It's a bar chord for Liam Ramirez whether Leo Quintero's shift from hater to fan is genuine or conceals darker motives─hard to play, so he simply goes along with it.
A-Side: from rival bands in high school, Liam as a newfound vocalist of the reignin...
WARNING: This chapter contains mature content with explicit language which may not be suitable for very young readers.
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THE thing is, I know he's the reason for my recent sadness and the tears on my guitar, but why is it that now that I've seen him, he's also the one bringing back my happiness as if in the nightsky, I'm the brightest star?
Ibinaba ni Leo ang storage box na hawak niya at kinuha si Sirius na nakaupo sa ibabaw no'n.
Umisang hakbang siya palapit sa'kin. Sobrang seryoso lang ng kanyang ekspresyon gaya ni Sirius habang ibinabalik niya ito sa'kin, tila ang mga mata niya'y pangkubli sa kalungkutang nararamdaman sa loob.
Kinuha ko si Sirius sa mga kamay niya. Niyakap ko ito, hinalikan sa ilong at hindi ko na pinansin pa si Leo after niya maibigay sa'kin ang bunny ko.
"Can we talk?" he asked softly, sinusubukang agawin ang atensyon ko.
Naglapit naman halos ang dalawang kilay ko matapos madinig ang kanyang boses. "Problema mo?" Muntik pa 'kong mapiyok. Napalunok ako't sumamhid para mawala ang bara sa lalamunan, ewan ko ba kung bakit parang isang sagot ko pa maiiyak na ako agad.
"Liam..." he called in monotonously.
Narinig ko na naman ulit, ang isa sa mga kahinaan ko. That's when he calls me by my name as if... like Elio and Oliver call each other by name. Nakatutunaw pero...
Hindi ko pa yata kayang harapin at kausapin siya, habang tumatagal kasi ang presensya niya, palalim nang palalim 'yong punyal na tumatarak sa puso ko.
"I just wanted to apologize for what happened," he admitted, his voice tinged with regret.
I shook my head slightly. "Nothing happened," I assured him, acting like I was innocent and totally clueless, but I was not.
Leo persisted, his tone pleading. "Liam, I'm sorry. I hurt you. Please forgive me, talk to me," he implored pitifully.
"We're already talking," I pointed out gently.
He took a deep breath, steeling himself. "Listen," he began.
"I am," I affirmed, his gaze never leaving mine. Sinusubukan kong maging responsive sa abot nang makakaya ko.
"I broke up with Colleen," he confessed, his admission hanging heavy in the air that we both breathe.
"I know, I saw the news," I acknowledged quietly. Hindi ko alam kung tatagal pa 'ko sa usapang 'to.
"Do you know why?" he asked, searching my eyes for understanding.
Binalik ko lang din ang tanong niya. "You know why," I replied, my voice finally became steady as I emphasized the word 'you'.
Leo nodded, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his features as he bit his lip.
