Ang Hollier Institute of Higher Studies na yata ang pinakasosyal na university na napuntahan ko. Imagine, may all-glass events hall sila na tinatawag na "Crystal Palace" sa loob mismo ng school premises? It was so beautiful that I had to make a conscious effort na 'wag mapanganga nang itigil ni Vren ang kotse niya at nakita ko, in all its glory, ang kagandahan ng alma mater ng boyfriend ko.
Most buildings inside Hollier have modern architecture. The lawns are perfectly polished; seemingly every corner is highlighted by a decorative statue or an ornamental plant. Parang hindi ko nga magawang tapakan ang damo dahil pakiramdam ko, one small damage would be very noticeable in a perfect setting such as where I am right now.
"Welcome to Hollier, Ms. I'm-A-Pierceson-Alumnus," pang-aasar sa akin ni Vren na nahalata yata ang pagkamangha ko sa university na pinanggalingan niya. "This place is amazing, I know. But you don't have to look that awestruck."
"Che!" mataray na sagot ko naman sa kanya. "E ano naman kung mas sosyal ang university mo sa akin? Ikamamatay ko ba 'yon?"
Bilang ganti ay tinawanan lang ako ng mokong.
"Come on, we still have to walk a few ways to Crystal Palace. I want to get this over with."
****
"Oh, my God. Look who's here! It's Vren Montevilla!"
"Damn, girl. He looked even better than before! I didn't know that was possible!"
"Who is that girl? May girlfriend na pala siya?"
"Shame. She looks so ordinary, I'm surprised Vren even took notice of her."
Aba! Sino ang mahaderang frog na 'yon?
I craned my neck to see who insulted me, but it was impossible to discern the owner of the voice from the crowd. Inasahan ko na namang ganito ang magiging reaksyon ng mga schoolmate ni Vren sa oras na makita nila si Mr. Montevilla, at hindi naman ako nabigo. Halos lahat ng mga tao sa Crystal Palace ay awtomatikong naglingunan nang pumasok kami ni Vren sa events hall. After realizing who the newcomers were, they started talking among themselves – mostly expressing their surprise and excitement to see Vren attend the homecoming after so long. But a few comments were also directed at me – the unexpected plus-one.
Ganoon na ba ako kachaka para magulat sila nang bongga na natipuhan ako ni Vren?
I looked at my boyfriend, expecting him to be at least smirking at the absurdity of the crowd's reaction at our arrival, but he looked so expressionless, it was as if he didn't even notice the buzz around us. He seemed to be really spaced out.
"Psst, Vren!" Pasimple ko siyang siniko. "Tatayo na lang ba tayo rito? Parang matutunaw na ako sa tingin ng mga tao, e."
"Don't mind them. Come on, we'll find an unoccupied table." We started walking, with everybody's stare following us.
Sa kasamaang palad ay hindi nagtagumpay ang plano ni Vren na humanap ng bakanteng mesa, dahil bigla na lamang may humarang sa amin na lalaking kung hindi titingnan nang maigi ay pwedeng mag-blend in sa mga server na noon ay gumagala sa loob ng Crystal Palace para magsilbi ng iba't ibang inumin.
"Vren! You made it, bro!" sabi ng lalaki sabay akbay kay Mr. Montevilla. "And is this your girlfriend? Mira – the one who took my call?"
"Francis Lee?" I asked, smiling.
"The one and only." He bowed like a gentleman, making me laugh. "Glad you both made it. Hey, bro, how are you?" he asked, turning to Vren again.
"Fine." Daig pa ni Vren ang isang estatwa sa pagiging stiff niya. He wasn't even meeting his friend's gaze. "If you'll excuse us – Mira and I are looking for an empty table."
"What for?" Imposibleng hindi na-sense ni Francis ang kawalan ng gana ni Vren na makipag-usap sa kanya, pero hindi siya nagpaapekto. That made me admire his valiant effort. "Naka-reserve na ang pwesto niyo. Come on, we've got the best table – up front and center."
"No, thanks. We'd rather – hey! Let go of me!"
Francis started dragging Vren by the arm, laughing, and I had no choice but to follow, chuckling as well. My boyfriend, bless him, was looking mortified.
"Guys, look who's here!" Francis announced as we reached their table, where six people were already seated – three men and three women.
"Oooh. Is that Vren-frickin'-Montevilla?" One of the men stood up, his expression that of glee. He looked dapper in his navy blue suit. "Dude, it's been so long!"
"Vren!" said another guy in a black long-sleeved polo. "It's nice to see you again, bro! Akala namin, ginu-good time lang kami ni Francis noong sinabi niyang a-attend ka."
"Hey, who's that behind you?" asked the last guy, wearing a dark brown suit. He was trying to get a good look at me. "Woah. Is that your girlfriend, Vren?"
Vren nodded, smiling in spite of himself. His friends cheered and clapped him on the back.
"Come on," Vren beckoned, drawing a seat out for me.
Nang makaupo na kaming lahat ay sinimulan ni Francis ang introduction. He seemed to be enjoying his role of a host. "Guys, this pretty lady over here is Mira, Vren's girlfriend. I think we owe her Vren's presence today." Kinindatan niya ako at tumawa naman ako. Vren's friend must have put two and two together – halata naman ang kawalan ng interes ni Vren sa event, which could only mean one thing – na ako ang pumilit sa kanya para um-attend. "Mira, let me introduce you to the gang. Ervic Buenviejo," he pointed to the guy in navy blue suit, "Xander La Vista," he indicated the man in black polo, "and Gabe Regalado. Add me and Vren, and you got Grey Light."
I gasped in surprise. "Kayo ang bandmates ni Vren?"
The men laughed. "Nice. Nabanggit pala sa'yo ni Vren ang tungkol sa grupo namin," said Francis. "Vren's the vocalist and bassist. I'm on drums. Ervic's on keyboard. Gabe and Xander are the guitarists."
"I'd love to hear you play sometimes," I commented. To my surprise, the guys exchanged naughty looks at this. Vren, who was fiddling with his cufflink, said nothing.
"Anyway, enough of these idiots." Francis gestured to the men, grinning. "This is Lovely, Xander's girlfriend. This one is Aliara; she's with Gabe. And this is Kate, my girl. They are all graduates of Hollier, too."
Xander elbowed Ervic. "Erv, ikaw na lang ang walang girlfriend. Get a life, bro!"
"No, thanks." Ervic smirked. "Mas masaya kapag single. I could be with anyone, no strings attached."
The guys laughed while the girls rolled their eyes.
While we all made small talk (except for Vren, who just watched and sighed and shoot me looks that plainly said, "Can we go now?"), another guy in suit approached Francis and whispered something to him. Whatever the guy told Francis, it made him grin like a madman.
"Guys, it's time." Isa-isang tiningnan ni Francis sina Ervic, Xander, at Gabe. Then they all looked at Vren, who didn't notice anything as he was on his phone – probably emailing someone from work. Kami namang mga babae ay nagkatinginan din with confused looks on our faces. Then, much to our surprise, the other Grey Light members stood up and started dragging Vren out of his seat.
"What the actual fuck?" Vren yelled. "Hey, quit yanking me!" He tried to break free from them pero dahil apat sila at nag-iisa lang siya, wa epek ang pagpupumiglas niya.
Other people were now looking at the commotion, laughing at the sight of Vren Andrei Montevilla getting dragged out of his seat by his friends.
"Where are you taking me?" badtrip na tanong ni Vren habang naghahagalpakan ng tawa ang mga kasamahan niya sa Grey Light.
"Backstage!" sagot naman ng apat.
"What?" Vren looked at them like they were crazy. "Why?"
"It's time for Grey Light's reunion, bro!" tatawa-tawang sabi ni Ervic. He momentarily relaxed his grip on Vren.
"Are you insane?" My boyfriend looked incredulous. "I won't go." Dahil nakakita ng pagkakataon, sinamantala niya ito upang bumalik sa kanyang upuan. But to his horror, sinimulan ulit siyang hatakin ng kanyang mga kabanda. Nagsimula na rin akong tumawa dahil finally ay na-gets ko na ang nangyayari.
"Vren, bilis na, sama ka na sa kanila," I told him with a wide smile on my face.
"No way," sagot niya naman sa akin. Ang arte talaga!
At nagtuluy-tuloy ang paghatak ng apat na Grey Light members sa kanilang bokalista, hanggang sa wakas ay hindi na nakayanan ni Vren ang pwersa ng makukulit niyang tropa. With an expression of utmost annoyance, he yelled, "For Christ's sake – fine, I'll go with you! Just stop harassing me!"
"Success!" Gabe high-fived Xander, laughing. "Now off to the backstage, Grey Light!"
Wala nang nagawa si Vren kundi tumayo, hanggang sa akbayan siya ni Francis. Sabay-sabay na naglakad ang lima patungo sa likod ng entablado.
"You're all crazy," narinig ko pang patutsada ni Vren sa mga kaibigan niya.
Tumawa naman si Francis. "We know you won't go unless we drag you with us, literally."
To my amazement, this made Vren laugh as well. I smiled, joining Aliara, Kate, and Lovely all watching the guys with grins that obviously said, "Our boyfriends are unbelievably insane."
It looks like Grey Light is finally united again.
****
"I wonder if there's any Hollier alumnus who doesn't know Grey Light," panimula ng lalaking emcee na nasa stage. Siya pala 'yong lumapit kay Francis kanina at bumulong sa kanya bago maganap ang pang-a-abduct kay Vren ng bandmates niya.
"I don't think there's any," sagot naman sa kanya ng babaeng kasama niya, obviously his co-emcee. "But I think everyone misses Hollier's coolest band. Right, guys?"
Almost everyone inside the Crystal Palace screamed in unified assent, habang ako naman, nakangiti lang na parang ewan. Paano ko naman mami-miss ang Grey Light, e hindi naman ako taga-Hollier?
Anyway.
"You're in for a treat, then," linya muli ng lalaking emcee. "Ladies and gentlemen of Hollier, let us welcome Vren, Francis, Xander, Ervic, and Gabe, as they perform their very own rendition of For The First Time by The Script. I give you, Grey Light!"
I straightened in my seat, now beaming in anticipation, as every light inside the venue was momentarily turned off. Now, the only source of illumination was the spotlight that lit a huge portion of the stage.
It took a few moments for my eyes to adjust, and when they finally refocused, what I saw made my jaw drop.
Si Vren ba talaga 'yan?
Kung kanina, suot ng boyfriend ko ang isa sa mga mamahalin niyang suit – something that I'm already used to seeing, him being a businessman and all – ngayon ay ibang-iba ang bersyon ng Vren Andrei Montevilla na nakapwesto sa ibabaw ng stage.
He still had his trademark grin on as he waited for the first few beats from Francis' drums that will signal the start of their performance, but that's where the similarities to his usual self end. He now wore a black statement shirt ("COOL AS GREY LIGHT") and a faded pair of jeans. At kailan pa nagsuot ng sneakers si Vren?
Dahil naka-t-shirt ay na-expose ang gorgeous biceps niya, na madalas ay natatakpan ng long sleeves na tipikal niyang suot. And as if to complete that image of perfection, Vren had a shiny black electric guitar draped all over his midsection.
My boyfriend, a high-profile company owner, was replaced by a smokin' hot Hollier rock star. Ito ang literal na pag-abduct kay Vren Andrei Montevilla.
I was forced to stop drooling over my boyfriend when Francis started hitting the drums. Iginala ko ang paningin ko at gaya ng aking inaasahan, lahat ng mga babae sa loob ng lugar ay nakapako ang tingin kay Vren.
Ha! went the proud voice in my head. Mainggit kayo, boyfriend ko 'yan!
It didn't take long before I heard Vren's voice hushing all of Crystal Palace.
She's all laid up in bed with a broken heart
While I'm drinking jack all alone in my local bar
And we don't know how
How we got into this mad situation
Only doing things out of frustration
Tryin' to make it work but man, these times are hard
So, ito pala ang alter-ego ng freak kong boss-slash-boyfriend... a rock band vocalist.
Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko habang pinapakinggan ang pagkanta ni Vren. Kung hindi ko lang alam na Grey Light ang nagpe-perform ngayon, aakalain ko talagang ilang metro lang ang layo ko sa The Script, habang kinakanta nila ang paborito kong rock song.
Yeah, drinking old cheaps bottles of wine
Shit talkin' up all night
Doing things we haven't for a while
We're smiling but we're close to tears
Even after all these years
We just now got the feeling that we're meeting
For the first time
When I opened my eyes again, it was to see Vren's gaze fixed on me. Pakiramdam ko tuloy, ako lang ang kinakantahan niya at walang ibang tao sa loob ng Crystal Palace bukod sa aming dalawa.
In return, I gave him the sweetest smile I could muster.
Now more than ever, masasabi kong kilalang-kilala ko na si Vren Andrei Ayala Montevilla.