Faked Attachment (Syclups #4)

19

Annie's POV

             "Wow naman, nag i-improve ang lovebirds.."

Rulu immediately teased me right after we left the room. Cherry suddenly pinched me on waist and tapped me on shoulder.

"From classmates to patners to duo, sana all"
Segunda niya. Sabay sabay kaming naglalakad ngayon sa corridor at balak ng tahakin ang daan papuntang canteen. Kakatapos lang ng Music rehearsal namin na siya ngang pinangaasar nila sa akin.

"You're really giving that small thing a meaning?!"
Mala singhal na sabi ko sa kanila para tumigil na sila sa kakadaldal at sa kakaukit ng nangyari kanina, kahapon, o kahit pa last week.

Ngayon ko lang talaga narealize na ganito pala sila kahirap at katagal mag move on sa isang bagay o pangyayari, oo. Hay naku.

We're just finished doing music, and our teacher just announced a new performance task. We're going to perform a song in front of the class by patner...but the strange there is the teacher himself arranged us..

Guess what? Si Josh yung una niyang nakita na i-patner sa akin.. Hay naku naman talaga oh. Sa dami ng lalaki o kahit na babae nalang dyan, siya na naman. Sinasadya ba o yun talaga ang itinakda ng tadhana?

"Tara na, magluluto pa tayo.." sabi ko at pinagkukurot silang dalawa sa tagiliran para tumigil.

"Hala oo nga! Bilis, baka ma-late tayo! Sayang idea ko.." sagot naman ni Rulu at hinila kami ni Cherry patakbo.

Senior High Student is really busy, ngayon ay Nutrition Month na naman namin at nasama ang section namin para makipag compete sa pagluluto against sa ibang sections. Kung wala lang si Rulu na optimistic sa pagluluto at sa idea, hindi talaga kami makakasama... Buti nalang pala nag-e-exist ang baklang ito.

Pagkadating namin sa open hall, kung saan gaganapin ang contest, ay agad na naghanda yung dalawa kasama na ang iba naming kasamahan ng mga gamit at mga gulay na iluluto.

Ako naman dito ay naiwang tulala dahil hindi ako sanay sa ganoong gawain, aaminin ko. I never learn cooking because i feel like it's just a waste of time, i can just order take-outs for myself without troubles. Plus, cooking without anyone to eat with is ego-hurter, so i better not learn it.

Kumuha nalang ako ng ingredients at iyon nalang ang inasikasong gawin. Nagsimula na rin ang paligsahan kaya wala talaga sa amin ang nag uusap, lahat ay busy. Kahit nga si Rulu na usually ay maingay at madaldal, ngayon sobrang focus na sa isang bagay. A good cooker.

While busy cooking, the speaker in the stage suddenly switched on and somebody spoke. Mukhang ako lang ang nakapansin doon dahil lahat talaga sila ay busy.

"While everyone are cooking, whether here in hall or inside their own rooms, i would like to invite our school's royal band, Syclups, to sing us a song... Para naman maganahan at ma-inspire pa lalo ang mga cooker natin dito.."

The event producer said through microphone.

Doon ko lang din napansin na nasa backstage na pala ang Syclups dala dala ang kani-kanilang instruments. Stell is carrying his piano while Sejun is lowkeyly strumming his guitar. So, si Ken, Justin, at Josh ang vocals?

Napalingon agad ako sa gawi niya at nakita siyang masayang nakikipag asaran sa mga kabanda niya. Napailing iling nalang ako dahil naghahampasan pa talaga sila ng mic, parang mga bata. Magrereklamo pa sana akong baka masira pero naalala kong investor pala ang family nila ng school.

He suddenly stopped and took a glance towards me that made me immediately looked away.

Speaking of Josh, after my birthday party, he....is officially my suitor now. It's because i told you, hindi ko na mapipigilan pa ang sarili ko kapag nagpatuloy pa yung pagtrato niya sa akin na parang reyna. I collapsed, i gave in...

He's the best, best boy, best classmate, best friend. Ewan ko ba, transferee at classmate lang naman ang tingin ko sa kanya dati, bakit manliligaw ko na siya ngayon?

Narinig ko pa silang nagkantyawang lima dahil hindi naman ganoon kalayo ang stage sa open hall. Iwinaksi ko nalang ang isip ko sa kanilang lima at tumulong nalang para hindi naman nakakahiya kay Rulu.

We're going to cook black beans with some specialties and desserts. Ako na ang bahala sa dessert pero tutulong muna ako dito dahil mabilis namang matapos ang gampanin ko.

The Syclups started performing in stage, if i am not mistaken, they're going to sing 'We Could Happen' by Aj Rafael. It would be perfect once Ken, Justin, and Josh will join voices. A perfect band. A perfect Syclups.

"I'll hold the door
Please come in
And just sit here for awhile
This is my
Way of telling you I need you in my life.."

Justin sang. His cute and young voice made it very suitable to sing the first verse. Magandang simula siya for them.

"It's so cold
Without your touch
I've been dreaming way too much
Can we just
Turn this into reality,"

Pagsunod naman agad ni Ken gamit ang mababang boses niya. Napalingon naman agad si Cherry sa stage. Sus, mukhang nainlababo na naman..

We're busy cooking our dish but we can't also help but to take a glance and take a good listen to the song in front. The vocals are just too good, lalo pa kaya kapag kasama na si Stell na talagang vocalist nila?

"Cause I've been
Thinking 'bout you lately
Maybe you could save me
From this crazy world we live in
And i know we could happen
Cause you know that I've been feeling you.."

They sang together.

"Annie, stir this for me.." Rulu seriously asked that I've paid attention to.

"Storms, they will come
But i know
That the sun will shine again
He's my friend
And he says that we belong together.."

I almost dropped the bowl when i suddenly heard Josh's voice singing the verse. I heard my heart suddenly beating so fast and my chest are getting warmer and warmer. Napatingin ako sa gawin nila at nakita siyang umakbay kay Justin habang nakangiting tumingin sa amin.

Shocks.

What's happening?

It's just my first time hearing him sing some song seriously.

I didn't know his voice to be this charming and unique.

Is he serenading someone? Arghhhh.

"Hoy!"
Napatalon ako sa gulat nung bigla nalang akong sininghalan ni Cherry at pumitik pa talaga sa harap ko. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at natawa naman siya nang malamang nakatulala ako habang nakatingin sa stage.

"Focus beh, focus.." pang aasar pa niya.

"Cause I've been
Thinking 'bout you lately
Maybe you could save me
From this crazy world we live in
And i know we could happen
Cause you know that I've been feeling you..
I know you want me.."

Imbes na magluto ang ibang contestant ay wala sa sariling napahinto nalang sila at napatitig sa mga lalaking nasa stage ngayon. An advantage for us. Rulu smirked playfully and said,

" Thank you Syclups, sure win na toh.. "