AFTER THE MOVIE

Chapter 20: Demon of the past

"When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love

When the evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one there to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love

I know you haven't made your mind up yet
But I will never do you wrong
I've known it from the moment that we met
No doubt in my mind where you belong

I'd go hungry, I'd go black and blue
I'd go crawling down the avenue
No, there's nothing that I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love..."

She sang her heart out. Remembering the time when Narda and her jamming and just being themselves that night. It has been years  since she's been here at the underground music bar.

"The storms are raging on the rolling sea

And on the highway of regret
The winds of change are blowing wild and free
You ain't seen nothing like me yet

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the Earth for you
To make you feel my love
To make you feel my love..."

"Wala ka pa ring kupas, Regina. Ang galing mo pa din kumanta. Sobra." Nakangiting salubong ni Xandra ng bumaba s'ya ng stage para magbreak.

"Sus! Nambola pa. I'm just doing my job. It's just the right thing to do since you give me some gigs. Thank you, Xands."

"Bakit ko naman tatanggihan 'yong nagpadami lalo ng costumers ko dito sa bar? Ilang months din akong kinulit ng mga parokyano ko kung kailan kayo babalik ulit ni Narda dito noon. Abang sila ng abang. And some of them are still here. Masaya na nakabalik ka na finally."

"Wala pa akong 6 months na nakabalik sa Pinas. Thus, i'm thinking about returning to Vietnam na kasi mukhang wala dito ang swerte ko ngayon."

Tinapik nito ang balikat n'ya. "It's your call. For the meantime dito ka muna sa 'kin, pagkakakitaan muna kita." Tumawa ito. "Oh! Feel free to order anything. It's on me."

"Thanks, Xands."

Tumango naman ito at iniwan na s'ya.

She ordered herself a glass of bloody mary and relaxed on her chair.

"Regina."

"Ali? How did you know i'm here?"

"You weren't answering my calls so nagpunta ako sa apartment n'yo. Sabi ni Aling Tess dito daw ang gig mo tonight."

Napatango-tango naman s'ya sa paliwanag nito.

"Thank you for finding me that nice apartment nga pala, Ali. Hindi na ako nakapagpasalamat sa'yo."

"It's nothing. Ayaw mo naman kasing tanggapin ang offer ko na sa condo ko nalang kayo magstay. It's much safer and cleaner there. Lalo na sa lagay ng health ni Dare ngayon."

"I told you, sanay na kami sa simpleng pamumuhay lang, Ali. Hindi mo kami dapat alalahanin. We're fine. And besides, i'm planning to go back to Vietnam na din naman."

Tumango lang ito at para bang hindi mapakali na napansin naman n'ya.

"Oh? Bakit hindi maipinta 'yang mukha mo? May problema ba?"