Chapter 22
Last Time
"You'll ride with me." agad namang sabi ni Isaiah nang sabihin nilang may party'ng pupuntahan upang i-celebrate ang success ng kanilang concert ngayong gabi.
"I brought my own car." sabi ko naman sa kaniya.
"I will let one of the staffs drive it to the hotel. After the party, I'll promise to let you go home on your own. Please?" he sweetly begged me.
Wala naman akong nagawa't umayon nalang sa kaniyang plano. Kapag nagprisinta pa siyang ihatid ako mamaya'y tatanggi na talaga ako. At kapag hindi naman siya pumayag, magkukunwaring galit nalang ako upang hayaan niya na ako.
"Hindi ba tayo makikita ng mga fans niyo?" nag-aalala kong tanong sa kaniya habang patungo kami sa kaniyang sasakyan.
Si Ida ay kasama ngayon si Ike. Kay Ike nalang daw siya sasabay papunta sa hotel. Umuwi na sila Tito't Tita kaya paniguradong kay Isaiah na siya sasabay pauwi.
"No, they won't." sabi niya. "The securities made sure that they will not see us. Sa iba tayo dadaan para hindi nila tayo nakita. They already secured the path."
I'm happy that Isaiah respected what I want. I thought he didn't make a plan tungkol sa pagsasabay namin na 'to at hahayaan niya lang na makita kami ng mga tagahanga nila.
Nang makarating kami ni Isaiah sa may pinagparkingan ng kanilang mga sasakyan ay nadatnan namin sina Ida, Ike, Jirro and Sic na nagtatawanan.
"Nandito na pala ang lovers." anunsyo ni Jirro nang makita kami ni Isaiah na dumating.
"Let's go, let's go!" pumapalakpak pa si Sic at pinatunog na ang kaniyang sasakyan bago pumasok dito.
Ganoon din naman ang ginawa ni Jirro, samantalang si Ike ay pinagbuksan muna si Ida ng pintuan bago tumungo sa driver's seat.
Hindi ko napigilan ang pagtaas ng kilay ko at pati na rin ang pagngisi ko habang pinapanood si Ike at Ida. I can really sense something between the two of them kahit na idene-deny niya sa akin.
"Wala ba talagang naku-kwento sa'yo si Ike tungkol kay Ida?" kuryoso kong tanong kay Isaiah nang makasakay kami sa kaniyang sasakyan.
"Hmm... Wala naman." sagot ni Isaiah. "I also asked him about my sister pero ang sagot niya lang ay magkaibigan lang sila. They both like watching anime kaya mas nagkakasundo silang dalawa kaysa kay Jirro at Sic."
I pouted and crossed my arms. "That's not how I see the both of them, Isaiah." sabi ko naman. "Alam mo yun? I can feel something. They're just denying it, pero may nararamdaman talaga ako."
"Hindi lang naman ikaw." he glanced and smiled at me. "I'm also eyeing Ike's moves when it comes to my sister. Binabantayan ko rin siya. Alam ko namang matino si Ike, but Ida's still my little sister."
Napatango-tango naman ako. Siguro kailangan ko ring gumawa ng plano kahit papaano upang mapaamin ko si Ida. I'm really curious about them.
"Anyway... did you like the song that I made for you?" he suddenly asked me.
The lyrics of the song that he made crashed like waves inside my head. I can feel my cheeks burning because of it.
"Hmm..." I tried to sound unsure kahit na ang totoo naman ay gustong-gusto ko ang kantang ginawa niya para sa akin.
Palingon-lingon sa akin si Isaiah na para bang hindi na siya makapagfocus sa pagd-drive dahil sa kakahintay ng sagot ko.
"If you don't like it... I can make some revisions. Just tell me what I need to change—"
"I like it so much, Isaiah." pagputol ko sa kaniyang sinasabi.
The car suddenly halted when he stepped on the break just to look at me clearly. Mabuti nalang at wala nang masiyadong sasakyan sa daan dahil alas-onse na ng gabi.
"Y-You like it?" paninigurado niya sa akin.
Ngumiti naman ako't tumango. "I like it. I mean, I love it." I assured him. "I guess, I have a new favorite song now."
He beamed at me before he turned his gaze on the road to start driving again.
"You did great on your concert tonight. I'm sure you're very happy performing for your fans." I told him.
Mas lalo naman siyang napangiti. "Like what you said, I love performing. It's my passion that's why I'm happy doing what I love to do." he said. "But rather than performing on stage, I also like the meet and greet part. I always like talking to our fans about our music. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam."
Nawala naman ang aking ngiti nang may maalala tungkol sa meet and greet. Naalala ko si Zendaya at kung paano siya makipag-usap kay Isaiah. Isaiah even knows her name!
"Hmm... Can I ask you something?" nag-aalangan kong tanong sa kaniya.
"Anything..." he said and took a quick glance.
"You have a fan named Zendaya, right?" I asked him.
Bahagya namang napakunot ang kaniyang noo na para bang iniisip niya kung sino ang tinutukoy ko.
"Ah!" he suddenly exclaimed and smiled. "Zendaya! Yes. She's a fan of New Classic. What about her?" he curiously asked me.
"She's my classmate in one of my majors. Naging magkapartner din kami sa case digest na ginawa namin nitong nakaraang linggo lang." I informed him.
His eyes slightly widened. "Oh! So, is she a friend of yours?"
"Maybe yes, maybe no." nagkibit-balikat ako. "After ng case digest na ginawa namin, hindi ko na siya nakakausap. Kanina nalang ulit nang magkita kami sa meet and greet."
"Zendaya's a great girl. I think you will like her companionship, if ever." sabi niya naman sa akin.
I was about to say something but I quickly pursed my lips into a thin line.
Ano bang pinagsasasabi nitong si Isaiah? Ganoon niya ba kakilala si Zendaya to tell me that she's a great girl?
I know that I shouldn't be jealous because Zendaya's just a fan of his, but I can't help but to be jealous because of what he's telling me right now. Siguro ganito lang talaga kapag may nararamdaman kang mali sa isang bagay na hindi mo sigurado. Ayaw kong mawala sa akin si Isaiah and that's for sure kaya ganito ang nararamdaman ko ngayon.
"Paano mo siya nakilala?" tanong ko para hindi na ako maguluhan.
I want to know everything about them. Kung paano sila naging magkakilala at kung bakit parang close silang dalawa gayong tagahanga niya lang naman si Zendaya.
"I met her in the first meet and greet that New Classic had." he answered.
"Eh bakit parang close kayong dalawa?" sunod kong tanong at hindi ko mapigilan ang pagriin ng tono ng aking boses.
Isaiah's forehead slightly creased with the tone of my voice, but then he slowly showed a smile and bit his lower lip afterwards, trying to hide his smile.
"She's the daughter of our event organizer that's why every meet and greet, mall shows and concert that she can attend, nakikita ko siya." he explained. "Plus, she's the president of my fanclub. She's somehow connected to me nang dahil doon. You know how much I like to interact with my fans, right? But more than that, wala na."
Agad namang nawala ang aking pangamba. An explanation from Isaiah can make all my worries go away.
Talagang mas maganda kung magtatanong ka muna bago ka mag-isip nang kung anu-ano. Minsan kasi ikaw nalang ang gumagawa ng mga bagay na ikakapangamba mo kahit wala ka namang dapat maramdaman na ganoon. Mahilig kasi nating pangunahan ang katotohanan. It shouldn't be like that. We should always look for proofs and evidences before we conclude. Pero siguro'y dala na rin sa takot na malaman ang totoong kasagutan ay mas paniniwalaan nalang natin ang sarili nating konklusyon at 'yon ang pagkakamali ng nakakarami.
"Tell me, Blair... Are you jealous?" his playful tone was very audible.
Napakunot naman ang aking noo sa kaniyang tanong. "Hindi ah!" agad kong pagtanggi. "Why would I be?"
Humalukipkip pa ako't tinanaw nalang ang hotel kung saan gaganapin ang celebration ng New Classic. Malapit na pala kami.
He chuckled. "Yeah... Why would you be?" he sounded like he's mocking me. "You know that I love you so much so why would you be, right?"
And again, like always, he was able to melt me through his words. But he's more than just that. He's not only full of words but also of actions.
"But if you still don't, hindi ako magsasawang araw-araw iparamdam at ipaalam na mahal kita." he added before parking the car and turning off the engine.
When we arrived at the venue, I was relieved when I found no media waiting for us. Maging sa loob ng hall ay wala din. Siguro'y talagang ginawang private ang celebration party na 'to.
Ipinakilala ako ni Isaiah sa mga ibang kaibigan niya sa mundo ng showbiz at pati na rin sa mga ibang importanteng staffs ng naganap na concert. They were all friendly.
"Blair, this is Cloe." pakilala ni Isaiah sa akin kay Cloe. "She's one of our staffs—and also, our close friend."
Cloe sweetly smiled at me, revealing the dimple on her right cheek. She stretched out her arm to offer her hand.
"I'm Cloe Escolano." pakilala niya sa akin.
I accpted her hand for a shake and introduced myself.
"Blair Alcoberes." simpleng pakilala ko sa sarili ko.
"So, maiwan ko muna kayo ni Isaiah. I need to check on something." paalam niya at tinanguan naman namin siya ni Isaiah upang hayaan siyang gawin ang kailangan niyang gawin.
Pinanood ko siyang naglakad paalis at nakitang napahinto siya nang magkasalubong silang dalawa ni Jirro. Ilang sandali rin silang nagkatinginan. Si Jirro'y mukhang gulat na gulat sa paghaharap nilang dalawa ngunit agad na nag-iwas ng tingin si Cloe at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Napaawang naman ang bibig ni Jirro bago nilagok ang hawak na cocktail at tuluyan na rin siyang nawala sa gitna ng mga tao.
Nilingon ko naman si Isaiah. "Anong meron kay Cloe at Jirro?" I curiously asked Isaiah.
Napangisi naman si Isaiah at inakbayan ako. "You're really a keen and an observant person, Blair. Ang dami mong napapansin."
Napanguso naman ako. "I just can't help it." sabi ko nalang.
Napabuntong hininga naman si Isaiah bago niya sinagot ang aking tanong.
"They had a relationship before." Isaiah simply answered and it all made sense now.
"Bakit sila nagbreak?" sunod kong tanong.
"Well, we don't know. Nang sinubukan naming tanungin si Jirro ay wala kaming nakuhang sagot sa kaniya. Ilang araw pa niya kaming hindi masiyadong kinakausap dahil sinubukan naming i-open ang topic na 'yon." sabi niya. "Nang tinanong naman namin si Cloe, ang sinagot niya lang ay 'it's all for the best'. Ayaw na naming ungkatin pa ang tungkol sa kanilang dalawa. We don't want to make the situation more awkward and harder for the both of them. Minsan ay iniinis-inis namin si Jirro pero hanggang doon nalang 'yon."
"Gaano naman silang katagal?" and that's my last question about Jirro and Cloe.
"Hmm... If I remembered correctly, four years silang dalawa before they broke up." sagot ni Isaiah at napaawang ang aking bibig.
Even if I the reason's not clear why they broke up, hindi ko maiwasan ang manghinayang sa kanilang dalawa. They look good togther.
But when Cloe answered to them that it's all for the best. I think it has something to do with what Jirro is now. Parehas ba kami ng sitwasyon ni Cloe? Ang kaibahan lang siguro naming dalawa ay mas pinili niyang bitawan si Jirro habang ako'y sumusugal pa kasama si Isaiah. Siguro nga'y ganoon.
Hindi naman siguro hahayaan ni Cloe'ng masayang lang ang apat na taon na pinagsamahan nila ni Jirro kung hindi importante ang rason kung bakit sila naghiwalay.
"Don't worry about them too much. They're both old enough to handle their situation." sabi naman ni Isaiah. "Let's just enjoy the party, okay?"
Tumango naman ako't ganoon nga ang ginawa namin ni Isaiah. Nagulat pa ako nang inaya niya akong kumanta kaming dalawa sa gitna ng maraming tao na halos galing lahat sa industriya. We sang the song that Isaiah and I made before na nasa unang album na ng New Classic.
Si Ida ay proud na nakangiti habang vinivideohan kaming dalawa ni Isaiah.
After singing with Isaiah, many people praised me for having a beautiful voice. Marami ring nagsasabi that I should join the music industry at handa nila akong ipasok sa mga record label companies. It was a pretty good offer, but being a singer isn't my dream. I want to be a lawyer and that's it.
The party end one in the morning. Jirro and Sic decided that they will have an after party on their own. Magba-bar hopping daw sila sa BGC habang si Ike naman ay inaantok na't gusto nang magpahinga. Isaiah's not joing Sic and Jirro as well dahil uuwi na silang dalawa ni Ida. And of course, I won't let him for tonight. I want him to rest.
"Are you sure that you don't want me to drive you home?" Isaiah asked me nang ihatid niya ako sa aking sasakyan.
Nasa loob na ako ng driver's seat at nakapangalumbaba lang siya sa nakababang bintana ng aking sasakyan habang nakatitig sa akin.
Umiling naman ako't ngumiti. "I'll be fine. Don't worry." I assured him.
Ngumuso naman siya't tumango-tango. He already knew na hindi ako papayag sa gusto niyang mangyari kahit anong gawin niya.
"I will text you kapag nakauwi na ako." sabi ko para mas mapanatag ang kaniyang loob.
He smiled and leaned towards me.
I closed my eyes when I felt his soft lips touched my forehead that lasted for ten seconds. It seems like he doesn't want to let me go alone.
"Stay safe." iyon ang huling sabi niya sa akin bago ako pinakawalan.
The drive home was faster than I thought. Alam kong mabilis lang akong makakauwi pero hindi ko akalain na ganitong kabilis. Kaya ko pang paglaruan ang sasakyan ko sa daan dahil wala nang mga sasakyan sa daan. Kung mayroon man ay pa-isa-isa ang pagsulpot.
Bigla akong napatapak sa break ng aking sasakyan nang makita ko ang pamilyar na sasakyan na nakaparada sa harap ng bahay namin. Leaning against the car, was the man whom I don't plan on seeing.
Lumabas ako sa aking sasakyan at agad siyang napaayos ng tayo nang makita ang pagdating ko.
What is he doing here? It's almost 2 o'clock in the morning. Different thoughts and questions wandered in my mind.
Kanina pa ba siya dito't naghihintay sa pagdating ko?
"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" nakakunot-noong tanong ko sa kaniya ngunit hindi niya ako pinansin at naglakad patungo sa akin.
Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang kaniyang suot. He's wearing a smart casual attire like he attended an important rendezvous.
I suddenly remembered that he invited me for a dinner tonight. Guilt creeped inside me and flowed with my blood inside my veins.
"Dapat umuwi ka nalang—" hindi ko naituloy ang aking sasabihin nang bigla niya akong yakapin ng mahigpit.
"I'm so worried about you..." he whispered and hugged me tighter like he's very scared of something. "Akala ko may nangyaring masama sa'yo... You're not texting back nor answering my calls. Hindi ka pumunta sa pinag-usapan natin... I thought..." umiling naman siya't pumirmi sa pagkakayakap sa akin.
"I attended a concert." simpleng sabi ko't hindi ko alam kung bakit ko siya hinahayaang yakapin ako.
"I know." he said. "Ida tweeted about it. She posted a photo with you."
Hindi na ako ulit nagsalita't hinayaan siyang yakapin ako. We stayed like that for a few minutes before he finally let go para makapagpahinga na ako.
Maybe for the last time, I want to feel his hug before finally saying goodbye to the friendship, feelings, memories and of course, to him.
Lutang ako habang paakyat sa aking kwarto. I decided to check on Ida's tweet that he was talking about. She tweeted it right after the concert, but he still waited for me to come home even if he already knew that I'm fine and safe.
I was about to close the Twitter app when I saw a tweet of the Twitter account of my univeristy department.
They greeted happy birthday to an officer, which is the president, Gael Ondevilla.