Z

prologue

Relax Zari

I'm here at the backstage preparing for my performance na gaganapin mamaya.

“Hey Zari! Here.” sabay kaway ni dj sa akin doon sa may pinto. He's my friend, Darven Jarvie Alcorta. Kaibigan ko siya since grade school pa lang.

“Kinakabahan ako Ven.” I said and look down.

Hinawakan niya ang mukha ko at hinarap sakanya. “Huwag kang kabahan andito lang ako susuportahan kita okay?” Then he smiled at me.

Tumalikod ako agad nang maramdaman ko ang pamumula ng aking pisngi.

Damn not in front of him.

“Hoy Aurelia huwag mo akong tinatalikuran ng ganyan!” I shook my head and I make sure na wala na ang pamumula ko bago ako bumalik sa kaniya.

“Btw I'm with Freya, sabi niya gusto ka raw niyang mapanood sa stage.” nawala ang ngiti ko sa narinig.

Freya is his girlfriend.

Yes, I love him more than a friend but I'm scared to tell him because i know once I confess my feelings, I will ruin our friendship.

“Andito ka lang pala Zari, jusko kanina pa kita hinahanap.” bigla niyang inagaw ang tubig mula sa kamay ko at agad na ininom.

She's Gabriella Reese Hernandez. Gab and Ven is my friend since we we're young mas matanda lang ng tatlong taon si Ven.

“Tarantado ka Ven bakit mo iniwan si Freya doon?” Gab is aware about my feelings for our friend, siya pa ang nagsasabi sa akin na umamin ako pero tinanggihan ko rin, okay na ako sa ganito mamahalin ko siya nang palihim.

“Nagpaalam naman ako na pupuntahan ko lang si Zari tsaka... Bakit mo ininom yung tubig na binigay ko sakaniya?”

Thanks to them kahit papaano nawala ang kaba ko. I know that they will always support me. They will always be here for me that's why love them so much.

“Nauuhaw na ako eh, malapit ka na mag start kaya kailangan mo ng pumunta doon Zari.” tumango ako at niyakap sila.

“Kaya mo yan Zari!” Sigaw ni Gab at hinila na siya ni Ven na mukhang hiyang hiya sa ginawang pagsigaw ni Gab.

Kulit talaga.

“Maraming salamat sa mga dumalo dito, sa mga nag perform, maraming salamat sainyo. Bago matapos ang gabing ito bibigyan tayo ng mini concert ng isa sa magagandang students dito sa campus.”

Nagpalakpakan ang mga tao sa labas at naririnig ko rin ang mga sigawan nila.

“Alam ko karamihan sainyo ay may crush sa isang 'to, kaya huwag na nating patagalin pa please welcome, Zaria Aurelia Alfenco!”

This is it.

Lumabas na ako sa backstage at ngumiti sa mga tao, hindi ko ineexpect na ganito karami ang dadalo dito.

“Wooo!!! Bestfriend ko yan!!! Go Zariiii Labyuuu!!!” Malakas na sigaw ni Gab na tinawanan ng lahat, tumatawang umiiling naman si Ven, sakaniyang tabi naman si Freya na tawang tawa rin.

“Hello good evening, i prepare some songs for you guys, hope you like it.” hindi sinasadyang napalingon ako sa dereksyon ni Ven, hinalikan niya sa noo si Freya at may ibinulong pa.

Binaling ko ang tingin kay gab at binigyan siya ng ngiti. “The first song I chose is... Heather by Conan Gray. This is requested by a friend of mine, but she refused to tell her identity so... Let's start.” I close my eyes before i start to sing.

“I still remember

Third of December

Me in your sweater

You said it looked better on me than it did you

Only if you knew

How much I liked you

But i watched your eyes as she

Walks by

What a sight for sore eyes

Brighter than a blue sky

She's got you mesmerized while I die.”

I open my eyes and and look at Ven, he's smiling looking at me and give me a thumbs up. Only if you knew how much I liked you Ven.

“Why would you ever kiss me

I'm not even half as pretty

You gave her your sweater

It's just polyester

But you like her better

Wish i were Heather.”

It seems like we're on the same situation my friend.

Maybe I'll just hide it. Wala rin namang patutunguhan ito. I will love him silently, even it hurts to see him happy and contented with someone he truly love.

For him, I was just his best friend. He will Never see me as his lover.