Pursuing from the Shore

CHAPTER 4

You Give Love a Bad Name by Bon Jovi

Chapter 4

"Binlock mo pala ako. Nakakatampo ka," Davin brought out, he seemed upset.

Nalukot ang noo ko. I remembered I blocked him earlier when I was in the cafeteria. Gosh, why did I even do that? Ah basta, dahil 'yon sa pinagsasasabi niya.

Since I owe him for this day, I took my phone out from my skirt's pocket. Binuksan ko 'yon at saka siya in-unblock. I even showed him the phone screen as a proof.

"Okay na?" sabi ko. Natawa lang siya kaya pinagpatuloy na namin ang paglalakad.

At dahil magkaparehong oras ang Caelus at Kanluran, napagpasyahan ko na kung anong unang band ang madadaanan namin, doon na lang ako.

Gosh, I feel like I don't have any sense of direction in my own life. Basta ba kung ano ang nand'yan, 'yon na lang. No further dilemmas, simple as that.

Somehow, as an introvert who gets easily exhausted by the things around me, that prompted me to think this way as well. Ayaw ko lang na mas pinatatagal ang pagdedesisyon ko.

"Dito na tayo," puna ni Davin kaya ako lumingon sa pinto. There was a posted paper beside it at nakita kong Caelus ang narito. I guess dito na talaga ako. "Pasok ka na. For sure kaunti pa lang kayo r'yan dahil maaga pa."

Napalunok ako bigla. My introverted ass is kicking me up at the moment. I then adjusted my electric guitar slung over my shoulder before heaving a deep breath. Namamawis na ang mga palad ko. Ano ba 'to?! Hindi pa nga nagsisimula, nate-tense na ako?!

"Oh, kalma," biglang kanta ni Davin.

I quickly gave him a sharp look dahil mukhang nagsisimula na naman siyang mang-asar.

"I'm going inside now. And uh. . . thank you for today," tipid ko siyang nginitian.

I just wished he would feel the sincerity in me kahit medyo awkward kung ngumiti ako. I don't usually smile.

"For today pala, ha. Ibig sabihin may susunod pa?" hirit niya, tumataas-taas pa ang kilay habang mapaglarong nakangiti sa akin.

"You wish, Davin," I slightly rolled my eyes.

"No worries, Red. Sabi mo 'yan, e. Baka nga hindi lang wish, ipa-exorcist ko pa," sagot niya.

My patience completely disappeared and then I made my way into the music room. Napaka mapaglarong lalaki! He never failed himself to get on my damn nerves!

Malamig ang air condition sa loob. And Davin was right, sobrang kaunti pa lang ng tao rito. It's better, though. Kaysa naman ma-late ako, 'di ba?

With my cold hands, I roamed my gaze to somehow ease the nervousness in me. Ilang beses pa akong nag breathe in and breathe out. My gaze landed at the corner and I saw some of the organizers there. Nakita ko si Rio na kausap niya ang mga ito.

"Francine," Orion approached me.

"Rio, hello," I greeted.

"I thought hindi ka na talaga pupunta. What happened? Hindi ka naka-attend ng audition kanina," sunod-sunod niyang sabi, he sounds concerned.

"M-May nangyari lang sa bahay. And okay lang naman kung hindi ako nakasali ro'n, dito na lang ako," I answered.

"We can work about it, though. You can still join Alliac, ako ang bahala—"

"No need, Rio, it's totally fine. It will probably be unfair for others who made an effort lalo na sa mga nag-audition kung bigla-bigla akong makakasali nang gano'n."