"When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love
When the evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one there to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love
I know you haven't made your mind up yet
But I will never do you wrong
I've known it from the moment that we met
No doubt in my mind where you belong
I'd go hungry, I'd go black and blue
I'd go crawling down the avenue
No, there's nothing that I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love..."
She sang her heart out. Remembering the time when Narda and her jamming and just being themselves that night. It has been years since she's been here at the underground music bar.
"The storms are raging on the rolling sea
And on the highway of regret
The winds of change are blowing wild and free
You ain't seen nothing like me yet
I could make you happy, make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the Earth for you
To make you feel my love
To make you feel my love..."
"Wala ka pa ring kupas, Regina. Ang galing mo pa din kumanta. Sobra." Nakangiting salubong ni Xandra ng bumaba s'ya ng stage para magbreak.
"Sus! Nambola pa. I'm just doing my job. It's just the right thing to do since you give me some gigs. Thank you, Xands."
"Bakit ko naman tatanggihan 'yong nagpadami lalo ng costumers ko dito sa bar? Ilang months din akong kinulit ng mga parokyano ko kung kailan kayo babalik ulit ni Narda dito noon. Abang sila ng abang. And some of them are still here. Masaya na nakabalik ka na finally."
"Wala pa akong 6 months na nakabalik sa Pinas. Thus, i'm thinking about returning to Vietnam na kasi mukhang wala dito ang swerte ko ngayon."
Tinapik nito ang balikat n'ya. "It's your call. For the meantime dito ka muna sa 'kin, pagkakakitaan muna kita." Tumawa ito. "Oh! Feel free to order anything. It's on me."
"Thanks, Xands."
Tumango naman ito at iniwan na s'ya.
She ordered herself a glass of bloody mary and relaxed on her chair.
"Regina."
"Ali? How did you know i'm here?"
"You weren't answering my calls so nagpunta ako sa apartment n'yo. Sabi ni Aling Tess dito daw ang gig mo tonight."
Napatango-tango naman s'ya sa paliwanag nito.
"Thank you for finding me that nice apartment nga pala, Ali. Hindi na ako nakapagpasalamat sa'yo."
"It's nothing. Ayaw mo naman kasing tanggapin ang offer ko na sa condo ko nalang kayo magstay. It's much safer and cleaner there. Lalo na sa lagay ng health ni Dare ngayon."
"I told you, sanay na kami sa simpleng pamumuhay lang, Ali. Hindi mo kami dapat alalahanin. We're fine. And besides, i'm planning to go back to Vietnam na din naman."
Tumango lang ito at para bang hindi mapakali na napansin naman n'ya.
"Oh? Bakit hindi maipinta 'yang mukha mo? May problema ba?"
"Si Noah, Regi."
Nanlaki ang mga mata n'ya pagkarinig palang ng pangalan nito. Saka n'ya naikuyom ang kamao.
"Perfect! Perfect timing as always si Noah. The more reason I should leave."
_______________
Flashback
"Narda has to know. She needs to know the truth about Noah's proposal sa charity ball and how he is blackmailing me."
She decided to go to Narda's condo para makapag-explain at ng magkaayos sila. Hindi n'ya maaatim na makitang nasasaktan ito at nagagalit sa kanya ng hindi manlang s'ya nakakapagpaliwanag.
"Saan ka pupunta, Regina?" Nagulat s'ya ng paglabas n'ya ng unit n'ya, nakaabang na naman si Noah. Ni hindi yata ito umuwi dahil nakasuit pa din ito na s'ya rin nitong suot sa charity ball.
Umatras s'ya at patakbong bumalik sa unit pero naabutan s'ya ni Noah. Hinawakan s'ya nito sa buhok at mabilis na hinila papasok.
"Where do you think you're going? Kay Narda? Magsusumbong ka? I think it's not enough na sinira ko lang ang cellphone mo! Hahanap at hahanap ka pa din talaga ng paraan para mapuntahan s'ya." Galit s'ya nitong isinandal sa pader.
"Tigilan mo na ako, Noah! Hindi ko maaatim na magpakasal sa walang kwentang 'tao kagaya mo!"
"Hindi mo na pwedeng bawiin ang sagot mo, Regina! Mapapahiya ako at ang pamilya ko!"
"At ako, Noah? Magtitiis ako para lang mapagbigyan ang kagaguhang naisip mo? It was one of the worst decision i've made. At pinagsisisihan ko na agad 'yon. I need to take back my words before things get worse kahit pa sabihin ng lahat na wala akong word of honor."
Nagulat s'ya ng sakalin s'ya nito. "No! I won't let you do that, Regina!"
"Bitawan mo ako, Noah! Kundi magsusumbong ako sa mga pulis! Hindi ako mangingiming ipakulong ka! Tingnan natin kung hindi ka mapahiya lalo. And if you kill me now, walang ibang suspect kundi ikaw since this place is full of cctv. Makikita sa monitor ang demonyo mong pagmumukha!"
Binitawan naman s'ya nito saka umupo sa couch. Uubo-ubo naman s'ya habang hinihilot ang lalamunan.
Medyo matagal itong nag-isip bago nagsalita.
"I'll make you a deal, Regina. And you have no other option but to say yes. So listen well."
Naghintay naman s'ya sa sasabihin nito.
"Let's get married." Aangal sana s'ya ng itinaas nito ang kamay, tanda na hindi pa ito tapos magsalita. "But just for publicity at para hindi lang masira ang pangalan ko at ang reputasyon ng pamilya ko saka mapagbigyan din ang gusto ng parents ko. We won't have a grandious wedding. Just a simple ceremony by the beach with some of our friends and my relatives. Let's make it realistic, Regina. Hindi naman magiging mahirap sa'yo 'yon dahil artista ka naman, kaya mong umarteng inlove ka sa 'kin. After that i'll set you free. I'll let you go. I won't bother you ever again. I'll leave for the states after the wedding. I'll pursue my f1 racing career there. Hayaan nating isipin ng lahat na kasal tayo."
"That's too much, Noah. Ayoko! Masasaktan si Narda lalo." Pagtutol n'ya.
"I told you hindi kita bibigyan ng option. Kapag hindi ka pumayag sa gusto ko, ipapapatay ko si Narda. It's not a threat but a warning, Regina."
Nanlulumong napasalampak nalang sa sahig si Regina.
"I take that silence as a yes. I'll go now. Sasabihan nalang kita kung kailan ang kasal. But before that, be informed na pagagwardiyahan kita at ng 'di ka makaalis dito para pumunta kay Narda. At if aalis ka para magtaping, pasasamahan din kita. Once nalaman kong nakipag-usap ka kay Narda, expect her dead the next day."
"Napakahayop mo, Noah!"
"Kung hindi ka magiging sa 'kin, 'di ka rin dapat maging sa kanya, Regina."
________________
End of Flashback
Napabalik s'ya sa kasalukuyan ng hawakan s'ya ni Ali sa balikat.
"He's dead, Regina. Wala na si Noah. Nasunog ang race car na sinasakyan n'ya habang nasa track s'ya at nagpapractice."
Hindi pa man n'ya nadadigest ang sinabi ni Ali ay tinawag na s'ya para sa last set n'ya for the night.
"It's your cue. Aalis na muna ako, Regi. Pupunta ang barkada sa bahay nina Noah. Need ng parents n'ya ang suporta namin ngayon."
"Salamat sa info, Ali. I'll be in touch."
She feels like crying pero pilit n'yang pinipigil ang emosyon. The show must go on ika nga.
"I want to break free, I want to break free
I want to break free from your lies
You're so self-satisfied I don't need you
I've got to break free
God knows, God knows I want to break free
I've fallen in love
I've fallen in love for the first time
This time I know it's for real
I've fallen in love, yeah
God knows, God knows I've fallen in love
It's strange but it's true, hey
I can't get over the way you love me like you do
But I have to be sure when I walk out that door
Oh, I want to be free, baby
Oh, how I want to be free
Oh, I want to break free
But life still goes on
I can't get used to living without, living without
Living without you by my side
I don't want to live alone, hey
God knows, got to make it on my own
So, baby, can't you see I've got to break free?
I've got to break free
I want to break free, yeah
I want, I want, I want
I want to break free..."
Her tears started to fall as the news hit her. At last she's free. They're free.