Love Trap (COMPLETED)

Nine

Binuksan niya ang mga mata at dumirekta agad sa akin matapos niyang banggitin ang huling linya ng kanta. That song is very special to me. Para siyang energizer na nagbibigay sa akin ng lakas kapag nada-down ako.

And hearing him sing it in front while looking at me, it gives a different impression to the song.

It was as if he indirectly said that he'll always be here for me. Hindi ko man aminin ay pakiramdam ko napaka-espesyal ko habang kinakanta niya iyon sa akin.

Sa kabila ng kantiyawan nilang lahat ay nakatuon lang ang atensyon namin sa isa't isa. Para akong nabibingi habang nalulunod sa mga mata niya.

"Kainan na!" Seth's loud voice made me come out from my reverie. Kumurap-kurap ako at nag-iwas ng tingin. Blushing and a little ashamed at what happened, I cannot look to anyone right now.

Good thing, walang nang-asar pagkatapos. Kumain lang kami at nagkuwentuhan. I almost forgot about our project.

"Hindi tayo nakapag-video," nag-aalalang sabi ko habang pauwi na kami. Kay Seth na ako sumabay dahil ihahatid niya rin si Addi. And Addi's house is closer to mine than with the girls.

"Nag-video ang mga kaibigan mo," anito sa tonong parang sinasabi niyang 'wag na akong mag-alala pa roon.

"Anong video?" Singit ni Seth. "Yung sa project niyo? Isali niyo naman ako diyan."

"Sure. Ikaw na mag-edit ng lahat."

Seth groans and all of us laugh after.

Sunday. Last day of the week and I was supposed to be sleeping to gain energy for the coming Monday but here I am, still full of energy doing school projects. Nasa sala ako katabi si Mommy na may meeting via zoom.

"Karlina Sandoval? Hindi ko pa naririnig ang issue niya," Mom says to her workmates. Nakuha niya ang atensyon ko nang marinig ang pangalan. Karlina is Rina's sister. 

Stunned with what I have heard, I sat properly and lean closer to Mom's. Tumingin siya sa akin at saka ako pinanlakihan ng mata. Aww. I forgot that her camera is turned on and there's a lot of people in the meeting. Karlina's manager is also there. Buti nalang at nasenyasan agad ako ni Mommy.

"Nakita siyang pumasok at lumabas sa hotel ni Josh at bago pa iyon mangyari ay nag-viral na ang picture ni Stella na umiiyak. Everyone assumed that Josh and Stella's break up is because of her." Hindi ko alam kung sino ang nagsasalita pero masyadong pormal ang boses non kumpara sa manager ni Karlina, I'm sure of that.

Mom's face heated in anger. Baguhan lang si Karlina kumpara kay Josh at Stella. The two is already in the industry ever since they were kids unlike Karlina na parang two years ago lang nag-start. Magiging malaking problema ito lalo na sa agency namin, knowing na madaming fans ang dalawa. Josh is under our agency while Stella isn't. In short, we're on the losing side.

Rina.

Oh my gosh! Kumusta kaya iyon? We're not that close but I know how close she was with her sister. Dinampot ko ang phone ko saka umalis sa sala. I had the urge to call her this early but I hesitated because she might hate me for it.

Sa huli ay sumalampak nalang ako sa floor ng kwarto at binasa ang mga comments nila sa account ni Karlina na puro pamba-bash. People should check first the credibility of the source and the truth behind those before saying such thing.

Alam ko kasi kung gaano kasakit ang masabihan ng kung ano-ano, totoo man o hindi. Alam ko yung pain na walang naniniwala sayo kahit anong gawin mo. The trauma that my classmates caused me... at some point, I know that it wasn't fully healed yet. Nandoon pa rin yung mga boses sa tainga ko na habang buhay na yatang nakakapit. That feeling when you know you're not doing anything but everyone judges you so eventually, they assumed it's the truth.