M A D E L I N E
"I heard that Denver's spending a lot of time with their new vocalist," Pat announced while we were all waiting for our professor to arrive. "Babae raw, so, of course, I asked Axl if she's prettier than you."
"What did he say?"
"Hmm." Pat pouted. "He said that it's a tie and that I have to see for myself."
Tie?
Sino ba 'yong bagong vocalist na 'yon at nangangarap na maabot ang level ko?
"Payag ka no'n, mamsh?" sulsol ni Ganja. "Tie raw, oh. Tsk. Kaso magaling kumanta 'yon. Ikaw... magaling lang."
That's right. Magaling ako.
I know that.
Denver knows that.
Everyone knows that.
Their new vocalist may have good vocal cords, but I have a mind-blowing throat and no gag reflex. Denver should choose wisely.
"Let's attend their gig some time," Pat suggested. "Jolo is always there, too."
"Hindi naman si Denver pinupuntahan ni Jolo ro'n, eh." Tawa ni Ganja.
"Yeah, I know," Pat agreed. "But Denver's our friend so we should show a bit of support. Punta tayo kapag lumuwag na sched natin."
This is our last year in Dawson and our schedule has been nothing but hectic. It's only been two weeks since school started, but I am already longing for the semestral break.
"You know what? Akala ko talaga magka-comeback kayo ni D," bulong ni Ganja nang pumasok na si Sir Thaddeus.
"True. Akala ko rin. Nag-momol na nga sila no'n sa guest room," segunda ni Pat.
Tumawa lang ako. "Magka-comeback kami. I'm just waiting for him to make a move."
"You're waiting for him pero nakikipag-hook-up ka sa iba? What if magalit siya?"
"Think of it as a cool-off," I explained. "We both just need time away from each other. To cool down and reset our feelings. Just wait, girls. In a few days or weeks, Denver will come knocking down my door, asking for me to come back. Hindi naman ako matitiis no'n."
"Kung sabagay." Pagtango ni Pat.
Sa totoo lang ay hindi ko gaanong inisip si Denver nitong mga nakaraang araw. Kumpiyansa kasi talaga ako na babalik siya sa akin at kapwa lang namin kailangan ng oras.
Pero dahil sa sinabi ni Pat, buong araw akong nangamba na baka posible ngang magkagusto siya sa iba lalo pa at pareho silang mahilig sa musika no'ng bokalista nila.
Ayon pa kay Axl ay tie raw ang ganda namin no'ng nasabing babae. Hindi ko alam kung may katotohanan 'yon o sinabi niya lang 'yon para mapilitan akong makipag-ayos kay Denver. Gayunpaman, dahil sa mga nalaman ko ngayong araw ay napagdesisyunan ko nang kausapin si Dhie bago pa mahuli ang lahat.
Syempre, mahal ko pa siya. Hindi naman ako ang nakipaghiwalay, eh. Naghihintay lang talaga ako na suyuin niya ako at ligawan ulit. Gano'n naman kasi dapat, 'di ba?
