Game 58
"I knew you were trouble when you walked in"
Sheliah Santibañez
Pagkatapos kong mag-retouch, naisipan na naming bumalik ni Art.
"Oh my God?!" Natatawa kong pinagmasdan ang pagmumukha ng walang hiya kong best friend na gulat na gulat.
Nakatingin siya ngayon sa kamay namin ni Art na magkahawak. I said he doesn't need to hold it habang pabalik kami sa auditorium but he insisted na baka iwanan ko na naman 'daw' siya. I'm like, hindi na ako tanga para iwan ulit siya.
Binitawan ko ang kamay ni Art at agad naman niya iyong binawi and with that,I glared at him and he just pouted.
"Stop acting like a kid, ipapaliwanag ko pa sa kanya ang nangyari."
Irritation filled him and he just shrugged. Childish, tss. Hinarap ko naman si Autumn na hanggang ngayon hindi pa din maka-cope sa mga nangyayari. As usual,over acting na naman.
"Now explain you woman! Bakit hindi ko 'to alam? God damn it Sheliah, akala ko kaibigan kita? I trusted you and I treated you like my own sister not by blood but by relationship that we have or gusto mo 'had' dahil hindi mo ipina-alam sa akin ito?--" I cut her off. Too many words.
"AUTUMN, STOP OVER-REACTING!" bumuga ako nang marahas.
She pouted. "Sorry na bish, eh paano hindi mo pa pina-alam sa akin."
"That's why I'm here to tell you. Let me talk first. It was a long story but I'll make it short." Lumingon ako sa likod ko but I saw Art talking to Monica that made me lose my f*cking temper.
"Uhh-- trouble, trouble, trouble ohh! " She sang. Hindi ko na pinansin si Autumn at agad-agad akong nagtungo sa likuran ni Monica.
I'm really really upset.
Art is acting cool while looking at me and Monica... "Art come on! Don't leave me like this. Isipin mo naman kung anong meron tayo!"
I crossed my arms and I raised my eyebrow at Art. He got what I am thinking. "Monica, move." Hindi nagpatinag si Monica. "Walang tayo Monica." Hinawakan niya ang aking kamay at pinanlisikan kami ng mata ni Monica.
"Art, you'll regret this day. I swear it. Tignan lang natin. But for now, enjoy." Humarap sa akin si Monica and she mouthed
"Well, let's see." tuluyan na itong nawala sa paningin namin.
Hinawakan ni Art ang bewang ko na siyang ikinabigla ko. Ipinatong niya ang kaniyang baba sa balikat ko. "Calm down hun, you know that you're the only one that I wanted... And needed."
"WAAAAAA! EX LOVERS INTO LOVERS AGAIN!" Art covered my ears because of Autumn's magical voice. Why magical? She can break your ear drums in a speed of light.
"E-ehem."
"Mom!" Agad kong kinalas ang pagkakahawak ni Art sa bewang ko at lumapit ako sa nanay ko para yakapin ito.
"Malapit na talaga akong magtampo sa'yo Sheliah!" Kinutusan ako nito and I faked a cry.
"M-ma'am" Humiwalay ako sa yakap and I faced Art. He's nervous, aww ang cute.
I cleared my throat and I hold Art's hand and I leaned him in front of my mother. "Mom, this is Art. My ex." Tinaasan ako ng kilay ni Mom.
"You're hurting my feelings again Sheliah." Art glared at me and I just rolled my eyes.
"May mag-ex bang sweet?" tanong ng nanay ko at humagalapak nang tawa si Autumn habang pumapalakpak.
"Idol talaga kita tita hahahaha!" Kinindatan nito si Autumn.
"Ma'am, can I court your daughter?" Natahimik si Autumn habang ako naman ay gulat na gulat sa nadinig. Like what the f*ck?
"Don't be too formal Art." My mother gave him a warm smile. "Yes you can court my daughter."
"Mom paano si Lucas? I mean, you know our situation and ayoko siyang masaktan. He's like a brother to me." Pagsabat ko at hinawakan ni Art ang aking mga kamay.
"Stop mentioning him."
"Stop being possesive." Umirap ako sa kaniya. "I'll talk to him." Bigla naman aking yinakap nang mahigpit ni Art. "Art, kanina ka pa yakap nang yakap."
"I have a bad feeling Sheliah. I can't stop." Napakagat na lamang ako sa aking labi. Mom and Autumn are both smiling to us.
"Oh s'ya sige, aalis na ako Sheliah. You can hang out with Art tonight but Art, make sure you'll bring her home early okay?"
"Ay ako din! Magd-date pa kami ni Trip hihi." Nagpaalam si Autumn kay Mom at pumayag ito. "Yeheyyyy!!!" She cheered like a child.
Humiwalay sa yakap si Art "Sure Tita, I'll bring her home." He said. Nagpa-alam na sila Mom and Autumn at naiwan kami sa auditorium.
"OMG? Kayo na ulit ni Art?" Tanong ng mga ka-batch mate ko.
Art smiled at them kaya nagtitili silang sampu.
"Nope, hindi kami." pagsingit ko.
"Boom bars..."
"Aruyyy!"
"Anchaket no'n."
"Hindi pala ah?" sinunggaban ako ng halik ni Art sa labi at nagtilian ang mga nakatingin sa amin and cameras are flashing at us.
Inapakan ko ang paa ni Art at sabay tingin ng masama sa kanya. T*ngina niya!
"Argh! Gago ka ba?!"
"Gwapo? Hell yeah, baby." at nag-pogi sign pa siya.
"ANO ENGLISH NG ASUKAL?" sigaw ng Isa sa mga may hawak ng camera.
"SUGAR!"
"ANONG LASA NG SUGAR?"
"SWEET!"
Humagalpak silang lahat sa tawa. Nagpunta sa likod ko si Art at yinakap ako. "Wanna hear me sing?"
"Sure."
Natawa ako nang may nag-abot sa kan'ya ng gitara. Bumilog silang lahat sa amin habang kami ni Art ang natira sa gitna. Nagsi-dalo rin ang iba at tila isang panibagong seremonya na naman ang nabubuo.
"I dedicate this song to the woman who changed my life." Nag-init ang pisngi ko sa sinabi niya.
"Si Monica." Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.
"Tarantado ka." I mouthed.
Nagtawanan ang lahat sa sinabi niya "Kidding. Sheliah..." His eyes glistens as it catches my sight. "I love you." Nagtiliian ang mga tao sa paligid namin. Napailing na lamang ako.
Heart beats fast,
Colors and promises
How to be brave?
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt, suddenly goes away
somehow
One step closer
I have died everyday, waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved
you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
Umikot siya sa bilog na nabuo ng mga kumpulan ng mga tao na nanonood sa amin. I am left in the middle while he seems like he's serenading them.
Time stands still,
beauty in all she is
I will be brave,
I will not let anything, take away
What's standing in front of me?
Every breath, every hour has come to this
One step closer
I have died everyday, waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved
you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
Naglakad ito papalapit muli sa akin at nag-ingay na naman ang lahat. Napansin ko ding may mga professors na nanonood sa amin, kasama ang mga deligates na inimbitahan ng Barden University. They are all smiling at us.
I feel so special.
And all along I believed, I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me, I
have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
One step closer... I'll love you for a thousand more.
He held me in his arms and he kissed my forehead. Nag-bow si Art sa mga tao. Nagpaalam na kami sa mga ito.
Suddenly, bigla kong naalala si Dad. Sh*t! Nasa likod siya ng school! It's already six.
"Art kikitain ko si Dad sa likod."
"Sasamahan kita, I won't let you go." Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko nang mahigpit.
I gave him a sad smile. "Babalik ako kasama si Dad. Promise." nag-aalangan niya akong tinignan. "Please?" Bumuntong-hininga na lamang siya.
"I'll wait for you." Wait... Lagi ka nalang naghihintay.
"Thank you."
"I love you."
Tinahak ko ang daan papuntang likuran ng school and I saw a figure standing in front of the tree.
It's Dad!
"Dad--dy..." Nanghina ang mga tuhod ko at unti-unti akong napa-luhod.
"Hey Sheliah."
"Bakit? Divina..." may tumakip sa bibig ko at unti-unting nanlabo ang aking paningin.
"Paghihintayin mo na naman ang lalaking mahal mo."