-uusap ang mag-ama, may isa namang lukot ang mukha ang nakatitig sa interaksyon nila.
Napapitik sya ng labi dahil sa inis.
'Tsk! So ano lang pala ako dito? Diba sabi nya sa 'kin nya ipapaubaya si Heartley kapag tinulungan ko sya? Then what the fuck is he doing now!? Am I tricked!? Fuck this old man.'
Pagkatapos makalabas ni Heartley at dalawa sa mga lalaking naka-itim ay agad na umupo si Hyacinth sa tabi ng lalaki. Galit syang nagsalita dito.
"What was that uncle Ledger!? Diba sabi mo mapapasakin si Heartley kapag tinulungan kita? What was all of that sweet and reassuring words just now!?"
Malamig na tumingin sa kanya ang lalaki na nagpakaba kay Hyacinth. Agad naman syang umupo ng maayos habang pinipigilan ang sariling sumabog sa galit.
"Don't shout at me. Remember where you are and who are you talking to, Harisson." anito. Nagbuntong-hininga naman sya. "As for your concern, we'll see about that."
"What!?" Agad na napasigaw si Hyacinth. "Sinasabi mo bang hindi sigurado kung matutuloy ang pinag-usapan natin? No. Uncle Ledger, you promised it to me! You promised that I'll be with Hyacinth once I follow everything you say! What's happening now?!"
Tumingin sa kanya ang lalaki. "Nasa anak ko ang desisyon sa kung sino ang gusto nyang maging kasintahan, Hyacinth. Pinangako ko lang ay ipapalapit kita sa anak ko pero 'di ko kailanman sinabi na magiging kayo sa huli. Don't twist my words Harisson, it's just making you look like a fool."
"Fuck!"
"Did you just cussed me?" malamig na tanong ni Ledger.
"No. . . I'm sorry. I'm. . . I'm gonna head out first."
Tumango si Hyacinth dito at naglakad papuntang pintuan na nanginginig ang tuhod. Nang makalabas sya ng tuluyan sa kwarto ay agad nyang sinuntok ang pader sa gilid nang hindi nagbibigay ng pake kung masasaktan ba ang mga kamay nya.
'Fuck you so much Ledger!'
'Well, kung ganito lang din naman pala aabot ang lahat. Kung hanggang dito lang naman pala ang kaya mong ibigay, might as well just do my thing from now on. Tsk.'
Then she left.
* * *
BRITANNY BLAIRE
Shopping. It's the best thing every woman like me could agree.
'Specially when there are new release from your favorite brands. It's heaven.
But it would be more enjoyable if you're with someone. Someone you liked the most to shop for new dresses, accessories and heels.
"Hindi pa ba sapat ang mga 'to para sa 'yo?"
Tumingin ako kay August at ngumiti. "It's enough already, actually."
"Kung ganun, bakit hindi pa tayo umuuwi?" she asked while frowning.
I giggled and pinched the tip of her nose. "Because I haven't bought for you yet."
Pagkasabi ko nun, bigla namang sumeryoso ang mukha ni August. Ugh, here we go again.
"Britanny, alam mo kung anong masasabi ko sa mga ginagawa mong 'to. Ayokong gumastos ka para sa 'kin—"
"I know! I know, baby. But just accept this as my gift for you, okay? And, sa 'kin ka lang dapat tumatanggap ng mga regalo, hindi kung kani-kanino." I interrupt.
She released a sigh. "Ganun parin 'yun."
"No. It's my gift. So naturally, it's my money that I'm going to spend, hm?" I said sweetly.
"Pera 'yan ng mga magulang mo." she said frowning. I chuckled.
"Let's just go, baby. . ." I cling onto her arm and dragged her to a men's boutique.
Ilang minuto lang ang tinagal namin sa tindahan dahil halos lahat ng mga damit na binibigay ko sa kanya ay sinasang-ayunan nya. Hindi man lang nagrereklamo o nagsasabing ayaw nya ang design. Tango lang ng tango everytime na may nakukuha akong damit. So that's what brought us here in a Chinese restaurant. Napa-aga nga lang kumpara sa oras na tinantya ko.
"Let's call a waiter," sabi ko.
Pero bago pa man ako maka-taas ng kamay ay inunahan na nya ako. Agad naman lumapit ang medyo batang waitress samin.
"Anong gusto mo?" she asked.
"Hmm. . ."
I scan the menu that the waiter gave us. Medyo hindi ko rin naintindihan dahil sa mga komplikadong pangalan pero dahil may kasamang picture ay 'yun nalang ang pinili ko.
"How about you?" I asked excitedly.
Tumingin sya sa 'kin na medyo kunot ang noo. "'Di ko alam ang mga pagkaing 'to. Kung anong sa 'yo, 'yun nalang din ang sa 'kin."
I giggled and told the waitress to get the same dish for the both of us. Inikutan ko pa ng mata at hinawakan ang braso ni August dahil kita kong sulyap sya ng sulyap sa kanya. Like duh! Hindi ba halatang kasama nya ako na girlfriend nya?
"Baby, AMA is the day after tomorrow, pumunta ka, okay? It's open for the public naman." I said happily.
She looked at me lazily. "Napag-usapan na natin 'to diba? Gusto mo bang hindi ako pumunta."
"No, of course not. Naninigurado lang." I giggled. "But hey, last night, did you went to tita Isabel's house like you said? Is there any problem?"
She looked at me and sighed. "May tumawag kay tiyo. Si Vincent."
"What?? That person who ambushed you before?" gulat kong tanong.
"Hm."
"T-Then, what did he said? Did he threaten them or warn?"
"Parang ganun narin." she sighed then looked at me. "Pero 'wag kang mag-alala, malapit nang matapos ang lahat ng 'to."
"What do you mean?" My brows furrowed.
"Si Vincent, minsan na syang pumunta sa eskwelahan nyo noon."
I'm even more shocked by what she said so I immediately asked her. "What? When? How??"
"Nung araw na napagpasyahan kong 'wag nang ipagpatuloy ang pag-aaral sa inyo. 'Dun ko sya nakita, kasama si Hyacinth."
"Even Hyacinth was involved?!" I was totally flabbergasted. Sinabihan nya naman akong hinaan ang boses na syang ginawa ko.
"Totoo 'yun." she said solemnly.
"I believe you, but, how? Pa 'no sila nakapasok sa school when they're harmful? God knows what would've they done to the other students back then. Mabuti nalang at wala." I sighed exasperatedly.
"Natural lang na wala silang gawin, kapag nangyari 'yun, masisira ang plano nila." sabi nya. "Para sa tanong mo kung pa 'no sila nakapasok, madali lang, sino ba ang namamahala ng eskwelahan n'yo?"
"Wha— What? Who? It's. . . It's uncle Ledger. Sino pa ba—"
I stopped on my track when something flashed in my mind.
'Heh, wait, goddamnit wait. What's the meaning of all of this??'
"Brynn? August?"
Napa-angat ang tingin namin ni August dahil sa biglang pagtawag samin ng pamilyar na boses. Kahit na nasa kanila ang tingin ko, nasa ibang bagay naman ang isip ko. I still can't comprehend what August said just now, let alone understand all of it at once.
"Hey August! Long time no see!"
"Hm." August just nod.
"Hi August!" said the other girl.
"Marie. . ."
The two greeted me also that I replied only with a simple hello.
"Hey Brynn, you okay?"
I smiled at Devy. "Of course, why wouldn't I be? We're having a date, see?"
Nag-usap pa kami ng ilang sandali bago sila umalis dahil nagde-date din daw sila ni Marie. I didn't know na sila na pala, hindi naman sya nagsasabi. Well, ayaw daw nilang makipag-double date sa 'min kaya tumuloy sila sa pagkain nila. Dito din nila natipuhang mag-lunch and they happened to saw us here so they decided to say hi. After that, lumakad narin kami pagkatapos kumain at makapag-paalam sa kanila.
"May gusto ka pa bang puntahan?" she suddenly ask when we're walking down the aisle.
"I— This is okay. Let's just go home." I said smiling forcefully.
She looked at me for a minute until I chuckled and tiptoed to peck her lips.
"What are you thinking?" I asked, holding her hand and arm.
"Sa 'yo ko 'yan dapat tinatanong. Anong iniisip mo?"
"Hmm. . ." I shrugged. "The upcoming AMA."
"'Wag mo nang isipin ang sinabi ko sa 'yo kanina. Kami nang bahala ni tiyo dun."
"What? How did you know that that what was I thinking?"
Tumingin sya sa 'kin at dun ko lang na-realize ang sinabi ko. Nag-iwas agad ako ng tingin at hindi na nagsalita pa.
——
Finally, after one day and two nights, the Annual Music Appreciation arrived.
The event will be held at the L-CSU's function hall where most of the school's celebrated events held.
Annual Music Appreciation is held once every year just like the word 'annual' itself.
And, this is also not a competition. This is an event which celebrates, honours and appreciates the music talents and passions of every students, instructors as well as the public guests and the school's founders and shareholders.
Ito ang event na pinaka-paborito ko at pinaka-hinihintay. Not just me, but other students who loves music too. People who shares the same music passion as me.
Ito lang din yata ang araw kung saan mabait ako sa ibang students. Can't help it. Music is my life. But of course, family and August is lifer.
Naranasan ko na ang dumalo ng AMA noon nung senior high ako. I participated that time. College department and high school department are allowed to enter the function hall. But the elementary department cannot. They are too young. But the dean 'specially arrange their own Music Appreciation so no one's complaining.
Masaya akong umupo sa dressing table ko at pinasadahan ng tingin ang mga make-up na nakapatong sa table.
There was a knock on the door but I didn't mind asking who was it because I know it was mom. She wants to help me dress for the event.
"Give me the brush, honey."
I gave hair my hair brush.
Tiningnan ko kung pa'nong maingat nyang sinuklay ang buhok ko. I smiled by her tenderness. Truly a mother's care is wonderful.
"What are you feeling now, honey?"
Tiningnan ko sya sa repleksyon ng sarili nya sa salamin. "Great mom, super great. I can't wait to attend the AMA."
She smiled lovingly. "Halata nga. But wait 'till your beloved August arrived, hm? She'll take care of you for me and your dad can't attend this one of the most important event for you." she sighed. "The company needs us for some important matter."
Ngumiti lang ako nang bahagya sa kanya. "It's fine mom. Nandun naman sina Dazz para mag-video. Sigurado akong hindi nun palalagpasin ang araw na 'to."
"I see. . . That's great!"
Pagkatapos nyang masuklayan ang buhok ko ay sinunod naman nya ang make-up ko. She did it lightly. Ayaw nya daw kasing matabunan ng mga cosmetic products ang natural na kagandahan ko. And I agreed. Duh, mothers knows best.
After the make-up, my phone suddenly buzzed. I though it was August saying that she's on her way to accompany me to school.
But I was mistaken.
It was an unknown number.
'Unknown number? Who was this?'
Baka secret admirer na naman? Not impossible. Kahit kasi alam na ng halos lahat ng estudyante ng L-CSU na kami na ni August salamat sa mga maiingay na sina Dazz at Pat ay may nagte-text parin sa 'king mga unknown numbers. Most of them were my secret admirers.
'Should I change number now?'
Yes. I should.
Pumunta ako sa message board ko para planuhin sanang i-delete ang number pero nakuha ng tingin ko ang message nya.
My brows furrowed but the sudden nervousness flowed down my spine.
"Honey, let's change to your dress na." mom said happily. "I really liked the design of the dress you bought. Come on! I'm sure this'll suit you."
Napalunok ako. Huminga ako ng malalim at bi-nlock ang numero nya.
I turned towards my mom and smiled like nothing happened. "Sure!"