"She's funny, smart, sweet, and very pretty. Like she's my dream girl."
Bea just smiled and said, "Hindi masyadong halata na inlove ka dun no?"
"But may problem eh."
"What is it?"
"I don't think she likes me." The girl said emphasizing the word "she" which surprised Beatriz. She wasn't aware that her friend is also into girls like her.
But Beatriz erased her thoughts and laughed at her friend. "Ang humble mo naman po. May hindi ba magkakagusto sa'yo? Parang lahat naman may crush sa'yo: mapa-grade school, high school, senior high, college or working adults na sila. Nagkakagusto sila sa'yo eh."
"Wow Beatriz. Ang OA mo diyan."
"Totoo naman eh."
"But still, she doesn't like me."
"Edi just ask her if she likes you."
"What?! Seriously? Ayoko nga. Mapahiya pa ako sa kanya."
"You're just going to ask her naman eh."
"You have no idea how heartbreaking it is if she'll reject me. Even if that girl will do it in a nicest way, still, it's going to be painful." Hindi na sumagot si Beatriz.
"But I know she likes someone else."
"How did you know?"
"It's obvious. May mga bagay kasi na kahit hindi mo na itanong, sapat na yung nakikita mo para paniwalaan mong totoo iyon."
"Assuming ka kasi."
"Hindi ah. Loving someone, secretly, from a distance, do you know how that feels?" Napatitig naman si Beatriz sa kanyang kaibigan.
"And the worst part is, you see and watch her loving someone else but still your heart choses her."
"Jhoana! Patulong naman sa gate." Napalingon ang magkaibigan ng tawagin si Jhoana ni Anton.
"Sure! Beatriz? Iwan muna kita dito ah."
"Oo naman. I know exactly how you feel." Beatriz whispered softly.
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"Are you done with your writings?" Beatriz asked Jhoana.
Nasa music room sila. Kasali kasi sila sa isang banda na minsan tumutugtog sa mga bars sa Metro Manila.
"Alin doon?" Jho answered with a question.
"The song?"
"Oh, not yet. But lapit ko na siyang matapos. Hmm. Kantahin mo ng maayos yun ha?"
"Ha? Bakit ako yung kakanta?"
"Bakit? Ikaw kaya yung vocalist ng banda, Beatriz."
"Kanta mo iyon. So dapat idedicate mo yun kay dream girl, di ba? Chance mo na yun. Sing that song to her."
"Nako. Hindi niya yun gagawin. Torpe yan si Jhow eh. Ikaw na kumanta, Bei." sabat ni Kenneth.
Beatriz sighed and faced Jhoana. "Fine. Sige na nga, ako na kakanta."
Jhoana's phone suddenly rang. Iniwan niya muna ang mga kasama niya at sinagot ang cellphone sa labas ng music room. Ramon caught Beatriz watching Jhoana.
"Uy Bei. May gusto ka kay Jhow?"
"Ha? Wala ah."
Natawa ng malakas si Ramon. "Ang taong may dine-deny, halatang - halata. Don't worry Bei, your secret is safe with me."
"Hala. Wala akong gusto doon no."
"Alam mo Bei, mas madaling magkunwaring meron kaysa magkunwaring wala." Kaya napatingin naman si Beatriz kay Ramon.
"Nililigawan ka ni Maddie di ba?"
"Ha? Hindi naman."
"Type mo ba siya?"
"Hindi naman. I mean, di ko alam."
"Ano pagkakaiba nila ni Jhow?"
"Ha?"
"Si Jhow mabait, organized, thoughtful, pretty, smart and mas gentleman pa sa akin yun. Parang si Maddie lang din di ba? Pero anong mayroon si Jhow na wala kay Maddie?"
"Alam ko kung ano." Sabi ni Kenneth.
"At ano naman yun?" Tanong ni Beatriz.
"Eh di ang puso mo." Sabay tawa ni Kenneth at Ramon. Pare-pareho naman sila pinagbabato ni Beatriz ng mga guitar picks. Pagbalik ni Jhoana, syempre nagchange topic din kami.
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Kumakanta habang tumutugtog ng gitara si Beatriz nang dumaan si Jhoana sa bahay nila.
"Bei!"
"Hey Jhow!" Sabi ni Beatriz at ibinaba muna sa sofa ang kanyang gitara. Sinenyasan naman niya si Jhoana na umupo sa tabi niya.
"Here's the song." Sabay abot ni Jho ng dalawang pirasong papel kung saan nakasulat ang kanta na may chords.
"Wow. Natapos mo na rin pala kaagad."
"Yeah. Sana matugtog natin yan sa Friday?"
"Saan ba tayo sa Friday?"
"Sa Tagaytay tayo di ba?"
"Ay sorry to forgot it. Hehe. Ano palang mayroon sa Friday? Nandoon si dream girl?" Napatingin si Beatriz kay Jhoana.
Jhoana shyly smiled and nodded. Beatriz also smiled. "Ang sweet mo ah. Mas sweet kapag ikaw kumanta ng sinulat mong song for your dream girl."
"Ikaw na lang, please? I'm planning to confess to her after you sing that song."
"Really?"
"Hmmm.. But sana maging maayos and I can do it the right way."
"Sure naman yan. Ikaw pa ba?"
"Sige. Uwi na ako ha?"
"Okay. Take care."
Pag-alis ni Jhoana ay binasa kaagad ni Beatriz ang kanta. Bigla siyang napapikit at mabilis na tumayo para habulin si Jhoana. Kaso nakalayo na ang kanyang kaibigan kaya bumalik na lang siya sa kanilang bahay.
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"Anong mayroon Beatriz?" tanong ni Kenneth kay Beatriz nang madatnan niyang nakasimangot ito sa kanyang kwarto.
"Si Jho kasi eh."
"Oh, inano ka ni dream girl?"
Natawa naman si Beatriz at napailing. "Eh kasi naman. Yung kantang sinulat niya."
"Yung ginawa niyang song for her crush?"
"Hindi lang crush. Mahal na ata niya. Kakantahin daw natin sa Friday eh. Then aamin na rin daw siya sa girl niya."
"Aw. That's heartbreaking Bro. Well, for you lalo." Alam naman ng lahat na may lihim na pag-ibig si Beatriz kay Jhoana.
"Nakakainis. Alam mo yung kahit anong effort ko, wala pa rin. Habang tumatagal, lumalala lang and wala naman akong magawa kung hindi maging okay. Magkunwaring okay. Grabe."
"And you just can't stay away from her."
Beatriz shook her head and took a deep breath. "Ang weird lang. Being with her makes me feel happy and sad at the same time. It breaks my heart kasi minsan hindi ko na alam kung matutuwa ako or maiinis na ako sa sarili ko."
"You got this, Bro. Hindi lang naman ikaw ang taong ganyan ang pinagdadaanan. Siguro, may point lang talaga sa buhay natin na maiinlove tayo sa isang taong imposibleng mainlove sa atin. And the only choices we have is either, be okay with her or fight for what you feel. And usually we end up picking up the first."
Tumango lang si Beatriz. "Right. Tama ka. Mawawala naman ito, di ba?"
"Well, eventually bro."
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"Are you okay Beatriz?" Tanong ni Jhoana nang mapahinto si Beatriz sa kalagitnaan ng rehearsals nila.
"Yup." Tipid na sagot ni Beatriz.
"Kung hindi ka comfortable sa song..."
"No, it's okay Jhow. Medyo sabaw lang talaga ako today. But promise, gagalingan ko para hindi ko masira yung ginawa mong kanta."
Jhoana smiled. "Thanks, Beatriz."
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Dumating ang Friday night. Punong-puno ang Dencio's, kung saan sila tutugtog. It was also the first time that Beatriz felt so nervous before performing on stage.
She kept on taking deep breaths and Jhoana noticed that one.
"Bei, yung last song ha?" She reminded her.
"Okay. Don't worry. But nandiyan na ba siya?"
"Oo. Kanina pa. Don't worry, I'll introduce her later." Nakangiting sagot ni Jhoana. Beatriz tried to smile and when Jhoana looked away, that smile automatically disappeared.
The crowd obviously liked how the band performed. Sa bawat kanta ay pinapalakpakan sila ng kanilang audience. Iba't ibang genre din ng kanta ang tinutugtog nila. May ibang kinanta din kung saan magkaduet si Beatriz at Jhoana. Until the time for the last song finally came. And Beatriz said something before singing it.
"This is our last song for tonight. It was written by our very own Jhoana. And she wrote this song for a very special girl. Kung sino ka man, I know you're here tonight, sana magustuhan mo ito." She smiled and the band started playing the song.
You are my only
You are the one
You're everything I wanted baby
I should have told you
That I love you
Oh nothing
Compares to you
I'm crazy thinkin' 'bout you lately
You and I are meant to be
And baby this is real
Every time you turn around
And walk away I just can't resist
And wishing I could say
You are my dream
You are my hope
You are my love
And baby you are my heart
I want you to know
And let it show
That I'm in love
Every time I see you near
I wanna be close to you
And how can it be
'coz I know it's impossible to make it happen
But still you are
Beatriz sang it from the heart and the crowd felt the message of the song. Obviously, they loved the song. Matapos niyang kumanta, halo-halo na ang emotions ni Beatriz. Lalo na nung tumayo si Jhoana sa tabi niya at kinuha ang mic at ngumiti sa audience.
"I just want to take this chance to say something. To the girl, a very special girl. She's right here and that song, Baby You Are, I wrote it for her. I can't really remember how long I have been watching her from a distance, secretly loving her while she's been in love with someone else. Unsaid feelings are probably one of the heaviest burdens anyone ever could carry in their hearts. I am not sure what's going to happen after this but once and for all I've finally made a decision to tell this to her. Reaching her was never really a problem but reaching her heart has always been the hardest thing for me to do it. But right now, I'm taking a chance. She's my dream girl and in every way, she's worth it."
At nagulat ang lahat lalo na si Beatriz nang humarap sa kanya si Jhoana. She took a deep breath, looking very nervous, but still managed to smile at her.
"That's song is for you, Beatriz. You are my dream girl."
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Really inspired to write this cause I was with Crushie last Thursday 🌈 but it took me 3 days to finish this shot soooo. hehe, for the song, it's Baby You Are by Julie Anne San Jose. Happy weekend, guys! ⭐️