Professor's Pet Series: Quinn Ellis

XVI. A Visit and Free Tutorials

Ang laki pa rin ng ngiti ko ng makarating sa backstage ng auditorium kung saan naghihintay si Kelsey na napansin din agad ang magandang mood ko.

"Hey. You seem happy. Care to share?" Kuryosong tanong nito.

"Nah. Just excited to perform." Palusot ko rito.

"Gosh, me too. Kimmy's sitting there already. She wanted to see you before the performance pero sabi ko mamaya na lang." Masiglang sabi pa nito.

I just nodded, and took a seat. The rush of adrenaline I felt after the encounter in the parking lot was quickly dissipating, and I suddenly felt anxious once again with the mention of our performance in a bit. Hindi naman ako nakakaramdam dati ng ganito tuwing magpe-perform kami, but now, damn.

Maybe, because I always had the two beside me to calm my nerves. And, this was the first time na hindi kami magkakasama before a performance.

"Hey. You okay?" Kelsey asked, taking a seat beside me. Tumango lang ako rito.

"Look, I don't know what happened between you guys, but I can see how greatly affected you all are. I truely hope you can reconcile, soon. Nothing or no one will ever be worthy enough to ruin your beautiful friendship over." I looked at her after hearing what she said, and just stare for a moment.

The more time I spend around her, the more that I get to know her. She's really a beautiful person, inside and out. If only you can divert feelings.

"What?" Tanong nito na bahagya pang namula ang pisngi ng hindi na ako kumibo at mataman lang na nakatitig sa kanya.

"Nothing. Just thinking about how lucky the person that you will eventually fall in love with." Sinserong sabi ko rito. Mas lalo naman itong pinamulahan ng mukha saka mabilis nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Yeah, sobrang swerte mo talaga." Bulong nito sa hangin pero rinig na rinig ko naman, at hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti rito.

"Sorry, say it again? You saying I'm the lucky bastard?" Panunukso ko rito.

I'm obviously aware about how she feel towards me, kaya nga as much as possible, ayaw ko rin nagbibitaw ng mga salitang alam kong hindi ko naman kayang panindigan. But, sometimes, I can't resist teasing her. She's just too easy.

"Oh, stop flattering yourself. Go, and get ready. After the President's speech, you're up next." Nakairap na sabi nito saka mabilis ng naglakad palayo sa akin. I chuckled at her reaction. Naiwan naman akong mag-isa at nagpasyang maghanda na.

This is it. Taking a deep breath, I went to find Eli and Kenny. Agad ko naman silang nakita sa gilid lang ng backstage while talking quietly to themselves. Sabay pa silang napalingon ng makalapit ako sa kanila. Sakto naman na narinig naming natapos na ang speech, so, we quickly took our positions when we heard Kelsey introducing us.

The lights were dimmed when the curtain was pulled, at nasilaw pa ako ng biglang umilaw 'yong spotlight na nakatutok sa amin, making the audience scream wildly.

"Good evening, schoolmates. Welcome to the opening night of our week-long founding anniversary. This song's for you, I hope you like it." I was addressing the crowd but, I'm directly looking at the beautiful woman seated in front of the stage. Mataman din itong nakatitig sa akin kaya naman nakaisip na naman ako ng kalokohan.

I smirked at her just before the song started, pang bwisit lang, hindi naman ako nabigo, dahil agad niya akong inikutan ng mata. Natawa ako ng bahagya bago nag-focus na sa hawak kong gitara.

I hope she's ready for this.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
So much for my happy ending
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
So much for my happy ending
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh